Main News

A fire breathing dragon from Global Grooves was one of a host of attractions at Ignite Fire Festival

Friday and Saturday’s fire festival cancelled due to severe weather

Tonight and tomorrow’s Ignite Fire Festival in Rochdale (Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November) have been cancelled due to the severe weather. Freezing temperatures, heavy rain and strong winds are expected with Storm Bert predicted to cause disruption across the region.

Date Published 22/11/2024

Our guide to what's on in the Rochdale borough this weekend

Lots to do in and around the borough this weekend: Rochd'ale' Winter Ale Trail, Victoria Ash Art - Christmas Glass painting, Barbara, Wizarding weekend, Ignite - Fire Festival,...

Date Published 21/11/2024

Plan for tackling gender-based violence against men and boys highlighted on International Men's Day

Greater Manchester has become the first place in the UK to have a dedicated plan for tackling gender-based violence against men and boys.

Date Published 23/11/2024

Rochdale-inspired novel wins international honour

A children’s novel inspired by the work of Rochdale-based company AromaPrime has received international recognition in the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.

Date Published 23/11/2024

Whitworth High boxer and footballer is runner-up in Rochdale Active Awards

A teenage boxer from Whitworth Community High School, who is in training for a national title fight next year, was runner-up in Rochdale Borough Active Awards.

Date Published 23/11/2024

Radio star Gemma Atkinson supports Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary’s Shoebox Appeal

Gemma Atkinson, a presenter on Hits Radio, has lent her support to Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary’s Shoebox Appeal, aiming to ensure that every animal at the Edenfield-based sanctuary...

Date Published 23/11/2024

Burnham responds to TfGM staff after strike vote

Andy Burnham has responded to Transport for Greater Manchester staff after they voted to strike yesterday (21 November), asking to ‘sit down and discuss’. TfGM employees rejected...

Date Published 22/11/2024

Middleton's Funeral Services launch Christmas Toy Appeal

Middleton's Funeral Services are urging the community to come together this festive season to support their annual Christmas Toy Appeal. The initiative aims to bring joy and magic...

Date Published 22/11/2024

Greater Manchester could finally receive an answer about congestion zone left ‘in limbo’

Greater Manchester could finally get answers about the region’s clean air zone (CAZ), Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said. Speaking to the public in the mayor’s hotseat...

Date Published 22/11/2024

Greater Manchester outlines plan to encourage active, sustainable school travel

People are being urged to have their say on how children and young people travel to school and college in Greater Manchester.
The new School Travel Strategy targets a shift...

Date Published 22/11/2024

New Pilsworth landfill facility would stop it stinking, say waste bosses

A huge new recycling centre at the site of a notorious landfill will not smell, its operator says. Valencia Waste Management Ltd, which runs Pilsworth landfill site just off the...

Date Published 22/11/2024

Local Multi Academy Trust welcomes new school

Heap Bridge Village Primary School in Heywood has joined Hollingworth Learning Trust after just over two years of collaboration as an affiliate member.

Date Published 21/11/2024

Rochdale Gramophone Society to close after 93 years

Rochdale Gramophone Society, the second-oldest recorded music society in the United Kingdom, is set to close its doors after 93 years of operation. Founded in 1931 by Frank...

Date Published 21/11/2024

Team from Whitworth High named STEM challenge winners

A clever time machine toy to entertain and educate won a team from Whitworth Community High School the North West STEM Challenge title. Six schools took part in the Science,...

Date Published 21/11/2024

Deputy mayor ‘concerned’ about GMP’s use of arrests

Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor Kate Green has said she is “concerned” with examples of how police officers in the region are justifying arrests.

Date Published 21/11/2024

MP spotlights ‘hidden horror’ of domestic abuse with dedicated surgery

Elsie Blundell, Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton North, is holding a dedicated surgery in November for anyone needing support and help as a result of domestic abuse.

Date Published 20/11/2024

"Week of action" begins as GMP get tough on anti-social behaviour

Greater Manchester Police has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) as it launches a week-long initiative aimed at raising awareness and addressing the...

Date Published 20/11/2024

Council announces plans for Hopwood Hall Estate, - as angry Hopwood DePree holds "urgent" public meeting

Rochdale Council has said that it has committed to a new feasibility study to develop options for the future of Hopwood Hall following the end of an exclusivity agreement with...

Date Published 20/11/2024

Camera trial reveals the shocking truth about drivers scrolling and texting with children on board

Thousands of Greater Manchester drivers have been caught using their phones while driving or not wearing seat belts - as part of a trial of state-of-the-art cameras in the region.

Date Published 20/11/2024

Toad Lane Concerts: The Kell Wind Trio

The Kell Wind Trio belongs to an uncommon genre which is tricky to arrange music for. The players have to be expert with their instruments to cover all the musical ground that...

