Council Leader Richard Farnell's round-up

Date published: 08 September 2017

Print

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council

Cever GCSE students

Well done to all our clever GCSE students who have again done exceptionally well in their examinations. They join our outstanding A-Level students who notched up the borough's best ever results the week before.

Our young people are our future, and our borough will only continue to thrive and prosper by investing in first class education and training. Our students and our teachers are a remarkable lot.

We all gain by reducing the strain

I was mightily impressed with the official recognition that the borough has been named as having one of best performing health and social care systems in the country.

Statistics from the Department of Health ranked us in the top 10 of 152 local authority areas, for how health and social care partners work together to reduce the strain on NHS services.

The council was applauded for its partnership work with Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group.

New homes for Heywood

Good news that a specialist affordable homes developer is proposing a £30 million investment to create 240 apartments at the historic Mutual Mills. 

Best in the business

Hopwood Hall College has been voted - once again - as the best college in Greater Manchester. 

Because we care

Carers across the borough have given us the thumbs up for the excellent standard of service they receive from the council.  

The results of the biennial national carers' survey found Rochdale was above the England average as well as the best performing council in Greater Manchester for overall carer satisfaction levels.

The results also revealed that carers' quality of life across the borough was higher than both the England and Greater Manchester average.

We were also number one across the region for the number of carers who felt involved in discussions about the person they cared for.

No room at the inn... nearly

The combination of significant council-funded business rates discounts and property renovation grants have proved the borough is the business, with 21 new cafes, restaurants and shops all opening on the Rochdale's high street recently.

This has all gone towards a 14% vacancy drop in the area covered by the schemes. We have come a long way since the dark days of McDonald's leaving town – although the truth of that is that there has always been two other McDonald restaurants in Rochdale. 

Make sure your homework is done

A quick reminder that time's running out for secondary school place applications.

Anyone affected can talk to schools admissions staff at Number One Riverside in Smith Street, Rochdale, at a series of drop-in sessions to help people with their applications.

The sessions will be held every Tuesday throughout September and October 2017 from 10am-12pm (with Tuesday, 31 October 2017 being 10am-5pm). 

Building transformation

I am excited about Rochdale town centre's new £100 million shopping and leisure centre and its arrival.

Site investigations will soon be completed ready for building to begin later this year. 

Of course, the work means the market traders will have to move from their temporary home.

They are being relocated to Lord Square and the bottom of Yorkshire Street which has just been repaved and looks amazing.

The current market will close its current site after trade on Saturday, 16 September 2017 and re-open at its new location on Monday, 18 September 2017, so there will be no gap in trading. 

Greener all the time

The borough's recycling rate continues to improve - we are up to 57.4%, a steady increase over the year.

Marnie's 'hair' to stay

A hairdresser with a razor sharp eye on Rochdale's regeneration has opened a new salon in a recently transformed part of the town centre.

I had the pleasure of joining Marnie Kennedy at the opening. She has more than a decade's experience of hairdressing, but with council help and the support of Rochdale's thriving business community, her new town centre business is now open. 

Thanks Bet

The nation's favourite TV pint puller - long time Heywood resident and Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear MBE - is to be given the Freedom of the Borough by the council.

Miss Goodyear – who appeared in Britain's most famous and best-loved soap as Bet Lynch for over 25 years – is being given the honour in recognition of her contribution to the arts, entertainment and charity work. 

All in a day's work

Thanks to Councillor Lynne Brosnan who raised the alarm about a 100-year-old unexploded bomb found in Sudden Brook, which was made safe with a controlled explosion by the Bomb Disposal Squad. 

Wellington makes a splash

One of the most well-known and historic buildings in Rochdale, re-opened following a £200,000 refurbishment.

The Grade II listed former Wellington Hotel at Number One Drake Street serves food and drinks once again as the Wellington, after owners Mike and Sarah Howarth gave the three-storey property a new lease of life, with council support. 

Have your say

Rochdale borough's young people are invited to take part in the national Make Your Mark campaign to vote on issues that are important to them. 

Merchant Navy Day

Thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress and members who attended the flag raising on Thursday 31 August to honour the thousands of merchant seamen who lost their lives in two world wars. 

Superfast is speeding this way

Greater Manchester had been named as one of six nationwide 'full fibre' trial areas to deliver superfast broadband speeds. 

Congratulations to...

Rochdale Town Hall receiving top marks from Visit England.
Members' Secretary Susan Smith who has announced her retirement.
Cecile and Surinder Biant who are celebrating their golden wedding.

Eid Mubarak

Eid greetings to one and all.

Happy birthday Rochdale Training

One of the borough's biggest training providers Rochdale Training celebrates its 50th anniversary this week.

 

 

 

Do you have a story for us?

Let us know by emailing news@rochdaleonline.co.uk
All contact will be treated in confidence.


Most Viewed News Stories

To contact the Rochdale Online news desk, email news@rochdaleonline.co.uk or visit our news submission page.

To get the latest news on your desktop or mobile, follow Rochdale Online on Twitter and Facebook.


Advertisement

While you are here...

...we have a small favour to ask; would you support Rochdale Online and join other residents making a contribution, from just £3 per month?

Rochdale Online offers completely independent local journalism with free access. If you enjoy the independent news and other free services we offer (event listings and free community websites for example), please consider supporting us financially and help Rochdale Online to continue to provide local engaging content for years to come. Thank you.

Support Rochdale Online

Home Page | Contact Us | Complaints | Terms & Conditions | Newsletter | Support Us | Our use of cookies

© Rochdale Online - all rights reserved.