FACEBOOK COMMENTS
WHAT you’ve been saying on our Facebook page:
●● TRIBUTES to house explosion victim Hazel Wilcock (see page 4&5):
Trisha Sharkey: She looks like such a lovely, kind lady, it’s so unbelievably sad. Sending loving thoughts to her family & friends Hannah Haworth: Thoughts go out to her family and friends. So sad x
Christine Duggan Jackson: Poor woman - my heart goes out to her family
Lindsay Harris: She looks and sounds like a lovely lady. What a terrible thing to happen. So sorry for her family and friends’ friends Louise Ashworth Emmott: So so sad - thoughts go out to her family, friends and her neighbours
Michelle Slack: So tragic, thinking of her family and friends and all affected in Summerseat
●● ALDI on verge of planning go-ahead (February 19, and see p2):
Zoë-Louise Shipton: Can’t put it off forever Angela Maine: Good Sam Haworth: Good, this will help many families in Bacup, go some way to tackling food poverty and improve health outcomes of the towns folk
Chantelle Young: Ashleigh Herbert how much easier would it be for you!
Caroline Chew: Good, creating more jobs too x Rogerio Santos: About time
Ann Langan: About time
●● COUNCILLOR suspended for opposing council tax rises (see p9):
Janet Golden: Wow! Why bother having a vote then? Christopher Walton:
How can you be suspended for casting a vote - not much of a vote that.
Myles Rowlinson: You can’t suspend someone for having an opinion. That would be like living in Russia or China.
Jayde Susanna Holmes: Fair play to the man! Acting with integrity and not afraid to stand up for those he represents. Shame on the big wigs who feel the need to suspend him. We live in a democracy or we were meant to last time I checked.
Mistar Felipe Sped: The only way to roll with local council is to support independents.
Jayde Susanna Holmes: Conservatives will lose a valuable asset in this man if they do not back him.
Sam Haworth: Well it’s the party’s loss...fair play to you Cllr x
Janet Berkon: We are now in a dictatorship and no one seems to be bothering about it.
Edith Challinor: It is time some one stood up to these Tories they rip people of every step of the way. And we have no say in any thing so you have an opinion you get suspended.
June Worsley: £159m in reserves for a rainy day and they put up our council tax that will get them £26m, shameful. I don’t know why anyone stays in politics, Labour are the same, you don’t have your own voice, you agree or you are out. You can only fight for your constituents if every one else in the party agree!
Beckie Louise Broadhurst: This is not democracy, this is party bullying.
●● HOSPICE hero’s head shave raises hundreds (February 19):
Joanna Williams: Well done Travis! You are amazing!
Karen King: Well done young man.
Trisha Jamieson: Respect young man
THE Valley’s Labour and Tory politicians have welcomed the Prime Minister’s roadmap out of Covid-19 lockdown.
Our lives will become “incomparably better” thanks to the newly published roadmap, Boris Johnson said this week, as he outlined a plan to fully ease pandemic restrictions by June 21.
In response Rossendale council leader Coun Alyson Barnes said: “I welcome a clear and cautious approach to coming out of the lockdown. Businesses and those who have lost their jobs will need significant added support over the next few months.”
The Prime Minister set out his four-step plan on Monday to relax restrictions across the country, after nearly two months in lockdown.
After months of closures, pubs, bars and restaurants will be able to reopen, theatres could welcome audiences again and the longawaited return of nightclubs will be made possible.
Haslingden MP Sara Britcliffe said: “After almost a year with some kind of restrictions, residents, shopkeepers and all the businesses in Hyndburn and Haslingden can begin to have hope again. This is the first step on our return to normal.”
However, Miranda Barker, chief executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said what is now needed by businesses is “clarity of details”.
ROSSENDALE’S Covid-19 infection rate continues to fall steadily, with 82 new cases in the seven days to February 18. That represented a 21.9 per cent drop on the week before.
The borough’s infection rate per 100,000 people of 114.7 remains slightly below the 122.4 England-wide average rate. Whitworth saw just four cases over a similar period, giving it an infection level of 50.7, less than half the national rate.
The figures have been calculated by the PA news agency, based on Public Health England data published on February 22 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard. Data for the most recent days has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.
If you’re struggling with how you feel at the moment, you’re not alone. The ongoing worry of the coronavirus pandemic plus a winter lockdown have left many people feeling stressed, isolated and under pressure.
Taking care of your mind as well as your body is vital when you’re staying at home and it’s normal to feel bored, frustrated, worried or lonely. But there are lots of things you can do to help you cope.
You can find expert advice and practical tips for looking after your mental health and wellbeing on the NHS website everymindmatters.co.uk. Here are some ways to start.
1
MAKE A PRACTICAL PLAN
If you’re unable to get to the shops for food and medicine, that can be a worry, so work out how you can get any supplies you need. Ask a neighbour or friend, find a delivery service or take a look at local Facebook groups offering mutual aid.
If you have a doctor or hospital appointment booked in for existing physical or mental health issues, go if you can, and discuss how to continue receiving support.
2
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Everyone is missing their friends and family, and a good chat is one way to give yourself a boost. Sometimes it can be hard to admit you’re struggling, so arrange to check in with one friend to see how they are – and they can do the same for you.
And why not set up a WhatsApp group for friends and family who enjoy a particular TV show? It’s a simple way to get together and have an “event” to look forward to.
3
TALK ABOUT YOUR WORRIES
It’s normal to feel a bit scared about the current situation. And it’s OK to share your concerns with others you trust – remember, doing so may help them talk about theirs too.
But if you feel like you don’t want to burden others who are having a hard time too, there are plenty of helplines you can try.
The Samaritans offers confidential support: call free 24 hours a day on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
4
LOOK AFTER YOUR BODY
Our physical health has a big impact on how we feel. At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour that end up making you feel worse.
Try to eat healthy, wellbalanced meals, drink enough water and stay active – and try to avoid smoking, drugs or drinking too much alcohol.
Physical activity can help to boost your mood, but often it’s the last thing you feel like doing when you just want to stay in bed and block out the day. There are lots of workouts you can do at home, so try to get into a habit when you’re having a better day. An online PE session first thing can give you a lift for the day ahead.
Find a type of exercise you enjoy – that’ll make it easier to motivate yourself. Write down how you feel at the start and then compare that with how you’re doing afterwards.
For more tips and support to look after your body, search NHS Better Health.
STAY ON TOP OF DIFFICULT FEELINGS
Remember, feeling worried about things just now is normal. But you might be experiencing intense anxiety that can affect your day-to-day life. If so, try to focus on the things you can control, such as how you act, who you speak to and where you get information from.
Try some ideas to help manage your taking extra time to look after your own health is one thing you can control, so concentrate on the small things you can do to make the situation better.
For tips and advice to cope with difficult feelings, search Every Mind Matters.
6
AVOID OVERWHELMING YOURSELF WITH NEWS
It’s tempting to “doom scroll” on your phone the moment you wake up or just before you go to sleep, but this will only add to your stress.
Set yourself a specific time to read updates, and be mindful of how you are consuming news depending on your mental health. Be wary of and fact check any information you see on social media. If you feel you’re going down a rabbit hole of bad news, set your timer for 15 minutes and do something else (that’s where cleaning can be very therapeutic!)
7
CHECK YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS RIGHTS
Work and money are a big worry while you have to stay home, and this can affect your mental health. Talk to your employer if necessary. Also find out about Government support for businesses and self-employed people, and understand your sick pay and benefits rights.
8
CARRY ON DOING THINGS YOU ENJOY
If you feel worried or low, you may stop doing things you usually enjoy. Make an effort to focus on your favourite hobby if you can still do it at home. Or start a new one: do crosswords or jigsaws, bake, or try drawing and painting. Don’t underestimate the power of sitting under a blanket with a good book, bingeing on a feel-good Netflix show or blasting out some music while you’re tidying the house.
9
TAKE TIME TO RELAX
Home used to be a place for rest and relaxation, but after nearly a year of spending so much time there, it’s no wonder it’s becoming harder to find the head space to switch off.
If you’re working from home,