Rochdale Observer
4.99% Expected rise in your council tax
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. Tax would need to be raised by 4.99 per cent to bring forward...
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Crunch time for disputed 199-home bid
ACRUNCH meeting to decide the fate of a 199-home development will take place this week. The 12-hectare site between Smithy Bridge and Littleborough has long been earmarked for housing. If approved, this latest development would almost merge the hamlet...
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Council boss steps down after conduct allegations
JAMES Binks has resigned his post as Rochdale council’s chief executive, it has been confirmed. The former council boss was suspended at the beginning of last month following allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’. The suspension related to an...
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At long last, we’re getting the cash that our area needs
JANUARY is traditionally the month of good intentions, when magazines and TV shows are full of ‘New Year, New You!’ features. It’s also when New Year’s resolutions start off with a flurry of activity, only to melt away with the snow a few weeks...
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Pair are rushed to hospital after crash horror
TWO people were rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a car smashed into a bus stop in Rochdale. Emergency services rushed to the scene on Wardle Road following reports of the incident at around 2pm on Sunday (January 4). A man and a woman...
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Four named in King’s New Years Honours
FOUR local people have been named in the King’s New Year Honours list, including Lioness Keira Walsh. The list, released annually ahead of the new year, celebrates people from across the UK and beyond, recognising their outstanding achievements and...
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45 caravans broken into in ‘strange’ burglaries
AROUND 45 caravans were broken into in a series of ‘strange’ burglaries. The incident at G&H Taylor Caravan Storage off Todmorden Road in Littleborough took place on Saturday night (December 27), affecting half of the caravans on the site. Bentley...
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Washing socks in buckets
DODGY plumbing at a prison in Rochdale meant inmates had to wash their socks and underwear in mop buckets, a report has revealed. HMP Buckley Hall is said to be ‘tired’ and in need of widespread repair. The report from the Independent Monitoring Board...
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Man admits making online threat to former MP
AMAN has pleaded guilty to sending an ‘online threat’ to a former MP. Zaffar Hussain, of Kellett Street in Rochdale, pleaded guilty to sending the ‘threat’ to Simon Danczuk, the former MP for Rochdale, at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on December...
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Warning as ‘super flu’ cases are on the rise
SERIOUS flu cases are sweeping the country, with thousands suffering so seriously that they are being admitted to hospital. And health experts say the peak of the wave is not yet in sight, as cases continue to rise. Greater Manchester is no...
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Lpolice reveal how the trap shut on £1.8m drug scheme
DETECTIVES knew it wasn’t a typical, ‘street-level’ operation. They’d been covertly watching for six months, meticulously gathering evidence. Soon, the sheer scale of the empire would become clear. When officers burst into the flat the gang had taken...
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
PLANNING applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, December 5. ● WORKS to one protected Sycamore Tree (TPO290):- Crown lift of lowest branch and crown thin by 20% at 9 Innes Close, Rochdale ● APPLICATION for...
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Devoted dad died after ‘sudden and unexpected illnness’
TRIBUTES have been paid to an engineer and devoted family man who has died. Rory Cook, from Rochdale, (pictured) died peacefully on Sunday, November 23 surrounded by his family and friends following a ‘sudden and unexpected illness.’ Rory, 36, was an...
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Council chief suspended over claims of ‘inappropriate behaviour’
THE chief executive of Rochdale council has been suspended following allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’. James Binks, who was appointed as chief executive earlier this year, has been suspended by council leader Neil Emmott. The decision, made...
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Boos ring out as mammoth housing plan is approved
HUNDREDS of homes will be built on former green belt land in the heart of Littleborough despite major opposition from residents. The Rochdalian town had long been expecting these plans to come to fruition, but now Bloor Homes has permission to build...
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MP in bid to clampdown on drug driving
THE tragic death of an eight-year-old has sparked Rochdale’s MP to demand a crackdown on drug driving. Blake Consterdine-clarke suffered ‘catastrophic injuries’ when his father Leon Clarke lost control of his vehicle on the motorway in 2020. Clarke was...
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Traffic chaos has gone on for too long - MP Waugh
LITTLEBOROUGH ‘has tolerated traffic chaos for far too long’ according to Rochdale’s MP. MP Paul Waugh believes utility companies have failed to properly coordinate roadworks, leading to lengthy traffic jams locally. With temporary traffic lights...
