Councillor Ashley Dearnley looks back on his 44 years of service

Rochdale’s longest serving councillor is due to step aside in May after 44 years in the job. Coun Ashley Dearnley’s cheeky smile has been a constant in the council chamber since 1982, when he was elected at the age of 21.

Rochdale’s longest serving councillor is due to step aside in May after 44 years in the job. Coun Ashley Dearnley’s cheeky smile has been a constant in the council chamber since 1982, when he was elected at the age of 21.

You would be hard-pressed to find someone in his ward of Wardle Shore and West Littleborough who didn’t know the name Ashley Dearnley. He lives and breathes Wardle and Littleborough, everything about Coun Dearnley is entrenched in the local area.

Even his last name, Dearnley, is a historic district in Rochdale.

His legend is so great that he had a housing block named after him – Ashley Dearnley Court. Hilariously, he now lives there, meaning he has a comedic conversation every time anyone asks for his address.

Memorable moments for the 65-year-old include a luncheon with the late Queen Elizabeth II, saving the clock tower at Birch Hill Hospital and his cherished stint as the mayor of Rochdale.

The Conservative politician has seen his town change beyond recognition over the years. A large proportion of his tenure has seen him lead the Conservatives in the borough, a group that has maintained a small but stable toehold within the council.

Going back to the very beginning, Coun Dearnley spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about why he first got into politics.

“I saw there was great benefit of being on the council for the area,” he said. “Working in the Post Office I could see I could improve things.

“I was a postmaster in Dearnley (a district of Rochdale) for 30 years. The great benefit of that is you see a lot of people who come in with concerns – to be involved in the community is really good as a councillor.

“For them it’s like me putting on a surgery every day rather than once a month.”

Moving on to his memorable moments, he told of how he got to sit next to and chat with the Queen after she visited the town to cut the ribbon on Hopwood Hall College in 1992. He didn’t disclose their conversations but he was very complimentary of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Those fun moments are the fruits of the labour that councillors go through for those who elected them. He explained how it is tough times in politics at the moment, but believes his beloved party can get through it.

Coun Dearnley’s fingerprints are all over the style of politics from the Rochdale Conservatives. His mantra of ‘people over politics’ is something the Wardle Shore and West Littleborough ward councillor has always peddled.

This is in-part because the blues have never had a big enough number to challenge for control of the council, but it means they remain deeply popular in their core areas of Norden, Bamford and Wardle.

Coun Dearnley added: “It’s still my belief that the majority of politicians get involved in politics for the right reasons. I believe we all want the same things, but just believe in different ways of achieving those goals.

“The Conservatives have always moved with the times and shaped its needs to any situation. The situation in Rochdale is that we are not a big group and never had control of the council ourselves.

“We have always remained a steady presence. Other areas have had ups and down and then no councillors at all – we’ve never had that.

“I was the leader for the majority of my years as a councillor and I have always put the area first over politics. The people want to see improvement and the way you achieve that is through working together – I believe we are respected for that.”

Coun Dearnley gave an example of working with former Labour MP Simon Danczuk to retain the new bus station scheme for Rochdale when the newly formed coalition government tried to cut it in 2010. He also went on to describe how he journeyed down to London to lobby for the regeneration project for Rochdale town centre and the Number One Riverside council building.

That was a success and now all council staff and councillors enjoy doing their jobs from the comfort of a state-of-the-art building with views of the River Roch and the revamped town centre.

His passion for the area remains as strong now as it was all those years ago. This was evidenced by his presence at recent planning meetings, objecting to the two housing schemes earmarked for greenbelt land in Littleborough.

Houses on greenspace and the countryside around his home are something he has warred against throughout his time as a politician. Although these latest battles were lost, with approval for around 500 homes across two parcels of land, he continues to fight.

Before he steps down, Coun Dearnley wants to see a relief road confirmed for Littleborough to help ease traffic congestion locally. With more and more houses being built, the road infrastructure is at capacity – something that has been a constant bugbear for the veteran politician.

It is this fight and dedication to try and better the area for his residents that has earned Coun Dearnley unanimous respect across the council chamber, no matter the political allegiance. This was showcased by the willingness of his council peers to offer warm words on his decision to step away.

Coun Stephen Anstee, leader of the Conservative group, said: “Ashley’s 44 years of service to Rochdale is a remarkable contribution to local democracy. Few people devote that much of their lives to representing their community.

“His experience, commitment and knowledge will be greatly missed within the Conservative group and by the residents he has served for so many years. On a personal level, I’m genuinely saddened by his decision to step down, but after such an extraordinary period of service he has more than earned the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved rest and more time with his family.”

Coun Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council and the Labour group, said: “I go back a long way with Ashley and I have always respected him as a man of great integrity, who cares passionately about the borough and its residents. Although we may be in different parties, any differences with Ashley have always been political, never personal.

“His long service speaks for itself and the council will be all the poorer for Ashley standing down. He can look back at his political career with a lot of pride.

“His sage counsel, common sense approach and sound advice will be missed across the political divide. On behalf of everyone in the Labour group, I would like to thank Ashley for his service and wish him a happy retirement.”

Coun Andy Kelly, leader of the Lib Dems, said: “This is quite the end of an era. Ashley has been a permanent presence on Council all the time I have been.

“Although we might not see eye to eye politically, he has always been utterly professional, courteous and consistent and a true public servant to the people of Wardle and west Littleborough and indeed the Pennines Township.

“His conduct in the council chamber is measured and intelligent and he brings a sense of decorum to what can sometimes be a rowdy meeting. It will be sadly missed.

“I’m glad to hear he is continuing in his role supporting the mayor’s charity committee as well as other community positions.

“The Lib Dems wish Ashley Dearnley the best in his retirement from council.”

Fellow Wardle councillor and former Conservative colleague John Taylor, now of Reform, said: “Forty-four years of public service as an elected representative is a phenomenal achievement and illustrates remarkable dedication to the community. His work and experience will be sadly missed, and I wish him well for the future.”

Although family priorities and travel plans will be prying him away from political duties, Coun Dearnley has not ruled out a glorious return in the future – watch this space.

Reflecting, Coun Dearnley finished: “Wardle and Littleborough will always be the most important places for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the time, even the difficult times.

“It’s the greatest honour of my life to have been successfully elected 14 times.”