Rochdale Borough Council

More than 900 children took part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge across the borough’s libraries.

We have appointed Neil Thornton as our new Director of Resources. Neil, currently Director of Finance and Corporate Business at Salford City Council has over 20 years’ experience in public and private sector senior roles.

Top crime writer Sarah Ward will be visiting the borough next week to promote her latest novel in the gripping DC Childs crime series.

Two talented underwater hockey players who made a splash on the international stage have been hailed by the council.

Smokers are being urged to give up cigarettes this Stoptober as statistics show there's never been a better time to quit.

Rochdale's commitment to community cohesion was underlined when a civic reception was held for Manchester's new Consul General of Pakistan.

Rochdale Borough Council's Number One Riverside offices will play host to a recruitment event for budding apprentices on Wednesday, 20 September 2017.

With just weeks to go before this year’s Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run, we are reminding everyone to enter online and sign up before the deadline of midnight on 29 September 2017.

Mr Rumbelow said: “The events that took place at Cambridge House and Knowl View and other establishments in Rochdale have cast a long shadow over the town for many years and have undoubtedly caused pain to many people.

With autumn leaf fall fast approaching, please tell us if you see any blocked gullies so they can be cleaned. (Gullies are the grates found at the side of a road.)

Please be on your guard, we’ve heard reports of fraudulent council tax and business rates agents operating across the country.

Our latest budget savings proposals were considered by the Cabinet last night (Thursday).

Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run returns on Sunday 8 October and residents are being warned about road closures along the routes between 10am and 2pm.

Displays from guide dogs, FREE hearing tests, carers’ assessments and a special visit from the fire service.

A local cricket club has become the second sports club in the borough to go ‘smoke free’ in a bid to protect children from the harms of smoking.

Rochdale Borough Council has developed an innovative idea for grass verges which is brightening roads across the borough.

​​​There's lots for children and families to look forward to at this year's Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.

Sir Michael Parkinson has had to cancel his appearance at Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival while he recovers from a back operation.

A local businessman who took the plunge and splashed out to save Castleton Swimming Pool has been hailed.

Rochdale Borough Youth Cabinet play vital role in getting discounted travel card on the road.

Innovative council support packages in Rochdale have given the high street extra purchase, with more than 20 new business opening in the town centre since 2015.

Parents of children due to start secondary school in September 2018 will be able to apply for their child's school place from Friday, 1 September to Tuesday, 31 October 2017.

Rochdale's new £60 million shopping and leisure centre is moving closer, with site investigations about to be completed ready for building to begin later in 2017.

Rochdale's regeneration boom has fuelled another business boost, with a new firm looking to supply the construction workers of tomorrow.

Carers across the Rochdale borough have given the thumbs up to the excellent standard of service they receive from the council.

Rochdale has been named as one of the best performing health and social care systems in the country.

The nation's favourite TV pint puller - Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear MBE - is to be given the Freedom of the Borough of Rochdale by the council.

One of the most well-known and historic buildings in Rochdale, which was the town’s leading coach house during the Victorian period, is set to re-open this weekend (Saturday, 26 August 2017) following a £200,000 refurbishment.

A hairdresser with a razor sharp eye on Rochdale's regeneration has opened a new salon in a recently transformed part of the town centre.

Rochdale borough's young people are invited to take part in the national Make Your Mark campaign to vote on issues that are important to them.

Changes to charges in some council-owned car parks in Rochdale will come into effect this Saturday, 26 August 2017.

Two Rochdale councillors spent a morning with Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) to see first-hand their vital work supporting some of the borough's most vulnerable people.

Businesses' growing appetite for investing in Rochdale has been cemented with the opening of of 2 new cafes and a bar in recent weeks.

One of Rochdale’s most famous and historic landmarks provided a beautiful backdrop to an afternoon of song, dance and reminiscing.

The council is holding an information and advice day for the thousands of residents across the borough with hearing, sight and speech problems.

A children’s furniture supplier is celebrating after creating the largest nursery furniture showroom in the UK in the heart of Rochdale.

There's just a few days left to book special Early Bird tickets for this year's Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival, which has seen the highest opening sales in its 5-year history.

The number of children seriously injured on the borough's roads has dramatically reduced over the past 16 years.

Rochdale students have bucked the national trend with their top marks in A-Level results.

Changes to the timetable for delivering Greater Manchester’s long-awaited blueprint for growth will not prevent Rochdale Borough Council from pressing ahead with its own plans to attract more jobs and investment.

Door staff working at venues in Rochdale town centre are to wear body cameras to help cut down on alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

The end of the school term also signalled the end of patrol for long time crossing patrol officer Kath Slater.

An innovative scheme is ensuring scores of Rochdale residents can access key services to improve their health and wellbeing.

Over 11,000 people packed Rochdale town centre this weekend for another feast of live music, food and family entertainment at the tenth Rochdale Feel Good Festival.

A local farmer has been given a 12-week curfew after failing to properly care for one of his cows.

After listening to feedback from concerned residents, the council has scrapped a proposal which would have seen charges more than double for those parking for more than 4 hours at Hollingworth Lake, one of the north west's best-loved tourist spots.

Rochdale Borough Council staff are leading by example when it comes to being cardiac smart and life-saving ready – by using their lunch breaks to learn how to perform life-saving Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Rochdale Borough Council is warning local retailers after 2 were caught selling alcohol to children during undercover mystery shop.

Second-hand smoke has been linked to around 165,000 new cases of disease among children in the UK each year.

Green-fingered residents have proven gardening is right up their alley during this year's 'Alleyways in Bloom' competition.

The official beer for this year's Rochdale Feel Good Festival has been unveiled.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival goers are advised to plan their journey, arrive early and allow plenty of time to get to the event, which promises to be the biggest and best in the festival's history.

