Action to help worst-hit by virus
ROCHDALE Borough Council has appealed to businesses and residents in the local community to donate to a not-for-profit community campaign as it expands its efforts to support those worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.
In a letter to the Rochdale Observer (published in full opposite), council leader Allen Brett and councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for Regeneration, Business and Skills, called on anyone who can to make cash donations to the Action Together campaign, which has launched a fundraising drive to support demand for its services during lockdown, as well as to donate food to the borough’s food banks.
Action Together will be using donations to provide financial support to local groups, as well as helping to deliver food packages and offer companionship over the phone to those isolated during lockdown in Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside.
Separately, Coun Brett said that coronavirus presented “the greatest challenge of our time”, and that new leaflets to be distributed from the council would be reminding local businesses and residents alike of the firm government guidelines to be followed during lockdown.
The council leader said: “To protect our communities and the most vulnerable we need to take the advice that we have been given, it’s as simple as that. It’s vital that businesses and residents play their part in doing everything they can to slow the spread of this virus.”
The letter also details steps Rochdale Council has already taken to help mitigate the impact of lockdown conditions, including cash boosts to local companies and foodbanks as well as the foundation of four community hubs.
Commenting on the council’s coronavirus action plan, Conservative Group leader councillor Ashley Dearnley said he was “fully supportive” of the measures put in place to support the community, and emphasised the importance of council members working together during times of crisis.
The Shadow Portfolio Holder for Health & Wellbeing added: “I get briefings every day on what’s going on, I hear from residents and there is general agreement that the council and its officers are doing a super job and working diligently to do what they can to help during the situation that we’re in.”
Coun Dearnley says he is in regular contact with representatives of other Conservative groups in Greater Manchester and discussing
“best practice” from across the region to share with local authorities.
“One thing that I want to see is the ability to recycle, because one of the big issues has been people fly tipping now with the recycling centres being closed down,” he added.
Official figures show that the number of fly tipping incidents across the Rochdale area since in March of this year was double the number recorded in March 2019, (as reported on page 2) with a bizarre range of items including 60 boxes of frozen chicken being dumped at various locations in recent weeks.
Coun Dearnley said that he also hoped Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would consider proposals suggested by the Greater Manchester Conservative group for a scheme offering free transport to hospitals for key workers and visitors.
Coun Dearnley said that in his health and wellbeing position for the council, he had received overwhelmingly positive feedback from constituents about measures and preparations taken by the council to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
In the week that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to intensive care in London with persistent coronavirus symptoms, the councillor wished him and Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd, who is being treated for the virus in Manchester Royal Infirmary, a speedy recovery and said many local residents had expressed the same. He said: “It seems that at least he is stable now, so our best wishes to them both that they fully recover.”
Donations to Action Together can be made via JustGiving, while details of where to find the area’s multiple food banks can be read in the letter here.