Local News

The next stage of plans for 1,000 more homes to Heywood has taken a step forward. A planning application for 186 houses to the plot of land off Hareshill Road North has been tabled with Rochdale council.

A building in Rochdale town centre could be transformed into shared accommodation for workers under new proposals submitted to the council.

Rochdale’s RSPCA branch is calling on local residents to support its ongoing efforts to protect, rescue and rehome animals across the borough.

February 8, 2025: A Saturday night that changed Tameside politics forever, and one that could still reshape the future of Greater Manchester for years.

Andrew Gwynne has stepped down as Gorton and Denton’s MP, nearly a year after he was named in the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp scandal.

A council motion committing Bury to giving every child the best possible start in life was passed with near-unanimous support at a Full Council meeting yesterday, with only one councillor voting against.

Andy Burnham says he was completely ‘in the dark’ about Andrew Gwynne’s plans amid reports a deal has been reached that may see the MP’s Gorton and Denton seat up for grabs.

Andrew Gwynne is reportedly set to resign as the MP for Gorton and Denton nearly a year after the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp scandal broke.

A powerful new photography exhibition commemorating the 25th anniversary of NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo has opened at Number One Riverside in Rochdale town centre.

A care facility in Heywood is trialling new technology that could transform how support is delivered to vulnerable people across Rochdale.

A long-running dispute over the future of Hopwood Hall in Middleton is heading to trial, as American actor and writer Hopwood DePree launches legal proceedings against Rochdale Council.

A striking new mural celebrating mental health awareness has been unveiled outside Healey Deli in Whitworth, sparking praise from local residents and campaigners alike.

A 1920s Rochdale theatre could get a makeover as part of a huge regeneration project.

A disused patch of land at Birch Hill Hospital is set to be transformed into a therapeutic green space for patients, staff, and the wider Wardle community, thanks to a £32,600 grant from the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund.

Council tax in Rochdale is expected to go up by 4.99 per cent in April. The local authority is due to vote on the budget at the end of next month, an annual requirement for every council.

A CHRISTMAS present of singing lessons helped Alice Kowal win the Guide section of the Girlguiding North West England talent competition.

A special bus carrying the name of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, one of the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, was unveiled outside Tottington High School this morning, Monday 19 January.

Public consultation to follow after approval of policy to curb fast food outlets near schools and on high streets

Emergency services comb building as derelict White Lion pub catches fire again

Villagers fear trucks could be rattling through their roads if plans to transform a derelict pub go ahead.

A dispersal order is now in place across Greater Manchester as police prepare for a series of illegal car cruise events this weekend, following a deadly collision in Bolton last week.

A festival organised in memory of one of its founding members has raised over £33,000 for charity, marking a powerful end to the Ferringo Fest story – at least for now.

A Heywood takeaway previously rated zero stars for food hygiene has now been awarded a ‘good’ four-star rating following a reinspection by Rochdale Council’s food safety team.

A crunch meeting to decide the fate of a 199-home development will take place next week. The 12 hectare site between Smithy Bridge and Littleborough has long been earmarked for housing.

A disability rugby group at Rochdale Mayfield RLFC is going from strength to strength since its launch in 2024, with new players encouraged to join its inclusive monthly sessions.

We’re proud to announce that Roch Valley Radio has been awarded £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

A discount warehouse operating without planning permission in Rochdale town centre is expected to be approved by councillors this week, despite receiving 13 public objections.

They are the source of frustration for many motorists across Greater Manchester and it’s the job of our councils to fix them.

Vintage Worx Community Development Trust is a community-led grass-root organisation based in Falinge Park Rochdale.

Tributes are flooding in following the sudden death of ‘deeply respected and passionate’ community hero Dale Harris. The 31-year-old, well-known in the community for supporting youngsters into football and championing local sports, passed away at Royal Oldham Hospital on Monday, January 12

Impressive CGIs have given a first glimpse at the scale of a new business centre in Bury that could bring 250 jobs and £8m to the local economy.

What was once a popular gastropub fronted by celebrity chef Andrew Nutter will be converted into a nursery. The Bird at Birtle was relaunched under the Nutter banner back in 2016 after a £1m makeover.

Commuters faced severe disruption this morning as flooding forced the closure of a key section of the M60, bringing widespread gridlock across Heywood and Middleton.

A building in Bury’s hospitality district could soon be turned into emergency housing for families facing homelessness.

A beautiful Grade-II listed building in Oldham is offering one lucky couple the chance to win a free wedding ceremony. Chadderton Town Hall, a recently renovated baroque-style town hall, will host a free draw for those attending their wedding fair on Sunday, January 25.

The organisers behind some of Littleborough’s best-loved community events have issued a stark warning: without new volunteers, this year’s programme could face serious cuts.

A group of volunteers from waste and recycling firm SUEZ have planted more than 200 new trees in Rochdale, surpassing their annual pledge and bringing their total contribution across Greater Manchester to over 1,700.

A dedicated Rochdale teenager has officially qualified as a karate instructor after completing an intensive coaching programme, earning the title of Sensei.

Rochdale Borough Council has received official recognition from UNICEF.

A series of free poetry performances is set to bring bold voices and fresh perspectives to Rochdale as part of its Greater Manchester Town of Culture year.

A lorry driver who killed two Ryanair pilots and seriously injured a taxi driver in a crash on the M62 has been jailed for 10 years.

A Wigan man who falsely claimed compensation for a cycling injury has been ordered to pay Rochdale Borough Council more than £18,000 after a judge ruled he was “fundamentally dishonest”.

A Heywood takeaway has been ordered to make urgent improvements after receiving the lowest possible food hygiene rating during its most recent inspection.

New powers given to local councils to crack down on ‘dangerous’ pavement parking come as a ‘relief’ to Greater Manchester campaigners and the partially sighted.

Andy Burnham “100 per cent” stands by his handling of the grooming gang scandal since becoming mayor, and has accused critics of “trying to pull everyone apart”.

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Shop owners at the Longfield Centre in Prestwich have been told to leave their premises by April, as the council gears up to bulldoze the precinct for a £100m pound regeneration project.

A concerned mum feels her child is in danger crossing a major road junction without a lollipop lady. Woodland Community Primary School in Heywood has been without a crossing guard since their previous lollipop lady retired almost a year ago.

Households taking out new mortgages in Heywood and Middleton North are seeing lower costs, as typical interest rates have dropped below 4% for the first time in more than two years.

Norden has secured a prestigious Gold award for the fifth consecutive year in the RHS North West In Bloom 2025, celebrating the sustained efforts of its volunteers, businesses and local community.

Hundreds of new affordable homes are planned for Oldham after First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) agreed a £110 million funding deal with Santander UK.

Rochdale’s Masters Rugby League team is calling on new and returning players aged 35 and over to get involved as it gears up for pre-season training this January.

A major new photography exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo is set to open at Number One Riverside in Rochdale town centre.

Residents in Rochdale can now borrow ukuleles for free as part of a musical wellbeing initiative launched at Langley Library.

Rochdale Borough Council has confirmed that chief executive James Binks has resigned from his role, bringing to an end weeks of speculation following his suspension.

Work to replace the pitch at Rochdale AFC’s Crown Oil Arena is ahead of schedule, according to Managing Director Andy Duff.

A lifelong music lover and Roch Valley Radio presenter has captured the hearts of millions online after a candid video of him dancing in his record room went viral.

People across Greater Manchester are being advised to check travel plans and allow extra time as Storm Goretti is forecast to hit the region this evening, bringing snow and the risk of widespread disruption.

A teenager fined by Metrolink despite paying in full for his journey has been refunded after the Local Democracy Reporting Service’s intervention.

Senior councillors are due to meet next week to consider the next stage of an investigation linked to the suspension of Rochdale Council’s chief executive in December.

Anne Ferguson was killed while crossing the street near her home in Whitworth on July 11, 2023. The man who was driving the van that struck her was 75-year-old Vernon Law – and he had such poor vision that he failed to read the top line of an eye test chart.

A long standing butchery business with roots dating back to 1935 has closed with immediate effect, blaming sustained economic pressure and steep increases in beef prices.

A huge energy storage project in Rochdale has hit a new milestone. An infrastructure agreement has been made between the National Grid and battery energy storage (BESS) operator Root-Power.

Closures at Big Lamp Roundabout

Kingsway Park High School will be closed to all students and staff on Wednesday 7 January 2026 due to issues with the heating and building management system.

Pets, farm animals and wildlife across Rochdale are set to benefit from sweeping new animal welfare reforms backed by the town’s MP, Paul Waugh.

A busy main road in Bury town centre will be shut for five months from today Monday, January 5, as part of a £6m active travel overhaul. Market Street will be closed to traffic until June 26 as the council carries out works to introduce new cycle lanes and crossing signals.

Police in Greater Manchester say they are now acting faster and more effectively to protect vulnerable children following past failures, with one recent hotel incident showing how joined-up safeguarding is making a difference.

Police have confirmed the arrest of a man following a serious crash at a bus stop in Wardle that left two people in hospital with fractured limbs.

Police are dealing with an incident at the Norton Grange Hotel and Spa in Castleton this morning, with part of the site sealed off and a visible emergency presence on Manchester Road.

Greater Manchester is expecting disruption this morning as snowfall and freezing temperatures combine with the first major commuter and school run of 2026.

Traffic halted and delays expected following collision between junctions 16 and 17

Emergency services closed Wardle Road in Rochdale following an ongoing incident this afternoon. 4 January, causing disruption for drivers in the area.

A woman has been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after falling from a bridge onto the M66 motorway in Bury. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Saturday 3 January.

Traffic was stopped this evening on the M66 southbound between the A56 and Junction 1.

A severe weather warning is now in place for all parts of Greater Manchester, as the Met Office updates its forecast to include the entire region in its snow and ice alert.

Three members of Greater Manchester Police staff, including two sergeants and a custody officer, were injured on New Year’s Day while processing a suspect at Manchester Airport.

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 23-year-old Joe Burton, who died following a fatal incident in Bury on New Year’s Eve.

A man has been charged with murder after a 24-year-old was found dead in Bury on New Year's Eve.

Live updates during the evening as we embed with GMFRS for a behind-the-scenes look at frontline fire service work during one of the busiest times of the year.

Thousands of music lovers descended on Bury during Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August 2025, for Glaston-Bury, the annual one day music festival in aid of Bury Hospice and other local causes. Since it began in 2008, the event has raised over £300,000 and has become one of the town’s biggest highlights of the year.

Thousands packed into Heywood for the town's annual 1940s Day on Saturday 21 June, transforming the area into a tribute to wartime Britain.

Day One at Parklife 2025 is done, and what a day it was. Over 50,000 people packed into Heaton Park for a massive Saturday, with sets from FLO, Rudimental and a huge headline performance by 50 Cent.

Tens of thousands of music fans are pouring into Parklife, as the day one of the festival gets underway.

The sister of murdered soldier Lee Rigby is preparing to run two major fundraising events this autumn, twelve years after his death at the hands of extremists.

The following statement is attributable to Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry:

Bury Business Improvement District have begun hosting the Knife Angel in partnership with Bury Council and GMP and several organisations and partners.

An old empty mill is to be transformed into much-needed housing for people with mental health issues.

The National Poppy Appeal has been launched in Bury today (Thursday 26 October) as we remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods during past and current conflicts.

On Tuesday 19 September 2023, Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a burglary on Brandlesholme Road, Bury.

Asian Community Radio Station in Moorgate, Bury Sparks Controversy with Anti-LGBT Education Signs

The charitable organisation known as the LGBTQI+ Forum in Bury, has issued a statement.

On Tuesday 29 August 2023 at around 11:55pm, officers were called to reports of a man who had been attacked with a knife on Haworth Walk in Radcliffe, Bury.

Housing association Onward Homes and construction firm John Southworth will be working in partnership on a new development of 30 affordable homes in Whitefield, Bury.