On Thursday 25 November, Accrington’s beautiful market hall will stay open late for an evening Christmas shopping event. From 4.00-9.00PM, visitors will be able to shop, drink and dine while getting in the festive mood. There will be free children’s activities to enjoy and over 50 stalls for customers to browse, with handmade gifts and delicious treats to eat.
Many indoor market favourites will be staying open later to welcome seasonal shoppers, while new popup stalls confirmed for the event include Boos Bakery, Pretty Little Flame and Mia Jade Bakes. Following the success of the August Bank Holiday Bash evening opening, shoppers and stallholders are looking forward to the event.
Market manager Sameena King commented: ‘We know some people will say Christmas can’t start in November but we wanted to give people the chance to get in the mood early. After a difficult year for many, starting on your seasonal shopping or simply sampling some delicious food are things we’re happy to make available. ‘Welcoming people to an event of this type is a great way to stay involved with our community and support local businesses.’
There are still spaces available for potential traders and pop up stallholders looking to get in the festive spirit and reach new customers, please email markets@hyndburnbc.gov.uk.
It’s beginning to look a lot like… well, sort of Some may be reluctant to admit it, but Christmas is around the corner. In just over 10 weeks, we’ll be sitting around our respective dining tables eating, pulling crackers, and then eating again. After the washout of Christmas 2020, where Covid restrictions made it impossible to enjoy a “normal Christmas”, many hoped that 2021 would bring a return to the Yuletide cheer of yesteryear. Except, there might be a different kind of spanner in the works this year. Supermarket bosses have warned that there may be a shortage of some of our favourite Christmas goodies as we approach December, the result of a lack of drivers to deliver those goodies around the country.
Be it because of Brexit, Covid rates leading to isolation periods and a lack of staff, or a combination of both, there is a risk that some of your favourite festive items will be missing from your home this Christmas. “We’ve already had one Christmas cancelled at the last minute. I’d hate this one to be problematic as well,” said Richard Walker, the chief executive of supermarket chain Iceland in recent weeks. Tesco chairman John Allan, meanwhile, said: “Normally the supermarket industry would start building stocks from now in readiness for Christmas. Longer-life products first, things like Christmas puddings and so on, shorter-life products, like fresh turkeys, very late in the day. “At the moment we’re running very hard just to keep on top of the existing demand and there isn’t the capacity to build stocks that we’d like to see.”
So what could we be short of come December 25?
Turkeys There are concerns that poultry farmers will only be able to produce 80% of their usual output this year, due to a shortage of workers. Richard Griffiths, chief executive at British Poultry Council, said: “It would be irresponsible to grow more birds than can be slaughtered and processed, which is incredibly frustrating when the demand is there for quality British products.”
Pigs in blankets Ah, a lot of people’s favourite Christmas lunch treat, crispy bacon wrapped around a small crispy sausage. We can’t have Christmas without them, surely? A spokeswoman for British Meat Processors Association said it’s a possibility. “Given the current workforce shortages, meat companies are finding it difficult to see how they’ll dig themselves out of this,” she said. “Part of the issue is that it’s more difficult to time the supply of pigs in the same way that you can for Christmas turkeys, so production of Christmas favourites like pigs in blankets has to be done well in advance, and normally should have started at the beginning of July. “The problem will continue to spiral until something changes. That ‘something’ must be an injection of new workers.”
Petrol We all need petrol to do those all important Christmas rounds, delivering presents to loved ones and making sure you get to wherever is hosting this year’s festivities. But after weeks of chaos at the pumps, there are no guarantees that everything will be back to normal by Christmas. Despite many petrol stations now having ample stocks of fuel, many in parts of England continue to be low on quantity. Policing Minister Kit Malthouse told the BBC last week: “We are still seeing strong demand in parts of the country around fuel, albeit that there is no problem of supply into the country. “The distribution mechanism is trying to respond to this unprecedented demand.”
Gifts Now hang on a minute, no turkey or pigs in blankets is one thing, but no presents? Retailers, like other industries, are being hit hard by a lack of drivers, and that could mean a delay in delivering toys and other gifts, or enough of them, to stores in time for Christmas. Experts in the toy industry fear that consumers will face higher prices this Christmas as a result of economic pressures that have disrupted their plans.
Bins We all generate even more waste over Christmas, thanks to more packaging, more food waste, more wrapping paper, but rubbish collection is something else which could be affected due to driver shortages.
Veg Surely there’ll be enough veg to go around? Labour shortages in the fruit and vegetable market could have a real impact this Christmas, according to experts. Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association, said: “If you cannot get the labour, you end up going through the crops and you might just pick out the class one and leave some of the other produce that could have been picked from those fields. “I think the longer term issue is it just continuously erodes the confidence of growers.”
Christmas trees What the hell are we supposed to hang our baubles on if we run out of Christmas trees? One farmer explained this week why even the most important festive item of all might be harder to come by this year. “With Brexit, the paperwork involved with importing the produce to grow has increased significantly,” said Rob Morgan. “There’s also a huge lack of drivers and general transportation, as most us will be aware by now, as well as lengthy shipping delays, which is really driving up demand for local producers and farmers. “Many wholesalers are too afraid to buy from abroad these days, because of the delays and the paperwork and so on. It’s great for local farmers like me to have that extra support, but there simply aren’t enough trees at the moment to meet this sudden increase. A Christmas tree takes around 12 years to grow, so we can’t just produce more overnight.”
The largest event of its kind in the borough is taking place on Thursday, November 4 and everyone is invited to come along and join in the fun. Following a break due to Covid this year’s event makes a welcome return to its home on Oldham Edge Playing Fields (Henshaw Street, Oldham OL1 3EN).
Final arrangements are currently underway for what promises to be one of the biggest, loudest and most colourful events of the year – including fire-themed entertainment and a fireworks display from former UK champions Fantastic Fireworks. Keep an eye out on our website www.oldham.gov.uk/OldhamBonfire and social media accounts for the latest updates and news.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “I’m delighted to be able to say the Big Bang bonfire is back. “We know people missed it last year as the event is always is hugely popular – even if the weather isn’t that good. “This year we’ll have another spectacular line-up of free entertainment fireworks and flames for all the family to enjoy. “Why go to the trouble of buying your own fireworks when you can come to our event? You’ll be able to see top class entertainment, including some of the best fire display and fireworks professionals in the country, all within a safe and controlled environment.” At this time of year the council works alongside the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and partners to keep people safe from fires, injuries and nuisance. The Big Bang Bonfire helps to ease the extreme pressure that can be put on our emergency services. Free parking will be available on all council-owned town centre car parks and on street pay and display parking bays from 3pm on the day. As in previous years we expect demand for spaces will be high so you are advised to use public transport where possible. There is no spectator parking available at the bonfire site.
To find your nearest car park, visit www.oldham.gov.uk/parking. The following are not allowed on site: confiscated; alcohol, gazebos, fires, barbecues, fireworks, sparklers or any naked flames. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a responsible adult, and attendees are asked that they don’t bring their dogs, except for assistance dogs, on site.
You are advised to wear suitable clothing and footwear on the night.
Permission has been granted for the development of 69 low-carbon social homes on Silk Street, Newton Heath. The project will bring back into use a long-term under-used brownfield site to build 36 one-bedroom apartments; 12 two-bedroom apartments; 17 two storey, three-bedroom houses; and 4 three storey, four-bedroom houses – while 16 of the apartments will be available to people over the age of 55. Off-road parking will be included as part of the development, along with electric vehicle charging points, and private driveways for the houses.
Each of the apartments will have a balcony and living walls will provide a green aesthetic to the development, along with shared outdoor green space. They will also be built to HAPPI design principles that ensure larger internal space as standard, which will easily accommodate someone using a wheelchair, along with extra storage space. The houses will have generous gardens and solar panels, while the apartments will feature living green roofs as part of the project’s low carbon commitment.
This will also include the use of Ground Source Heat Pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to keep utility costs down for residents. The homes will be constructed by Rowlinson with a design informed by the history of Newton Heath, celebrating the brickwork that characterises the local area. The homes will be managed by Northwards Housing.
Work is expected to begin on site in the New Year. The development is being part-funded through the Government’s Brownfield Land Fund, which will help deliver 522 new homes on disused land across the city over the next five years. The city is already on track to surpass the affordable homes delivery target, which was to support at least 6,400 affordable homes to be built in the city between 2015 and 2025. The Council now expects to deliver more than 7,000 affordable homes in this period, more than meeting the 20% affordable target for all housing development in the city.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, said: “I’ve been following the progress of this development for some time, and this planning permission marks an important milestone as we drive on the delivery of these much-needed new homes.
“This project ticks so many boxes – bringing a long-term brownfield site back into use, new affordable social housing, homes for older people, and a range of sizes to meet different levels of demand. All this while delivering properties to meet low carbon standards and sustainable technologies, which will reduce costs for residents and help us meet our target of being a zero-carbon city by 2028.
“We know demand is high for social housing and we know this development will be so welcome in the local community.” David Chilton, managing director, Rowlinson said: “These homes meet the needs of residents across the board – low emissions, a range of sizes, later living options, and more. It is an impressive development, setting a very high standard for new social housing. We are eager to make a start and will be using local labour where possible. Rowlinson is proud to be working with the Council in delivering these much-needed new homes for the local community.”
Older and vulnerable residents can live more independently in their homes thanks to grants of up to £50,000. And as some of the grants aren’t means-tested you might be surprised by what you are entitled to. The council receives around £347,000 a year from the Government for house adaptations, a mix of means-tested disabled facilities grants (non-means-tested if the facilities are for children) of up to £50,000 and non-means-tested discretionary grants, called Ribble Valley Adaptations, of up to £7,000 for a range of measures, such as accessible showers and stairlifts.
Rachael Stott, Ribble Valley Borough Council’s housing strategy manager, said: “Many residents in need of adaptations do not qualify for means-tested assistance, yet their need is equally pressing, and our discretionary grants have enabled us to double the number of households we are able to help.”
Adaptations are recommended by an occupational therapist and the work funded and overseen by the council’s surveying team, ensuring it is undertaken to the highest standard. Ribble Valley has an above average number of older residents – 20.3 per cent of the borough are aged over 65, compared to 16.3 per cent nationally.
For further information about disabled facilities grants or adaptations to your home, contact Lancashire Social Services on 0300 123 6720 and request an occupational therapy assessment.
A range of help and support is being offered to Oldhamers, as many households face the prospect of a difficult winter ahead.
A combination of the rising costs of basic goods, energy price increases and the £20 a week uplift to Universal Credit ending means that many people will be facing additional pressures on household finances. Oldham Council Leader Arooj Shah said: “I am deeply concerned about the challenges many Oldhamers, particularly our most vulnerable families, will face this winter.
“The additional hardships caused by the Coronavirus pandemic are not behind us, and now with the Universal Credit uplift ending, rising inflation and increasing energy prices, we know people need our help more than ever. “That’s why I’m calling on the Government to keep the uplift to Universal Credit. The UK has the fifth biggest economy in the world – so it’s a national disgrace that we have so many living on so little.
“As Leader, I am determined people in our borough are not limited by who they are, where they come from, or where they live. This council will work toward preventing people from falling into poverty, intervene if they do fall into poverty and give them the support they need to stay out of poverty.”
If you, or someone you know, is struggling now please visit the Oldham Council website below or call our helpline. We may be able to help with your energy bills and heat your home, offer support in dealing with emergencies, and advise on the range of benefits you may be entitled to.
Help is available online here We can help or call our helpline on 0161 770 7007 (9am – 5pm on weekdays).
This month’s advertorial comes to us from the founder of T4 Physio clinic in Bolton, and author of ‘Discover the Secrets to Aging Well and Staying Active’, Nash Danga.
On finishing my book I realised I had thoroughly enjoyed writing it and one of the reasons is, I know it is going to help people far and wide. I’m so lucky that I enjoy my job and Physiotherapy is really a huge passion of mine, and part of my life rather than just a job. Movement is essential, and it never ceases to amaze me how many conditions can be eased with physical therapy and rehabilitation plans. Often, we turn to medication and pain killers as a fix, forgetting that really, we need to find the root cause of the problem. Our busy lives take over and taking a few tablets a day or applying some cream allows us to go about daily life, but what is the long- term damage?
Conditions such as trapped nerve, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow and frozen shoulder, can all return if left untreated and cause further complications. It might also surprise you to know that Physio can help with other chronic problems such as fibromyalgia, weak bladder, stress, diabetes and high blood pressure. It’s simple really- move right and feel right! Chemical fixes in the form of painkillers and drugs should be part of a balanced plan, and it’s part of my job to advise how you can live a better quality of life through physiotherapy. It’s truly a lifesaver! T4 Physio is a renowned clinic located in Kearsley Bolton.
The techniques used by lead therapist and founder Nash Danga are helping the population of Lancashire make the most of their lives. Contact T4 today on 01204 506 804 or log on at t4physo.com/contact.
A Prestwich resident has had all his TVs, stereos and speakers seized after continuing to cause a noise nuisance to his neighbour despite numerous warnings.
The man (who can’t be named for legal reasons) failed to comply with a noise abatement notice to prohibit him playing his stereo at high volume. Bury Council environmental health officers made recordings which showed that the disturbance was frequent and occurred late in the evening and at night. Officers obtained a warrant to enter his home to seize all noise-making equipment which consisted of numerous televisions, stereo and speakers.
Any further breaches will result in further confiscation of noise-making equipment and additional prosecution proceedings. Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “People have a right to live in peace in their own homes and not be disturbed by their neighbours. We will continue to take action against those who ignore all the warnings and persist in causing a nuisance.”
The work to create a new fit-for-purpose home for Penkford School is under way. Staff and pupils from the school had the chance to see the work for themselves when they paid a visit to the school’s new home at the former Red Bank Education Unit in Newton-le-Willows with members of St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet.
Contractor Galliford Try will complete the transformation of the site so that the maintained special school can continue to support young people from across the borough. The council approved the £7.6m project in September 2020 which will see the vacant site brought back to life with the extension of the existing building to create a more therapeutic learning environment, incorporating new learning spaces as well as a dining and multipurpose sports hall.
The works also include a new playing field, sports pitch, car park, fencing and amended access from Winwick Road. As part of the contract Galliford Try will also deliver more than 20 projects aimed at supporting the wider community and delivering social value for the area. Among those is an exciting community project with Wargrave Special Educational Needs School to create an outdoor classroom and community café. Councillor Kate Groucutt, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Business, said: “It’s fantastic to finally see work starting on this exciting project that will support young people across our borough who need the specialist care and education that Penkford provides. We are committed to make sure every child in our borough gets the best start in life so now it’s great to see ideas we have been talking about coming to life.
“We’re also delighted that Galliford Try are connecting with the wider community in Newton-le-Willows and are delivering a range of projects to support other schools and groups in the area.” Darren Parker, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building North West, commented: “Social value is one of the key elements of Galliford Try’s Sustainable Growth Strategy and we are excited to be able to implement such a fantastic programme alongside the Penkford School. Not only will that value provide a lasting benefit to the local community going forward, but the new school is set to be a high-quality facility that will help provide the welcoming educational environment these students deserve.”
Anne Kyle, Head Teacher at Penkford School added: “The Special Educational Needs children of St Helens deserve the best facilities to learn in, as they already have so many barriers to learning to overcome. The whole school community, but especially the pupils are so excited and grateful to St Helens Borough Council for investing in them and their futures. We cannot wait to start our learning journey in our brand new school.”
Autumn 2021 brings a fresh start. Improved growing conditions for current autumn and spring drilled crops, fresh seed stocks across the board and grain values rising due to high demand. Wheat and barley are still regarded as the best performing and most important crops on farm. Popular crops such as wheat and barley benefit from being versatile together with breeding developments to improve yield and disease resistance. Milling wheat, used in food products from biscuits to bread continues to do well on these shores, where we consistently produce a high-quality milling product.
Diverse uses for malt see the annual output of nearly 2m tonnes simply increasing. More uses for cereals in animal feed and Food and Drink manufacturers are finding that wheat can provide a rich source of starch and glucose. Not forgetting the increasing demand in Bioethanol markets, which continues to evolve, with plant-based ethanol being used as a petrol alternative. The increasing markets for Linseed may just interest a greater number of farmers, with increasing demand to grow this under contract. This is proving a popular replacement for oilseed rape with its early sowing and harvesting benefits.
It goes without saying that close attention should be made of the recommended list of winter cereals for your particular region. The AHDB Recommended list (RL) provides an expansive list of varieties by region, that are proven in terms of performance and disease resistance. For a more detailed list of recommended varieties in Scotland, take a look the Scottish Recommended Lit for Cereals 2021/22 from pure.SRUC.ac.uk
On heavy soils, the most profitable (and sustainable) rotation will be two wheats after a break crop, followed by spring barley. Others may even return to continuous wheat/cereals, but caution must be taken to avoid the Take-All effects on rooting and yield. It is perhaps more challenging on lighter soils where second cereals tend not to perform so well. The key to minimising the financial impact is to look at the gross margin across the whole rotation rather than direct crop replacements. Farm businesses may be considering whole-field stewardship options as one of their replacement break crop alternatives. A two-year legume fallow is an example of an option under the current English Countryside Stewardship which may, in some situations, act as the break crop. As a rule, this will only work for average performers, or poorer land, where the risk vs reward ratio remains higher.
For top performers, and good soils, continuing with ‘full’ cropping is likely to be the best way forward. Productivity remains one of the key differences between business performance, certainly not scale. It is simply understanding land capability and having excellent attention to detail. These are often the result of multiple small improvements which when combined deliver large changes to the bottom line. Productivity remains the basic principle if businesses are to thrive.
Drilling dates Factors affecting drilling dates are varied and are dependent on the geographic region. These factors can include:
Soil condition A good seed-to-soil contact helps to ensure rapid seed germination and excellent conditions for residual herbicides to work effectively.
Control grass weed In some seasons, of low dormancy and moist soils, delaying drilling can allow early glyphosate treatments, but this will not work with dry autumns with high dormancy.
Geographical region In particular interest to Scottish farmers, with colder field aspecst and located further north, earlier crops can be drilled with less danger of early problems associated with pests. Early September drilling is achievable in Northern regions, while late drillings can be slow to emerge and in cold winters, crops will stop growing sooner, with a potential knock-on effect and late harvest. In Scotland, it is recognised that the harvest date of the previous crop can certainly have an influence, with the opportunity for stale seed beds being really quite narrow compared to southern England.
Risk of diseases and pests The risk of disease in highly affected varieties can increase if drilled early. Mid-September plantings may have substantially higher levels of septoria and yellow rust than those drilled in October. Wheat bulb fly may be problem for crops drilled later on so use of an insecticidal treatment is certainly advised.
Early drilling Ideally, varieties drilled in early September should be slow developing, disease resistant and have good resistance to lodging.
Drilling window Nearly all varieties can be drilled from 20th September through to mid-October. If a range of varieties is on farm, it’s advisable to segregate by speed of early development and straw strength.
Late drilling Characteristics for later drilling should include fast early development and good tillering scope to ensure best ground cover going into winter.
Second wheat Many varieties function as they would in the first drilling. Identify varieties that have good resistance to eyespot, but this is not always reflected in final yield. Quality wheats are often drilled in this slot, as the reduced yield potential can help maintain grain protein content.
