We are a proud lot, says Council Leader Richard Farnell

Photo: SKW Events

Feel Good Festival - Joe Dunne

Has the Feel Good Festival really been going for a decade? Asks Richard Farnell, Leader of the Council.

Wow, how time flies when you're enjoying yourself. Now in its 10th year the Rochdale town centre annual extravaganza has become a staple in the borough's events calendar.

More than 11,000 people attended the two-day music and food festival this year – record crowds for the council-run event. Every year, the festival goes from strength-to-strength with attendances increasing most years we've staged it.

Turning up to sample the live music from internationally acclaimed bands and fantastic food from across the globe is its recipe for success; and it's free to attend as well.

To celebrate the anniversary we promised something special this time around; the feedback I've been getting is that it lived up to expectations.

It certainly put a smile on the faces of thousands of Rochdalians, which is what, as the name suggests, the Feel Good Festival is all about.

For me, it's a lot more than just making people smile; the economic benefits of holding the event are just as important.

Yes, it attracts people from all over to flock to Rochdale, hence promoting the borough far and wide, but it also generates much-needed money for the local economy.

It is too early to have calculated the cash coming into local coffers from the weekend, but I would suggest it will be well over £100,000. That is £100,000 injected into local firms and the local economy.

I don't think anyone would disagree that this has to be good business for our borough.

A crowd enjoying itself and local businesses making money - everyone's a winner.

Perhaps one more reason to feel good about the Feel Good Festival - it challenges the often all-too-negative perception many people in the national media and outside our borough have about the place.

There is a lot of good going on in Rochdale. From new businesses, innovative industries, making our townships shine and celebrating our rich heritage and talented arts, music and culture. Our important festivals are an important part of putting Rochdale on the map for all the right reasons.

It is an uphill struggle at times, but one thing that convinces me, more and more, that we should never stop shouting about all that is good about our borough is you, the residents.

Time and time again I witness the great volunteering and charitable work that goes on. Our wonderful countryside. Our successful schools. The world-beating businesses. The millions of pounds of private and public investment taking place to improve our borough in the future.

The people of Rochdale are immensely proud of the place where we live, work and play, and we must never tire of telling people about it. We all have our part to play.

As part of our plan to help make Rochdale feel good about itself, we have more festivals and events in the pipeline for this year.

• Events and activities - find out when and where they are... 

Councillor Richard Farnell
Leader
Rochdale Borough Council