UPDATE ON EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON ROCHDALE TOWN CENTRE
Rochdale BID want to keep you updated with the latest news, information and advice during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Please check this website daily for more updates for businesses and website individuals.
RETAIL STORE DELIVERIES
Please see below for a list of retail stores in Rochdale town centre that offer home delivery.
Boots
Due to an increase in orders, deliveries are now taking up to 7 working days. To help everyone have access to the essentials, we're limiting sales of certain products. Thank you for your understanding.
Claire's
Our associate and customer safety and well-being are our top priority. Based on the rapid progression of the COVID-19 situation and the public health directions to slow its spread, we have temporarily closed all Claire’s stores. Claires.com is still open, and will continue delivering directly to your home.
Clarks
We love sharing our products with you and are grateful for our loyal customers. If you live in the UK you can continue to shop from our full range on www.clarks.co.uk.
EE
Our delivery operations are continuing as normal with extremely good service levels right across our network.
GAME
We are currently open as normal online.
Holland & Barrett
Due to high demand, please expect some delays to our usual delivery service.
https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/
JD Sports
Free standard delivery on orders over £70.
Marks & Spencer
Now, as ever, the entire M&S team – across our stores, our support centres, our warehouses and in our supply chain – is working tirelessly to deliver for our customers.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/
Max Spielmann
Our online store will remain open for delivery to home for as long as we are able to.
New Look
We are open as usual at newlook.com and our home delivery is still available. Free home delivery on orders over £25.
O2
We are still delivering as normal.
Paul Cheetham Eyecare
Are delivering new and repaired spectacles to those in need.
T – 01706 647119
River Island
Still delivering style 24/7. We’ll get your order to you, wherever you want it for free.
Superdrug
We are doing our best to delivery online orders to you.
The Fragrance Shop
We want to continue to spread love, hope and positivity, therefore we will still be active throughout our social media channels and you will still be able to shop online at www.thefragranceshop.co.uk
https://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/
Three
Here at Three, we know it's more important than ever to stay connected. And we want to help you with that.
Timpson
Our online store remains open.
Vision Express
Free delivery to your home. We are open as normal online.
https://www.visionexpress.com/
Vodafone
Maintaining the reliability and capacity of our network is our number one priority during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
WH Smith
Customers can still shop with us at www.whsmith.co.uk and we are doing our best to ensure all our deliveries are received on time. Due to the unprecedented times however, some deliveries may be impacted and we can only apologise for this.
SHOP OPENING CHANGES
The following businesses have been told to close by the Government:
All non-essential premises must now close. Takeaway and delivery services may remain open and operational in line with guidance on Friday 20 March. Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal.
Click here for Government guidance on which premises are allowed to remain open.
EXCHANGE SHOPPING CENTRE
The following businesses REMAIN OPEN:
- Iceland
- Poundland
- Home Bargains
- Boots
- Superdrug
- Holland and Barrett
WHEATSHEAF CENTRE
The following businesses REMAIN OPEN:
- Bargain Buys
- Fulton Frozen Foods
YORKSHIRE STREET/SOUTH PARADE
The following businesses REMAIN OPEN:
- Marks and Spencer
- Strawberry Garden
- Post Office
HIGH STREET BANKS
Currently banks are doing everything they can to keep the stores in Rochdale Town Centre open.
TRANSPORT UPDATE
Please do not travel unless it is absolutely essential - stay at home.
Public transport should only be used for trips that are absolutely necessary for work, to get basic necessities, to care for others or for medical reasons.
Train, tram and bus have been reduced to maintain links for key workers.
Check timetables before you travel. If you have to travel, wash your hands before and afterwards, cough or sneeze into a tissue and use contactless payments if possible.
Travelshops across Greater Manchester are now closed (excluding Eccles and Altrincham, which currently remain open) – customers can use online services or call the contact centre on 0161 244 1000.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES
A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.
The following page helps businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply: https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
Following the announcement regarding loans and grants available for small businesses in the wake of the Coronavirus, the government have set up a helpline: https://www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline
Business Support Helpline (England)
Telephone: 0300 456 3565
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
COVID-19: support for businesses guidance –
Home delivery guidance for local shops –
https://www.acs.org.uk/sites/default/files/home_delivery_guidance_updated_22_march.pdf
Crime prevention tips for business during COVID 19
https://nbcc.police.uk/news/letter-from-the-nbcc-regarding-covid-19
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced unprecedented support for business and workers – to protect against the economic emergency caused by the Coronavirus.
This includes unlimited loans and guarantees to support firms and help them manage cashflows through this period. The Chancellor will make available an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP.
At last week’s Budget, the Chancellor provided £30 billion of support to the economy to deal with the crisis by investing in public services, increasing support for vulnerable people and providing business with tax reliefs and loans.
KEY POINTS INCLUDE:
- HMRC will reimburse 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. HMRC are working urgently to set up a system for reimbursement. Existing systems are not set up to facilitate payments to employers.
If your business needs short term cash flow support, you may be eligible for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan.
- All retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England will be given a 100% business rates holiday for the next 12 months. This offer has now been extended to letting agencies, estate agents and bingo halls.
- Grants to small businesses eligible for Small Business Rate Relief have been increased from £3,000 to £10,000.
- Further grants of £25,000 grants to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value over £15,000 and below £51,000.
- The support for liquidity amongst large firms, with a major new scheme being launched by the Bank of England to help them bridge Coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans.
- Confirmation that government advice to avoid pubs, clubs and theatres etc. is sufficient for businesses to claim on their insurance where they have appropriate business interruption cover for pandemics in place.
- To support the food industry and help provide meals for people who need to self-isolate, the Government will relax planning regulations to allow pubs and restaurants to start providing takeaways without a planning application.
Check out the full list of Government measures put in place to support businesses: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS
A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.
The following page helps businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply: https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
- Mortgage lenders have agreed they will support customers that are experiencing issues with their finances as a result of COVID-19, including through payment holidays of up to 3 months. This will give people the necessary time to recover and ensure they do not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage in the interim.
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will now be available for eligible individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or those who are unable to work because they are self-isolating in line with Government advice. This is in addition to the change announced by the Prime Minister that SSP will be payable from day 1 instead of day 4 for affected individuals.
- Those who are not eligible for SSP, for example the self-employed or people earning below the Lower Earnings Limit of £118 per week, can now more easily make a claim for Universal Credit or Contributory Employment and Support Allowance.
- The Government has announced a new £500 million Hardship Fund so Local Authorities can support economically vulnerable people and households.
ADVICE FOR EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES
When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. That is why the government is now (23 March 2020) introducing three new measures.
- Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes
- Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
- Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public
Every citizen must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
These measures are effective immediately. The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.
- Those who follow advice to stay at home will be eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP) from the first day of their absence from work.
A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.
The following page helps businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply: https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
WHO SHOULD I BE CONTACTING?
FOR BUSINESSES:
- If you require any additional help or support or have any questions around support which is currently available, please contact the BID Office on 01706 926676
- You can contact the government’s Business Support Helpline for free advice.
Business Support Helpline (England)
Telephone: 0300 456 3565
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
- You can also find free support, advice and sources of finance through your local growth hub – GC Growth Hub, Phone: 0161 359 3050. Their business resilience Account Managers will discuss with you how their services may be able to help your business throughout this period.
FOR INDIVIDUALS:
- Stay at home for 7 days if you have either a high temperature or a new continuous cough.
If you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms. This will help to protect others in your community while you are infectious.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact NHS 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.
Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.
- If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
For more in-depth advice and guidance, please read through the Government's response documents here: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
25 Mar 2020