Main News

Local election 2021: Labour retains hold on Rochdale Council as it wins back Balderstone and Kirkholt

Thursday's local election resulted in a good night for the Labour party, as it retained its significant majority on Rochdale Borough Council, and regained a seat in Balderstone and Kirkholt.

Date Published 07/05/2021

A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman in Middleton

Darren Roche, 35, of no fixed abode has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in Middleton in October 2020.

Date Published 06/05/2021

Almost a third of people aged 18-49 in GM have had a Covid jab as decline in infection rate slows down

Almost a third of people aged 18 to 49 in Greater Manchester have had their first Covid-19 vaccine, while the decline in infection rates has slowed across the region.

Date Published 06/05/2021

Roadworks, temporary local road closures and restrictions

Information on current and forthcoming roadworks planned to take place across the borough.

Date Published 06/05/2021

If it's not 999, report it online

Think before dialling 999 for non-emergency matters and report it online - that's the message from Greater Manchester Police.
Recently the force has seen a large increase in...

Date Published 06/05/2021

Thousands of pounds and designer watches seized in fraud raid in Littleborough

Over 20 designer watches and around £4,000 in cash have been seized in a raid as part of an investment fraud investigation.

Date Published 06/05/2021

What is the Clean Air Zone and why is it such a big GM mayoral election issue?

The proposed Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone has become one of the biggest points of contention in the lead-up to this year’s mayoral elections.

Date Published 05/05/2021

Rochdale men jailed after police discover container stocked with drugs on Chichester Street

Two Rochdale men have been jailed after police discovered a container stocked with drugs.
Shafaqat Ali, 38, was yesterday (Tuesday 4 May) sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court...

Date Published 05/05/2021

Police are appealing for the public's help to trace a wanted man with links to Rochdale

Police are appealing for the public's help to trace a wanted man from Oldham, with links to Rochdale.

Date Published 05/05/2021

Who gets your vote? The key policies and pledges from all the parties and independents standing in the Rochdale Council local elections

Voters in Rochdale will go to the polls tomorrow (6 May) to choose which candidates will represent them on Rochdale Council.

Date Published 05/05/2021

Housing, police, transport – here is where all the mayoral candidates stand on key issues

Days before Greater Manchester goes to the polls to elect its mayor, the nine candidates battling for the role have set out their stalls on key issues for the region.
Each of the...

Date Published 04/05/2021

Heywood kids are road savvy after cycling safety awareness courses

Heywood children have gained a new sense of road safety awareness after Bikeability courses were carried out over the Easter holidays.

Date Published 04/05/2021

Volunteers needed to help tidy overgrown grounds of vacant St John the Baptist Church in Smallbridge

Volunteers are asked to meet at St John the Baptist to help tidy its overgrown grounds on Saturday 15 May as local church folk are concerned that the Smallbridge site is looking...

Date Published 04/05/2021

Greater Manchester Police tackles catalytic converter theft during week of action

A national week of action has taken place in partnership with the British Transport Police, to tackle a rising trend in the theft of catalytic converters (exhaust emission control...

Date Published 04/05/2021

Veterans’ football clash to raise money for Springhill Hospice

A charity football match between Rochdale AFC Military Veterans and their Oldham Athletic counterparts will take place at the Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday 5 June (3pm kick...

Date Published 04/05/2021

Heywood Foodbank welcomes donation from Amazon Manchester

Heywood Foodbank has received a £5,000 donation from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Manchester, alongside several other Greater Manchester charities which provide support for the...

Date Published 04/05/2021

Silver success for Syke cubs

Three cubs from 40th Rochdale Cubs (Syke) have achieved the highest award they can achieve – the Chief Scout Silver Award.

Date Published 03/05/2021

Northern to introduce new train timetables for May 2021

Northern is preparing to introduce new timetables from 16 May.
The train operator has been running reduced timetables since the January lockdown, but is now reintroducing...

Date Published 03/05/2021

"Package for Sandy”: Morrisons local initiative goes nationwide to tackle period poverty

Morrisons is helping to fight back against period poverty by rolling out ‘Package for Sandy’ - a service available for customers in need who can access a discreet package of...

Date Published 03/05/2021

How to vote safely on Thursday 6 May

There’s just days to go until the local and Greater Manchester Mayor elections, so Rochdale Borough Council is urging everyone to make sure they’re ready to vote.

Date Published 03/05/2021

HART health service for homeless is finalist for prestigious health award

A vital health service for homeless and transient people in the Rochdale borough is a finalist for a Health Service Journal (HSJ) award 2021 in the Best Healthcare Provider...

