Main News

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

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

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

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

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

Police appeal to find missing teenager

Police are appealing for help in locating 17-year-old Semir, who was last seen in the area on 28 October. Semir was reportedly seen on Royds Street in Rochdale at approximately...

Date Published 11/11/2024

New plans submitted for former Nutters restaurant

The owners of historic Wolstenholme Hall, formerly home of Nutters restaurant, have submitted new plans for the vacant venue to be brought back to life as an Albert’s restaurant.

Date Published 11/11/2024

Johnny Alfrey's legacy thrives with £4,000 raised for youth music charity JAMM

Friends, family, and local supporters of Johnny Alfrey, a much-loved Littleborough musician, have raised over £4,000 for a charity founded in his memory.

Date Published 10/11/2024

Toad Lane Concerts: Cillian Hennessy cello and Yiting Zhang piano

Two supremely talented performers from the Royal Northern College of Music visited Toad Lane Concerts at St Mary in the Baum on Wednesday 6 November to give a sensational recital.

Date Published 10/11/2024

Have your say on the protection of key natural habitats around Greater Manchester

Rochdale residents and businesses can now have their say on a consultation which will help to protect an important habitat site, the South Pennine Moors.

Date Published 10/11/2024

The wind farm saga that has spanned three decades set to take centre stage once again

Almost two decades ago residents in the towns and villages near moorland straddling Greater Manchester and Lancashire were left in uproar. Plans had been submitted to build 26...

Date Published 09/11/2024

Golden Mosque nominated for national award

The Golden Mosque in Rochdale has been shortlisted for the esteemed Best Run Mosque award in this year’s British Beacon Mosque Awards. Celebrating mosques across the United...

Date Published 09/11/2024

Pupils swap Whitworth for Paris in magical trip

More than 100 students from Whitworth Community High School recently enjoyed a four-day trip to the French capital Paris.

Date Published 09/11/2024

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

Lots to do in and around the borough this weekend: Riverside Artisan Market, MiddleTones 10 Year Anniversary Concert, Remembrance Sunday parades and services, live music at...

Date Published 08/11/2024

Kashmir Youth Project celebrates 45 years of community service

Kashmir Youth Project (KYP) proudly celebrated its 45th anniversary in October, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing dedication to community service.

Date Published 08/11/2024

Heywood veterans charity wins big at prestigious awards

Veterans into Logistics, a Heywood based charity that trains and mentors Armed Forces veterans and service leavers into new careers as HGV drivers is honoured to have had three...

Date Published 08/11/2024

Historic Rochdale Town Hall clock repaired in time for Remembrance Sunday

The iconic clock at Rochdale Town Hall has undergone repairs so that it will be fully operational in time for Remembrance Sunday.

Date Published 07/11/2024

The sheep shelter causing uproar in Wardle

People in Wardle are in uproar… over a sheep shelter. A large number of Wardle residents were outraged when they saw it built in the field behind the former Halfway House pub.

Date Published 07/11/2024

Plan to create new special needs school thrown out

Plans for a new special needs school in Rochdale have been rejected by Rochdale Council's planning committee for being ‘the right plan in the wrong place’.

Date Published 07/11/2024

Rochdale apprentice honoured with accolade at ECI Training and Development Awards

An apprentice from Rochdale is celebrating after scooping an award at a ceremony to honour the very best of engineering construction talent in the UK.

Date Published 07/11/2024

Police respond to over 500 anti-social behaviour calls on bonfire night

Police officers responded to over 500 calls for service related to anti-social behaviour on bonfire night, making various arrests across Greater Manchester. This year’s heightened...

Date Published 07/11/2024

England’s largest onshore wind farm could be built on Rochdale border

What may become ‘England’s largest onshore wind farm’ could soon be built on the Rochdale border. A renewable energy developer has announced plans to expand Scout Moor wind farm...

Date Published 06/11/2024

Roadworks, temporary road closures and restrictions

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

Date Published 06/11/2024

Borough's golden year at North West in Bloom awards

The borough of Rochdale scooped an outstanding haul of gold medals at the recent North West in Bloom awards, showing that this green-fingered area is a force to be reckoned with.

