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Page 2 January 2026 AD SALES 01204 478812 No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2026. This newspaper is published monthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate, Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD. Tel. 01204 478812 EDITOR: Ged Henderson ged@hendersonnewsandmedia.com ADVERTISING : JayneMeadowcroft 01204 478812 or 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk CLASSIFIEDS : Teresa Bond 01204 478812 teresa@independentnewspapers.co.uk CONTACT US BOLTON bakery Carrs Pasties is getting set to open its newest outlet later this month – in neighbouring Bury. The popular business - which makes a variety of baked goods including meat and potato pasties – is work- ing to get its new ‘Bakehouse’ outlet at Mill Gate ready to open its doors to customers. In a statement the Bury shopping centre said: “We’re excited to share that Carrs Pasties will be opening a brand-new shop here at Mill Gate in January 2026! “You’ll find them next door to the Post Office, bringing their much-loved pasties and savoury favourites to the heart of the centre.” The third-generation family business began life on Halliwell Road in Bolton in 1938, offering homemade pasties from a tripe shop. AN internat ion- ally renowned pho- tography exhibition marking the 25th anni- versary of peacekeep- ing in Kosova opens in Rochdale this month. ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ will be on display until February 28, at Number One Riverside in the town centre. Produced in partner- ship with Heartstone and funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, ‘the exhibition includes more than 50 photo- graphs from photo- journalist Nick Sidle during the operation’s early stages. The images provide a unique insight into the work of peacekeepers whilst highlighting the human stories of the people of Kosova, and the need for such an intervention to take place so they could safeguard lives, homes and re-build ordinary life in extraordi- nary circumstances. The free exhibition will also tell the stories of those involved and refugees who fled to Greater Manchester to set up home. Before coming to ROCHDALE MP Paul Waugh has secured major vic- tories on three of his long-running road safety campaigns. The government has confirmed new national action to crack down on illegal ghost number plates, strengthen the response to drug driving, and introduce eyesight testing for older drivers. The announcement comes against a stark national backdrop. Around four people are killed on Britain’s roads every day, with many more left seriously injured each year. After more than a decade of stalled pro- gress, the UK has fallen behind other European countries on road safety, with countless deaths and life-changing inju- ries that could have been prevented. Many of the measures have been welcomed by bereaved families who have campaigned for the law to be tightened to pre- vent others suffering the devastating and lasting impact of road deaths. All three issues, which Mr Waugh has repeat- edly pressed for in Par- liament and through Rochdale-led campaign- ing, are now central parts of the government’s new Road Safety Strategy. The strategy commits the government to new legislation and national enforcement action against illegal ‘ghost’ number plates, which are used by criminals to evade police cameras and avoid detection. Rochdale Trading Standards’ Operation Ghost exposed the scale of the problem nationally. Mr Waugh took that fight into Parliament, co-sponsored legislation to toughen penalties, and repeatedly challenged ministers to act. The new strategy confirms that crackdown. The strategy also deliv- ers a major step forward on drug driving. Follow- ing Mr Waugh’s parlia- mentary campaigning, including raising the case of eight-year-old Blake Clarke who was killed in a cocaine-related crash, the government will now bring forward newmeas- ures on drug and drink driving, including tougher enforcement powers and preventative technology. It also confirms that the government will introduce mandatory eye- sight testing for drivers over 70. This follows Mr Waugh’s campaigning with bereaved families after the death of Anne MP’s safety campaign victory Welcome changes: Rochdale MP Paul Waugh Ferguson in Whitworth, and his calls for the law to be changed to close dangerous loopholes around visual impair- ment and driving. Mr Waugh said: “This is a major victory for road safety campaigning that has come straight out of Rochdale. “On ghost plates, Roch- dale Trading Standards exposed a national scan- dal and I took that fight into Parliament. “On drug driving, I stood in the Commons and spoke about Blake Clarke’s death because no government should ignore the reality of what is happening on our roads. On eyesight checks, families like Anne Fer- guson’s forced us to con- front a system that was clearly failing. “Today, all three of those campaigns are being turned into national action. That matters, because it means lives will be saved.” He added: “These changes are not head- lines; they are hard-won. They come from families who refused to stay silent and from local campaign- ers and enforcement teams who did the work. I am proud that Roch- dale has helped force this shift.” The new Road Safety Strategy is the first in more than a decade and sets out a plan to cut deaths and serious inju- ries on Britain’s roads by 65 per cent by 2035, with a 70 per cent target for children under 16. The wider strategy includes consultations on lowering the drink drive limit, unchanged since 1967, introducing a three or six month minimum learning period for learner drivers, mandat- ing 18 new vehicle safety technologies, creating a new Road Safety Investi- gation Branch and Road Safety Board, and adopt- ing the internationally recognised Safe System approach to road safety. Mr Waugh added: “For too long, dangerous driving, drug driving and loopholes in the sys- tem have gone unchal- lenged. This strategy proves that sustained campaigning can change national policy. “The task now is to make sure these commit- ments are delivered and enforced, so fewer fami- lies ever have to hear the words that so many in Rochdale already have.” A snapshot into peacekeeping (Photo credit: Nick Sidle) backgrounds, under- stand the commonality of human experience, why the issues need to be addressed, the need for peacekeeping forces and the refugee experience. Some local veterans who have already been traced are part of the pro- gramme. Janet Emsley, Rochdale Council’s lead member for the Armed Forces, said the unique exhibition covers a period of history that must not be forgotten. She said: “Twenty-five years later, this story holds many lessons for our time in a world where many are living with con- flict, and the same issues of prejudice, intolerance and hate. “It’s also a positive story, about human resilience and hope in extraordinary cir- cumstances and the importance of people and nations working co-operatively together to achieve positive outcomes. I am looking forward welcoming it to Rochdale.” ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ is part of a line up of festivals, live perfor- mances, exhibitions and art during Rochdale’s year as Greater Man- chester Town of Culture 2025-26. The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, cel- ebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse arts scene. Bakery branches out Rochdale, the exhibition has been on display at the Tower of London, the National Museum of Kosova in Pristina, the House of Commons, NATO HQ and at The Fusi liers Museum in Bury. In 1999, KFOR, the NATO led international peacekeeping force entered Kosova follow- ing Resolution 1244 by the United Nations Secu- rity Council. The exhibition will take visitors through a visual, non-political, cultural experience into a world where they can empathise with those of different GREATER Manches- ter’s leaders have welcomed the govern- ment’s commitment to delivering North- ern Powerhouse Rail (NPR). NPR is at the heart of plans to deliver faster commutes, better jobs, more homes and increased investment, strengthening connec- tions between Manches- ter, Manchester Airport, Liverpool, Leeds, Brad- ford, Sheffield, Hudders- field, Warrington, York, Newcastle, Chester and North Wales. The chancellor has announced that £1.1bil- lion has been committed to support delivery of NPR, allowing progress on planning, development, and design work to begin. Mayor of Greater Man- chester, Andy Burnham, said: “Over the past dec- ade, we’ve become the UK’s fastest growing city region, but underinvest- ment in rail infrastruc- ture has long acted as a brake on further growth.” Powerhouse rail boost