Pride of Rochdale initiative launched

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Pride of Rochdale initiative
Mayoress Beverley Place and Mayor Carol Wardle with the scroll signed local businesses and organisations

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Carol Wardle and Beverley Place, have today (Monday 27 April) launched an initiative that encourages community cohesion and celebrates diversity.

The Pride in Rochdale Borough initiative was created after residents, workers and business owners said they were unhappy with the negative publicity the town sometimes receives. Members of the Rochdale Community wanted to highlight the many positives which exist, but can be overlooked.

The initiative is the first of many steps towards showcasing all that is good about this historically rich town and surrounding borough.

Mayor Wardle, said “During my mayoral term I have been overwhelmed by requests from various local and business communities to redress people's perceptions of Rochdale and to showcase all that is good about the borough.

“I believe this initiative will allow everyone to publicly express their support and pride in the borough. The launch event, where we all stood together in unity, is proof of Rochdale's enviable position nationally as a community which is now at the forefront of celebrating difference via community cohesion, hard work and tolerance."

Mayoress Beverley Place added: “When we were sworn into office, we felt straight away that we had an obligation to give out a positive perception of Rochdale. The positive perception that we see every day. This is about declaring our pride in the Rochdale borough.”

So far over 200 local businesses, schools and voluntary organisations have joined together and signed the pledge, which reads:

'By joining together, we demonstrate our strength as a community to overcome the challenges we have faced and to ensure we are leaving them firmly in the past. Now is the time for us to move on, in unity and to celebrate the array of wonderful things this borough offers – through diversity, community cohesion, tolerance and understanding. This is a great place to run a business, to work, to study, and to live. Through the ideals of ‘We Stand Together’ we are declaring our renewed pride in the borough of Rochdale.'

The launch of the event was attended by a number of local businesses as well as Mayors from Todmorden, Bolton, Bury and Stockport.

Rochdale Council Chief Executive Steve Rumbelow said: “I think this is a terrific event and I think that the Mayor has done a wonderful job.

"I am surprised every day with the positive things that happen in this borough. We are in an inspiring place and I sometimes think that we get too close and can’t see those things. We have such a wonderful place to offer.”

Rochdale Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police have worked in partnership to launch the Pride in Rochdale Borough initiative.

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “Whenever I come into this amazing building [Rochdale Town Hall], I always think of the pride that the generation who built this building must have had. This is truly the heart of Rochdale and is certainly something to be proud of. We should have pride in Rochdale and celebrate what a great place this is. We should celebrate Rochdale’s brilliant past and its amazing future.”