Rochdale Feel Good Festival will be tickling tastebuds and filling the town with live music this month.

Digital communications store O2 Rochdale is encouraging visitors to this month's Rochdale Feel Good Festival to share their photos during the event.

Rochdale Council's Cabinet has approved work to expand Matthew Moss Secondary school in order to provide vital school places for children and young people in the Rochdale borough.

A Rochdale Borough Councillor showed off his culinary skills when council and health staff were served up a special 'thank you' curry.

Television comic Lee Nelson brings his new tour to Middleton Arena this October 2017.

As Rochdale's Flying Horse Hotel prepares to welcome the crowds for its busiest weekend of the year, manager Patricia Boothman looks ahead to Rochdale Feel Good Festival and its 10th birthday.

Extra dates have been added for our Bowlee Car Boot Sale and Collectors Market, extending the current season into early September 2017.

Tickets for Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival go on sale at 10am on Monday, 7 August 2017 with 25% off, so we are urging book fans and literature lovers to get theirs early and save money.

A bumper, almost £0.5 million road resurfacing scheme hits the road next week.

A car leasing company which has been in business for more than 20 years has found a new home in Rochdale, as part of its drive to grow.

Older people's priorities were top of the agenda when 'councillor champions' from across the region came together in the splendour of Rochdale Town Hall.

Rochdale Borough Council Leader Richard Farnell has accused the government of showing contempt for northern communities after electrification plans for a key TransPennine rail route were shelved.

Already famous for live music, the food will be drawing admirers too at Rochdale Feel Good Festival.

Businesses in the borough of Rochdale are being advised to be on their guard and watch out for 'FREE sample' fraud.

A Rochdale borough councillor will swap the chamber for the kitchen when he cooks up a Biryani as a special 'thank you' to council and health staff.

2 young nature lovers were amongst the winners in a 'name the peregrine falcon chick' competition organised by Rochdale Borough Council.

Comedian Jason Manford is to play a special show in the borough this October, ahead of his major national 'Muddle Class' tour in 2018.

On Sunday, 16 July 2017 communities from the across the borough of Rochdale came together for a special concert to show solidarity with the victims of the Manchester, London and other terrorist attacks.

More headline guests are on the line-up for this year's Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival.

As a company dedicated to improving the vitality of the town centre, Rochdale Town Centre Management has played a leading role in Rochdale Feel Good Festival since introducing it in 2008.

Poignant Poem strikes a chord with top Poet.

A new continental-style café is cementing Rochdale's reputation as a town centre which is firmly on the up.

Rochdale youth service organise a variety of fun events for young people over the summer holidays.

Today, a record number of parks and green spaces collect Green Flag Awards.

4 of the council's school crossing patrol officers have clocked up a combined 45 years' service.

Former Rochdale Borough Council librarian Sheila Sfrijan dedicated her life to helping others, inspiring generations of people with her love of books, charming outlook and helpful personality.

Rochdale's latest singing sensation, Riccardo, is through to the semi-final of the The Voice Kids UK.

The Old Police Station in Heywood celebrated its 10th birthday this week, marking a decade since the building, run by us, was converted into managed workspace.

Over 150 small businesses from Rochdale and beyond took centre stage at an event designed to help them win contracts with some of the biggest public sector organisations in Greater Manchester.

Companies across Rochdale are once again being given the chance to show they're the business, with nominations now open for the Rochdale Business Awards 2017.

The search is on for the borough's best new building or regeneration project.

The Old Police Station in Heywood is preparing to celebrate a special birthday. On Thursday, 13 July 2017 it’s 10 years since we converted the building into managed workspace.

Star singer Ashley John-Baptiste entertained over 350 cared for children, young people and carers at Rochdale Borough Council’s celebration day for the achievements of the borough’s cared for children.

A local children’s centre has put residents’ lives at the centre of its heart and become cardiac smart thanks to life-saving project.

Greater Manchester Police are joining next month's Rochdale Feel Good Festival's 10th anniversary commemorations with a birthday of their own.

Digital communications chain O2 Rochdale is backing this summer's Rochdale Feel Good Festival.

Residents are being encouraged to get scam aware and do their part to prevent them this July for Scams Awareness Month.

Our thrilling annual charity abseil down Rochdale Town Hall is looking for dare devils with a head for heights. You'll get a bird's eye view of Rochdale and raise cash for a good cause.

Rochdale Town Hall played host to the annual Children's Champion elections results on Tuesday, 4 July 2017, which saw a new champion take up the reigns.

Rochdale Borough Council helped strike the right chord when political leaders from across Greater Manchester reaffirmed their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Hot new band Next Stop Mars will play the main stage at Rochdale Feel Good Festival next month.

Residents are being invited to nominate sites for potential development to help the council meet its target of building nearly 6,000 new homes by 2028.

Further details of this year's Williams BMW Rochdale Fun Run have been announced.

Rochdale Borough Council is dumping its last community recycling collection points, which have become a haven for flytippers and are no longer needed because household recycling rates have soared.

Rochdale Borough Council will play host to an historic moment when political leaders from across Greater Manchester renew their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Rochdale Football Club is backing this summer's Rochdale Feel Good Festival again – signing up to be one of the event's main sponsors.

The next chapter of an innovative scheme will give people living with long-term health conditions a welcome tonic.

9am-10am, every Thursday. Breakfast costs just £2.50.

Rochdale Half Marathon and 10K returns for its third year. It’s one of the highlights of our sporting calendar.

An exciting week of arts for all ages from Tuesday, 17 - Sunday, 23 October 2017,  covering drama, comedy, poetry, spoken word, visual arts and children's shows.