A state of the art gym where mobile phones control equipment and provide workout feedback has opened in a Salford park.

The £65,000 outdoor gym is the first of its kind in Greater Manchester and includes equipment suitable for wheelchair users. 

The equipment, which includes a cross trainer and stationery bike, pull down bars, an arm cycle, step up and workout points, sits on top of a rubber safety surface at Eccles Recreation Ground (known as Eccles Rec), off Oxford Street. It replaces a previous gym on the site.

Funding for the project came from the government’s levelling up parks fund and will also pay for tree planting to create more shade and habitats for wildlife in the park.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment, neighbourhoods, sport and leisure, said:

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“The old gym was popular and the local community was keen for it to remain on the same site in the park.

“This equipment will help people who can’t afford gym fees to keep fit which is so important for both physical and mental health. It’s designed to be used just as it is or people can link their smartphones to it to change the resistance of the equipment, tailor the speed or get feedback on their workout. I hope it encourages more people to give it a try and reap the benefits of moving more.”

 

The tree planting, which will take place in winter, will see 42 new trees added to the park to create a double tree lined avenue. Among the trees which will be included are American sweetgums with colourful autumn foliage which attracts butterflies and moths and provides seeds for birds and squirrels.

Yesterday (Wednesday 5 July 2023), two men and one 17 year old were jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court after pleading guilty to a number of offences.

Young offender A, a 17 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons was sentenced to 5 years for conspiracy to commit robbery, affray, possession of a bladed article and further robbery committed whilst on court bail.

Harley Whipday (20) of Milan Street, Salford was sentenced to 2 years 6 months for assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

Nia Razawa (20) of Plymouth Drive, Stockport was sentenced to 4 years 6 months for one offence of robbery

At a previous sentencing in February this year, the other four members of the group were sentenced after pleading guilty to their offences.

•    Young offender B 17 year old had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Robbery, Wounding and possession of a bladed article. He was sentenced to 4 years in custody.

•    Young offender C, another 17 year old was convicted of two counts of robbery following a trial. He was sentenced to a 2 year detention and training order.

•    Young offender D, a third 17 year old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to a 2 year detention and training order.

•    Young offender E a fourth 17 year old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to a 24 month youth rehabilitation order.

The initial group of offences occurred during March 2021 and were investigated by GMPs operation Valiant robbery team. The court heard how on the 8 March 2021, three members of the gang Young offenders A, B and Whipday who were armed with machetes, met up in the Salford area. They were intent on finding rival gang members.

Whilst in a taxi, they began circling the area near to a school at finishing time and as they got onto Frederick Road, young offender A and B saw a group of children in school uniform who they were after.

The group exited the taxi wearing masks with their hoods up, whilst brandishing a machete and a knife terrifying the school children who started to run in all directions to escape. Harley Whipday remained with the taxi while Young offender A and B went after their targets who managed to escape with the offenders then turning their attention to an innocent bystander, a 16 year old boy. He, unfortunately, was not able to run away before being grabbed where he was punched and assaulted with the weapons which left him hospitalised with a punctured lung.

Later that month (22 March 2021), two children were making their way home from school when they decided to cut through Prestwich clough. They were confronted by three of the offending group (Young offenders A, B and D) who stopped them and demanded their mobile phones. They were surrounded by the three of them who all were wearing balaclavas, whilst showing a knife and pointing a hand gun at them. Left with no other choice, the children handed over their phones and subsequently ran off to safety. 

On a third occasion (23 March 2021), four of the offenders (Young offenders A, B, C and E) went to the Blackley Area close to Pike Fold Lane where they targeted multiple children who were heading home from school. The group all masked up targeted five children for their phones as they came through the area. Again, the offenders pointed what appeared to be a black hand gun at them and produced a large machete. After handing over their mobile phones, three of the children were assaulted with the handle of the machete and gun causing a broken nose, cuts and bruises.

As the investigation unfolded six of the group were arrested and brought before the court. Whilst on court bail in May 2022 Young offenders A and a new member Nia Razawa were involved in a further robbery that was investigated by detectives in Bury. On this occasion two children were travelling along Stand Lane in Radcliffe riding an electric bike and scooter. At the same time Razawa and an unknown individual were travelling towards them in a stolen Ford Focus. As they approached the children the swerved the Focus onto the wrong side of the road. This has left a child with life changing injuries. The offenders stole the bike and tried to hide the damaged stolen car with Harley Whipday who became involved in attempting to dispose of the car.

