The crucial meeting regarding the land at Great Howarth / Regal Fold is scheduled for:

​Thursday, 25th June 2026
​The decision will be made by the Rochdale Borough Council Cabinet. Here are the key details surrounding this specific item:

​Purpose of the Item: The report is explicitly to consider the "release of land at Great Howarth / Regal Fold, Wardle for sale."
​Lead Officer: Mark Prestwich (Director of Economy & Place).
​Status: The item is currently listed as "Fully Exempt." This means the specific financial details and the report itself are likely to be discussed behind closed doors (private session) because they involve commercially sensitive information regarding the value of the land.
​Wards Affected: Wardle, Shore, and West Littleborough.
​What this means for the "Public Use" argument:
​Because the council is moving toward a "sale" decision on June 25th, this is the critical legal moment. If the community intends to argue that the land has been a public park for 25 years (Town or Village Green status), a legal challenge or registration application usually needs to be active before the land is sold or fenced off.

​Once the Cabinet approves the sale on the 25th, the council will have a legal mandate to proceed with a disposal, which often leads to the land being cleared or secured shortly thereafter.

​Public Attendance:

While the specific "Great Howarth" item is marked as exempt, Cabinet meetings themselves are generally held at 6:00 PM at Number One Riverside in Rochdale. The public can usually attend the open parts of the meeting, even if they are asked to leave when the "Exempt" land sale items are reached.