Town hall film stars to headline £15m bid

FAMILIES are being given the chance to become ‘film stars’ and shape the future of the town hall as part of the £15m bid to transform it.

The hunt is on for Rochdalians to take part in a film which will be shown to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the council’s bid for the cash to transform the Grade I-listed landmark as part of the Family Film Star competition.

The winning family will be shown around the town hall’s interior, while being filmed, to showcase the building and highlight what its restoration would mean for residents.

Council leader Richard Farnell said: “Our winning family will be able to say 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 a 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.”

As well as getting the chance to influence the bid, the competition winners will be given 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 publicly accessible spaces, so more people can enjoy the 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.

Entrants must be available for filming on Sunday, February 12 and the competition closes at noon on Monday with the winners chosen the following day, after which they will be notified.

To enter visit rochdale. gov.uk/filmstarscompetition. ●●Council leader Richard Farnell (inset) has launched the search for a family to take part in a film to promote a £15m lottery bid to transform Rochdale town hall