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Ex drug trafficker in bid to open school
AFORMER drug trafficker sprung from a court transport van before eventually being sent to meet the Cali Cartel in one of the biggest ever cocaine deals is hoping to set up a school in Rochdale. Stephen Mee, along with Curtis “Cocky” Warren, smuggled...
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Broken-down van driver hurt by lorry in motorway collision
AVAN driver was seriously hurt after his vehicle broke down and a lorry ploughed into the back of it on the M62. Gary Lubuska was driving home on a Friday evening when his van suddenly cut out and came to a stop on the eastbound carriageway near...
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Killer driver pleads guilty after a number of crashes
ADRIVER who killed a woman and drove into others in a number of collisions in Rochdale has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Keith Knight, 49, was initially charged with the murder of 68-year-old Irina Artemeva and...
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Member of grooming gang ‘has left the country’
ACONVICTED member of a grooming gang from Rochdale has ‘left the country’, police have confirmed. Adil Khan, who is in his 50s, was among nine gang members jailed in 2012 for sexually abusing children. He has fought a long legal battle against...
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‘Inappropriate relationship’ ex-teacher in ban for life
AFORMER teacher who “engaged in sexual activity with a child” has been banned from educating for life. Matthew Hindle, 36, started the “inappropriate” relationship with a pupil in 2017 while he was a music teacher in Bury. In the years that followed,...
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Burnham ‘taken aback’ at flats demolition move
ANDY Burnham was ‘taken aback’ by a decision to clear Rochdale’s iconic ‘Seven Sisters’ tower blocks, forcing hundreds from their homes. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) announced the evacuation last Wednesday after independent surveys identified a...
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7 Sisters residents given just weeks to leave homes
RESIDENTS of the iconic tower blocks that have dominated the skyline of Rochdale since the 1960s have been told they will be evicted due to safety concerns. Tenants of the Seven Sisters, actually named College Bank, have been told they need to move...
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More shops shut in drive against illegal tobacco
TWO more shops have been shut down for the sale of illicit tobacco, as Rochdale Borough Council and its partners continue to clamp down on this illegal activity. Lazen Food Ltd and Hayati Convenience Store Ltd, of 85 and 130b Drake Street, were both...
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Dessert cafe is a sweet addition to the town centre
ANEW dessert cafe has opened in Rochdale. The Little Dessert Shop, famed for its viral desserts and indulgent treats, opened in Milkstone Road, in Rochdale town centre, on Saturday. A second cafe opened at The Rock in Bury on the porevious...
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Development to pave way for thousands of jobs
WORK is set to begin on a facility that will unlock thousands of jobs in Rochdale. The Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC), located at Kingsway Business Park near the M62, is set to become a catalyst for growth in advanced...
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Demolition plan for flat blocks is refused
CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish six empty blocks of flats on a housing estate in Rochdale have been thrown out. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) wants to regenerate the Lower Falinge estate and has determined bulldozing buildings is the only...
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Drop the devices for good eye health
CHILDREN in Rochdale have been urged to ‘ditch the devices’ as part of a nationwide screen amnesty to promote the importance of good eye health. Karen Peel, practice manager at Paul Cheethams Opticians in Lord Square, Rochdale has encouraged people to...
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Mum and child flee devastating ‘arson attack’
POLICE have launched an appeal following a ‘terrifying and deliberate attack’ in which a car was torched before the blaze spread to a home where a mother and child slept inside. Officers and firefighters raced to reports of an incident on Cleggswood...
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Demolition of blocks stalled by legal bid
THE demolition of six housing blocks in Rochdale has been stalled following a successful legal challenge. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) wants to regenerate the Lower Falinge estate and has determined bulldozing the blocks is the only affordable...
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Three men arrested in historic sex abuse inquiry
THREE men have been arrested as part of a major investigation into historic cases of sexual abuse against children in Rochdale. The men - aged 65, 79 and 84 - were all arrested as part of Operation Exmoor, which is looking at sexual offences carried...
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Man snapped and attacked neighbour with Samurai sword
AMAN attacked his neighbour with a Samurai sword in a shocking attack. Richard Adams-burton was seriously injured by Simon Mitchell following the incident. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Mitchell had felt a sense of “mistrust and...
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Husband used ‘murder kit to try to kill wife
AMAN with a “murder kit” tried to kill his wife after stabbing her multiple times and attacking her with a hammer. Muhammad Khan punched his estranged partner before slashing at her neck with a Stanley knife when he went to collect his belongings from...
