Christmas message from Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Council

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Council

A Christmas message from Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Council.

The last 12 months has, despite many challenges, once again delivered many success stories and achievements across our borough. As always, our spirit of co-operation and innovation has shone brightly. As I have always said, our residents want to see high quality, value for money, public services delivered in their community. That is what we have delivered in a year to be proud of.

I was pleased that, once again, our borough scooped an outstanding haul of gold medals at the North West in Bloom awards. Highlights included an award for best new landscape, given to Rochdale town centre, which was well deserved after recently receiving a gold award at the national Britain in Bloom awards. Rochdale also took gold for ‘town centre’ and ‘small city’. Denehurst Park won gold for the third year in the ‘large parks’ category, thanks to council teams and a strong working partnership with the friends of Denehurst Park volunteers. Golden Mosque Rochdale held onto the Best Mosque award again after volunteers continued to make the mosque exemplary with their floral displays. Well done to everyone involved proving, once again that by working together, we achieve great things.

Other highlights in our year of delivery, included starting the multi-million pound redevelopment of Heywood Civic, to create a vibrant cultural and events hub in the heart of Heywood town centre. We also started the important repair and restoration of Queen’s Park bridge in Heywood. Really important projects for the Heywood community.

In Middleton, our innovative state-of-the-art housing project at Keswick Gardens, providing affordable apartments for residents aged 55 and over, officially opened. This fantastic development ensures people with care needs can live independently and is a brilliant community facility in my West Middleton ward. The re-opening of Rochdale Town Hall was another really proud moment for the borough. Since the multi-million pound restoration, 70,000 people have visited the building, including many dining at our wonderful new Martlet restaurant.

Once again, our borough fell silent for Remembrance commemorations, with people paying their respects at war memorials across the borough. Remembrance always brings out the best in our community. I would like to pay particular tribute to our local schools, who raised over £8,000 for the Royal British Legion Poppy appeal. Next year, there will be a number of special events and commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of World War Two ending. Our support for our Armed Forces community, through pioneering initiatives, like our Armed Forces Breakfast Club, will remain steadfast throughout 2025 and beyond.

I want to take this opportunity to underline how the council is delivering the bread and butter services that our residents want. For example, over £900,000 of funding provided to local groups, events and good causes through our five brilliant township committees. We have cleared over 5,000 incidents of fly-tipping, collected over nine million bins, provided fantastic events like Rochdale Feel Good Festival, the Feel Good Family Picnic and our first ever pride parade, which was a huge success in front of the newly refurbished town hall. Our staff-run Christmas toy appeal has seen over 7,000 toys donated and distributed, supporting over 2,500 local children. Thanks to everyone who has donated, volunteered and supported this brilliant appeal. So a lot done, a lot more to do and look forward to in 2025.

As always, I want to pay tribute to our council staff, health workers, carers, the voluntary sector and countless others who are the heartbeat of our borough. You have all done a brilliant job to look after our older residents, children and young people, ensuring the most vulnerable in our community have been supported, protected and cared for round the clock. Thank you.

The year ended on a really sad note, with the passing of our popular and much loved Middleton township officer, Lauren Mason. Lauren was not only a brilliant council officer, but a truly lovely person who lit up the room wherever she went. Lauren’s friendly, outgoing personality, helpful manner and a natural ability to make friends, meant she was widely respected, admired and loved. Lauren will be much missed, but never forgotten. The thoughts of everyone at the council are with her family and many friends at this sad time. Rest in peace, Lauren.

Best wishes to you all for the Christmas break, cherish those precious moments with your nearest and dearest. Please take a moment to knock on the door or call a neighbour or friend. A simple ‘how are you?’ can go a long way.

Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year to you all.