National accolade for Town Hall cleaning team

Julie Mottram, Christine Weaver, Magdalena Skierniewska, Leslie Walker, Linda Walker, Peter Gurney, Dorothy Watson

The team responsible for keeping the Grade 1 listed Victorian Gothic Rochdale Town Hall in tip top condition have won a national accolade.

The Rochdale Borough Council team collected the award for the ‘Best Public Sector Cleaning Team in the UK’ at a ceremony in Harrogate last week.

The annual awards, sponsored by the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers (ABCD) and Denis Rawlins, recognise and promote team achievement.

The inaugural award, presented to Rochdale, was launched last year to find the most dedicated and hard-working cleaning team in the public sector.

The judges said Rochdale showed ‘exceptional standards’ and were worthy winners.#

Representatives from Rochdale’s team were on hand to receive the award from sponsor James White.

James said all three finalists were outstanding in their own right, but the judges felt Rochdale should take it for the unique challenges they face daily. He added: “Rochdale’s standards of cleanliness were exceptional, which is no mean feat when you consider they have to maintain an old Victorian town hall which is increasingly being booked for high profile and diverse events such as weddings, festivals, conferences, boxing matches, filming, concerts and exhibitions.”

Peter Gurney, manager for facilities and cleaning at the council, when asked by the judges what the secret is to keeping the building in sparkling condition, replied modestly 'common sense'. He added: “The team and management are very proud to get this award. A small dedicated group do a sterling job, day in day out, often unseen by people who use the town hall. They don’t do it for accolades or praise, but they are rightly happy to be acknowledged and the award is on display at the Town Hall. I already knew they do a fabulous job but this national award endorses it.”

Rochdale Town Hall, opened in 1871, is recognised as one the finest municipal buildings in Europe.