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LATEST PLANS
PLANNING applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, August 29. ●●INSTALLATION of one 11m high light wooden pole (Constraints – Landfill, Adopted Highway) O/S 361 Shawclough Road, Rochdale ●●SUBMISSION of...
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Drug boss ran cocaine business from prison
ANOTORIOUS drug dealer who was previously caught supplying cocaine from his Rochdale prison cell is back behind bars again. Paul Gairns, 47, was seen outside the Bradford Inn pub, near to the Etihad Stadium, with two others in July this year. As...
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LATEST PLANS
PLANNING applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, August 22. ●●INSTALLATION of 2 9m high light wooden poles (Constraints TFGM Buffer) O/S 6 and 104 Whalley Road, Middleton ●●SUBMISSION of details to comply...
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Canals grow grass as heatwave bites
SHOCKING photos show grass is growing in reservoirs and canals, which have been left dry through months of minimal rain. Jumbles Reservoir and Wayoh Reservoir, in Lancashire, are turning green with grass and other vegetation as low levels...
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Man accused of murder claims he was acting in self-defence
AMAN accused of murder after a drinkfuelled New Year’s Eve party has claimed he was acting in self-defence. Hassan Suliman, 31, is accused of killing Alberto Ursu during a fracas in Rochdale. He denies murder. Karla Pukutova, 31, Suliman’s former...
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New arts festival offers activities and performances
ABRAND-NEW arts festival, ‘Side-byside’, is coming to Rochdale this month, bringing a week of performances, exhibitions and hands-on activities shaped by local people. Organised by Touchstones Rochdale (part of Your Trust), and Creative Lead and...
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5-year plan to build thousands of homes
ROCHDALE council is set to fork out millions to build thousands of new homes in the borough over the next five years. Town hall bosses declared a housing emergency back in October 2023, and next week the cabinet is expected to inject more cash to help...
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Man found guilty of assaulting police in airport trial
AMAN has been found guilty of assaulting two police officers after CCTV footage of a confrontation with armed cops at Manchester Airport was widely shared. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, denied assaulting the two officers, but was found guilty following a...
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Predator jailed for sex attacks on youngsters
APREDATOR has been jailed for historical sexual offences committed against children in Rochdale. Aslam Khan, formerly Maurice ‘Morris’ Wynn, 61, of Maitland Close, Rochdale, has been jailed for seven years for seven counts of incident assault against...
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Store launches its support scheme
AS schools across Greater Manchester break up for the summer holidays, Aldi has issued a reminder about its Summer Support Scheme. The scheme sees vouchers given away for shoppers to spend in stores every day throughout the school holidays. Aiming to...
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
PLANNING applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, July 18. ●●REGULATION 5 for installation of a 9m high wooden pole to side of 160 and 185 Fairfield Road - Constraints: - adopted highway at side of 185 and...
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
PLANNING applications decided with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, July 11. ●●APPLICATION for a certificate of lawfulness the proposed installation of 3no. 20ft storage container units to support the continued operation of...
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
PLANNING applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, July 4. ●●INSTALLATION of one 10m high light wooden pole outside 3 James Andrew Street, Middleton ●●INSTALLATION of one 10m high light wooden pole at West...
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Planning applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, June 20. ●●INSTALLATION of 9m high wooden pole – Constraints – SSSI (Infrastructure) and Adopted Highway O/S 2 Mere Avenue, Middleton ●●SUBMISSION of details...
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PLANS
●●PLANNING applications decided with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, June 27. ●●APPLICATION for a nonmaterial amendment to planning permission 24/01240/HOUS for a change the roof construction from the approved pitch roof to a...
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Judge’s jury warning as brothers go on trial
AJUDGE has warned jurors ‘it’s of the utmost importance you do not allow yourselves to be influenced by anything you may have heard or read about’ as the court selected a panel of 12 to reach verdicts on two brothers accused over an alleged altercation...
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Airbnb gender reveal party turns to chaos
AN Airbnb house booking to hold a gender reveal party for just eight people turned into ‘absolute chaos’ and ‘mayhem’ – when up to 200 youngsters arrived. Police were called to a usually quiet cul-de-sac in the Norden area of Rochdale to disperse the...
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Lucky escape
IMAGES capture a scene of devastation after a car smashed into the front of a terrace house. Emergency services were called to the Norden area of Rochdale in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to the fire service. The car, believed to be a...
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A Hall new chapter for college site
the new Hopwood Hall College building in Rochdale could look HOPWOOD Hall College is set to have a huge campus overhaul after revealing plans to replace a teaching block. If approved, the new teaching block on the Rochdale campus would be four...
