Author: GVC

Folks,

What a strange time it is that we live in! Need I say more?

The Phase 2 of the Village Green started in August 2019 and was due to be a 6 week project. The plan was to have a formal opening on Halloween 2019, and here we are a year later…….

Firstly may I thank you all for your patience with this project. I know some of you have been concerned as to what has been going on, especially since I have stepped down from the role of Chairman. I agreed with Julie that I would see this project through and we are nearly there.

I could list the many challenges that have bedevilled this project, but the current rainy weather is a repeat of last Autumn’s deluge and October looks like changing places with April for rainfall. Due to the sodden ground last year the project was put on hold and then Covid! Even something as simple as having signs/plaques made up  was a challenge as the manufacturers were busy with orders for Covid safety notices.

This month the Inspector from RoSPA passed off the Zip Wire and other items as safe which we are very grateful for. A minor accident did occur on the Zip Wire and so the ride was shortened and spring dampers put in place to protect the rider from hitting the wooden supports. We mentioned to the Inspector that it was hardly a “zip” experience. His comment was to say it requires running in, as it meets all the standards for a Zip Wire. So please give it a go (in fact many) and let us run it in. Unfortunately the grass under the ride did not have enough time to grow and mature, so expect a muddy experience.

It is lovely to see the whole Green so busy with activity. Many may have forgotten how badly it used to flood. I am grateful to Grant Brooks who is a resident of Greenmount for his wonderful drone footage taken in February 2018 which reminds us just how bad it was. Click on this link to view it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6d1yBXE6oM 

The project is finished now, but as with many things there are a few loose ends which require sorting. These are:

• The wire trays need installing in the BBQ by the two picnic tables
• The boules area requires another level of stone and to be made to make it a suitable play surface for boules/petanque
• The stone work on the path is still loose and requires compacting. After Phase 1 it had been fine, so this is a backward step at the moment
• There are a few puddles which can do with maintenance

The contractor is aware of this list, but as yet has not set a date to return. Please give them space when they do return.

Now  that it has passed the safety inspection and all the signs are in place, go ahead and enjoy this marvellous facility in our village.

All the best,

Alistair

Dear All,

Please see the message from Bury MBC below and information attached with the updated local restrictions.

Keep well everyone and take care

Kind regards

Julie

Bury Update

• The latest update from this week is attached for your information and to be shared with your connections and communities
• Also attached are a couple documents about the ‘Very High’ tier guidance and the ‘Self Isolation’ guidance, again please feel free to share.

Consultation – improving intermediate care service ins Bury.

A six-week public consultation has launched today in relation to proposals for intermediate care services in Bury.  The proposals aim to reduce waste and improve the range of services available to benefit more people locally. 

You can read about the consultation in our press release here, and access the consultation document and survey via the One Community platform here.

We would be grateful if you could help to promote the availability of this consultation amongst your colleagues, networks and if you should share our social media too that would be great.

Hello,

I have been asked to forward the email below to our database contacts.

The links to the surveys are also on  the Council’s One Community web site.

https://www.onecommunitybury.co.uk/

Many thanks,

Kim Griffiths

This 16 week stretch has seen many changes in legislation but you have all supported and abided by the policy changes we have implemented in our attempts to ensure that GCC remained as safe an environment as possible for our members, staff and visitors.

The turnover generated over the bar and through your membership subscriptions has also given us a fighting chance of surviving this next period of closure, however long that might be. 

The club will therefore close tonight at 10pm and I sincerely hope that we will be back open before Christmas. I will look to keep you updated on our plans through these emails and via our website at greenmountcc.leaguerepublic.com, but can I also draw your attention to the Geenmount Village Community website at greenmountvillage.org.uk which will contain further information on what support is available throughout our village over the next few months for our more vulnerable members and their families.

In the meantime I hope you and your families remain fit and healthy and free from the impact of Covid and I look forward to welcoming you back to the Log Cabin in the near future.

Rob Kilvington

GCC Chairman

Hello

I have been asked by Bury Hospice to pass on an invitation to join them for their “virtual” Light Up A Life  remembrance event in December.

Please see the attached for information on how you can join in.

Please feel free to pass this information on to your community contacts or to anyone you think may be interested

Any queries you may have, please drop a reply to this email to  Dale Mulgrew –   [email protected]

Or Rachel Wallace  – [email protected]

Please find below a message from the Friends of Margaret Haes Riding Centre.

Best wishes, Julie

---

Dear All in Greenmount Village Community ,   

Our newly formed group “Friends of Margaret Haes Riding Centre”  kindly invite you to purchase tickets for our Bonfire Raffle at only £1 each  

But first…

For those of you not familiar with Margaret Haes Riding Centre (MHRC) for over 40 years this independent charitable organisation based in Holcombe and run by volunteers has helped hundreds of people with special needs, young and old, enjoy the experience of riding with all the benefits that provides in the West Pennine Moors in the Holcombe area.

The reason for the Raffle…

As well as struggling to survive a pandemic resulting in reduced income streams the charity wants provide some basics, specifically to install hot water for their volunteers, riders and staff in the brew room and toilets.

This involves an expensive electrical upgrade and plumbing. We have people kindly donating their skills but still need to buy materials. Please help to improve the safety for our riders, volunteers and staff. There is no hot water on site at the moment (except by boiling a kettle) !                                   

Four fabulous prizes on offer, could be a perfect Christmas present !  

1^st : JEROBOAM (3ltr)  BOTTE OF TAITTINGER CHAMPAGNE.. this could liven up a xmas lockdown ! 

2nd  : LILY OLDFIELD  SPA VOUCHERS … indulge yourself   ! 

3^rd   : AFTERNOON TEA FOR TWO WITH FIZZ  AT HOLLAND’S OF HOLCOMBE ….a pleasant way to finish a long walk !    (expiry February, flexible with timings re: covid  ) 

4^th   : ONE  HOUR  HORSE RIDING EXPERIENCE   FOR 4 PEOPLE  …enjoy the views on a lovely hack to Peel Tower!  ( suitable for all levels of ability, subject to MHRC TC’s for lessons inc maximum rider weight 14 stone). 

Please buy tickets online using a credit or debit card via MHRC  donate button on the website and make sure when you donate you add a comment “Bonfire Raffle”.

The link is  https://www.mhrc.co.uk/donations/donate/  .    Tickets ONLY  £1 each.

Your ticket number(s) will be emailed back to you and a live Facebook draw will take place at the stables on Friday 6th November  2020  Timing to be confirmed 

If you prefer to buy tickets in person please contact Debra via [email protected]

Thank you 

Friends of MHRC

A note from Alistair:

Now those of you who remember the opening of the Woolford Viaduct in May 2012 may recall we held an exhibition in the Old School and sold around 300 pasties!

One of the exhibits I managed to get along on the day was an OO gauge model railway depicting the line from Tottington to Holcombe Brook. This video is from that model by Peter Crichton, it’s owner. I do recall an earnest conversation that I happened on between Peter and Gordon Foote about some of the inaccuracies in the model. Gordon related them to me on several occasions when we walked the Lines.

I was trawling through YouTube this week and came across this vision of Holcombe Brook and Tottington that I had never seen before.

Enjoy!

Good Morning Everyone,

Please see the latest Bury Update attached as well as some Government / NHS Guidance around the current Local Covid High Alert Level.

Julie Southworth