I would like to introduce Crompton Circle – a Membership organisation for the over 50s who live in Crompton, Shaw & Royton – whose overall aim is to tackle social isolation and loneliness.

It re-launched in September, after a break due to Covid, and they are working hard to promote what they do to members of the community, so that they can get involved – meeting new people, visiting new places and trying new things – and you have the opportunity to shape the activities that are on offer for over 50s.

Each month they create a calendar of social events which includes events suggested by its Members, as well as others that we feel they would be interested in. These events include going for coffee in a local coffee shop, going for lunch, Ten Pin Bowling, cinema and theatre trips, walks, crafts, quizzes and more.

A copy of the latest newsletter is here if you click on the link:

As they grow and develop, they hope to add further services to the offer – just like we do in Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale. There, they have a Practical Helper Service which helps with those jobs you can’t get someone out to do (light gardening, DIY, getting things down from the loft etc); a Digital Support Service – helping Members to get online and get the most out of their digital technology; and a Volunteer Drivers Service – supporting people to get from A to B (including medical appointments as well as social activities). You can find out more about HMR Circle on their website www.hmrcircle.org.uk .

If you would like to know more or make a referral, please do not hesitate to contact Leanne Chorlton me on 0800 112 3440 or email leanne@hmrcircle.org.uk.

Businesses can now apply for the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF).
The scheme has been launched to support businesses affected by the pandemic who are not eligible for existing support linked to Business Rates (such as previous Covid-19 related reliefs).

The deadline for making an application for the Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund is 28 February 2022.
Please note: Applications will be assessed and businesses notified after this closing date. This is to ensure the council can support as many Oldham businesses as possible with the funding available.

Eligible businesses
The fund is limited and only available to businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact.   
You must be able to provide evidence of how your business has been adversely impacted by Covid-19 and unable to adequately adapt to that impact, for example:

• Accounts showing your turnover before the pandemic and now
• Bank statements showing your business activity before the pandemic and now

We can award Business Rates Relief towards your 2021/22 rates bill, but you must be able to evidence that your business has been impacted by Covid-19. This could include lost orders and contracts, lost revenue, significant additional costs and cashflow problems. 

Due to potentially high numbers of applications and the short timescales, there is a very limited timeframe to seek further evidence or information after you apply. Please provide us with sufficient evidence or information at the time of your application to make a decision. 

Ineligible Businesses

• Those who for the same period of the relief either are or would have been eligible for the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers the retail, leisure and hospitality sector), the Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS).
• Unoccupied properties
• Businesses who have exceeded maximum subsidy allowances
• Business in administration, insolvent or in the process of making a proposal to strike off

Awards
We can award relief up to 100% of your 2021/22 bill.  
If the award of a relief puts your 2021/22 account into credit, we may move that credit to offset any other outstanding Business Rates liability, or your 2022/23 Business Rates bill unless you specifically request a refund. 
If your circumstances change and your business becomes ineligible for the relief or reduces the value of the award, we will adjust your rate bill in the year to reflect the loss of relief. Any relief awarded under this scheme will be subject to the property’s continuing eligibility. 
We do not accept applications from third parties. 

Before you apply, please read the eligibility criteria and have:
Your Business Rates reference number (you can find this on your Business Rates bill), information about how your business has been adversely impacted by Covid-19 and any evidence which can document this for example:

• Accounts showing your turnover both before the pandemic and now
• Bank statements showing your business activity both before the pandemic and now

For more information and to apply, please visit www.oldham.gov.uk/carf 

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/

All of First services (except Vantage V1 & V2 and school services) are cancelled due to industrial action on Monday 31 January, Tuesday 1 and Friday 4 February 2022.

All dedicated school services are expected to run and details of routes can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website here.

The Vantage V1 and V2 services based at our First’s depot in Bolton for routes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary are unaffected and will operate as normal.

Customers with pre-bought tickets for both dates will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Click the link at the bottom of this email to find out how to claim.

Find out more

All of First services (except Vantage V1 & V2 and school services) are cancelled due to industrial action on Monday 24th and Wednesday 26th January 2022. All dedicated school services are expected to run and details of routes can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website here. The Vantage V1 and V2 services based at our First’s depot in Bolton for routes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary are unaffected and will operate as normal. Customers with pre-bought tickets for both dates will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Click the link at the bottom of this email to find out how to claim. Find out more

You are all invited to attend Shaw and Crompton’s Holocaust Memorial Day which is being held on Thursday 27 January, 9.30am at Crompton War Memorial.

The theme this year is ‘One day’ Holocaust Memorial Day is One Day that we put aside to come together to remember, to learn about the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, in the hope that there may be One Day in the future with no genocide. We learn more about the past, we empathise with others today, and we take action for a better future.

