Letter from Parliament – Simon Danczuk MP

Simon Danczuk MP

There are many lessons that can be drawn from the difficult economic times we’ve faced in recent years. One of the most important ones is that towns which have proved to be more resilient than others and weathered the tough times are usually those with a strong identity. Towns with a unique selling point, a strong sense of heritage and a clear identity are those that attract jobs and investment, generate civic pride and are generally good places to live.

It’s with this in mind that I think it’s a mistake for the Council to recently announce that it won’t be taking up the opportunity to put our traditional county name on boundary road signs as part of Government changes to planning rules. Most people I speak to in Rochdale see themselves as part of a proud Lancashire town, not Greater Manchester. Yet council officers argue otherwise. They say they are “proud to be part of Greater Manchester” and feel it would be “confusing” to change signs to say Lancashire.

I disagree.

Not that long ago, when the Liberal Democrats were in charge of our council, officers contracted a marketing agency in Hull to re-brand our town. I’m not quite sure whatever came of it; I saw some nice abstract art and a new logo but I don’t think it made any difference at all. It was yet another case of taxpayers’ money being wasted.

Instead of fancy re-brands we need to get back to our roots. We’re a proud Lancashire market town with an illustrious history and many towns would love our rich heritage.

Greater Manchester doesn’t mean a great deal to most people. It only came into force in 1974, whereas Lancashire goes back to the 12th century.

As I write, the Council is currently considering the results of a consultation on the future of the market. The overwhelming majority of respondents want a market. It’s a proud tradition here and weekly markets have been held in Rochdale for over 750 years. I hope we’ll soon see a big traditional market located somewhere on the streets of Rochdale, as part of a return to the town’s core values.

It’s not just history and tradition that generates pride, though; it’s achievement and strong leadership. I couldn’t write this column without congratulating Keith Hill on his remarkable achievement of getting Rochdale FC promoted this year. He’s done Rochdale proud and is a fantastic ambassador for the town. We're all looking forward to next season.