Snow leaves firms counting the cost

SNOW chaos kept many Oldhamers away from work this week — and left local businesses counting the cost.

Forecasters warned that employee absenteeism nationally could cost somewhere in the region of £230 million every single day.

Spindles and Town Square Centre manager Mike Flanagan praised all 85 shop tenants for their efforts to keep it business as usual.

Every unit managed to open, despite few shoppers braving the cold. However, many closed early to help staff get home when bus services were suspended for the majority of the day on Tuesday.

Many firms across Oldham closed early — with around 80 per cent of workers at Housing Units of Hollinwood managing to get to work, but it closed at 3pm on Tuesday.

Innovative Technology closed its Derker factory at 3pm and First Choice Homes sent its staff home at the same time.

Councillor Lynne Thompson said: “We have around 9,500 employees and they have faced the same problems as everyone else getting to work.”

“Around 5,500 of our staff work in schools and a further 1,000 work in services connected to schools, such as catering and cleaning.

“For the remainder of our staff, we estimate that more than half of them were either in the office as usual, or had made arrangements to work from home. Those who were unable to work will be taking this time out of their annual leave allowance.

“Many of our staff walked several miles to get to work and because of that we were able to keep all our public services open on both days..”

NHS Oldham, and its health partners, postponed non emergency and non essential appointments. Ambulance transport services are still operating for people receiving specialist treatment for cancer, renal and paediatric conditions.

Chief Executive Gail Richards said: “ NHS Oldham has maintained urgent and essential health services to patients. We can confirm that all GP surgeries, pharmacies and dentists are open and most services are operating as normal.”