Community News

Arson probe after six flee Rochdale house blaze

Six people had to be rescued from a burning house in Rochdale this morning, Friday 9 May 2008.
Police were called to an address on Arundel Avenue at about 3.30am following a report of a fire.
Officers went to the scene where six people were rescued from the master bedroom by the fire service.

Date online: 09/05/2008

More buddy mentors to reduce youth homelessness

A new drive to 'buddy up' young people with positive role models to help prevent youth homelessness is to be announced today by Housing Minister Iain Wright.
Whilst the number of young people under 25 becoming homeless last quarter fell by more than 1,000 (15 per cent) compared to the previous year, as a result of investment in prevention services, they still account for ...

Date online: 09/05/2008

Strengthening support for home owners in current market conditions

A new £10 million package of measures to support home owners who may be facing difficulties with their mortgage, is announced today by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling and Housing Minister Caroline Flint.
This package includes measures to ensure that financial advice and support is available for borrowers who may need it and includes an additional £9 million ...

Date online: 09/05/2008

Row over Kingsway Business Park as hotel chain pulls out

Artists impression of the now defunct De Vere Village Hotel planned for Kingsway Business Park

With the news that the De Vere Village Hotel planned for Kingsway Business Park has now fallen through, Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, has raised concerns that of...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Quick, convenient health services on your doorstep

Dr Paul Griffiths from Durnford Dermatology, patient Vinny Gillespie, and John Pierce, Chair of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust

Patients can now get faster and more convenient treatment thanks to the launch of new health services across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.
Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary –...

Date online: 08/05/2008

70 per cent of council streets are cleaner than Rochdale

Seventy per cent of local authority streets are cleaner than Rochdale, according to the latest figures for clean streets in Britain.
The study, carried out by GMB trade union has collated data supplied by the 351 councils in England to the Audit Commission on land and highways that were assessed as having unacceptable levels of rubbish. ...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Driving tests to get of a lot tougher

Rochdale's learner drivers could now face tougher tests in a bid to reduce the number of accidents involving novices.
To get a licence, learners will have to demonstrate independent driving skills and have a clear understanding of different situations on the road, the Government has announced.
And there will be a star-rating for driving instructors to allow learners ...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Knowles in line to take top job

Richard Knowles could take charge of Greater Manchester’s public transport after his party’s strong showing in the local elections.
Saddleworth South Liberal Democrat councillor is currently opposition leader on the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA), but could become chairman if Labour loses control of the authority.
The disastrous results for...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Home Information Packs benefiting consumers

The Government has announced a package of measures to help ensure consumers are seeing the vital information in Home Information Packs and are receiving a higher standard of service in the home buying and selling process.
The new measures include: developing a new set of standards with industry on what consumers should expect from property professionals in the home buying...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Cameras keep criminals off roads

Designed to keep criminals off the roads, Greater Manchester Police has introduced twelve permanent Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) sites in and around north Manchester.
A technological breakthrough, the new ANPR system allows the rapid reading and identification of number plates using fixed cameras around north Manchester. This will enable Greater Manchester to...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Every parent matters in Rochdale

Parents from across Rochdale will come together at Touchstones Art Gallery in Rochdale on Wednesday 14 May to celebrate their achievements and the launch of a parenting strategy for Rochdale families in Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.
Parents from various groups will unveil artwork at Touchstones that reflects the ups and downs of life as parents. ...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Lambert is new Rochdale MBC Labour leader

Councillor Colin Lambert

Rochdale MBC Labour Group has elected a new leader and deputy leader for the 2008/09 municipal year.
Councillor Colin Lambert has been elected the new leader of the Labour Party on is ...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Cannabis reclassified as Class B drug

Speaking after the announcement that cannabis is to be reclassified as a Class B drug, Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies said: "The Advisory Council are to be congratulated for resisting political pressure and basing their recommendation on theobjective evidence. Gordon Brown has ignored the advice of these experts and instead appealed to irrational tabloid sentiments. ...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Deafening silence over former Innes centre

Over the past three months Rochdale Online has reported on the attempts by Christine Arrowsmith to get answers about the sale of the former Innes Centre School site on Ings Lane. In an apparently bizarre series of events, Ms Arrowsmith's initial question for the public forum of Rochdale Township wasn't asked. The fate of the emailed question to the Township office was shrouded...

Date online: 08/05/2008

Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

The local elections have come and gone and there will be no local elections here in Rochdale until 2010. I was reasonably pleased with the results overall in my constituency where Labour We...

Date online: 08/05/2008

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