War memorial in Middleton targeted by vandals will be restored

Memorial Gardens in Middleton

A war memorial that has been targeted by vandals for years will be repaired.

The Memorial Gardens in Middleton commemorates those who fought and died in the First and Second world wars, as well as honouring tragic Fusilier Lee Rigby.

Originally, the building had toilets on either side of the main entrance gates, but they were blocked off years ago after being damaged.

Rochdale Council now has permission from its own planning team to give the site a makeover and to futureproof the memorial.

Proposals include replacing missing or damaged slates; replacing roof trusses and decorative timbers; and replacing roof sheeting as well as the pointing.

Planning papers say the work will ‘ensure that the building is watertight and will stop any further degradation which has been caused by theft of lead valleys and criminal damage’.

Councillor Dylan Williams has repeatedly spoken out about criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in Middleton. Over the course of 2024, the memorial gardens and King George V park were subjected to vandalism from ‘gangs of masked teens on motorbikes’.

Speaking in June after the memorial gardens were attacked alongside Alkrington Woods, Councillor Williams said: “It is just getting worse and worse. It is completely out of control now.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter