Committee protest about closed One Shop

Members of the Lower Falinge Activity Group committee protest about the closed ‘1 shop’

Four members of the Lower Falinge Activity Group committee - the chairman Andy Littlewood, treasurer Dee Rahman, secretary David Fenwick-Finn and committee member Joan Maskell- protested about the closed ‘One Shop’ on Tuesday 1 July to draw attention to the continued lack of action from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) regarding future plans for the premises – because despite their promises of activities to replace the services previously offered by the ‘One Shop’, there has been no sign of RBH Management implementing their promises in the near future; the committee feels that they are’paper promises’ that they are not going to implemented at all.

Chairman Andy Littlewood said: “This represents a cut in services no matter what RBH says, and nothing they’ve said to us consequently, about vague future plans, convinces anybody. There has been no meaningful consultation with the community despite what RBH management says, and I don’t think they plan to do so- but we’re here today to remind them they’ve still got a fight on their hands”.

Secretary David Fenwick-Finn added: “We’ve been told by people who used the I.T. facilities in the 1 shop, how angry they are at the closure- it turns out that they were used not only by people on the estate, but also people living in the Falinge district, and also Spotland and College Bank. The message we’re getting loud and clear is that people feel this has been badly mismanaged by RBH management, and that they have a lot of ground to make up to amend their mistakes. We want to know what’s happened to their so-called ‘action plan’ – because all we’re seeing is inaction.” The committee intends to keep up the pressure “until management comes up with satisfactory answers- and actions.” 

A spokesman for RBH said: "RBH is strongly committed to supporting the community in Lower Falinge. RBH have a neighbourhood housing office in Lower Falinge as well as supporting activities together with the community from a separate community base.

"RBH has not ended any of the activities it supports in Lower Falinge such as work club, gardening sessions and our award winning Junior Wardens. We continue to work closely with the Police and other partners to facilitate their work in the neighbourhood.

"Our change to service delivery is not a reduction in resource in Lower Falinge. Our Community Action Workers continue to offer support to tenants and activities out and about in Lower Falinge and via the Neighbourhood Housing Office. All homes have received a leaflet setting out the Neighbourhood Housing Office opening times and ways to get in touch with RBH.

"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."