The past twelve months have been a period of significant accomplishment for Rochdale Borough, with the council highlighting a series of successes across its townships. Council Leader, who took up the role in 2021, reflected on a year of delivering high-quality public services amidst ongoing challenges, crediting the area's characteristic cooperative spirit.
Floral Triumphs and Green Space Excellence
Environmental and community efforts were spectacularly rewarded at the North West in Bloom awards. The borough secured an impressive collection of gold medals, with Rochdale itself achieving a notable 'clean sweep' award for its pristine, litter-free streets.
Further golds were awarded for Rochdale's town centre and small city categories, where it was named best in class. The success extended beyond the centre, with Denehurst Park winning gold in the 'large parks' category for an incredible fourth consecutive year.
Norden in Bloom earned gold for the fifth year running, while Heywood's beloved Queen's Park also secured gold in 'large parks'. Middleton celebrated a double victory, taking gold in both 'best small city' and 'town centre' categories locally, and also triumphing as a category winner in the national Britain in Bloom Award.
Broad Spectrum of Community Delivery
Beyond the floral accolades, the council's annual review points to wide-ranging achievements. The borough enjoyed a successful tenure as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to over 40 events.
Practical community support remained a cornerstone, with 5,510 incidents of fly-tipping removed and over 2,000 breakfasts served at the dedicated Armed Forces Breakfast Club. Care services were expanded with the opening of two new children's residential homes, with two more scheduled to launch shortly.
The council's Christmas toy appeal saw remarkable generosity, with more than 10,000 toys donated and distributed to support around 2,500 local children. The borough also came together poignantly for Remembrance, raising over £30,000 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
National Recognition for Trading Standards
A standout professional achievement came for the council's Trading Standards team, which won a national Intellectual Property Award at the 2025 Chartered Trading Standards Institute ceremony. Judges praised their outstanding work in combating counterfeit goods.
Their efforts over the year led to the seizure of at least 94,000 fake products, with an estimated value of £16 million, protecting both consumers and legitimate businesses from intellectual property crime.
The council leader paid tribute to all staff, health workers, carers, and volunteers who form the "heartbeat" of the borough, providing round-the-clock support for older residents, children, and the most vulnerable. Looking ahead, the message is one of continued commitment to community service and building on the successes of a productive year.
