Rochdale Council looking to ‘find a solution’ to pedestrian access on Rakewood Road

Pedestrian falls down embankment at Hollingworth Lake

After recent incidents of pedestrians falling down the embankment at Hollingworth Lake, reported on Rochdale Online, Rochdale Council has stated that it will “work to find a solution” to try and prevent such incidents from happening again.

On Saturday 12 July a young girl fell down an embankment at the lake and was assisted by Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team. The team, along with the fire and ambulance service, then helped a man in a wheelchair who had fallen several feet down an embankment off of Rakewood Road.

These incidents are understood to have been the latest in a number of incidents to have happened in that area.

A member of the Friends of Hollingworth Lake group has asked councillors to address the situation.

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Council, said: "We are concerned that visitors to the lake have had these unfortunate accidents and will be working with United Utilities and the Friends of Hollingworth Lake to find a solution. The creation of a footpath along this stretch of road has been investigated by the council on several occasions and does present a challenge given the restricted space available along Rakewood Road.”