A man aged 46 was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of a firearm after attending a police station yesterday December 12 2018. He has since been released on bail.

Two men aged 35 and 39 were previously arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of a firearm following raids at five properties in Prestwich, Salford, Crumpsall, Manchester and Kent have also been released on bail.

The arrests follow the shooting of a man in his 20's who had been attending a music event at Kingston Mill on Cobden Street on Friday evening November 23, before he was later shot outside the venue three times.

He was taken to hospital at around 5.30am on Saturday November 24 and has since been discharged.

It is believed that the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the wider community.

Officers are continuing to appeal to anyone with information to come forward and have set up a dedicated dropbox facility where mobile footage can be left anonymously.

The anonymous dropbox facility can be accessed by sending footage and information via email to scd.cctv@gmp.police.uk quoting incident number 504 of 24/11/2018.

Information can also be left with police on 0161 856 6777 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

It’s Operation Wolf, the case against Laura Kiseliova-Tite and Raimondas Titas who faced multiple offences under the Fraud Act, Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, Companies Act 2006 and Animal Welfare Act involving hundreds of dogs and cats. They were found guilty and fled the country before sentencing.

Among the allegations are that they failed to tell buyers that dogs were not bred in the UK, falsely claimed they were Kennel Club registered, tried to restrict consumer rights, failed to protect animals from suffering and false insurance claims relating to a dog which died.

A puppy farmer is defined as a high volume breeder who breeds puppies with little or no regard for the health and welfare of the puppies or their parents. A puppy farmer's main intent is profit.

Puppies bred in these farms can suffer from diseases and acute and chronic conditions and may also develop behavioural difficulties due to the conditions they were exposed to. Puppies and breeding animals kept on puppy farms live in appalling conditions. Dogs are often kept in overcrowded and filthy environments.

Salford City Council’s trading standards team, Bury Council’s trading standards team and the RSPCA jointly raided a house in Prestwich in November 2013. Forty one dogs/puppies and eight cats/kittens were removed from the property and two people arrested and bailed on suspicion of operating as dog breeders and sellers without proper licences.

The funding will help people who currently do not automatically qualify for emergency accommodation and who might feel they have no choice but to stay in, or return to, abusive relationships.

It will provide nine accommodation places, at least one of which will be for emergencies when people have to leave the same day, along with support from experienced and qualified staff to help victims secure long term, safe housing.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, welcomed the news and said it was time for all survivors of domestic abuse to have the necessary support and resources to enable them to leave abusive situations.

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“At the moment some people fleeing domestic abuse do not qualify for temporary accommodation under statutory provision. That can leave people feeling stuck in abusive relationships. A lack of refuge places, affordable private sector tenancies or available social housing compounds this situation. People feel that they have no viable options available to them,” he said.

“It’s a dreadful situation that needs to change but thanks to this funding, Salford City Council can now offer them a new service. Even if they are not classed as priority need under housing law we can now help them get into good quality, safe accommodation with the space and support they need to build a brighter future. They will be supported by the Salford Supported Tenancies service which provides specialist support to anyone suffering homelessness and domestic abuse.

“We want people to know that they do not have to put up with being controlled, threatened, hurt or generally abused. There is help available and there is always a way out.”

 

Salford will also work alongside partner authorities to help local people find refuge spaces in other areas to keep them safe from abusive partners.

Earlier this year the government held a six week consultation on legislative proposals for a draft Domestic Abuse Bill and a package of practical action.

The 27-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempt yesterday (Saturday 8 December).

He has since been interviewed by detectives and released under investigation while further enquiries are carried out.

The arrest was made following the attempted murder of a man after he was shot on Benedict Close about 9pm on Tuesday 4 December 2018.

The 29-year-old victim had injuries to his chest, knee and wrist. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Police are continuing to appeal for information about a man who was seen in the area at the time of the incident. He is described as large build, wearing all back and had a balaclava covering his face.

Supt Howard Millington of GMP's Salford Borough, said:

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"Since this shooting we have been doing everything to identify the person or people responsible for this dangerous attack.

“The investigation has been progressing and we have had one man in custody as a result of our enquiries so far.

“However, we still have lots more to do and I want to make it clear that we will not stop here.

“We are still appealing for the public to come forward. Please contact us immediately if you know who did this or anyone you believe to be involved.

