Council leader's column: delivering our ambitious regeneration programme

Neil Emmott is the leader of Rochdale Council and a councillor for West Middleton. This month he dedicates his column to the borough's exciting regeneration projects, including a major investment in Heywood, support for the Armed Forces community, and recognition of local initiatives like the Christmas Toy Appeal and the live falcon webcam.

There is much to look forward to across the borough in 2025, as we continue to deliver our ambitious regeneration programme, invest in our townships, and provide high-quality, value-for-money services for our residents.

I have always said if you are standing still, you are going backwards, so the next 12 months will see continued investment across Middleton, Heywood, Rochdale, and the Pennines, making our borough an even better place to live, work, and grow up in.

One of the projects I am most proud of is our proposed million-pound investment into Heywood town centre, as part of the council’s masterplan for the area.

This includes a radical plan to redevelop Peine Square as part of the wider multi-million-pound redevelopment of the area. The plans will transform the area in front of Heywood Civic into a stunning public space where people can spend time and relax.

Combined with the major transformation of the civic centre itself, this is a very exciting time for Heywood. The scheme will deliver major improvements, including the extension and modernisation of the popular venue, which will deliver events in the heart of Heywood for decades to come.

This is a poignant year for our Armed Forces community, marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, VJ Day, and other important victories for our Allied forces during the Second World War.

We will be marking these very special anniversaries with events, flag-raising ceremonies, and services at local war memorials. I am very proud of our ongoing support for our Armed Forces community.

We have led the way locally with pioneering initiatives like our Breakfast Club, ensuring our veterans are not only remembered but actively supported, helping to bring them together in retirement to boost their wellbeing and reduce social isolation.

Please keep an eye on our communication channels for further information about our Armed Forces events during 2025.

I also want to pay tribute to everyone involved in the Rochdale Giving Back Christmas Toy Appeal. Thanks to their amazing work and the generosity of people and businesses across the borough, over 2,500 less fortunate children had gifts to open on Christmas Day.

Many thanks to anyone who contributed, donating a record 7,000 toys and gifts that were sorted and delivered to local homes in December. The toy appeal was the most successful one yet, as the borough really came together to help those most in need.

One of the council’s most popular initiatives in the last decade has been the introduction of a live webcam, allowing nature lovers to follow the lives of peregrine falcons nesting at Rochdale Town Hall.

We have thousands of people accessing the live footage from across the UK and beyond. The camera is not just a great way for people to view the falcons living in the heart of Rochdale, but also helps to promote our stunning Grade I-listed building, brings people into the town centre, boosts the local economy, and increases footfall.

We regularly listen to residents’ feedback about the webcam. Following a request led by the local raptor group, we have now added sound, ensuring falcon followers can now hear, as well as view, these beautiful birds.

There are still thousands of residents in our borough who are potentially missing out on thousands of pounds by not applying for pension credits. It’s worth, on average, around £3,900 a year, providing a huge boost to people’s budgets.

You can check if you are entitled to pension credit by ringing our cost-of-living helpline on 01706 923685.

Our team will be more than happy to help. In addition, our cost-of-living package remains in place, with a range of help for older residents, vulnerable people, and young families.

 

 

It is approaching 12 months since our innovative extra care scheme at Keswick Gardens in Middleton was formally opened.

The project has gone from strength to strength, with scores of older and vulnerable people living in the accommodation, and initiatives like the café ensuring the scheme is at the heart of the local community. This is exactly the kind of investment I want to see in our borough, allowing people to live independently with their own front door.

I am hopeful that further adult care projects like this can be delivered in the coming years.

Finally, I would like to say a massive well done to our teams who delivered a first-class service for our residents during the recent cold snap.

Our gritting service worked day and night, helping to keep key routes clear and making local highways and pavements as safe as possible. Also, a huge thank you to everyone who supported and kept an eye on older and vulnerable people.

As always, the sub-zero temperatures really brought everyone together and showed our borough at its very best.