Lights, camera, action! Rochdale family could be stars for the day

Posted by on 30 Jan 2017

Families across the borough are being given the chance to shape the future of one of the borough’s most important buildings as part of a unique council competition.

The hunt is on families to take part in a film that will be shown to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to support the council’s bid for £15m to transform the iconic building.

The winning family will be shown around the town hall’s fascinating interior, while being filmed, to show how impressive the building is and what its restoration would mean for local residents.

As well as getting the chance to influence this important bid, the competition winners will be given the special prize of a private guided tour, away from the distraction of filming, at a time and date of their choosing. They will also be given a meal for up to five people in the town hall’s new Clock Tower Dining Room.

If successful, the HLF bid will enable the council to transform unused parts of the town hall into new publically accessible spaces, so more people can enjoy this fascinating building and the council can attract a wider range of residents and visitors. The grant would also help the council make extensive repairs to its stunning period features.

The video which the competition winners will be taking part in will be shown to HLF bosses when they visit the borough in March, ahead of them making a final decision on the council’s bid in April. The video may also be used more widely in future, to let members of the public know about our HLF bid.

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Our winning family will be able to say that they are part of the town hall’s fascinating story and I think that’s a really exciting opportunity. It’s important to us and the Heritage Lottery Fund that our residents are part of this bid, so we’d love the community to get involved in this competition.

“The town hall has always been a focal point of Rochdale life and has played a huge role in our borough’s history. We want it to continue to be a big part of the Rochdale story for years to come and that’s why this lottery bid is so important.”

Entrants must be available for filming on Sunday 12 February and the competition closes at 12 noon on Monday 7 February. The winners will be drawn on Tuesday 8 February, with winners being contacted by phone within 24 hours of this date. Participants will need to be patient, as filming could take the whole afternoon.

Anyone who would like to enter their family for this competition can do so at: rochdale.gov.uk/filmstarscompetition