Rochdale Borough Council

A unique piece of transport history will be officially unveiled in Rochdale this month.

The borough’s Remembrance Day events were rounded off with a special beacon lighting ceremony outside Rochdale Town Hall.

It’s beginning to feel a little bit like Christmas, and on Saturday, 24 November 2018 from 1pm – 5.30pm at Rochdale Town Hall there’ll be more than mulled wine and mince pies before the lights are officially switched on for 2018.

A decision to open a northern base in Rochdale has paid off for national energy company SSE.

Rochdale Leisure Centre staff threw a birthday party to celebrate their oldest gym-goer, who has been revitalised by her fitness regime.

Thousands gathered across the borough on Sunday, 11 November 2018 for Remembrance Day Services to honour the nation’s war heroes, commemorating 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Rochdale’s brand new indoor market opened its doors to the public this morning Monday, 12 November 2018.

The starting gun has been fired on the new race to be the borough’s next Member of Youth Parliament.

Couples planning to tie the knot will be heading to Rochdale town hall next year – when Rochdale Wedding Show returns on Sunday, 3 March 2019.

Rochdale’s Cenotaph has been restored to its former glory as part of the commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

A pioneering centre that will provide some of the UK's leading care and support for people living with dementia and their families has been opened.

St Mary’s Primary School, Middleton, have been put forward by the region’s mayor Andy Burnham to be in the running for a Greater Manchester Sports Award.

There’s a programme of free family entertainment at Rochdale Town Hall this month when the festive market and lights switch-on kicks off the countdown to Christmas.

The first Great RochdALE Festival of Champions Ale Trail gets ready to launch next week.

The percentage of money we spend with local businesses in the borough of Rochdale has almost doubled.

Action has been taken against 7 litter bugs who were caught dropping cigarette ends in Rochdale, as well as a fly-tipper.

Businesses across Rochdale town centre have voted to form a Business Improvement District (BID), in a move which could generate £1.5 million over 5 years.

The latest round of budget savings proposals, part of £3.6 million of savings for 2019/20, have been approved and will now go forward to a full council meeting in December 2018.

The armed forces community came together for a poignant Festival of Remembrance at Rochdale Town Hall on Friday, 2 November 2018 evening.

Residents across the borough will pay their respects to those who have made sacrifices in defence of the country at this Sunday’s Remembrance Day Services.

Months of hard work by volunteers and our staff has been recognised by judges from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as all 4 areas in our blossoming borough have been awarded medals at the 2018 regional North West in Bloom competition.

Rochdale is enjoying a business revival, with government data showing that there are 1570 more businesses in the borough than there were last year.

The flu vaccination is now available for those at risk.

After a successful debut in 2018, Rochdale’s celebration of all things food and drink is set to spice-up the borough’s events calendar again in 2019.

​​​NHS and Rochdale Borough Council staff are fighting the flu by getting vaccinated this winter.

The borough’s firework retailers have proved they really are ‘Good Guys’ as recent undercover tests found no premises selling fireworks to under 18s.

Mental health was voted as the top priority for the borough’s young people as a tremendous 6,712 votes were cast in this year’s ‘Make Your Mark’ event.

Councillors have agreed to lease the land for 2 new schools in the borough to whichever organisation is successful in its bid for government funding to open a new free school in the borough.

We've recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds after successful investigations into fraudsters.

Very soon we will be seeking donations to this year’s Christmas Toy Appeal, which helps make sure local children living in poverty have presents to open on Thursday, 25 December 2018.

Our teams are ready to hit the road to tackle ice, sleet, flooding and snow this winter. Gritting began last week and now 8 gritters are on standby ready to help keep the borough’s main roads safe.

This Halloween parents are being urged to ensure their families don’t suffer the wrong kind of fright.

Parents of children across the borough who are due to start secondary school in September 2019 only have a few days left to apply for their child’s school place as applications close on Wednesday, 31 October 2018.

A specially staged production of the National Theatre’s award-winning play, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ will be coming to 3 secondary schools in Rochdale in partnership with The Lowry Theatre.

A centre that aims to provide the UK’s leading care and support for people living with dementia and their families will open next month.

Local foster carer Patricia Mills is recognised with a top national award for her outstanding commitment to foster care.

The countdown to Christmas begins in Rochdale next month as we confirm the return of a festive market at the town hall, a big Christmas lights switch-on and dazzling firework display on Saturday, 24 November 2018.

Rochdale Borough Council and partners have pledged their commitment to making smoking history this Stoptober.

19 families from across the borough who have devoted 185 years to fostering children were celebrated at our annual long service awards.

Internationally renowned poet Simon Armitage CBE read some of his latest poetry collections at a sold-out St Chad’s Church in Rochdale for the finale of this year’s Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.

Rochdale has been compared to one of the world’s most visited cities by a leading Professor of Architecture.

Rochdale has scooped a top award at the biggest and most prestigious horticultural competition in the country, Britain in Bloom.

​Rochdale Feel Good Festival gave town centre businesses a £280,000 boost, says an independent economic analysis of our celebration of music and food.

12 primary schools from across the borough saw their film, ‘We Are the One’, premiered at Rochdale Odeon.

Residents across the borough will have the chance to pay their respects to those who have made sacrifices in defence of the country at this year’s Remembrance Day services.

As the number of children in need of loving, nurturing homes continues to grow, one of the region’s top adoption agencies is urging people to step forward and find out more about adoption as a route to building or extending their family.