“You might be scared to talk to police because of the nature of this attack – if you don’t feel comfortable talking to us then  you can pass on information on to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

 

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 1319 quoting reference number 2064 of 04/12/18.

Shortly before 9am on Wednesday 28 November 2018, police were called to a report that suspected human remains had been seen in the River Irwell near to Whit Lane, Pendleton. 

Officers and specialist underwater teams attended and, following forensic examination, it was confirmed to be a human leg. 

DNA testing has confirmed that the leg belongs to Marie Scott, who was reported missing from her home in Hale on Monday 18 December 2017. 

Marie’s family have been informed and are being provided with support from officers at this difficult time. 

Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are ongoing but, at this time, there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and no one else is believed to be involved in her disappearance. 

Detective Inspector Simon Akker, of GMP’s Trafford Borough, said:

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“This is an absolutely heart-breaking development in the investigation to find Marie and her family are understandably distraught by the news. 

“Having been personally involved in the search to find Marie and met with her family on a number of occasions, I know the devastating impact this will have on them. 

“Our efforts now will focus on doing everything we can to ensure we can provide the family with the support and answers they deserve."

Today (Friday 07 December 2018) Christopher Leslie Partington (25/01/1985) of Wildbrook Road, Little Hulton has been jailed for three years and two months at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square via videolink. 

He pleaded guilty to six offences relating to the possession of a document or record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. He also pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition. 

Specialist bomb disposal officers attended Partington’s house in May of this year as a precaution and a scene was in place for some time while officers searched his house. They found numerous documents and manuals detailing how to make explosives and the impact explosions have. 

Thousands of images were found of guns, knives and stills of what look to be hostage-type situations, as well as graphic videos of beheadings and torture. 

In police interview, Partington denied he was a terrorist and repeatedly passed the blame onto others, sometimes saying he came across documents by accident, other times saying that he read them because ‘he was bored’. 

But, once the case got to court, he soon pleaded guilty to terrorism offences. 

Speaking after the case, Head of Investigations Detective Superintendent Will Chatterton, of Counter Terrorism Policing for the North West, said:

Quote

“While trying to convince us that he was not involved in terrorism of any kind and it just so happened the documents appeared on his phone, through no fault of his own, the case against him was building stronger and stronger as we rifled through thousands of pages of extremist manuals. 

“Professing himself as a run-of-the-mill Salford man, Partington is a prime example that we are committed to targeting anyone who could pose a risk to the safety of our country, in whatever form of extremism they are involved in.”

Joan Lestor House on Ellesmere Street, Little Hulton, has stood empty for more than five years, becoming a target for anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Housing association Salix Homes bought the site last year and is now converting it into nine modern, one and two bedroom apartments for social housing rent.

Salix Homes is working alongside its partner contractor Emanuel Whittaker to completely remodel the building and transform the eyesore site, which has become a blight in the local community.

Lee Sugden, chief executive at Salix Homes, said:

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“We are delighted to announce the start of work at Joan Lestor House, which has stood vacant for more than five years.

“It’s such a shame to see these sorts of buildings left to go to rack and ruin when for a little investment they could be transformed into desperately needed housing, and this project is just one of several Salix Homes is involved with across Salford to re-purpose empty buildings into homes.

“We desperately need more of the right types of homes that people can afford and our investment at Joan Lestor House will bring nine, modern homes to the social housing market at a time when there isn’t nearly enough social housing being built.

“We are also confident that the local community will be relieved to see this abandoned site, which has become a real eyesore in the area, finally occupied and given a new lease of life.”

 

The £800,000 project has been partially funded thanks to a £234,000 grant from Homes England Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme.

Joan Lestor House, which was originally named after the Labour MP Baroness Lestor of Eccles, was built in 1999 and provided a refuge for single homeless women until it closed down.

Clive Newton, managing director at Emanuel Whittaker said:

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“We are delighted to work in partnership once again with Salix Homes on another important regeneration project in Salford.  We know it will make an immense impact on the neighbourhood and provide much-needed social housing for local people.”

In the past three years, Salix Homes has spearheaded several projects to bring to life empty buildings, which includes a derelict homeless hostel in Kersal – The Hive – which is now providing homes for young people; and a former sheltered housing complex – Alexander Gardens in Broughton, which is providing homes for workers at Salford Royal Hospital.

