Council leader's column: the new Hampton by Hilton hotel, Balderstone Park and the council's Helping Hand cost of living support

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Council

Neil Emmott is the leader of Rochdale Council and a councillor for West Middleton.

This month he dedicates his column to the new Hampton by Hilton hotel, Balderstone Park and the council's Helping Hand cost of living support.

Our community is being transformed thanks to a council that is investing in your future, making our borough an even better place to live, work and grow up in. I have always said that to stand still is to go backwards, so the last few weeks have underlined our commitment to driving our community forward. The high quality value for money services I promised from day one of my leadership are being delivered. From an innovative care scheme for older residents, a new hotel, investment in our award winning parks, the regeneration of Rochdale Town Hall, exciting events and much more the last few weeks has underlined a council that means business.

I was delighted to attend the opening of a new 146-room Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Rochdale town centre. Located next to the Rochdale Riverside shopping and leisure development, the hotel features a state-of-the-art fitness centre, complete with Peloton bikes, and a food and drinks offering. Bringing a huge global name like Hampton by Hilton to Rochdale is another major step forward in our ambitious regeneration programme. I was thrilled with what I saw. The hotel, part of the Upperbanks development, looks incredible and it’s a really strong addition to Rochdale’s rapidly changing town centre. The scheme also includes 242 new high-quality rental apartments, all with balconies, alongside communal gardens, and seating areas. In a further boost, the project has engaged more than 1,300 young people in Rochdale borough and created 390 weeks of apprenticeships. It’s a success story to be proud of.

Another pioneering project is our state-of-the-art extra care housing project in Middleton that will provide affordable apartments for residents aged 55 and over is to open later this year. The development will enable scores of people with care needs to live independently. Located at Keswick Gardens, will provide 88 high-quality one and two bedroom apartments, along with ten bungalows, for people aged 55 and over. Each room will feature interior décor in line with dementia-friendly government criteria.

It is exactly the kind of development I want to see in our borough, helping to drive forward our ambitious regeneration plans, supporting older and vulnerable residents and ensuring people can live independently in accommodation of their choice. I am looking forward to the scheme, located in my West Middleton ward, officially opening later this year and being at the heart of the community for many years to come. It showcases our caring side at its very best.

In a further boost, Balderstone Park has been recognised as one of the best in the country receiving Green Flag status to add to the borough's ten other award-winning parks. The park was submitted as an additional late entry this year and after a full appraisal, the park is ready to fly the flag. It’s worth noting we now have 11 Green Flag spaces across Heywood, Middleton, the Pennines and Rochdale - an outstanding achievement.

As the nights draw in, I want to remind residents about our wide-ranging Helping Hand cost of living support that will again be in place throughout autumn, winter and into next year. I am proud that we will be providing supermarket vouchers to thousands of young families during the school holidays, ensuring older and vulnerable residents have warm spaces available, and continuing to deliver our popular warm homes boiler repair scheme. Those are just a few of the many cost of living support packages we have in place for young families, older residents and vulnerable people. Further information can be found at www.rochdale.gov.uk/costofliving or by ringing our support line on 01706 923685.

Protecting older and vulnerable residents is always a priority, so please don’t forget flu and covid-19 booster vaccines are now available. You can either book an appointment, wait to be contacted by your GP, or visit one of our walk-in clinics The flu and covid vaccines reduce the risk of serious illness this winter, so please make sure you grab a jab at the earliest possible opportunity. Further information can be round at www.rochdale.gov.uk/covidvaccine