North West In Bloom victory for Rochdale

Rochdale Council is celebrating after winning one of the top accolades at the North West In Bloom awards held last week in Liverpool.

Improvement works to Packer Spout, the fountain behind Rochdale Town Hall, won the Heritage Award for best restoration project.

Pooling the talents and resources within the council's environmental management service, the restoration of Packer Spout was supported by funding of £30,000 from Rochdale Township and £25,000 from the 150th Anniversary of the Borough fund.

An extra £33,000 has been granted to further improve the woodland and wildlife area that surrounds it.

The second phase of restoration works to Packer Spout began earlier this year with an aim to redevelop the surrounding woodland which had been untouched for more than seventy years. Dead and diseased trees were removed to make way for new plantations and reinstate the ancient steps and natural fountain to return Packer Spout to its former glory.

Councillor William Hobhouse, Chairman of the Rochdale Township, said: "It is absolutely wonderful to see this great landmark and important piece of local history stand proud once again for the community to admire and enjoy. Winning the Heritage Award for best restoration project is the icing on the cake.

"With the Township funding helping towards the cost, it's another excellent example of devolution in action."

The council is also congratulating and thanking staff, schools, community groups and members of the public who have worked hard to make the area a brighter and cleaner place over the past year - and help Rochdale come an agonisingly close second in the 'large city/metropolitan borough' category this year.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, is convinced that a win in the large city/metropolitan borough' category is achievable in 2009. She said: "There is absolutely no doubt that we have the desire, the talent and the hunger to go one step further and win.

"Community involvement is pivotal to doing well - as we have done - in this category, and people don't necessarily have to be geniuses around the garden either! Simple things like recycling waste, the cleanliness of streets and making frontages clean and presentable all contribute heavily to the judges' overall scores, so we all have a very important part to play."