Your Local Independent 203

January 2026 Page 3 AD SALES 01204 478812 WORK to restore the Grade II-listed Hopwood Hall inMid- dleton has taken a major step forward with the completion of vital works to the roof. The project has seen Rochdale council and Historic England invest more than £500million into repairing the roof to make the building watertight. The work has also included res- toration of the leaded windows, alongside crucial works to down- pipes and gutters. The total investment into the building for the most recent roof works project was £640,000. Locals also got involved in the project, with Rochdale Develop- ment Agency (RDA) leading an archaeological dig onsite. In addition, Hopwood Hall col- lege students learned about stone carving and leaded window resto- ration in special workshops. Neil Emmott, Rochdale Council leader, said: “Hopwood Hall is an important part of Middleton and the wider borough’s heritage and this most recent work builds on the £1.7mwhich has been invested into Hopwood Hall by ourselves and other public sector organisa- tions in recent years. “In addition to this work, an independent feasibility study is on-going and this will help us determine future uses for Hop- wood Hall, as we continue to forge a long-term future for this important building for the benefit of local residents.” GREATER Man - chester Police chiefs say the force’s pro- active local polic- ing approach is having an impact on crime figures. The force has revealed a total of 10,000 fewer crimes in 2025, with bur- glary falling by 21 per cent, robbery down 16 per cent and a fall of 13 per cent in knife crime. In a statement look- ing back at 2025, GMP said: “There have also been clear reductions in serious violence, vehi- cle offences and serious and organised crime in prisons.” It has also highlighted its local policing initia- tives, such as the Home Office’s Safe 4 Summer and Winter for Action campaigns which have seen increased patrols and marked reductions in shoplifting, theft, and street crime. The statement added: “Our proactive approach is seeing us conduct more stop-searches and record more drug offences and traffic offences. “In the last 12 months, we stopped nearly 65,000 people and vehi- cles and went on to seize 22,500 vehicles and take more than 677 weapons off our streets. “We’ve continued our ‘back to basics’ approach that the Chief Constable, Sir Stephen Watson, has instilled in the force since 2021 to ensure we give the public the ser- vice they deserve. “Arrests aren’t an CROOKS ON THE RUN Business takes centre stage Hopwood’s rooftop repairs completed Project: Vital work on Hopwood Hall’s roof is now finished ROCHDALE’S thriving business community gathered at the town hall for the borough’s 12th annual business awards. The event, which recognises the ded- ication and success of local businesses, was attended by 300 people. The welcome speech was delivered by Sarah Ashworth, managing director at Salt Separation Services in Rochdale. She said: “I was incredibly proud to wel- come everyone to this year’s awards ceremony and be surrounded by some incredible businesses from across the borough. “There was an abundance of inno- vation, collaboration, and a pioneering spirit from all the finalists, and it was a really enjoyable evening.” Over the course of the night, there were nine winners, who each received a trophy and framed certificate on stage. Cheers filled the room as the finalists were announced by host Chris Maguire before the golden envelope was opened to reveal the winners in each category. Celebrations continued well into the night at the after-party hosted by The Flying Horse Hotel. This year’s winners were: ● Community Engagement – Rochdale Foodbank ● Independent Hospitality or Retail Business of the Year – Chantilly ● Apprentice of the Year – Antoinette James Cachia – Highfield Manor Care Home ● New Business of the Year – SiRo’ Café Bistrot ● Business Person of the Year – Seema Ansari – The Foodie Kitchen CIC & Artisan Granola ● Sustainable Environmental Business of the Year – Envair Technology ● Business of the Year (turnover under £1m) – The Funky Deer Sports Club Merchandise ● Business of the Year (turnover £1 – £5m) – Desal Supplies Limited ● Business of the Year (turnover more than £5m) – Lee Spring Limited IainWight fromRochdale Foodbank, said “It was a great honour to be short- listed and then, on the night, to be announced as the winners of the Com- munity Engagement business award. “But what stood out for us, was the wave of goodwill, and a feeling of warmth towards us from everyone pres- ent. It was an extraordinary response, and totally unexpected.” The awards ceremony also raised £4,630 for Springhill Hospice, thanks to donations from Barclays Bank, attendees on the night, and some raffle prizes from local businesses. end in themselves, and we have been ensuring we’re getting justice for more victims. In 2025, we solved more than 47,500 crimes, which is a 15 per cent increase on 2024 and more than double the crime we solved before the Chief’s appointment in 2021.” The statement went on: “Operation Vulcan has seen us work relent- lessly with partners to address long-stand- ing issues and make streets safer, while our monthly Operation Avro has combined daily local crime-fighting with the support of specialist resources to tackle sus- pects and engage with the public.” Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: “This year’s continued reductions in crime and increases in outcomes show what relentless, commun ity‑focused policing can achieve – fewer victims, safer streets and a force that’s delivering at pace and to a standard the public deserves. “But we’re not slowing down. The challenges ahead demand the same determination, the same focus on the basics, and the same partnership with the people we serve. “As we move into the new year, our commit- ment is simple: we will keep working to drive down crime, keep pro- tecting the vulnerable, and keep working every single day to make Greater Manchester an even safer place to live, to work and to visit.” Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Man- chester, said: “The Chief Constable and his team are firmly focused on making sure everyone feels secure and confi- dent going about their lives in our city region. “After years of sus- tained pressure, Greater Manchester Police is back to where it should be – with the highest number of officers since 2010, and named neigh- bourhood policing teams in every community. “Through their proac- tive approach to tackling crime through Operation Vulcan and Operation Avro, and their focus on getting the basics right, GMP are out there making a real difference for residents, businesses, and visitors in Greater Manchester.” TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS OR SERVICE CALL 01204 478812