Work is now underway onsite and is expected to be complete by next summer.

Michael Hartmann was aged 46 when he passed away at his home address in Richmond Court, Berry Street, Swinton on 3 December 2018.

There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and the police would like to trace any of his relatives or anyone else who could put them in touch.

Anyone with information about Michael should contact the Police Coroner’s Office in Bolton on 0161 856 4687.

Shoppers can use eight pay and display car parks in Eccles, Monton, Pendleton and Swinton for free on three Saturdays in December.

The dates are Saturday December 8, Saturday December 15 and Saturday December 22.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: 

Quote

“I hope this encourages people to shop locally and support Salford businesses to boost our city’s economy.”

The car parks included are:

Partington Street, Monton

John William Street, Eccles

Eccles Precinct

St Mary’s Road, Eccles

Irwell Place, Eccles

Barton Lane, Eccles

Hankinson Way, Salford

Church Street, Swinton

Notices will be posted on site at these car parks.

All other conditions for using the car park, such as parking within properly marked bays and displaying a Blue Badge if you have one, still apply.

Chances are if you live in Salford and have heard stories of a rogue developer stomping over planning legislation, another of our historic buildings being bulldozed into the ground, yet another in a long list of miscarriages of justice heaped upon the masses by the powers that be, then you have read about it first in the formidable Salford Star. 

For over 13 years one man has been beavering away hidden in plain sight at countless community meetings and protests, a quiet unassuming man with pen and pad in hand and a keen ear that misses nothing. Most would pass him by in the street without even giving a second glance , not knowing he is one of Salford's most famous sons. A man who has shaped the fabric politics of Salford more than any politician ever could or would, be that by forcing mayors into many embarrassing u-turns, bringing light to questionable planning decisions, championing the community in times of need or by simply holding those who think they are above scrutiny to account.

That man is none other than the Salford Star himself Stephen Kingston.

But alas all is not well with Salford's Media, over the years it has been eroded, chipped away at, absorbed and sold lock stock and barrel to the media behemoths, then re-badged as a Salford Edition of another Cities news. The years have not been kind to the independent media within our MediaCity, the closure of Salford Online was the herald of dark days ahead for local news in Salford and now sadly the Salford Star stands in a similar situation, a fight for its survival, it's existence teetering on a knife edge.

And so after 13 year, over 5,000 articles and multiple paper editions, a battle is being fought to keep the Salford Star shining, a fight to prevent its light from dimming forever, a struggle for media survival in a world in which the odds have always been stacked against it by the very nature of its 'keep it real' style of reporting. By refusing to compromise on its standards or core beliefs, over the years the Star has acquired many an enemy, some who would sooner see it close than survive. 

It is for that reason it is so important to not let that happen, if the Star was to close then those that should be held accountable to the people of this City would pretty much have free reign to do as they please.

That can NEVER be allowed to happen.

And so at 2pm on Sunday 9th of December an auction of memorabilia will take place on Salford Shopping Precinct hosted by coronation street bad boy Nigel 'Our Terry' Pivaro.

Up for grabs on the day are some truly unique items and memorabilia from our Cities past, such as...

The Toilet of Broken Salford Promises – a decade's worth of 'strategies', 'pledges', 'regeneration plans' and more displayed in a genuine 1970s avocado toilet. Reserve price £1.

A Holiday With The Salford Star – spend a night in a real Salford tower block covered in dangerous Grenfell style cladding! Go for a drink in a real Salford pub with Nigel Pivaro! Take a tour around the social cleansing hotspots and hand out socks and food to homeless people with Salford Street Support. Reserve price £1,000

The Last Brick in Broughton – this incredibly rare brick comes from the very last affordable house demolished in the 'Top Streets' of Broughton. It comes complete with keys from one of the last houses demolished, a teapot that's been CPO'd three times, a full history and a certificate of authenticity. Reserve price £500

Tickets For A Social Cleansing Tour of Salford – this limited place tour will take in the sites of the regeneration areas, focussing on areas where communities have been broken up and 'diluted' so that more 'economically active' people can take their place. This is a must for academics and poverty porn addicts alike. No reserve

Ringo Starr's Brick – A genuine brick from Ringo Starr's childhood home in Liverpool, donated by the Salford team currently working on the house. Comes with a certificate of authenticity and photos to prove provenance. No reserve

