Focus on Middleton: Councillors

Councillor Terry Linden

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As part of Rochdale Online’s Focus on Middleton month this November, we have been finding out more about Middleton’s Councillors.

Reporter Laura Wild caught councillors from across North, South, West and East Middleton to find out more about who they are, why they became a councillor and what their favourite thing about Middleton is.

Councillor Terry Linden is a man extremely keen to promote Middleton, a place he is proud to represent.

He has been a councillor for three and a half years, but before that he was always a “community activist” keen to improve the town.

He said “There is a certain level you get to as a community activist and the only way to make a real difference is to get inside and become a councillor. So I stood for the Labour party in West Ward and I was successful.”

Councillor Linden said he became a councillor to “make a difference.”

His “most enjoyable achievement” relates to his involvement with education in Middleton and his help in turning around a failing school.

Speaking of the changes he has seen in Middleton, Councillor Linden said: “Eight years ago Middleton was fragmented, there were community groups here but they weren’t co-ordinated.

“With the arena, the shopping centre and the master plan Middleton is on the up, I know it isn’t perfect but it is getting there and I have had some input in that, it is nice to see it moving forward and people don’t realise the work behind the scenes.”

Councillor Linden is a keen supporter of Manchester United, he jested that in his spare time he likes to “call city fans.”

“My hobby is talking to people in Middleton, this job is about meeting people, and I like that, that’s my hobby.”

When asked what his favourite thing about Middleton is, Councillor Linder replied: “The roads into it, then home.”

Councillor Neil Emmott, 47, has represented West Middleton since May 2010, but it is his second stint on the Council. Councillor Emmott previously represented the former Heywood South Ward from 1986 to 1994, then he was the youngest councillor in Rochdale.

It seems it was inevitable that Councillor Emmott would once again be a councillor, he said: “I'm a political animal. I live, eat, breathe and sleep politics. I also enjoy working with the local community and, if I'm honest with myself, I actually missed being on the Council during my 16 years gap.

“I have always loved the cut and thrust of politics and suspect I always will.”

Speaking about his hobbies, Councillor Emmott said: “As a kid and teenager my sport was figure skating. Not like in 'Dancing on Ice', I was a singles skater where we do jumps, spins, etc. Whilst I cannot do all the things I used to do, I still go to Altrincham Ice Dome every so often for fun and exercise and I still have some of my old skills, although the triple jumps have long since gone.

“I love travel and that is my one big luxury in life that I don't deny myself. I've visited 32 countries and 5 continents so far and still have many places I want to visit.

“Academically, I am a linguist and speak French, Spanish and Catalan to degree standard and German to A level standard, so I guess my yearnings for travel stem from my languages and love of the exotic.”

Councillor Donna Martin explained why she became a councillor: “I have been active all my life, politics is about life changes and my first demo was when I was a student in 1971 against Margaret Thatcher.

“Local politics doesn’t really support a mother of young children and when my children were a certain age I took up the opportunity with the support of my husband Michael.”

When asked what she enjoys about being a councillor, Councillor Martin said; “Difficult question, I am passionate about people and committed to a social cause of trying to eradicate poverty.

Speaking about highlights Councillor Martin said: “I like campaigning for the love of my party and when positive results come in it is euphoria – other highlights are resources for the community Middleton skate board park, it was a long term project but now I see young people from all over Middleton carrying their boards practising the art of skate boarding on what I say is my skateboard park. The other is any other resources we can get to support and engage children and young people in positive activities.”

In her spare time Councillor Martin enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and visiting Italy.

Councillor Martin concluded: “My favourite thing about Middleton is being near Manchester.

“But more importantly it is the people.”

Councillor Jonathan Burns, 29, has been a councillor since November 2008. He became a councillor on the back of his work within the Middleton community.

Councillor Burns said: “I have worked locally as a community development worker for around 12 years, developing a range of youth and community training projects, and supporting voluntary sector organisations to develop.