Date Published 19/11/2024

Rochdale hosts first ever music summit to boost local talent

Rochdale will host its first-ever music summit at Rochdale Town Hall on Monday 25 November, in an effort to support the borough’s grassroots music scene.

Date Published 19/11/2024

Rochdale charity reopens its rebound therapy

For the first time since Covid, a charity in Rochdale has reopened its therapeutic trampoline to offer rebound therapy to service users and the wider public.
Rochdale Gateway...

Date Published 19/11/2024

Finding comfort together: new bereavement support group comes to Middleton

A new bereavement support group aimed at helping residents in Middleton cope with grief will hold its launch night on Wednesday 4 December, from 6pm to 8pm at Bowlee Pavilion in...

Date Published 19/11/2024

Thousands of illegal vapes seized by local authority in trading standards crackdown

Thousands of illegal vapes have been seized across the Rochdale borough in the last two years, data has revealed. Since the beginning of January 2023, a total of 44,874 illegal...

Date Published 19/11/2024

Parking war sparked after council install controversial double yellow lines

A war over parking has been sparked on a small street in Rochdale after double yellow lines were painted by the council. Residents in and around Major Street in Milnrow were left...

Date Published 19/11/2024

GMP ends welfare strip searches after report on treatment of women in custody

Greater Manchester Police has announced major changes following a harrowing report on the treatment of women and girls in custody. Strip searches for welfare purposes have ended,...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Council confirms gritters at the ready ahead of winter weather

The council’s fleet of gritters is ready to hit the road once again, as the highways team’s winter service moves into full gear. With Met Office weather warnings for snow and ice...

Date Published 18/11/2024

New 'Raising Rochdale' education awards celebrate the best in borough’s schools

Parents, students, teachers and support staff from schools and colleges across the borough came together to recognise the outstanding achievements and contribution that staff make...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Coffee morning fuels new wave of volunteer enthusiasm

Aspire 2 Inspire Communities hosted a lively coffee morning in Rochdale, marking the first event of its kind in the area. Attended by over 25 local organisations, the gathering...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Met Office issues yellow warning for snow and ice overnight

A yellow weather alert has been issued for snow and ice in the north west from 7pm tonight (18 November).
The Met Office says: “A period of rain, sleet and snow will occur during...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Conservative leader's column: Recent events show the "strength of our communities"

Steve Anstee is the leader of the local Conservative party in Rochdale and a councillor for Bamford. This month he dedicates his column to the importance of unity around...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Rochdale homelessness charity urges community to support ‘Season of Sharing’ appeal

Petrus Community has launched its new ‘Season of Sharing’ appeal to raise vital funds for its homelessness services this winter. Having supported people who are homeless, or at...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Lantern Academy hosts non-uniform day to support Alder Hey Children’s Hospital

Lantern Academy, based in Rochdale, organised a non-uniform fun day over the weekend of 19/20 October to raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
The event was dedicated to...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Amnesty bins reduce knife crime across the Rochdale borough

Three months after their introduction, knife amnesty bins outside Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale police stations have already made an impact in the fight against knife crime in...

Date Published 18/11/2024

Campaign throws spotlight on how to ‘burn better’ at home this winter

Greater Manchester residents are being urged to follow advice that can reduce the impact on health and the environment from woodburning stoves and open fires this winter, after...

Date Published 17/11/2024

Rochdale celebrates youth achievement: BACP hosts inaugural DofE award ceremony

The Bangladesh Association & Community Project (BACP) celebrated its first Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award ceremony on Thursday 7 November 2024, as the first Bangladeshi...

Date Published 16/11/2024

Lottie Lambert wins Judges’ Choice Award in photography competition

Rochdale’s Lottie Lambert has won the Judges’ Choice Award in the Down’s Syndrome Association’s ‘My Perspective’ photography competition. Her self-portrait, titled Proud and...

Date Published 16/11/2024

Number of Rochdale jobseekers is rising - sparking action to bridge employment gap

Rochdale is witnessing a significant rise in jobseekers, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reports a 25% increase in claimant numbers over the past year. This includes...

Date Published 15/11/2024

Hopwood DePree to host "urgent" public meeting on Hopwood Hall Estate situation

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday 20 November, to discuss the future of the Hopwood Hall Estate in Middleton, which has reverted to the ownership of Rochdale Council.

Date Published 15/11/2024

Rochdale’s Christmas Toy Appeal raised in Parliament

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has brought Rochdale’s 'Giving Back' Christmas Toy Appeal to the attention of Parliament, urging action on the growing child poverty crisis. His remarks...

Date Published 15/11/2024

Springhill Hospice announces new poet in residence

This year Springhill Hospice marked 35 years of providing palliative care to its community but rather than rest on its laurels it is very much looking to the future. There have...

