Your Local Independent 212

October 2026 Page 3 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 DRIVERS and pedestrians in Middleton town centre are noticing some newwildlife popping up along their commute. Artists from Rochdale and Samburu in Kenya have brought a huge new endangered wildlife themed mural to Brook House on OldhamRoad, encouraging passers-by to understand the importance of ecosys- tems as well as the conservation efforts that enhance wildlife and protect the planet. Lead artists – AYLO (Hayley Garner) from Roch- dale and Kenyan based Victoria Firth, founder of global arts initiative The Wild Mural Project have been mentoring local artist Jamie Buckley and Ken- yan based Ninah Tanya, to create their first inter- national masterpiece in Middleton. Hayley, curator of the CommonWalls International Mural Festival that has transformed public spaces with large-scale artwork in Rochdale, said: “It’s not just painting, it’s about developing artists and giv- ing opportunities they might never otherwise have had, connecting communities across the world and showing how creativity can bring people together.” A 19th CENTURY manor house in Rochdale, which has stood empty for decades, has been transformed into a café with a special purpose. Nestled in the heart of Denehurst Park, the café occupies the ground floor of Denehurst House. The new venue is being managed and run by local Community Interest Company, Get Together After Serving (GTAS), and is staffed entirely by former Armed Forces personnel and their families. Set up by Rochdale locals, Adam Trennery, Wayne Traynor and Wayne Simms, GTAS aims to support the local veteran community in a number of ways, including wellbeing programmes, local events and get-togethers. The building has been renovated while honouring its period features, which include ornate coving and bay windows. Rochdale council is hoping to use the rest of the building as accommodation for local vet- erans, and recently completed a public consultation on the proposal. Local veteran, Adam Trennery, who is one of the directors at GTAS, said: “We’re made up to have the opportunity to open a café in this brilliant space. “It means a lot to me personally, as I live round the corner and I’ve always thought having a café in that lovely park would be great. It was always a missing link, the food and drink offer, so as soon as we saw that the council was looking for café operators, we put in a bid. “We’re really excited that we can use this as a base to further our support for veterans, while also welcoming the wider community.” Denehurst House was built for Alderman, Rob- ert Turner, founder of Turner Brothers Asbestos company, in the 1890s. It was originally set within extensive wooded and landscaped grounds, with a carriage turning circle and an ornamental fountain in front of the house. The house and its grounds were donated to the town in 1932 and were later used as council offices, before being left been empty for a number of years. THE number of tur- bines proposed for a major wind farm on moorland overlook- ing Rochdale have been reduced by the renewable energy firm behind the plan. Cubico Sustainable Investments says it has cut the number of tur- bines at Scout Moor II, between Rochdale and Rossendale, from 17 to 12, following feed- back from a consulta- tion exercise. The proposed site is next to the existing Scout Moor wind farm. The revised plans have been submitted to Roch- dale and Rossendale councils and will now be subject to further con- sultation before being put in front of their plan- ning committees. If approved, Scout Moor II would generate around 70MW of clean, homegrown electricity, subject to final tur- bine selection, helping support the country’s future energy needs while delivering long- term investment into local communities and a significant programme of moorland restoration. Cubico says other changes made to the proposals include fewer turbines visible from nearby communities and key viewpoints and enhanced habitat res- toration and peatland management proposals. Peter Rowe, project lead for Scout Moor II at Cubico, said: “From the outset, we said that consultation would help shape Scout Moor II, and the updated pro- posals show that this has happened. The project today is different because peo- ple have engaged. “The feedback we received has directly influenced the proposals and resulted in meaningful changes to the scheme. “ The s e i nc lude reducing the number of turbines, removing infrastructure from the deepest areas of peat, increasing separation from key recreational routes and revising the grid connection route to avoid Edenfield and Waterfoot villages. “We know there will continue to be different views about the project, but we hope people can A HAT-TRICK of announcements has cemented Middleton’s renewed regeneration drive, as its Mayoral Development Corpora- tion (MDC) continues to take shape. Among them is news that the Middleton Old Grammar School, recently bought by Roch- dale council, is expected to announce a new tenant before the end of the year. A feasibility study is now on going, with a view to the building being repaired, refurbished and reopened for community use in the future. The news was announced at an event at Middleton Arena to update local people and businesses about the A CGI of turbines on the hills above Rochdale (Photo credit: Cubico) PLANS FOR SCOUT MOOR SCALED BACK see that the consultation has been a genuine pro- cess of listening, engage- ment and refinement. “We believe the revised proposals strike a better balance between deliver- ing homegrown renew- able energy, reducing local and environmental impacts and creating long-term benefits for local communities.” However, campaign group Friends of the Moorland has told the BBC it was unlikely the revisions would address all of its concerns. Steve Davison from the group said: “We need to New era begins for Victorian manor house Regeneration takes shape Moving forward: (L-R) Middleton MDC co-chairs Rose Marley and Steve Coogan, with council leader Neil Emmott (Photo credit: Rochdale Council) results of an engagement exercise titled, ‘Our Town, Our Future’ and on-going work to create a MDC to further drive regeneration in the town. Chaired by the pro- posed chairs of Middle- ton’s MDC, Steve Coogan and Rose Marley, and attended by mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, and Rochdale coun- cil leader Neil Emmott, the event attracted more than 500 people. The announcements followed news that the council is in the process of acquiring long dere- lict Warwick Mill and review the plans in detail to come to a considered view but it’s unlikely that all of our fundamen- tal objections will have been addressed.” GOING WILD FOR MURAL Collaboration: The artists behind the wildlife mural (Photo credit: RDA) Culture year delivers £5.5m economic boost ● Cont frompage one Rochdale Music Sto- ries launched, celebrat- ing the area’s stellar musical heritage while championing emerging local talent. The story contin- ued this summer with synth-pop icons Orches- tral Manoeuvres in the Dark returning to where neighbouring 1960s office block, London House, with a view to bringing the mill back into use, possibly as new homes, and demolishing Lon- don House. Attendees also learned that the Middleton Scout Hut will be repurposed as a community venue, with a full programme of activ- ities and training oppor- tunities for young people. The venue on Long Street has been vacant for 13 years and the council has now agreed a long- term lease with charitable organisation, the Ground- work Trust. Also announced at the Middleton Arena event was the news that post office and banking facil- ities will return to Mid- dleton town centre early in the new year. Neil Emmott said: “We’re serious about Mid- dleton’s continued regen- eration and that’s why we’re already under way with some big projects in this area; projects that local people have told us are a priority for them. There’s a long way to go, but we’re off to a really good start.” it began performing a sold-out headline show in front of over 5,300 fans at Rochdale Town Hall Square alongside Peter Hook & The Light, and Manchester’s post- punk/funk band – A Cer- tain Ratio. The town even brewed its own official Greater Manchest er Town of Culture beer and unveiled a new outdoor art gallery in front of the town hall. The report revealed the year also transformed perceptions of the place, heritage and talent, also strengthening the bor- ough’s cultural identity and reputation. Audience feedback demonstrated increased pride in Rochdale and improved perceptions of the borough, while flag- ship projects attracted visitors from across Greater Manchester and beyond. It said investments in public art, cultural infrastruc- ture and heritage assets have created lasting improvements that will continue to benefit resi- dents and visitors in the years ahead.