A Genuine Piece of the Salford Quays Crane – When Salford Council demolished the beautiful blue cargo cranes at Salford Quays no-one was allowed a souvenir piece of them. However, on the day the Salford Star managed to obtain a three inch long fragment from the jib. This treasured item is both a symbol of old Salford and the heritage destruction reeked on the city by the authorities. Comes with a certificate of authenticity. Reserve price £100

A Genuine Piece of the Dirty Old Town Gasworks – the iconic Salford gas holders, made world famous by Ewan MacColl's Dirty Old Town anthem, are currently being demolished and the Salford Star has managed to obtain a genuine beautiful bolt from the structure. Reserve Price £100

The Original 'Silver' Star used in the Salford Star Logo – Reserve price £1million (or near offers)

All proceeds from the Auction  will go towards ensuring that this vital local media source lives on to fight another day... FOR YOU.

So get if you can, get down to the precinct, go buy a mug or a hoodie or a t-shirt, put in a bid and help reignite the light of the star before all that is left is a gaping media black hole that we all end up sucked into.

Image Copyright: Salford Star

With ever increasing waiting lists for affordable social housing properties in Salford, the council has put a bid in for cash to build over a hundred new homes, all of which would be truly affordable for local people and which will cost £14 million. 

If successful, the money would see a range of one and two bedroom apartments and two three and four bedroom homes for social rent built on four council owned patches of land in Clifton, Seedley and two in Ordsall.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: 

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“After lobbying hard we are pleased that the government has recently lifted restrictions on borrowing against Housing Revenue Accounts. This is a step in the right direction and shows the message is clearly is getting through that there is a national housing crisis engulfing the country and that local councils want to be given powers and cash to tackle it.

“This change means the council can borrow just over half of the funding needed for this scheme. We have made a really strong bid for government grant to fill the gap – without which this scheme would be in doubt.

“However, since we put the bid in the funding rules have changed.  It seems that the government now intends to target most of the national funding for affordable housing that councils can bid for at London and the south of England.

“If that happens, that will hugely disadvantage the north and Salford. We do not know if our bid will be successful but we do not want to lose out in this “geographic targeting” when we need to be building many more affordable homes to meet the  needs of people in Salford.

“Salford is a fast growing city with an expanding population and 39 people applying for every affordable property that becomes available as well as more than 5,800 people on the housing register. With average private sector rents double those of social rents, it has been projected that the city needs to build or create 760 affordable homes every year just to meet current demand.”

 

Mayor Dennett continued:

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“We are exploring every avenue possible to increase supply, including bringing back into use empty homes and converting low demand commercial properties into residential homes in the city as well as building new homes.

“£14 million for new council housing would make a huge difference. Not only will we see the first council homes built for nearly a decade but there will be construction jobs and training opportunities for local people during the build and a boost to the neighbourhoods in bringing brownfield land back into use. The council will also benefit from increased council tax and New Homes Bonus monies."

 

The grant application is for a share of a dedicated funding pot of £1.67 billion from Homes England eligible for high affordability local authority areas.  There are approximately 150 recognised high affordability areas nationally, only seven of which are in the northwest.  These are Salford, Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Bury, Ribble Valley and South Lakeland.

In 2017, the council put its plans for more council owned properties into motion by establishing the Derive organisation which will function as its housing company.

Salford, which in the last complete financial year of 2016-2017 collected £6.5m in Section 106 contributions, of which £1.7m was spent on mitigation at the schemes concerned, believes it can make council housing work.

Cllr John Merry, deputy city mayor, said:

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“We have set up Derive as a wholly owned subsidiary of the council. Initially we will be buying existing homes off the shelf to meet demand quickly. They will be available this year – and then we will be buying and building more in the future.

“We’re starting from scratch, but we aim to build up the company’s capacity over time to provide larger and larger numbers of homes to meet the housing needs of people in Salford."

 

The news will be sure to be welcomed by those struggling to find affordable housing in Salford.

In what could be said to be the worst Altern-8 tribute act in, well... EVER, officers from GMP posed for a cheeky snap wearing protective masks and suits in front of approximately 12,000 cannabis plants after a raid was carried out at a property behind the Library in Eccles earlier today (04/12/18).

