Local News

Senior councillors have voiced concern after properties owned by Riverside Housing in Langley were placed on the open market. They claim the disposals took place without prior engagement with Rochdale Borough Council.

A fundraising event in Heywood has raised £1799.65 for Macmillan Cancer Support after Donna Dolan bravely shaved her hair ahead of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

Drivers in Ramsbottom have been warned to expect delays as a busy main road is due to shut overnight on Tuesday, March 3. A road closure on Bolton Road West (A676) is taking place so United Utilities can carry out urgent works.

Parents, carers and young people in Rochdale are being encouraged to take part in a new national consultation on children’s online safety. The Government exercise will gather views on how to better protect young people across social media, gaming platforms and emerging technologies.

Civil war has erupted within Labour as activists in Gorton and Denton accused the party of ‘not being willing to change’ during its by-election campaign. It comes as Labour suffered a bruising defeat in the race which saw it lose the seat to the Green Party despite having a 13,000-vote majority in the 2024 general election.

A building in the middle of Bury’s bar strip will soon become emergency housing for families facing homelessness. Vacant floors above The Monkey House bar on Silver Street will be refurbished into temporary accommodation, after a planning application was approved by Bury council.

Hundreds of new homes; a manufacturing centre; and regeneration projects around five railway stations in Rochdale have been touted in a cash rollout worth almost £200m.

Emergency services were called to a premises on Silver Street in Bury shortly before 2.30am this morning after several people became unwell.

Together for Bury has confirmed that former councillor Greg Keeley will stand for the party in the forthcoming Tottington by election.

Hannah Spencer has been elected the new Green MP for the constituency of Gorton and Denton. Spencer succeeds former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who resigned on health grounds earlier this year.

Accredited election observers have reported what they describe as unusually high levels of family voting during the Gorton and Denton Westminster Parliamentary by election.

An April by-election will take place in Bury after the shock departure of a Tottington councillor, the local authority has confirmed.

Voters in Tottington will go to the polls on Thursday 2nd April 2026, following the resignation of Councillor Luis McBriar.

Bury Council has approved its budget for the year 2026 to 2027, setting out plans to safeguard key public services while managing a reduced but still significant funding shortfall.

People in Rochdale will see their council tax bills go up from April. But it’s not all bad news. 

A 38 year old man has been jailed for more than 12 years after carrying out a planned axe attack on a man in Middleton, leaving him with life threatening injuries.

Three teenage boys have been charged with a series of offences following a knifepoint robbery on Bury New Road in Prestwich on Tuesday evening.

As ‘She’s Electric’ blared from an open top bus, Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell started dancing to gee her up activists one final time. It’s the Labour Party’s last day of campaigning ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election, and the mood has been surprisingly jolly.

As polling day draws closer, the contest in Gorton & Denton appears to be a tight three-way race. Polling by Opinium Research, released on Tuesday evening, shows the Greens and Labour with a narrow lead, both sitting on 28%, with Reform just a point behind on 27%. Some will have already cast their vote through postal voting, but many will be heading to one of the 45 polling stations that are in the constituency.

A serving Bury councillor has defected to Reform UK, becoming the party’s second representative on the local authority.

Members of NASUWT at St Cuthbert’s RC High School in Rochdale have begun nine days of strike action in a dispute over staffing levels, safety and working conditions.

A 23 year old Rochdale man has been sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison after admitting a series of sexual offences against children.

Prestwich will be affected by another eight-week road closure on Fairfax Road, developers and the council have confirmed. 

Officers in Rochdale have been equipped with seven electric bikes as part of a push to improve response times and increase visibility in areas where patrol cars cannot easily reach.

The Green Party candidate, Hannah Spencer, has spoken to Roch Valley Radio about the By-Election and her ambitions if she was to be elected on the 26th February, saying the election will be decided by "a handful of votes".

When I became leader of the council in 2021, I set out my vision for the borough, key priorities and the services local residents want and expect the council to deliver.

A cafe close to Old Trafford has been fined more than £10,000 after environmental health officers found evidence of rats and uncovered a serious allergen failure during separate inspections.