DC Leon Cawley- Bowyer of GMP’s Operation Valiant, said:

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"These were violent and terrifying robberies for all the victims involved and will no doubt have had a lasting impact on their lives. I am glad we have been able to secure a conviction for those involved today and I hope this will provide those victims with a sense of justice.

“This was a complex investigation which included hours of CCTV trawls, detailed forensic work and phone analysis. Fingerprint enquiries on cash used to pay for taxis, phone downloads and clothing recovered from warrants were crucial to gaining convictions for the whole group who were involved in these offences.

“The aggression and violence shown by the group highlights exactly how dangerous they are and I am confident that our streets, and communities are much safer now they have been brought to justice.

"We are committed to ensuring the streets of Greater Manchester are kept safe and no one should go about their day to day life feeling fearful or like they may be at risk of criminal behaviour."

 

Anyone with information about this type of crime should contact us quoting Operation Valiant via gmp.police.uk or 101. In an emergency, dial 999.
 

Salford much beloved Lads Club, the historic recreation club and charity made famous by alternative rock band, The Smiths, has taken its huge collection of fan messages and photos into the digital age, with a little help from digital signage consultancy Saturn Visual Solutions.

The club has amassed a huge collection of messages, photos, and memorabilia from fans of the band visiting the site and has turned it into a major tourist attraction. However, the Smiths Room, which is used to house the collection, ran out of display space in 2018.

Subsequently, Saturn has helped the club to add some digital displays to the room so that the more messages and photos could now be displayed.

Leslie Holmes, Project Manager, Salford Lads Club said:

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“Salford Lads Club is a place like no other. First and foremost, it’s a place to help young people. Secondly, it’s a historically significant building and is the best example in existence of a pre-World War 1 boys’ club. And last, but not least, it’s a mecca for fans of The Smiths music.

A lot of the club’s income is raised by music fans visiting us and buying merchandise, so we need to keep our collection of fan photos and messages up to date to remain current. We asked Saturn to help us sensitively modernise the Smiths Room, making it a fun and interesting place to visit, but without losing what makes it so very special. Saturn gave us some great suggestions that were within our budget. They were also kind enough to donate time and services free of charge, which has helped us keep our costs down. We are all really pleased with how the result looks and what it’ll now enable us to do.”

 

The new displays have had great feedback from Smiths fans, with many now wanting to visit the Club so they can get their picture taken outside the famous sign and have it added to the Salford Lads Club’s collection.

Chris Welsh, Managing Director at Saturn Visual Solutions said:

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“Despite being a band from the eighties, The Smiths’ songs are streamed by over 12million listeners every month. That fan-base presents a huge opportunity for the Club, which is practically on our doorstep and does fantastic charitable work helping disadvantaged young people to have brighter futures.  So, we decided that we would help them as much as we could by proving some hardware and services free of charge.

“It was important to strike the right balance between creating enough display space for the Club’s massive and growing collection, but not change the look and feel of the Smiths Room. So, we advised on three small and inexpensive displays that wouldn’t overpower the room they were in and would create enough additional display space for the Club’s needs.

“We’re thrilled that the feedback from fans has been so positive, and that the Salford Lads Club is attracting previous and new visitors wanting to be a part of the collection, which should help the Club’s fundraising efforts.” 

 

This year both organisations celebrate significant milestones. Salford Lads Club celebrates its 120th anniversary, and Saturn Visual Solutions celebrates its 25th, having been established in 1998.

'Irlam Live' the annual summer music festival held within Salford, has this year marked its seventh anniversary. The event takes place at the outdoor arena within Prince’s Park and features a whole host of talented bands, singers and DJs.

We have been given prior knowledge of the acts on at next years event and although we are sworn to secrecy we can say that it is going to be the best yet. One not to miss.

The wonderful Michele Carey is a regular face at the festival, attending the event every year where she runs a charity stall to help raise funds towards ongoing care at St Ann’s.

She sells raffle tickets, bucket collects and runs a tombola!

Over the last few years, Michele has raised almost £10,000 for St Ann's thanks to her unwavering support.

This includes both funds from the stall as well as her own personal donations. 

Commenting on the event, Michele said:

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“It’s a brilliant social event, with lots of exciting performers. It’s a great way to get involved and raise awareness for St Ann’s.

