• Search

News Headlines

Blackstone Edge ablaze

Blackstone Edge ablaze

Two square miles of moorland is on fire above Littleborough tonight.

Fire fighters have been battling to control the fire for over two hours.

Our reporter has been at the scene on Blackstone Edge and reports seeing the moors on fire as far as he could see.

Date published: 16/03/2010

The Mayor has cancer

Mayor Keith Swift

The Mayor of Rochdale has announced that he has prostate cancer.
Councillor Keith Swift said: “I am receiving treatment for prostate cancer as a day care patient at the Christie Hospital....

Date published: 16/03/2010

The 'Big Debate'

Paul Rowen, Eamonn O'Neal, Simon Danczuk, Mudasir Dean

Billed as the 'Big Debate', with the candidates from the main three political parties taking the hustings, the big debate was quite small, only 75 people turned up, and despite the...

Date published: 16/03/2010

More concerned about their sperm quality than having a career

Men in the borough consider their sperm count to be more important to them than being successful at work, according to new research released today. From the areas researched, work success was the only area less important with everything else taking precedent, including appearance and driving a nice car....

Date published: 16/03/2010

New free bus service

Shopping, entertainment and restaurants at Pilsworth Retail Park are just a bus ride away thanks to the new free weekend bus service.
The new service which operates on Saturday and Sunday only, starts on 20 March 2010. It travels from Heywood Town Centre to Pilsworth Retail Park and back again, and includes eight stops. ...

Date published: 16/03/2010

Stay safe on St Patrick's Day

On the 17 March when traditionally many people in the borough celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service want you to remember your safety!
Greater Manchester’s Chief Fire Officer, Steve McGuirk said: “We want everyone to have a fun time if they celebrate St Patrick’s Day – don’t let an accidental fire make it memorable for the wrong reasons, it...

Date published: 16/03/2010

TB on the rise

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) North West in partnership with NHS North West is urging people to be aware of the symptoms of TB as new provisional data published today (16 March) shows that TB figures remain high in the region. ...

Date published: 16/03/2010

Help for repossession hotspot

The Borough of Rochdale is one of 86 repossession “hotspot areas” that is to share an extra £2.5million funding to ensure struggling homeowners get the help they need to avoid repossession - hotspots are identified as being at greater risk due to higher levels of unemployment and repossession court orders. ...

Date published: 16/03/2010

‘Boomerang bosses’ in councils must return pay-offs

Councils should have the power to claw back taxpayers’ money paid out to cut ties with their town hall chief if they later get re-hired to another local government job.
Communities Secretary John Denham welcomed the report and made clear taxpayers’ money should not be used by councils to resolve personal differences and called on Local Government to quickly adopt the...

Date published: 16/03/2010

Counting down the days

Laura Wild

This Sunday (21 March 2010) Daring Rochdale Online reporter Laura Wild will jump out of a plane from 10,000 feet in a tandem skydive to raise money for Springhill Hospice.

Laura has now...

Date published: 16/03/2010

Cancer patients miss out on £6m

More than £6 million in disability benefits is going unclaimed by people diagnosed with terminal cancer in the North-West.
New research by Macmillan Cancer Support shows that patients are dying without receiving either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA) — benefits to which they are automatically entitled. ...

Date published: 16/03/2010

Accountant jailed for £2.5m theft

David Atkinson

An accountant who stole more than £2.5m from friends, family members, the elderly, the sick and even a charity has been jailed for five years.
David Atkinson (born 5/4/50) of Walton...

Date published: 15/03/2010

Libraries more popular than ever

Smallbridge Library

The boroughs libraries are getting better according to the people who use them – and it’s official. Last October over 3,000 library users in the borough were quizzed on their opinions to...

Date published: 15/03/2010

Vandals target councillor

Deputy Mayor Zulf Ali

Vandals wrecked four cars belonging to family of Councillor Zulfiqar Ali in a suspected targeted attack.
Now Councillor Zulfiqar Ali is worried the people responsible for causing...

Date published: 15/03/2010

Hopwood Hall College enriches lives

Clint Boon

Hopwood Hall College enriches the lives of learners and increases their lifetime incomes. It benefits taxpayers by generating increased tax revenues from an enlarged economy and reducing...

Date published: 15/03/2010

Power cuts disrupt celebrations

The residents of Alder Road and Kirklee Estate, Castleton spent the majority of Sunday having their Mother's Day celebrations severely disrupted by a series of intermittent power cuts.
The first power failure occurred shortly after 9am, with the most severe, which completely blacked out the estate, occurring from 5pm until shortly after midnight.
...

Date published: 15/03/2010

£50m to help with economic recovery

An extra £50 million is being given to councils to help them make strides toward economic recovery in their local area.
The funding is being allocated to all areas of the country from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives (LABGI) scheme that rewards councils which successfully promote local growth. ...

Date published: 15/03/2010

Roadworks

Albert Royds Street, Rochdale – Clover Hall Railway Bridge
Road closure to facilitate installation of temporary bridges
Diversion route in operation from Halifax Road and Milnrow Road.
Midnight Friday 19 March until midnight Sunday 21 March 2010...

Date published: 15/03/2010

RBH flouts buy local

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, the organisation wholly owned by Rochdale Borough Council responsible for the Borough's council housing, is the latest Council organisation to flagrantly ignore the Buy Local Concordat it has signed.
RBH has given the contract to redevelop its website to a south Manchester based company, and when asked if local web developers were given an...

Date published: 15/03/2010

Last drug gang member jailed

Fazal Mohommed

The last member of a gang at the heart of a conspiracy to peddle thousands of pounds worth of drugs in Rochdale hase been jailed.
Fazal Mohommed, (born 10/05/1986), of Oswald Street,...

Date published: 14/03/2010

History in the making?

Frank Salt

Frank Salt from Castleton is attempting to make history by becoming the first independent candidate in Rochdale to be elected to Rochdale Council. Rochdale Online reporter Laura Wild met...

Date published: 13/03/2010

More News