Local Election Day - your chance to decide how our town is run

Date published: 04/05/2006

Today, Thursday 4 May, is local Election Day and your chance to decide how our town is to be run over the next 12 months.

We prefer to report the news rather than indulge ourselves with editorial comment, however, we are breaking with our own self imposed rule to urge you to go to your allotted polling station, or return your postal vote if you have one and haven't already done so, and cast your vote.

If you need help to make your mind up which candidate to vote for then simply click on the local election special image on the right and you can view 'pitches' from the vast majority of candidates - over 85% of candidates responded to our invitation to explain to you why they feel they would make a good councillor and why you should vote for them.

Local democracy depends on the active engagement of the local community and the most direct and effective way of enacting that engagement is to exercise your right to decide who represents you on the council.

The local council is responsible for a surprising number of services that you use and rely on every day: from housing to street lighting, education to pub licensing, parking to sports facilities, and park maintenance to care for the elderly. That's why your vote can make a real difference.

Make an effort today, please use your vote.

Having cast your vote, visit the election special pages of the site tonight from 10pm onwards for a running commentary on how things are looking at the count at Rochdale Town Hall. Our reporter will be posting regular updates and our photographer will be there to capture the tension as the night unfolds.

As soon as the results are in they will be posted online and within hours of the count ending a full report and all the nights’ photos will also be online.

Rochdale Online (Today's news today!)