Date Published 02/05/2021

Sign Along With Us holiday home dreams realised thanks to generous donations

An ambitious dream of local sign language champions Sign Along With Us has been realised.

Date Published 02/05/2021

Greater Manchester Police takes part in national knife crime initiative

Officers from Greater Manchester Police joined police forces across the country to support Operation Sceptre this week (from Monday 26 April).

Date Published 02/05/2021

Free workshops to help secure funding for local recycling projects

A new community fund seeking to support recycling projects in Greater Manchester is offering free workshops to help the organisers of projects navigate the application process,...

Date Published 02/05/2021

World-first clinical trial of Valneva’s inactivated Covid-19 vaccine begins in Rochdale

Clinical trial operator Panthera has begun vaccinating volunteers in a world-first trial of Valneva’s inactivated Covid-19 vaccine at its site in Rochdale.

Date Published 01/05/2021

Last chance to complete your Census 2021

Even though Census Day has been and gone, it is not too late to fill out your form and avoid a fine.
Completing the census is a legal requirement and anyone who does not complete...

Date Published 01/05/2021

‘Feral youths’ damage Edgar Wood’s Grade-II listed Exedra in Middleton

‘Feral youths’ have damaged the Grade-II listed Edgar Wood Exedra staircase in Middleton’s Jubilee Park over the last weekend of April.

Date Published 01/05/2021

Milnrow and Newhey Take Your Pick clear bags of rubbish from village streets

Volunteers from Milnrow and Newhey Take Your Pick cleared bags of litter from the local streets on Sunday (25 April).

Date Published 01/05/2021

Frontline NHS staff feature in Rochdale’s Covid-19 campaign

A new Covid-19 communications campaign featuring local frontline medical staff is being rolled out by Rochdale Borough Council.

Date Published 01/05/2021

Middleton woman who has been shielding since March 2020 meets animals at college after winning pig-naming competition

A local woman who has been shielding enjoyed her first day out in over a year after winning a competition held by Hopwood Hall College and University Centre.

Date Published 01/05/2021

44,290 people in the borough have received second Covid-19 vaccination

More than 44,000 people in the Rochdale borough have now received their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, as of Thursday (29 April).
Over 104,400 people in the borough have also...

Date Published 30/04/2021

Walter Kershaw jailed for four years after stalking ex-lover

Littleborough artist Walter Kershaw has been jailed for four years for stalking his former lover and for breaching a restraining order numerous times.

Date Published 30/04/2021

Greater Manchester mayoral hustings

In an, at times, fractious hour long debate held virtually on Thursday 29 April, four of the nine candidates standing in the Greater Manchester mayoral elections answered...

Date Published 30/04/2021

Friends cycling from Rochdale to Liverpool whilst fasting for charity

Five local men are cycling from Rochdale to Liverpool this Bank Holiday Monday (3 May) in an attempt to raise £2,500 for charity.

Date Published 30/04/2021

Middleton residents hit with fines for fly-tipping

Two more local residents have been fined in connection with fly-tipping offences after investigations by Rochdale Council resulted in successful prosecutions.

Date Published 30/04/2021

Reaching Out Centre opens on Drake Street

The Sanctuary Trust has launched a new Reaching Out Centre on Drake Street in Rochdale town centre - a new community building that provides a safe space for local people to come...

Date Published 30/04/2021

10 employees at Rochdale Council earn more than £100,000 per year

Ten members of staff at Rochdale Borough Council are being paid more than £100,000 per year – the third highest in Greater Manchester.

Date Published 30/04/2021

If you're 40 or over, you can now have the Covid vaccine

People aged 40+ are now being invited to book their Covid-19 jab as the national vaccine programme – the biggest and fastest in history – continues at pace.
If you turn 40 before...

Date Published 30/04/2021

MP holds 'urgent meeting' with Home Secretary Priti Patel about Rochdale groomers

Heywood and Middleton MP, Chris Clarkson, has held a meeting with the Home Secretary Priti Patel, following reports that members of the Rochdale grooming gang have been repeatedly...

Date Published 30/04/2021

Rochdale Borough Council shortlisted for Co-operatives UK Council of the Year Award

Rochdale is the birthplace of the co-operative movement, so it is only fitting that Rochdale Borough Council has been shortlisted for the Co-operatives UK Council of the Year...

Date Published 30/04/2021

Covid cases and hospital admissions fall again – but Greater Manchester ‘a long way off’ herd immunity

Covid-19 infection rates and hospital admissions are continuing to fall across Greater Manchester, but the region remains ‘a long way off’ achieving herd immunity. Vaccinating...

