Middletonians urged to pop into the pop up

Middletonians who are passionate about their patch are invited to share their ideas on how to make it even better at a special pop up shop which has just sprung up in the town’s shopping centre.

The new shop will give Christmas shoppers the chance to pop in and share their views on what they love about their town centre and how it can be made even better, as well as hosting a full programme of activities including health checks by Link4Life, competitions and business start-up advice.

The shop, which will make its home in unit G31, opposite the fruit and veg stall, until 20 December, was set up by the recently established Middleton Town Team, which sees local businesses working together to improve the town centre with initial support from the council.

Speaking at the launch, local business owner Tony Nugent, of the vehicle leasing company Anthony K Associates, said: “Middleton has so much to offer with the recent improvements to the town centre and the arena as well as things people might not know about such as the fantastic local heritage trail. I think things like this are a good idea because it means another unit in the shopping centre has been filled and it is a good way of engaging local businesses and the community who all have a stake in the town centre and want the best for it.”

Also attending the launch was Adham Mughal (17), a graphic design student from Hopwood Hall College who designed the shop’s logo. He said: “I’m ecstatic my design has been chosen and I think that Middleton’s a great place. There’s lot of variety and it’s a nice area with friendly people.”

Proud residents who are looking for a local Christmas gift will also be able to pick up ‘I love Middleton’ mugs and bags as well as information about local heritage sites and other places of interest in the shop. And a rolling programme of activities will see NHS staff pop in to deliver top health tips among other things.

The shop will also host a Christmas ordering service for the 120-year-old local business, Lord’s Butchers and new entrepreneurs are being invited to test trade in the shop.

Councillor June West Middleton Township Chair who has been involved with the set up of the Town Team, said: “Middleton people are rightly very proud of their town centre but by working together we can make it even better. Pop up shops like this are an innovative way of supporting our high street. They fill a retail unit and inject variety into the shopping experience because they’re constantly changing.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is a great project by the Middleton town team who I’m sure will be bringing forward many more exciting initiatives for the benefit of town centre businesses and shoppers.”