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‘Untouchable’ drug farm boss jailed
ADRUG dealer who thought he was ‘untouchable’ pictured himself grinning in front of a huge cannabis farm. But the violent Rochdale-based crook had the smile wiped off his face when he was sent down for six years. Officers raided the home of Usman...
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GUILTY
PREDATORS who treated two girls as ‘sex slaves’ after grooming and raping them in Rochdale face lengthy jail sentences. Seven men were found guilty of a string of historic sexual offences following a five-month trial at Minshull Street Crown...
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Kidnap trio snatched man from the street
THREE men have been jailed for a ‘targeted’ kidnapping which was foiled after a member of the public was alerted to their plot. Hassan Khan, 25, Mohammed Kateb, 24, and Wahaab Mushtaq, 23, snatched Safwan Fiaz from the street in Rochdale on April 24,...
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
PLANNING applications decided with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, May 30: ●●APPLICATION for a certificate of lawfulness for the proposed erection of a two storey rear extension, 2 single storey side extensions, external...
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Hospitals to benefit from £40m cash injection
ROCHDALE hospitals are set to benefit from a multi-million fund to fix safety problems. The government is handing out £750m to NHS trusts across the country. The funding is aimed at tackling long-standing infrastructure problems ‘caused by years of...
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PLANS
●●PLANNING applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, May 23. ●●REGULATION 5 for the installation of 1no’ new 8m light wooden poleconstraints - N/A between 79 & 81 Great Howarth Rochdale ●●REGULATION 5 for the...
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Police storm busy road after rush hour crash
ADRIVER was arrested after police stormed a busy Rochdale road following a crash. Multiple Greater Manchester Police vehicles lined St Mary’s Gate, near to the town centre, after 9.40am on Wednesday morning (May 28). Images from the scene show a...
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Cremator repairs set to be completed
WORKS to repair the broken cremator at Middleton’s Boarshaw Cemetery are set to be completed this summer. The cremator has been out of commission since November 2024 due to a number of technical issues. The significant costs of the repairs were...
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Kids covered in glass as stone thrown from m-way bridge
AMUM says she was showered with glass after a stone was dropped onto the windscreen of her car from a motorway bridge over the M62 near Rochdale. Three children - one a six month-old baby - were in the car at the time, but thankfully they all escaped...
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Dates confirmed for family picnics
DATES and locations for this summer’s Feel Good Family Picnics have been confirmed. The popular days out for families – sponsored by automotive dealer Premier Kia – pulled in more than 15,000 people last year with events in Heywood, Middleton,...
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Winner calls for probe into election
ANEWLY elected councillor has called into question the integrity of the election count where he claimed victory. Coun Jordan Tarrant-short won the Balderstone and Kirkholt by-election earlier this month. He became the second elected Greater Manchester...
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‘There were antiterrorist units - it was a bit scary’
ACORDON surrounding a house which was targeted by police and SAS soldiers in raids on May 3 has been removed after five days. Investigators were present at the address for several days with Greater Manchester Police maintaining a cordon around the...
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
PLANNING applications validated with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, May 2. ●●REGULATION 5 for installation of 10m high wooden pole Constraints - Green Belt, Mineral Protection Sandstone, Landfill Buffer, SSSI (aviation so not...
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FREE
Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Voucher valid from Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
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50% OFF
●●PLANNING applications decided with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending Friday, April 25. ●●SUBMISSION of details to comply with condition 3 (contamination) on planning permission 23/00119/FUL, Sandbrook Park, Sandbrook Way, Rochdale -...
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‘Cruel’ sexual predator who preyed on girls is locked up
AHEARTLESS predator who abused two young children for years has been sent to prison. Carl Sinderby, 43, of Manchester Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to 11 years and four months at Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday. He was found guilty of 20...
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Tragedies lead to calls for driving licence changes
MILLIONS of drivers on UK roads would fail to meet the minimum eyesight standards, with a coroner calling on the government to make changes to the current system of issuing driving licences. Anne Ferguson, from Whitworth, Mary Cunningham, Grace Foulds...
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Application for new Mcdonald’s drive-thru in town
ANEW Mcdonald’s drivethru could soon be coming to Rochdale. It has been over a decade since the last Rochdale town centre Mcdonald’s site closed its doors on Yorkshire Street in 2011. Now, 14 years later, the US fastfood chain has officially tabled...
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