Date Published 29/04/2021

Research offers vaccine chance to younger people in Rochdale

Researchers are inviting local residents who have not yet been vaccinated to get involved in an important Covid-19 vaccine study that could add another effective option to the...

Date Published 29/04/2021

Hundreds of pounds worth of gardening equipment stolen in Whitworth

Hundreds of pounds worth of gardening equipment has been stolen from Acre Street in Whitworth.

Date Published 29/04/2021

Awards recognition for Middleton shared ownership homes

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s new homes for shared ownership in Middleton have been recognised for their excellence with a nomination at this year’s Northern Housing Awards.

Date Published 29/04/2021

Kentmere Academy and Nursery celebrates NACE Challenge Award accreditation

Kentmere Academy and Nursey has been accredited with the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) Challenge Award.
The Rochdale school is the 451st school to be...

Date Published 29/04/2021

Rochdale Sixth Form College shortlisted for TES Further Education Awards

Rochdale Sixth Form College has been shortlisted for the Sixth Form College of the Year accolade in this year's TES Further Education (FE) Awards.

Date Published 29/04/2021

Family of local girl, 12, who died at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital launch fundraiser for legal representation after inquest delays

The family of a 12-year-old girl from who died following ‘failings’ at hospital are raising money for legal representation after delays to her inquest.
Victoria Olabode, who had...

Date Published 29/04/2021

Large cannabis farm discovered in Rochdale mill

Five men have been arrested after a large-scale cannabis farm was discovered in a vacant mill in Rochdale.
Police discovered around 5,000 suspected cannabis plants in Mitchell...

Date Published 29/04/2021

Number of people waiting over 12 hours for an A&E bed falls significantly

Local emergency department performance figures show that the number of patients waiting over 12 hours for a bed has fallen significantly, according to the latest data.
In the...

Date Published 28/04/2021

Look out for tax credits renewals packs

Around 2.5 million tax credit renewal packs are being sent out to claimants by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The packs will be sent out over the next six weeks and all...

Date Published 28/04/2021

"Protect our kids" say Parents Against Grooming UK as group holds protest outside police station

A demonstration to “protect our kids” took place in Rochdale town centre on Saturday 24 April.
The protest, led by Parents Against Grooming UK, comes after it was revealed that...

Date Published 28/04/2021

What do you think of Rochdale town centre – your views wanted on town centre vision for future

Your views are wanted to help shape a vision of Rochdale town centre over the next 10 years.
Over the last decade, many changes have taken place in the town centre – the opening...

Date Published 28/04/2021

Free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Life in the UK courses at Kashmir Youth Project

KYP - the Kashmir Youth Project - is offering free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and Life in the UK courses to enable people to acquire new English language...

Date Published 28/04/2021

Roadworks, temporary local road closures and restrictions

Information on current and forthcoming roadworks planned to take place across the borough.

Date Published 28/04/2021

St James' pupils carry out community litter pick for Earth Day

Children at St James’ Primary School in Wardle organised a community litter pick for Earth Day (22 April) with the help of Wardle village volunteers.

Date Published 27/04/2021

Climate change film from M6 Theatre free for all Rochdale schools

Like many theatre companies across the country, M6 had to cancel their tours in March 2020. But that hasn’t stopped the Rochdale-based organisation from creating work for children...

Date Published 27/04/2021

Man airlifted to hospital after falling down embankment in Heywood

A man was airlifted to hospital after falling down an embankment in Heywood on Monday afternoon (26 April).

Date Published 27/04/2021

If you're 42 or over, you can now have the Covid vaccine

People aged 42+ are being invited to book their Covid-19 jab as the national vaccine programme continues at pace.

Date Published 27/04/2021

Thousands of people in Rochdale have waited longer than a year for NHS treatment

Thousands of patients have now waited longer than a year for hospital treatment in parts of Greater Manchester due to delays caused by Covid.
More than 8,000 patients were on...

Date Published 27/04/2021

Free 12-week employability course to get you back into work hosted by Dale Community Trust

A free 12-week employability course is being run by the Rochdale AFC Community Trust to support people back into employment.

Date Published 26/04/2021

Your 'pandemic hero' design could become one of eight Special Stamps in Royal Mail contest

Children are being encouraged to take part in Royal Mail’s stamp design competition, honouring the heroes of the pandemic.

Date Published 26/04/2021

More Main News

First Food and Artisan Fayre is cracking success

After months of lockdown, the first Food and Artisan Fayre of the year proved to be a resounding success for all on Saturday (1 May).
Droves of excited shoppers visited Rochdale...

Covid Smart moves to larger testing centre

Covid Smart Private Covid Testing Provider has moved to a larger testing centre on the car park of the All-in-One garden centre in Middleton.

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