Date Published 06/11/2024

Villages turned pink in October for a good cause

Littleborough, Milnrow, and Newhey went pink for the month of October, as local shops, schools, nurseries, and businesses displayed pink decorations to raise cancer awareness.

Date Published 06/11/2024

‘As soon as it gets dark, that’s when it all starts’: Life on the estate where outsiders are banned from loitering

Fear is in the air on a troubled Rochdale estate where drastic measures have been taken. Police announced on Monday (4 November) they were banning all non-residents from gathering...

Date Published 06/11/2024

Lung MOTs to be offered to more people in Rochdale including Littleborough and Milnrow

Smokers and former smokers aged 55-74 years registered at a number of doctors’ surgeries in Rochdale, Milnrow and Littleborough will be invited for a lung health check this

Date Published 05/11/2024

High school production of Grease is a sell out

Six weeks of rehearsals, including Fridays until 8pm and a weekend, went into perfecting a slick production of Grease. Young performers from Whitworth Community High School staged...

Date Published 05/11/2024

"More justice for victims" as crime falls across the region, says GMP

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says that crime rates have significantly declined across Greater Manchester over the last year, with a 17% reduction in neighbourhood crime and an...

Date Published 05/11/2024

New safety zone for Freehold as police crack down on crime

A new closure order has been issued in the Freehold area, aiming to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour by stopping gatherings in communal spaces. Greater Manchester Police...

Date Published 05/11/2024

Rochdale’s young people address key climate concerns

Young people in Rochdale are taking the lead in the climate change discussion, engaging their peers in a vital conversation about how to tackle the climate emergency.

Date Published 05/11/2024

MP is “proud” of budget which will “return our nation to growth”

Elsie Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton North, offers her views on the recent budget, and says that the foundations are now in place to “return our nation to growth.”

Date Published 04/11/2024

New Starbucks drive-thru coming to Rochdale

A new Starbucks drive-thru has been given the green light for a retail park in Rochdale. A section of the car park on Whitworth Road which serves Dunelm and the former Carpetright...

Date Published 04/11/2024

Actor’s restoration dream shattered as council plans to take back ancestral home - without him knowing

An actor's dream of restoring his ancestral home to its former glory has fallen to pieces after learning, via a press enquiry, that the council has decided not to renew their...

Date Published 04/11/2024

George Galloway lands in Rochdale to open new Workers Party office

The next five years look set to be the swan song of political giant George Galloway, who hopes to leave an established Workers Party as his legacy. After cutting the ribbon on his...

Date Published 04/11/2024

Police officer arrested after Rochdale car crash leaves man fighting for life

A Greater Manchester Police officer has been arrested over a crash in Rochdale over the weekend, which has left a man in a life-threatening condition. A 42-year-old man, who was...

Date Published 04/11/2024

Fireground Museum recognised for safety and learning quality

Fireground Museum, based in Rochdale’s former Maclure Road fire station, continues to earn accolades for the standards of both its educational role and visitor services.

Date Published 03/11/2024

Toad Lane Concerts: Charlotte Thomson soprano, Mila Johannsen mezzo and Minyu Shi piano

Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music is an internationally renowned conservatoire. Happily, several of its students, past and present, and also staff visit Toad Lane...

Date Published 03/11/2024

Runner Zoe conquers gruelling Highland marathon for Springhill Hospice

Zoe Attwood, a 41-year-old resident of Littleborough, recently took on the formidable challenge of The Dramathon, a full-distance marathon that traverses the rugged terrain of the...

Date Published 03/11/2024

More Main News

Enjoy a flamin’ good time at Ignite Fire Festival

The countdown to Christmas begins in Rochdale soon with the return of the Ignite Fire Festival, packed with free magical family entertainment. Ignite will transform the gardens...

Winter Ale Trail returns to Rochdale with CAMRA’s finest brews

The 2024 Winter Ale Trail is set to launch later this month, promising locals and visitors a showcase of some of Rochdale’s best pubs and bars. Organised by the Rochdale Business...

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