The property was due to be repossessed by bailiffs after the owners suspected that there was a cannabis farm inside of it. Upon entry officers discovered what has been described as a forest of plants spread over 5 rooms.

During the bust a number of 'Green Fingered Gardeners' were said to have been arrested and planted in the police cells for questioning.

Speaking bluntly officers on the GMP Eccles Facebook page asked if anyone had lost a huge cannabis farm whilst complaining of the lack of festive cheer at the premises as not a single one of the plants had a shred of tinsel nor a sparkly bauble in sight.

We are told they are much better at policing than they are behind the mixing decks, so at least they have their day jobs to stick too.

We are unsure if this was part of a joint task force but weed like to wish them a Merry Christmas and congratulate them on their Sensi Humour all the same.

At around 3:20pm a 39 year old male was found to have suffered stab wounds to his legs, he was transported by ambulance to hospital for treatment and fortunately we are being told his wounds are none life threatening.

An area focused around a bus stop was temporarily cordoned off by the police until forensics officers had carried out a search of the area but was later reopened.

It was reported that a considerable amount of blood was seen on the floor close to the bus stop.

Police say that enquiries into the incident are on going at this time.

Photo: Google

A bright yellow sofa – part of the Greater Manchester-wide Does that sit right with you? campaign designed to raise awareness of domestic abuse and let people know help is available to tackle it – will be visiting the city on Friday December 7.

Volunteers from Salford Independent Domestic Abuse Advice Service who can advise on how to handle individual situations will be on hand to offer advice and support when the sofa visits Salford Shopping Precinct between 10am and 4pm.

They can help both men and women who are experiencing abuse or advise family and friends of people who suspect abuse is taking place.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety,  said:

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“Domestic abuse can be anything from violence and threats of violence to controlling behaviour such as denying someone access to money, cutting them off from their friends and threatening that if they tell anyone their children will be taken into care.

“It can happen to anyone and, sadly, in Salford, there seems to be a culture of acceptance of it. Very often family and friends know it’s going on but don’t know what help is available so they try to protect the victim instead of approaching the authorities.

“Domestic abuse is not acceptable full stop. There is no justification at all for such behaviour and there is help available for perpetrators who are willing to change.

“There is no reason for anyone to put up with it, particularly if they have children who will be traumatised by what they see.

“Help is available with everything from excluding the abuser from the home, to making homes safer or moving victims to safe places.”

 

National statistics show that six in every 100 adults are likely to have experienced domestic abuse, with women twice as likely to be victims than men. The problem is hugely under-reported and Salford City Council’s campaign aims to encourage more people to come forward.

Anyone unable to visit on Friday can get help from  http://salfordwomensaid.org/ which helps both women and men or call Salford Women’s Aid Helpline on  0161 793 3232 Monday to Friday 1pm to 4pm or the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline - Freephone 0808 2000 247.

Please call 999 if you are in immediate danger.

As Christmas draws ever closer, more and more families are relying on foodbank's as a way to help stay fed. The sad but stark reality is that no longer is it just the poorest in society that are struggling to cope, austerity is snapping at the heals of hard working families across Salford and the rest of the UK who are struggling to cope with forever escalating food prices and the general cost of living.

It seems no one aside the top earners are immune from poverty and for many families this Christmas they find themselves just a few steps away from spiralling down the rabbit hole.

Families will go hungry, many kids will not receive a present this year and New Year will no doubt be no better than the last for most.

The Tory government declared that the bleak years of austerity are over in the last budget but has anything really changed for the average Salfordian? If the austere years are now behind us as we are told then why are so many people still reliant on the generosity of others this year? Why are the numbers flocking to Salford's beleaguered Foodbank's expected to increase again over previous years this festive period?

Meanwhile...

Sickeningly, in the news recently was another in a long line of stories about tax dodging comapnies avoiding paying their dues, this time Netflix having paid just £1.12m tax on earnings of over £800m in the UK, a paltry amount of tax by any standards. They are not alone though as they are in the same club as other tax avoiding companies like Google, Amazon, Apple and well... the list goes on and on and on...

Those taxes are what SHOULD be contributed towards maintaining our public services but it seems glaringly obvious that for some, taxes are optional and only a token amount is paid as they use inventive ways to avoid putting their hands in their pockets to pay their dues.