Great Howarth School in Rochdale has officially reopened following a major expansion and refurbishment, welcoming families, staff and community leaders to mark the occasion.

Rochdale Council is set to launch a recruitment process for a new chief executive following the resignation of James Binks at the end of last year.

A local woman left housebound and in daily pain is facing further delays to a long awaited hip replacement, prompting her family to launch a public fundraiser to pay for private surgery overseas.

Tottington ward councillor Luis McBriar has announced he will step down from Bury Council as he prepares to take up a new job that requires political neutrality.

Drivers in Bury are being warned to expect delays, with a main road leading from Ramsbottom to the town centre to be impacted by five sets of roadworks.

It’s an experience that will be familiar to many women. You’re at the gym, minding your own business, maybe belatedly trying to put some of those new year’s resolutions into action.

Local residents are being asked to weigh in on how the council should revamp the public square around an iconic sculpture in Bury.

It’s the end of the morning rush at You & Me cafe in Prestwich’s condemned Longfield Centre.

A series of community improvements have been completed in Langley following investment from Rochdale Borough Council’s 3.5 million pound Ward Capital Fund.

Nineteen individuals, creatives and organisations have been shortlisted for this year’s Rochdale Culture Awards, with winners set to be announced at Rochdale Town Hall on Friday 27 March.

Organisers of Heywood 1940s Day have warned the popular event may not go ahead this year unless more volunteers come forward within the next five days.

Three people have been arrested and more than £150,000 worth of drugs seized after officers stopped a vehicle on Bolton Road in Rochdale.

A man was arrested in Rochdale as part of a coordinated operation which saw 23 people detained during early morning warrants across Greater Manchester.

Patients across Bury say social prescribing has played a vital role in improving their mental and physical health, as NHS leaders encourage more people to seek support through talking therapies and community based help.

Primary school children across Bury are being invited to take part in a new writing competition celebrating what they love most about living in the borough.

More than 250 officers carried out 22 early morning warrants across Greater Manchester on Wednesday 18 February 2026, arresting 23 people suspected of links to a family run organised crime group.

Plans for a new retail unit and two flats next to the Mark Twain pub on Whitworth Road have been given the green light by Rochdale Council.

The ‘vigilante’ group that has been ‘standing guard’ outside schools in Heywood remains active, but is being monitored by the police. Organisers behind Heywood Community Guard (HCG) say it was set up to ‘keep women and children safe’ in the town.

Rochdale Borough Council says it will begin enforcement action within days after construction work continued at Primrose Hill Farm in Heywood without planning permission, amid growing public controversy and a planned protest later this month.

Roch Valley Radio has been given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Heywood Civic ahead of the official launch, offering the first look at a landmark redevelopment that will see the venue reopen as a fully accessible cultural and community hub.

Plans to turn a former car dealership in Rochdale into a modern fitness studio have been approved by Rochdale Borough Council.

Eleven students at a Rochdale Sixth Form have secured offers to study at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge following one of the most competitive admissions processes in higher education.

Thousands of young people across Bury have taken part in a borough wide vote to choose their new Member of Youth Parliament, with turnout exceeding 35 per cent of those eligible.

FOI reveals shocking payouts for Maternity harm at North Manchester General Hospital.

Two Rochdale runners are preparing to cover 246 miles in six days in memory of a father whose final night was spent at Springhill Hospice.

Passengers arrived at Rochdale railway station early this morning to find the doors locked and no trains running due to staff shortages.

A YouTuber who bought a bag at a Greenmount jumble sale has appealed for its original owner to come forward after discovering an unexpected adult item left inside.

A new private healthcare clinic has opened within the grounds of Rochdale AFC, bringing imaging and GP services to patients across the borough.

More than 100 couples, friends and family members took part in a Valentine themed gameshow at The Rock in Bury over the weekend.

A community hub serving Fishpool, Goshen, Redvales and Springs is urging residents to donate essential items at a food drive taking place this Saturday at Bury FC.

United Utilities is inviting jobseekers from across the North West to join an online careers event as it begins the next phase of a major recruitment programme.

The MP for Heywood and Middleton North visited a leading Heywood manufacturer to see first hand how apprentices are being trained within a live engineering environment during National Apprenticeship Week.

People across Rochdale are being encouraged to take part in a national consultation that will help define the scope of a new Independent Statutory Inquiry into grooming gangs.

Half of Rochdale’s GP practices have joined together under a new borough wide federation in what health leaders describe as a significant change to the way primary care is delivered locally.

Stop and search powers covering parts of Chadderton and Oldham have been extended until 6.30pm today following three serious assaults earlier this week.

Police have issued a warning about romance fraud after an 81 year old woman from Greater Manchester was persuaded to buy £5,000 worth of gift cards for a scammer posing as a well known singer.

Two young people have been elected to represent the borough of Rochdale as the latest Members of UK Youth Parliament following a borough wide vote.

Couples planning their wedding are being invited to Rochdale Town Hall this spring as the Rochdale Wedding Show returns on Sunday 17 May 2026.

Bury Council has approved £4.5 million of investment to improve its leisure centres in Ramsbottom and Bury town centre.

A group of young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Bury have developed a new training programme to help teachers and school staff better understand what daily life feels like for pupils with additional needs.

Three primary schools in Rochdale have opened eco refill shops, giving pupils hands on business experience while helping families reduce single use plastic.

The MPs for Rochdale and York have joined forces to support a national campaign calling for two automatic promotion places from the National League, as they joked about which of their clubs will finish top this season.

More than 30 pupils from secondary schools across Rochdale have taken part in a careers skills workshop as part of the M and G Skills for Life programme, which has returned for its third year during National Apprenticeship Week 2026.

Two men have been jailed for life after plotting an Islamic State inspired terror attack targeting Jewish communities in Greater Manchester, in what a judge described as a plan that could have been one of the deadliest attacks ever carried out on UK soil.

Bury’s town hall bosses have rubberstamped the borough’s budget - which includes a 4.99 per cent tax increase and £9.5m of cuts.

A 4.99 per cent council tax rise for Rochdale is set to be brought in, but the local authority will be using reserves to give a discount to all residents.

World Radio Day is today, 13 February 2026, and is a moment to celebrate the impact of broadcasting across the globe, it is also a chance to recognise the people behind the microphone who keep local radio alive every single week.

Police have introduced emergency stop and search powers across parts of Chadderton and Oldham after three separate assaults left three men in hospital within just over 90 minutes.

Hopwood Hall College shone the spotlight on up-and-coming talent as it held its annual Apprenticeships Awards.

Cadets from Whitworth were honoured to be chosen to represent their squadron at the Greater Manchester parade to mark the 85th Anniversary of the Air Training Corps.

A convenience store in Bury town centre has been ordered to close for two months after repeated breaches of consumer protection laws, including selling illegal tobacco, counterfeit goods and dangerous vaping products.

Rochdale Infirmary has been rated ‘Good’ in all areas by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an unannounced inspection.

A specially brewed ale celebrating Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture has been tapped in the House of Commons.

A 19-year-old man has appeared in court charged with several offences following a road traffic incident in Middleton.

A Bury shopping centre has celebrated its most successful year of fundraising to date, raising more than £89,000 for local charities in 2025.

A Year 11 student at Newhouse Academy in Heywood has received a top regional award from the RAF Air Cadets in recognition of her exceptional commitment, leadership, and passion for science and aviation.

Three Rochdale Council bin workers were injured during a violent confrontation while on their collection round in East Middleton, with at least one requiring hospital treatment.

A theatre school based in Greater Manchester has been named a Trinity Champion Centre just two years after opening, in recognition of its outstanding contribution to performing arts education and community inclusion.

A new retirement village could soon be built in Rochdale. The development would see 49 apartments and 18 bungalows erected in the Bamford area of the borough.

A deputy team manager from a Rochdale-based care organisation has been commended for saving the life of a police officer who was seriously injured while on duty.

A Bolton choir for people affected by cancer is inviting new singers to join as it begins rehearsals for the new year.

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

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

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.