A free business training course is coming to Rochdale to help support residents who want to start their own businesses.

Kentmere Primary School and Cardinal Langley Sixth Form are both up for top awards as finalists in the Educate Awards.

There was a packed audience at Touchstones last night (Thursday, 11 October 2018) for the launch of Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival

A host of agencies came together in Rochdale last week to learn about new ways of working to help support families, reduce conflict and maintain positive relationships.

A young library member is celebrating after winning the prize draw following our popular Summer Reading Challenge.

A key national report has hailed our adaptation provision as ‘forward-thinking and innovative’.

The biggest arts event in the borough - Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival - returns next week, bringing stars of page, stage and screen to town with 35 shows in 8 days.

Well known faces from stage and screen will be appearing at the Curtain Theatre in Rochdale this month during Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.

Local businesses across Rochdale will get the chance to pitch for business with some of the biggest public sector organisations in Greater Manchester at a special ‘meet the buyer’ event next month.

Hundreds of runners from across the country descended on Rochdale on Sunday 7, October 2018 for the annual Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run.

A ground-breaking new mental health service has officially opened to the public.

A scheme to help Rochdale residents stay warm over winter is heating up, with more cash secured for the project.

The country’s first bereavement nurse assigned to a coroner’s office started her new role this week.

A poignant Festival of Remembrance will be held next month to mark 100 years since the end of World War One.

A new road is set to open in Rochdale town centre as the Rochdale Riverside shopping and leisure development continues to take shape.

We have welcomed the government’s announcement of extra funding for social care but warned that more money is needed to avert a future crisis.

Children from Queen’s Park junior parkrun are raring to go for this weekend’s Williams BMW Rochdale Fun Run after being visited by a local superhero.

Runners and spectators are getting ready for the Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run this Sunday, 7 October 2018 morning when over 1200 runners hit the road for the annual event.

An innovative befriending service is looking for volunteers to provide help and support in a drive to combat isolation and loneliness across the borough.

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

With just days to go before this year’s Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run, online entry has now closed for the event on Sunday, 7 October 2018 and the final countdown is on.

Parents of children who are due to start primary school in September 2019 can apply for their child’s first school place from Monday, 1 October 2018.

The retail and leisure development in Rochdale town centre is moving forward fast, with an official steel signing ceremony taking place at the site.

Staff and councillors at Rochdale Borough Council stretched their legs to celebrate National Fitness Day.

Businesses urged to celebrate their success at annual awards

5 more people have been fined after our investigations linked them to rubbish found fly-tipped in Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.

Runners and spectators are getting ready for the Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run on Sunday, 7 October 2018 when over 1100 runners are expected to hit the road for the annual event.

We are taking a novel approach to improving literacy levels among youngsters with our ‘library card for every child’ initiative.

The Castleton community turned out in force at a service to dedicate a special memorial stone.

A Middleton care home has been hailed after receiving an outstanding accreditation for the high quality of care it provides.

Please be aware of road closures in place during the Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run, which returns on Sunday, 7 October 2018 between 10am and 2pm.

Oral hygiene services expand for young children in Rochdale

Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run returns on Sunday, 7 October 2018. Whether you’re taking part, or spectating, here are some of the events elite runners to look out for this year in Rochdale.

Rochdale Borough Council’s apprenticeship team were big winners at the North West regional finals of the National Apprenticeship Awards.

Back from his inspiring visit to CERN in Switzerland - to experience the latest developments in the world of physics - Assistant Headteacher Chris Lowe is preparing to bring new activities and resources to classrooms in the Rochdale area.

Residents and community groups still have time to share their views on the future of national adult social care funding in a major national consultation.

All businesses in the borough of Rochdale visited by underage mystery shoppers in July passed sales tests carried out by us.

Castleton residents will come together on Sunday, 23 September 2018 at a special service to dedicate a new memorial stone.

The changing face of Rochdale town centre over the last decade has been captured by local artist John Cooke.

Another famous name has been added to the line-up for next month’s Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival.

A firefighter from Rochdale is preparing for a gruelling charity challenge - running 22 10K races in memory of the 22 victims of last year’s tragic Manchester Arena attack.

Our Youth Opportunity Fund is available to give young people across the borough the chance to apply for money to finance new activities.

Parents in the borough of Rochdale are being urged to make sure their children are immunised against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

Parents of children across the borough who are due to start secondary school in September 2019 can apply for their child’s school place from now until Wednesday, 31 October 2018.

Brownfield sites across Rochdale borough will be developed to deliver at least 460 new homes a year and around 210 hectares of employment space over the next 10 years.

Hundreds of youngsters enjoyed a summer of reading, exercise and healthy eating thanks to our pioneering Fit, Feed and Read scheme.

With just weeks to go before this year’s Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run, we are reminding participants to enter online and sign up before the deadline of midnight on Sunday, 30 September 2018.

One of the most important historic buildings in Middleton has been re-opened at a special ceremony following a £590,000 council and National Lottery revamp.

A previously unloved space next to Spotland Library has been transformed into a beautiful walking trail, thanks to the work of local volunteers have carried out with us.

Are you interested in the arts, live shows and performances? Would you like to get more involved and have your voice heard?

Festive food, drinks, gifts, family entertainment and of course Father Christmas - as we light up Rochdale.

The ultimate wedding shopping experience, where you can buy, book and hire everything you need for your special day.

Star chefs cooking live, food and drink village, workshops, music, bars, stalls and family entertainment in the spectacular setting of Rochdale Town Hall.