This leads to a society in which multi billion pound companies exist alongside people with not a penny to their name. The distribution of wealth is out of balance and this is what fuels the counties ill's. Eventually there will be nothing for these companies to make money from as people will have nothing left to pay for their services.

Unfair wages, short term contracts and job insecurity are harming our society far more than the powers that be would like to admit.

It is fair to say that we have always had a society with an unfair scale of wealth to some degree. The class system has always favoured the rich at the top of the ladder and as we head further down the rungs the levels of wealth decrease BUT now we are are seeing the distance between those rungs is changing, the gap between the scales of wealth is increasing and classes which were previously seen as immune are increasingly finding it hard to live.

It is now starting to affect far more people and those people are now getting to a point where they are becoming sick and tired of excuses.

Austerity has bitten us far worse than we could have imagined and that devastating impact is now becoming far more obvious to all. No longer is it just those on low incomes and benefits affected, the spectre of austerity has crept through society and so for many this Christmas it will not be a happy one, there will be no Christmas cheer.

Most foodbank's are at breaking point at the best of times, they struggle to cope with demand during most of the year and so when that demand increases in the festive period it is left to the rest of society to pitch in and help alleviate the load. The government may hate to admit it but foodbank's have become common place and the modern day soup kitchens of the past.

Without them many will go hungry and as sad as it is to see them needed, they are most certainly needed more than ever.

The reality is in a society supposedly that is so rich and prosperous as our strong and stable government tell us, they simply should not have to exist at all, there should be no need for them.

For many it is a good job they do but they are reliant on the generosity of others and most if not all receive zero funding from government sources. As in the days of old, it has become society feeding society as the government looks on.

But hey, austerity is over right? To quote a cheesy pop song once loved by Tony Blair, things can only get better right?

Well things are being made slightly better by people not government, it is thanks mainly to local companies donating food, local people giving what little they can, individuals like the amazing whirlwind  that is Natalie Jane Lek and the Launch Project who are set to bring smiles to faces and food to bellies by cooking a thousand meals for those most in need this Christmas. The likes of Dawne and Co over at the Joint Veterans Alliance and Coffee for Craig etc... all of whom will be out on the streets feeding the homeless and trying to get as many as they can into shelter over the cold winter months ahead. The likes of the Trussell Trust and Salford's foodbank's who will be put under huge pressures to make every dwindling resources stretch to an ever increasing amount of people once more.

More should be done at a government level as well as at a local government level but alas it is as usual left to the public to take up the slack and provide for our own.

I would like to think this is just a UK thing but it is happening all across the EU and beyond. Only this weekend we saw France put troops on the streets to try and stop protests over crippling fuel taxes that have seen violence and rioting on the streets of its capital.

Unless something is done right now, in the not too distance future there will come a breaking point in the UK and similar scenes will play out here. Something all of us would like to avoid seeing again.

So if you can, if you are able, please donate a few cans or packets of food to your local foodbank, help fund local charities and groups like those mentioned above. In Salford we look after our own, we help each other, so this Christmas help spread a little festive cheer to those who would otherwise struggle, take some of the load off them to allow them to have a few days without worry.

Upon hearing of new proposals to build houses within the depot area of Buile Hill Park, the local music legend behind the much beloved Salford Music Festival, Mr Ed Blaney, has come out fighting by launching a fresh petition to finally put an end to the idea once and for all.

Earlier this year the Salford Star revealed that there were proposals being drafted that would have seen 60 houses built within the grounds of the grade 2 listed park, with part of the income from those homes going towards renovations and the eventual re-purposing of the former Mining Museum that has been left abandoned and in a state of decay since its closure in 2000.

In its hey day the museum attracted over 28,000 visitors a year but sadly was forced to close due to budget cuts.

A previous petition by Lynda Curran earlier this year attracted over 2,900 objections from angry Salfordian's opposed to the housing plans, after a huge public outcry on social media, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett was forced into a last minute u-turn less than an hour before a heated public meeting was to take place.

 In his statement he declared that no PRIVATE homes would be built within the park. The meeting went ahead regardless and just like at the packed out public meeting held earlier that month, the proposals were overwhelmingly condemned.

Local developers Capita & Centric who were behind the initial proposals, have since worked with a group formed at the meeting as well as with the friends of Buile Hill Park in order to try and find an alternative use for the site that would allow for the mansion house to be restored.