“I work full time as the director of a community media training organisation where part of my role involves consultation with local people and designing and developing training projects to meet their needs.”

Speaking about his role as a councillor, Mr Burns said: “I enjoy the challenges of my role as a local councillor and feel privileged to be able to represent people and play an active part in local decision making in the Council and through my membership of committees.

“For me, however, the most exciting element is taking up casework and helping to make a difference to the lives of individuals and their neighbourhoods.” 

Councillor Burns added: “Throughout my role I have seen changes and improvements of all sizes happen as the result of local people working together with councillors and council officers.

“I would encourage more people to take an active role in their street, neighbourhood or community by voicing their concerns to local councillors and using the township and democratic systems we have in Middleton and Rochdale Borough.”

Of course it isn’t all work, Councillor Burns has a busy family and social life too, he said: “Aside from my role within the council and work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, including my son Nathaniel, who being midway into his ‘terrible twos’ is proving as much of a challenge as local politics can be.”

Councillor Maureen Rowbotham has lived in Middleton all her life, she has been a councillor for the past 12 years.

Councillor Rowbotham worked for Rochdale Council Social Services for many years in children’s homes in Middleton and Rochdale, and later at the Petrus Day Centre in Rochdale.

She said: “I decided to become a councillor to represent my local community and to get the best for Middleton, my home town.

“I found there are many facets to being a councillor and many hats to be worn; the best of it is enabling people to find solutions to their problems, and to help young people meet their aspirations.”

Councillor Rowbotham added: “One particular highlight was working with Andrew Whitehead and Chris Flintoff, both then Rochdale environment officers, and Karen Heyday, a horticulturist, to get the Valley Road Community Allotments Project going.”

In her spare time Councillor Rowbotham enjoys crosswords and supporting Manchester United.

When asked what her favourite thing about Middleton is, the Councillor replied: “My roots are here.”

Councillor Teresa Fitzsimons has been a councillor for nine years. Councillor Fitzsimons explains why she became a councillor: “Middleton is Middleton, but I want it to be seen as part of the borough. I became a councillor to hopefully give people the chance of meeting their aspirations but based on what they are capable of doing.

“It is about trying to get a balance of peoples needs and not their wants.”

Councillor Fitzsimons says she enjoys meeting people, “People are fascinating. They have lots to give and lots to teach me. Nobody knows it all. The key is to listen and learn and then act.”

Speaking about her favourite part of Middleton, Councillor Fitzsimons said: “I have travelled Middleton for many years, Middleton has different areas with different characters and each of them is interesting.

“Rhodes is different to the centre of Middleton which again is different to Alkrington. Each community in those small pockets has its own character. It is very interesting."

Councillor Lil Murphy has been a councillor for almost 16 years. “I decided to become a councillor because I had worked full time with the trade union, so I could see both sides.

“I enjoy helping people and I like to go and visit them if I get a complaint and do it face to face and talk through their problems.

“I enjoy meeting people.”

The highlight of Councillor Murphy’s time as a councillor was when she was elected as mayor. “I come from a little village in Scotland so for all my family to see me as mayor was so great,” she said.

“There’s been lots of other little things too. Langley has completely changed and that has been a big achievement, not just by me.”

Councillor Murphy said her favourite thing about Middleton is how friendly the people are.

Councillor Malcolm Borris has been a councillor in Middleton for two years.

“I decided to stand as a councillor because I thought I could make a difference to my area. Having been a councillor for two years I have realised that it a lot harder than it seems but I am still working at it,” said Councillor Borris.

“I enjoy being a councillor because there are different things going on all the time.” Speaking about achievements, Councillor Borris said: “There have been some belters. There is nothing better than some one being really grateful, that is a great feeling.”

When asked what his favourite thing is about Middleton, Councillor Borris said: “I have lived here all my life, its just home; it’s a really nice place.”