Council supporting the borough during second coronavirus lockdown

Rochdale Borough Council is ready to support residents and businesses through the new national lockdown.

Rochdale was placed into the government’s tier 3 Very High Alert Level last month, but from Thursday (5 November) more stringent restrictions came into force across England.

Everyone must stay at home and may leave only for a limited set of reasons.

These include:

• For education (schools, colleges and universities).
• For work, if you cannot work from home.
• For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble, or on your own with one person from another household.
• For all medical reasons or medical appointments, and to escape injury or harm.
• To shop for food and essentials.
• To provide care for vulnerable people.

 

Other measures include:

• You must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household – meaning the people you live with, or support bubble.
• Individuals can meet one other person from another household outside in a public place.
• Pubs, bars and restaurants are closed, although they will be able to offer takeaway and delivery services.
• Non-essential retail, hairdressers, leisure and entertainment venues are closed.
• Funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people, and it is advised that only close friends and family attend.
• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances.
• Places of worship are closed, unless they are being used for funerals, to broadcast acts of worship, for individual prayer, formal childcare, or essential services such as blood donation or food banks.
• Manufacturing and construction workplaces can remain open.

Locally, this means the council’s leisure centres run by Link4Life are closed and other council buildings including libraries that had reopened for browsing are now also closed.

You can still request and collect library items from Alkrington, Balderstone, Heywood, Littleborough, Middleton, Milnrow, and Spotland libraries. 

Visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/libraries to find out more and how you can also access e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines. The housebound delivery service will continue for the most vulnerable customers.

 

 

Rochdale Register Office remains open, although no ceremonies will be able to take place.

Most of Number One Riverside is also closed again, but a staffed customer services desk and computers remain open only for customers with no other means of accessing support. Residents are reminded that the vast majority of council services can be accessed online at www.rochdale.gov.uk and by phone. Since March there have been record numbers of transactions/applications processed online and by phone as thousands of people adjust to a new way of working.

Both Dippy the dinosaur exhibitions at Number One Riverside and Touchstones are suspended.

Children’s Centres remain open for families accessing day-care, midwifery appointments and food clubs. They are also running virtual sessions for parents and babies. Early help teams are still on hand to support families who may need some further help in these challenging times. They can help with a range of things from mental health support, child development, support for children with disabilities and healthy relationship advice. Visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/earlyhelp for details. 

The two Suez household waste and recycling centres in the borough remain open as normal.

The council have written to more than 2,000 local businesses affected by the new measures offering support and advice. Financial assistance for businesses that were open on 22 October but are now forced to close is available and can be applied for at: www.rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus

Sports clubs have been told their activities for adults and young people must cease during the lockdown.

Council leader Allen Brett said he thanks residents for their continued commitment to stop the spread of the virus: “Without the efforts of local people we would be seeing more cases and more lives lost. I realise there is frustration and anxiety around a further national lockdown. Whilst this is a worrying time, I want to reassure residents that the council are supporting all our communities – including vulnerable residents. We will ensure that support is swiftly available for businesses too. 

“All you need to know is at www.rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus and our helpline on 01706 923685 remains open for residents that need support, emergency supplies or advice.

“I know we can get through this.”