Sadly however, after months of talks and a well responded public survey to try and formulate an alternative plan, C&C have suggested that the only real viable option would be to build affordable rental homes on the site. A proposal that has expected, been met with anger and opposition.

However, local Councillor Paul Wilson who has been against plans for housing since day one, has disclosed that the Mayor has still to respond to a proposal for an NHS hotel from another developer interested in the land.

Speaking on a post on the Salford Online group on Facebook, Paul said...

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"The developer who wanted to build the NHS hotel is still waiting for the City Mayor to return his emails and calls; this option is not off the table."

Adding...

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 "I’m not sure why the City Mayor is only speaking to C&C and ignoring communication from other developers!"

Paul was extremely vocal in his opposition to any housing being built upon the park at all, favouring the land being used for leisure purposes for the benefit of everyone in Salford. His colleagues in the area were totally in agreement.

Regardless the proposals put forward by C&C at last weeks public meeting were to build approximately 60 homes to be made available for affordable rent to the elderly and disabled within the grounds of the depot area as well as the location of the current banqueting suite which would be relocated within the mansion.

Image Copyright: Capita and Centric

Despite C&C's Tim Heatley's insistence that the new homes would be in-keeping with the parks agricultural aesthetics and small 'beautifully designed spaces' with 'high quality architecture, the proposals were met with a mixed reaction with many left feeling angry and one lady declaring she felt conned.

Local campaigner and ex councillor Mary Ferrer has tirelessly spearheaded the community group and was not happy at all with the latest proposals, speaking at the meeting she made clear that her preference would be for a land swap for land outside of the park.

Whatever happens something needs to be done to stop the building falling further into disrepair as so many other historic buildings in Salford have, there have been calls on social media for the Council and Mayor to get behind the table with the community group and C&C to negotiate a land swap that would make both parties happy and breathe new life into the park and mansion for future generations of Salfordian's. Something we wholeheartedly agree with and back.

As far as any housing within the park goes, it's hoped that with this latest petition it will be the final nail in the coffin and send the message loud and clear that the community does not want ANY housing built within the perimeter of the park.

Capita & Centric have said that if there was an overwhelming public opposition of the proposals they would walk away.

And so step forward Ed Blaney, the founder and front man of the very successful Salford Music Festival. Ed, is a proud Salford lad and no stranger to campaigning to save his City having in the past successfully fought against proposals to change Salford's political boundaries.

https://petition.parliament.uk/sponsors/52071939/verify?token=4r9SO6N2dYTiy1lJ7Goi

It is hoped by both ed and campaigners that this latest petition will take the proposal of houses on the park grounds off the table once and for all.

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Peel Park has recently been renovated and the same should apply to Buile Hill. I really hope this does not happen. More could and should be done to prevent any kind of housing being built on that or any other public park.

Main image Copyright: Salford Voice

Emergency services were called out at around 9am this morning (Saturday 1st December) to reports by members of the public that the body of a man thought to be in his late 50's had been found at West One Retail Park in Eccles.

An are of the car park was cordoned off and a car was seen to be covered up as police carried out their investigations.

Ambulance crews attempted to treat the man but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say that the circumstances of his death are not known as yet but they are not thought to be suspicious.

The school which is currently in the process of an investigation into claims that members of staff allegedly skewed the books to imply it was doing better than it was has now been put into special measures by Ofsted.

After an investigation that took place between the 31st of October to the 1st of November this year (2018), Ofsted has found the school ‘inadequate’ in all areas and has placed the school in special measures.

In its report the regulator found that...

The school is failing its pupils. Significant and wide-ranging weaknesses have developed over time. These require urgent improvement. There is currently considerable uncertainty concerning its leadership.

Pupils are not properly safeguarded. The school site is not secure. Some policies that would support safeguarding are not in place.

Pupils’ progress is unacceptably weak. Over time, pupils’ GCSE results have been much lower than those achieved by similar pupils elsewhere, and are declining. Pupils currently in the school do not learn well enough.

Teaching and learning are highly inconsistent in quality. Teachers do not plan effectively to meet pupils’ needs. Teachers’ expectations are too low. Over time, training for staff has not addressed their needs or given them the knowledge and skills they require.

Pupils’ attendance is too low. Fewer pupils attend afternoon school and far too many do not attend classes when they are in school.

