One Shop in Falinge to close

The One Shop in Lower Falinge is set to close. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) announced the closure of the shop to residents last week.

It is understood that from yesterday (Thursday 1 May) the opening hours of the shop have been reduced to two days a week and a permanent closure of the shop will take place from Thursday 29 May.

Andy Littlewood, Chairman of the Lower Falinge Activity Group, said: “The One Shop is a valuable place for advice and support for Lower Falinge tenants and is much needed. The management of RBH have never taken the One Shop seriously.”

David Fenwick-Finn, Secretary of the Lower Falinge Activity Group, added: “At a time of recession, the One Shop has provided computer and internet access and support and advice for tenants, as well as a base for GMP, in one of the most deprived wards in the country. We think that this is a short-sighted and rushed decision that RBH will come to regret.”

It is understood that the decision to close the shop has been made due to a fall in attendance during drop in sessions. Staff at RBH did expect attendance levels to increase as work on new homes got underway last year but RBH believe that this has not happened.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing said: “RBH is strongly committed to supporting the community in Lower Falinge.

“RBH will not be ending any of the activities it supports in Lower Falinge, and we will be continuing to work closely with the Police to facilitate their work from the One Shop. This includes working with the Police to develop a bid for funding to enable the Police to deliver additional activities from the One Shop.

“Our change to service delivery is not a reduction in resource in Lower Falinge. However, instead of Community Action Workers waiting in the One Shop for the small number of tenants who ‘drop in’ three mornings a week, they will be able to offer support to tenants and activities out and about in Lower Falinge and via the Neighbourhood Housing Office.

“We are investing millions of pounds in developing new homes in Lower Falinge as well as the improvements that will be carried out to existing homes. This investment goes hand-in-hand with our support for the people that live there and we know we need do this together with the community in the most effective way.”