Controversial cuts to bowling greens and a crematorium scrapped by council

Rochdale Council has scrapped plans for controversial cuts to bowling green maintenance and services at Middleton crematorium. But the proposed £30 bin replacement fee is expected to go ahead.

Uproar from local residents led to Rochdale Council’s cabinet putting a stop to the money-saving schemes. The proposals formed part of the budget plan that included raising council tax by 4.99 per cent.

The latest meeting of Rochdale Council’s cabinet approved the tax hike, which is likely be officially passed at the budget council meeting on 26 February.

Proposals to meet the £5.5m savings target had included slashing bowling green maintenance from £60,000 to £30,000 per year and to axe the aging Middleton Crematorium cremator.

But councillors decided to put a stop to the plans after hearing feedback from residents on the consultation, a meeting in Number One Riverside heard.

Read more: Council tax rise planned for the Rochdale borough - have your say on budget cutsPublished: 07 February 2025

Addressing his cabinet at council HQ, Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of the council, said: “We won’t be pursuing the cuts to the bowling green maintenance and we won’t be pursuing the halt to memorials at Middleton Crematorium. It will be obsolete in two years’ time and we need to replace it.

“I have instructed officers to take a look at purchasing a new cremator.

“Obviously this is a very good settlement from the government this year. It’s the best one we’ve had in a decade.

“It does provide us with a certain amount of relief. Local government has been struggling as of late.

“The council’s task is in offering alternative ways of funding local services. I hope in future years the government can look at different ways of funding local government.”

Plans to charge £30 for replacement bins in the borough are still expected to go ahead. The replacement bins would only incur the £30 charge if that property has already received the same type of bin within the past five years.

The cabinet also approved the two per cent increase in fees and charges – expecting to raise £84,000. These charges relate to the costs of council services ranging from pest control to bouncy castle hire.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter