Snow returned to Saddleworth on Friday evening, causing lengthy queues on the M62 in both directions near Junction 22. Drivers were warned to expect delays of at least an hour.
Rain and hail fell for much of the day, and the showers turned wintry as darkness fell. Forecasters say there’s not likely to be too much snow over the weekend though, with clear skies predicted by the Met Office for most of Saturday and Sunday. However, there could be more snow next week.
Forecasts from the Met Office can be found here. Updates on council services, including gritting, can be found at the Oldham Council Winter website here.
Planning for better train services through Greenfield Station is underway, Saddleworth Parish Council was told earlier this week.
Currently trains from Greenfield to Manchester are hourly during the day, and can be overcrowded and delayed.
Cllr Royce Franklin told Monday night’s council meeting in Uppermill that he had spoken to the railway manager for the line, who confirmed that they were hoping to increase the number of coaches as well as introduce a service which will run every half hour between Greenfield and Manchester.
Cllr John Hudson added: “I have recently used the service and I have already seen an improvement, trains were also on time.”
Another success story for villagers in Uppermill is that the whistle blowing from passing trains has stopped. The trains, which horned every seven minutes as they passed Dark Lane footpath, disrupted residents from early morning to late night.
Local MP Debbie Abrahams told Saddleworth News: “I am very happy that we won the bid to have the whistle blowing stopped. Local people had been affected by it, so I am pleased with the end result.”
Below is a job advertisement placed by the Saddleworth Nursery, Scouthead:
Qualified Nursery Practitioner Required.
Level 3 or equivalent with experience.
The position available is part time (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday between 9am and 5:30pm).
To work with children aged 18 months to 3 years.
We are looking for a lively and caring person with an interest in child development, to work in our busy nursery.
Salary depends on qualifications and experience.
Please send CV to: Saddleworth Nursery 1193 Huddersfield Road, Scouthead, Oldham, OL4 4AG. Or e-mail your CV to: saddleworthnurseryschool@hotmail.co.uk
A 20 year-old man was stabbed at a house in Diggle on Tuesday night.
According to the police, the incident happened at an address on Clydesdale Rise just before 10:10pm.
He was rushed to hospital and with injuries to his thigh and stomach. His condition was described as serious but not life-threatening.
Police told Saddleworth News that inquiries are still ongoing.
If you wish to contact the Saddleworth and Lees police team directly, you can call the Uppermill Office on 0161 856 4524. To contact them during out-of-hours the best number to use is 0161 872 5050. In emergencies, always dial 999.
A man has been arrested and three firearms have been recovered by police, following Monday’s armed robbery of a chemist in Delph. A member of the public was shot at twice with an air rifle during the incident.
According to the police, a man walked into the Co-op pharmacy in the centre of the village at about 3:35pm, and demanded prescription drugs from staff.
When the manager refused, as he didn’t have a prescription, the man took out what was described as a “high-powered air rifle” and again demanded the drugs.
The offender then left the shop and was closely followed by a member of the public. The man shot at him twice before escaping to a nearby house.
Trained firearms officers later arrested a 31-year-old man at a house on Grains Road in Delph, on suspicion of robbery. Three firearms and a machete were found at the address.
In a statement, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Reade said: “I want to reassure the public that this is being treated as an isolated incident. Crimes of this nature are extremely rare.”
Meanwhile, six houses were evacuated after local people reported a strong smell of chemicals in the area following the arrest. Police searched a garage as a precaution but didn’t find anything, and the residents were allowed back home.
More information is available in a statement from GMP here.
You can get up-to-date information from our local officers from their website here and their Twitter feed here.
Police were called to the Co-operative Pharmacy in Delph on Monday afternoon, after reports of an armed robbery.
The incident happened at about 3:35pm, and when officers got there they that found prescription drugs had been stolen.
When contacted by Saddleworth News, police said that inquiries were ongoing.
A reminder that if you want to ring the Saddleworth and Lees police team directly about any matter, you can call the Uppermill office on 0161 856 4524. The best number to use for out-of-hours calls is 0161 872 5050, but in an emergency, always dial 999.
You can get up-to-date information from our local officers from their website here, and their Twitter feed here.
In January last year Debbie Abrahams was elected as MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth.
Twelve months on I will be talking to Debbie about her first 12 months in the job. I will be finding out how she’s dealt with local issues such as the future of the Saddleworth Beer Walk, as well as how she is preparing for the year ahead.
Are their any questions you would like to ask your MP? If so, then please email them toeditor@saddleworthnews.com, and I’ll try to put as many of them to Debbie as possible.
The interview is on 20 January, so please send in any questions for Debbie before then.
A few months after Debbie was elected as our MP, previous Saddleworth News editor Richard Jones did an interview with her about her early stages in the job, you can find this by clicking here.
For other articles about Debbie Abrahadms please click here.
Guide Dogs is searching for volunteers from in and around Saddleworth, to board its trainee dogs.
The charity has been in touch with Saddleworth News, to explain that it is looking for boarders that will keep trainee dogs in their homes, as well as feed and groom them. Guidelines from the dog’s trainer will also be provided, which the boarders will have to adhere to.
Guide Dog mobilty instructor Nichola Price said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to have the benefits of caring for a dog without the full-time responsibility.”
She added: “It is also very rewarding to be involved in the upbringing and training of a guide dog, which will one day provide freedom and independence to a blind or partially-sighted person.”
Potential boarders are asked to provide a safe and secure garden or yard. The charity will provide basic equipment, feeding and veterinary costs.
Advice will also be provided for all volunteers regarding handling skills, basic fist aid and general care. Support from the team at Guide Dogs will also be available.
Further information on becoming a boarder is available by phoning Guide Dogs on 0845 371 7771 or via email at volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk
Local MP Debbie Abrahams and former Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, Rev Dr Rupert Hoare, havebeen confirmed as guest speakers for the Annual Holocaust Memorial Day Vigil, which will be held in Uppermill later this month.
On behalf of the Saddleworth Peace Movement, Parish Cllr Ken Hulme said: “We are delighted that Rev Dr Rupert Hoare and Debbie Abrahams will be joining us on Saturday 28 January in Uppermill. It is so important that we never forget what can happen when racism and prejudice behaviour are left unchecked.”
He added: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to pause and reflect and remember those who have been murdered in the Holocaust and under Nazi persecution. We must learn the lessons of the horrors of the past in order to work for a better and safer future for all.”
The memorial day is marked on 27 January each year. That date is the anniversary of the Russian liberation of the largest Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.
The vigil is scheduled to take place from 11am to 12 noon, on Saturday 28 January at The Square in Uppermill.
It will be followed by coffee and refreshements at Uppermill Methodist Church. If the weather is extremely bad the vigil will be held in the church too.
Police have reassured residents in Greenfield that they were never in any danger, following a dramatic incident on Thursday afternoon.
Officers were called to a house on Chew Brook Drive after reports of a suicidal man. According to the police, they had been informed that the man had access to firearms. Armed response units were sent to the address, but the man gave himself up. Nobody was injured.
The man has since been admitted into hospital for observation. Officers seized a number of firearms from the address as a precautionary measure.
Inspector Scott Winters said: “I can understand this incident must sound extremely concerning to people in the local community, but I would like to reassure them that at no point was there any threat to any members of the public.”
He added: “The man had a firearms license but we have now made a referral to the licensing board that this is to be reviewed.”
Felicity Aston (picture: www.twitter.com/felicity_aston)
Saddleworth’s WI has invited explorer and author Felicity Aston to Delph next month.
Felicity is currently in the Antarctic where she has been on a solo expedition, reaching the South Pole just before Christmas.
When she visits Saddleworth she’ll be talking about her trip, as well as signing books and discussing other projects which she has been involved in. Two years ago she led a team of eight women to the South Pole, the largest such group ever to make the journey, she’s also visited the icy wildernesses of Greenland and Siberia.
To find out more about Felicity’s current adventure you can visit the expedition website here, or follow her updates from Antarctica on Twitter here.
Felicity will be appearing at Millgate Arts Centre on 16 February at 7:30pm Tickets cost £4 for Saddleworth WI members and £5 for guests. This includes a pie and peas supper.
For tickets please contact Jen Whitworth on 07967 006 362. They are also available at Saddleworth WI meetings.
A student from Dobcross is participating in the Greater Manchester Marathon this April. Sean Holmes, who is currently studying at the University of Cumbria, will be raising money for Water Aid.
The run is more than 26 miles and will take in some of Manchester’s key landmarks. Around 5,000 people are expected to participate, all supporting their own chosen charities.
Sean said: “I am really excited for the event and I am preparing for it by training. I am also very excited to see how much money can be raised for charity. Although my target is £500, to raise more would be even better.”
Sean added: “I chose to raise money for Water Aid because of the enormity of what they have already achieved. Last year they were able to reach 1.5 million people with access to clean water, and 1.6 million people with access to sanitation. Clean water is a basic human right. Without people’s generous donations Water Aid’s life-changing work wouldn’t be able to continue, so to reach my target would be a fantastic achievement.”
A West Highland terrier has been missing from his home in Denshaw for a week. The dog called Floyd was last seen heading towards Delph on Delph Road.
The dog is small, white and elderly. He wears a green collar and will answer to Floyd.
Floyd’s owners are urging anyone who may know of his whereabouts to write into Saddleworth News. If you can help, please send an e-mail to editor@saddleworthnews.com
This month’s coffee morning at St Chad’s Parish Centre in Uppermill will be held in aid of Dr Kershaw’s, and will take place on Saturday 7 January between 10am and 12 noon.
The hospice is one of the most popular good causes in the area, and it provides palliative care to adults who have non-cuarable life threatening illnesses. You can get more information about the hospice from the Dr Kershaw’s website here.
The entry fee will be £1 and coffee, cakes and other goods will be on sale. Their will also be a raffle. For more information please visit www.saddleworthteam-cofe.org.uk
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