About Rossendale
Sitting on the western slopes of the Pennines, Rossendale is a proud valley with a rich industrial heritage, filled with friendly and welcoming communities spread across a number of vibrant market towns and villages. Surrounded by rolling hills and scenery and well connected to the rest of Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and just 18 miles from Manchester city centre, it is a great place to live and work. With a population of around 71,500 Rossendale is a place of contrasts. We have an unemployment rate lower than the national average, one of the best secondary schools in the county, a thriving local business community and in many ways people who are healthier than the national average. However, the vast rural hinterland and spectacular scenery that surrounds us can also prove problematic for many service areas. The topography presents the council with challenges around waste collection, frequency of flooding and relatively poor public transport and connectivity. But we see ourselves as a council unafraid to innovate and willing to rise to the challenges we are presented with.