Some pupils’ behaviour is unacceptably poor. The school’s culture does not encourage pupils to behave well. This poor behaviour disrupts learning. Parents, carers and pupils say there is bullying.

Record-keeping about pupils’ attendance, behaviour and safeguarding has been weak.

The school has lost the confidence of some parents. They have serious concerns about the school. Communication with parents sometimes does not work well.

Governance is weak. Governors have different views about the school. They have failed to challenge senior leaders effectively or to prevent the school’s considerable weaknesses.

Additional funding, including the pupil premium, is not used well. Disadvantaged pupils’ outcomes are getting weaker over time.

The curriculum is not as effective as it could be in supporting pupils’ learning, the acquisition of knowledge or the development of their basic skills.

Inspectors say the school has been found to be failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education as a result of long standing issues.

However Ofsted also gave credit to the school for steps taken by the interim senior leaders in starting to address the school’s problems, Pupils experience effective teaching in some subjects and classes as well as the fact that some pupils behave well and try hard in their learning.

As the school has been judged as inadequate, the next step will be for the Department for Education (DfE) to identify an experienced academy sponsor to support the school in making improvements.

Deputy City Mayor, Councillor John Merry, said the report made disturbing reading but clearly showed the long-standing nature of issues at the school.

He said:

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“The Ofsted inspectors have identified and highlighted unsafe historic practices at the school, along with poor performance and achievement.

“Practices include the inappropriate, informal exclusion of pupils, deliberate mis-recording of attendance and weak practice in staff recruitment. This has potentially compromised the safeguarding of pupils as leaders and staff have not been in a position to ensure that they are safe. 

“I want to reassure all parents that, since the start of the September term, the interim senior leadership team provided by the local authority has stopped these practices.  Moreover, Ofsted inspectors highlighted the current leadership as a strength for the school.

“The Greater Manchester Learning Trust, which is providing the interim leadership, is committed to working alongside a new academy sponsor to provide stability and support for as long as needed.

 “I know there is a committed and hardworking team at Harrop Fold who want to do the very best for pupils. They should draw positives from the report in which Ofsted says new approaches introduced in many aspects of school life are having a real impact, even if they are at an early stage. It is important the whole school community gets behind the changes and works to common goals.

 “There has been a lot of speculation in the community regarding hidden agendas. Once again I want to reaffirm to everyone that the school, governors and local authority all want the same thing – for Harrop Fold pupils to be happy, safe and achieve their best.”

 

Link to the report: http://www.harropfold.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/10042489-Harrop-Fold-School-133351-Final-PDF.pdf

Police believe the victim, a man in his 20s, had been attending a club night at Kingston Mill, Cobden Street, Salford on Friday evening November 23 before he was later shot outside the venue three times.

He was taken to hospital at around 5.30am on Saturday November 24 and remains in a stable condition with gunshot wounds which are not believed to be life threatening.

Police believe the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the wider community.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forwarded.

Detective Inspector Ben Cottam of GMP’s City of Manchester Division said:

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“We want to reassure the public that a full investigation has been launched and officers are following numerous lines of enquiry in relation to this incident. 

“We are treating this shooting as attempted murder. While we are making good progress with our investigations, I would like to appeal to members of the public for any information they may have. 

“This was a well-attended club event and there are potentially a number of witnesses who may be able to assist with our enquiries.

“I want to reiterate that this is believed to be a targeted attack and there is no threat to the wider community. 

“Residents in the area of the shooting may notice an increased visible police presence, and we would encourage members of the public to approach officers with any concerns they may have.”

 

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 6460 quoting incident number 504 of 24/11/2018 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Shortly before 3.50am this morning Saturday 24 November 2018, officers were called to an address on Edge Fold Crescent, Walkden following a report of a fire.

Firefighters were called to the scene after being called around 3:45am earlier this morning (24th Nov 2018), unfortunately, a man and a woman believed to be in their 80's were found in the building and pronounced dead at the scene.

3 fire trucks attended but this was later scaled back to just 1 once the fire was brought under control and extinguished.

Greater Manchester police say the fire is not currently being treated as suspicious.

A joint investigation between police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is underway.

Forensics officers remain at the scene this morning.

Edge Fold Crescent is currently closed to traffic as a scene remains in place outside the property.

Enquiries are ongoing.