Date Published 15/11/2024

Police zone in on ‘Rochdale crime hotspots’ as part of operation AVRO

Officers from the Pennine Neighbourhood Team took to the streets of Rochdale in a targeted operation to address local crime and anti-social behaviour, focusing their efforts on...

Date Published 15/11/2024

Whitworth residents gather on Remembrance Sunday

Hundreds of people turned up to pay their respects at the Remembrance Sunday commemorations at Whitworth’s cenotaph on Sunday 10 November, honouring those who had passed serving...

Date Published 15/11/2024

Our guide to what's on in the Rochdale borough this weekend

Lots to do in and around the borough this weekend: Friendship group, live music across various venues, Endless Love – A Tribute to Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, Santa's Grotto &...

Date Published 14/11/2024

Council leader's column: "The council is not withdrawing support for Hopwood Hall renovation"

Neil Emmott is the leader of Rochdale Council and a councillor for West Middleton. This month he dedicates his column to Middleton's Hopwood Hall building, and reflects on this...

Date Published 14/11/2024

Fire museum volunteers earn highest award

The team of volunteers at Fireground, Greater Manchester’s museum of firefighting based in Rochdale is the latest local recipient of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).

Date Published 14/11/2024

Rochdale’s Christmas Toy Appeal returns to bring festive cheer to struggling families

Donations are now being collected for this year’s Christmas Toy Appeal, which helps make sure local children who are less fortunate have presents to open on Christmas Day. The...

Date Published 13/11/2024

Huge new logistics site gets the go-ahead despite council bid to bin plan

The former Department for Work and Pensions storage building in Heywood will be bulldozed and replaced with a new 465,000 sq ft logistics site. Rochdale Council had originally...

Date Published 13/11/2024

Roadworks, temporary road closures and restrictions

Information on current and forthcoming roadworks planned to take place across the borough.

Date Published 13/11/2024

Generation game for Rochdale’s newest school crossing patrol

It’s a family affair for Rochdale Council’s newest school crossing patrol officer, who’s become the fifth member and the third generation of his family to don the yellow jacket...

Date Published 13/11/2024

Andy's Man Club to open its doors in Milnrow

A new branch of a peer-to-peer support group aimed at men’s mental health will be launching in Milnrow on Monday 2 December. Andy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide prevention charity,...

Date Published 13/11/2024

Government confirms that Heywood’s £20million Towns Fund will continue

Key figures from Heywood have celebrated the confirmation that £20m will still be coming to the town as part of the Long Term Plan for Towns Fund, announced in the Chancellor’s...

Date Published 12/11/2024

Primary school could double in size amid expansion plan

A primary school in Rochdale could double in size following plans for a huge extension. St John’s CofE Primary School is currently a half-form entry with a capacity of 105 pupils,...

Date Published 12/11/2024

Police appeal as man wanted for assault

Police are calling on the public to help locate Wayne McDonagh, who is wanted in connection with an assault. Authorities believe McDonagh, 31, has strong links to the Rochdale and...

Date Published 12/11/2024

Almost 60 roads repaired as summer scheme is completed

Almost 60 roads have been treated across the borough as part of the council's annual summer micro asphalt programme, which aims to improves the condition of the roads and give...

Date Published 12/11/2024

Lest we forget: Borough falls silent to remember the fallen

Thousands gathered across the borough for Remembrance Sunday services to honour the nation’s war heroes and pay tribute to the fallen. Representatives from the Navy, Army and...

Date Published 12/11/2024

Police appeal after alleged sexual offence at bus stop

Police are appealing for assistance to identify a man they believe could assist in the investigation of a reported sexual offence that occurred at a bus stop on Bury New Road,...

Date Published 12/11/2024

Memorial for war heroes targeted by vandals set for improvement work

A war memorial which has been targeted by vandals could soon be repaired. The Memorial Gardens in Middleton commemorates those who fought and died in the first and second world...

Date Published 11/11/2024

Lights out for horror tale at the town hall

‘Twas the week of Halloween… and Rochdale Town Hall as you have never seen it before.

Date Published 11/11/2024

Full line-up for Ignite Fire Festival revealed

More details have been revealed about the Ignite Fire Festival taking place in Rochdale town centre from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November, leading up to the Christmas lights...

Date Published 11/11/2024

Two new stores coming to Rochdale Riverside

The Rochdale branch of Holland & Barrett is set to open in a new location at Rochdale Riverside this Wednesday (13 November), with American fast food restaurant chain Taco Bell...

Date Published 11/11/2024

More Main News

Help shape the future of creative workspace in Rochdale

Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Creates have launched a new creative workspace survey to inform future phases of creative workspace in Rochdale Borough, and support the...

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