All are welcome at the service. The service only lasts 30 minutes; there are some readings by local councillors and a faith leader from Shaw and Crompton. To finish the service, we lay stones as is customary within the Jewish faith.

Access for residents is to be maintained.

No person shall cause any vehicle to proceed in that part of Mark Lane, Shaw – From its junction with Road Knowl for a distance of 40 metres in a north westerly direction 

The restrictions are required to facilitate United Utilities works and will be in force for 2 days from Tuesday 25^th January 2022 or until the works are completed whichever is the lesser period

 

Shaw councillors were informed of the closure of the café in Dunwood Park a few days ago but were asked not to share the information until staff and the Park Friends group were informed.  This has now happened.

“This is a great loss to the local community, and we will be doing all we can to find another user, like we did when the last operator pulled out,” stated Shaw councillor Howard Sykes on behalf of all his colleagues.

“Pure Innovations who operate the café have been up front about this and will continue to operate it until July 2022,” he added.  “Hopefully this gives the council time to make alternative provision.”

Pure Innovations (PI) re-opened Dunwood Park Café in March 2019, with two key objectives.  The first to provide a project for our clients all of whom have a disability, to contribute to and develop new life skills, a place to meet people and feel part of the local community in which they live.  Along with providing the local community of Shaw a welcoming café environment with quality produce at good value to purchase whilst spending time at Dunwood Park.

Over the last three years PI have received much support from the local community and even during the pandemic once re-opening the café continued to offer a takeout service to many people using the Park. The challenges PI face in the main relate to the fact that we have been unable to attract clients that have wanted to spend their time within the café environment, this along with increased operating costs will mean the cafe is budgeted to make a significant financial loss across 2022/2023.

As a Charity that’s main purpose is to support people with Disabilities, they are unable to absorb the budgeted loss and it is with regret will be closing the café in July 2022.

PI said: “We would like to thank our customers, the Friends of Dunwood Park and all the local councillors for their support.  And wish all the very best in finding an alternative operator for the café.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has once again made the call for conductors to be introduced on the Oldham Metrolink network.

He made his call again at a meeting of the Rail and Metrolink Committee on Friday 14 January in response to a detailed report on the trams detailing amongst other things crime and anti-social-behaviour (ASB).

“It was November 2018 when Oldham Council agreed with the Liberal Democrat suggestion for conductors and still nothing has happened,” stated councillor Sykes.

“I welcome the proposal to provide CCTV at some tram stops in Oldham and other schemes to tackle ASB and make the trams safer.  However I am worried this will not be enough and will also just displace activity away from these five town centre stops to elsewhere on the network such as Derker/ Shaw & Crompton/Hollinwood and Failsworth for example,” he added.

“What we need to fully restore public confidence and increase numbers using the network is uniformed conductors, or whatever they want to call them, on all trams at all times.  The presence of a conductor would mean that passengers (and Metrolink staff) will be ensured safer travel and that fare dodgers will be caught and deterred, stated councillor Sykes.  “This common-sense solution and has been applied successfully elsewhere, in Sheffield, Birmingham and Blackpool for example.  We need it on the Oldham line now!”

A decision on the failing multi-million pound iOPS system has still not taken, despite Manchester’s chief constable saying that one was due to be made in December.

The computer system, which has cost over £29 million to implement – although the exact figure may never be known – still has major flaws, particularly in the “Police Works” system, which is used to track investigations. Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who was landed with the unenviable task of managing the problems when he took over in 2021, organised an ‘Options Review’ of the system earlier this year, and had stated that a decision would be taken in December.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This whole thing has been shambolic. Delay after delay, review after review, problem after problem.

“We keep getting the excuse that many police forces have problems bringing in new IT systems. Well, I asked at the last Oldham Council meeting how many police forces had had as many problems as GMP, and it’s a very simple answer. None.

“Deputy Mayor Bev Hughes has again said that PoliceWorks continues to be a very serious problem for the police. It’s not just a problem for the police – it’s a problem for every victim of crime who has been let down because this system is not fit for purpose.”

A new report – delayed from October – is now due to be presented to the GMCA on February 7.

Councillor Al-Hamdani continued: “It has taken years to get to this point, and the decision making process is being dragged out further and further. Bev Hughes said in 2020 that ‘no stone would be unturned’ in looking into this. Well, it seems too long has been spent turning stones over, and not enough time making decisions.

“I feel sorry for the officers and staff who want to help people, but have been left struggling because of this expensive failure. More than that, I feel sorry for the people who currently feel there is no point reporting crimes because nothing will happen. We need systems that work, so that people regain confidence in the Police.

“PoliceWorks Doesn’tWork.”