 The hospice is a wonderful place, they have supported friends of mine over the years. Because of the way the hospice is funded they really need as much support as possible

 

St Ann's say that they are extremely grateful for Michele’s continued support and thanks to fundraisers like Michele, they are able to continue providing quality care for our patients and their families when they need them most. 

It is people like Michelle that make a huge difference and she is a credit to the City of Salford. A true local hero.

If you’re thinking about getting involved and fundraising for St Ann's, then click here to find out how you can.

From Wednesday 5 – Tuesday 11 July 2023, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is offering all NHS workers free admission to RHS Garden Bridgewater, to thank them for their work and to celebrate the NHS’ 75th anniversary.

NHS employees will be given free access to the garden from Wednesday 5th July, the official day of the NHS’ 75th anniversary, until Tuesday 11th July, when they present their staff ID badge at the welcome desk. No advance booking is required.

Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows and Gardens, said:

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Inviting NHS staff to our RHS Gardens free-of-charge is just a small way for us to thank them for all the amazing work that they do. We hope as many NHS workers as possible are able to take up the offer and will enjoy some time away from work surrounded by plants and nature.

 

The RHS and NHS are long-standing partners and most recently teamed-up to develop gardens in hospitals around the UK for NHS staff and patients. Last year, the first ‘NHS Wellbeing Garden’ opened at University Hospital Lewisham.

The winner of the 20th Salford Children’s Book Award has been announced at an event attended by 130 pupils from ten high schools across Salford.

The Salford Children’s Book Award, which is run by Salford Schools’ Library Service, encourages older children to read a wide range of books and authors, to promote that reading is fun and enhance literacy development.

Since 2003, thousands of local school children have read some of the highest quality fiction, met and voted for some of the most popular authors, and participated in one of the longest standing regional book awards in the UK.

Each year five outstanding books are shortlisted and sent to participating schools to read over the course of a few months. At the end of this period, students vote for their favourite titles from the selection.

This year, to mark the 20th anniversary, there were six books shortlisted including Cardboard Cowboys by Brian Conaghan, Storm Horse by Jane Elson, How I Saved The World in a Week by Polly Ho-Yen, Ghostcloud by Michael Mann, Twitch by M. G. Leonard, and Nisha’s War by Dan Smith.

The winner was Ghostcloud by Michael Mann and all six shortlisted authors attended the event, which was held at University of Salford’s New Adelphi Building. On the day, children met their literary icons, made presentations about their favourite books, and heard the authors talk about their creative writing processes and literary journeys.

Winning author, Michael Mann, said:

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I am on cloud nine and I am over-the-moon! It means such a lot to us authors to get feedback from fans and readers and the Salford high school pupils were simply amazing today; their presentations and insight was so impressive.

 

Chris Farey, Head of Libraries at Salford Community Leisure, said:

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We are delighted to be celebrating 20 years of the Salford Children’s Book Award. The Salford Schools’ Library Service has worked tirelessly for many years on this event and encouraging pupils in local schools to love reading, and we are continually looking to inspire and engage young people by providing the most diverse range of reading materials possible in our libraries. It’s well known that reading for pleasure enhances learning, literacy and well-being, and greatly improve future prospects. It’s a very popular event in the calendar and hugely beneficial to pupils and schools from all around the city. 

 

The event, which was hosted by award-winning author and comedian, James Campbell, took place at the University of Salford’s New Adelphi Building.

Councillor Gina Reynolds, the Ceremonial Mayor of the City of Salford was also in attendance, who comments:

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For two decades, the Salford Children's Book Award has been a beacon of inspiration, nurturing the imaginations of countless young readers. It has been a platform of creativity and fuelling their dreams.

Even in the face of unprecedented challenges during the pandemic, the spirit of this award persevered. It demonstrated the resilience of our community and the unyielding belief in the transformative power of literature.

Our children, confined to their homes, found solace in the pages of books, exploring new realms, and discovering the wonders of their own minds.

We celebrate the talented authors, but we must also thank the dedicated teachers, librarians, and parents who have tirelessly supported our young readers, instilling in them the belief that they, too, can become storytellers, shaping the narratives of tomorrow.

 

Since 2003, Salford Community Leisure’s Children’s Book Award has distributed over 3,500 books to schools across Salford, has generated over 2,000 votes and has awarded 19 different authors since the start. As well as the school book award, Salford has 16 libraries with (fine-free) free-to-loan books for everyone in the community aged 0-100. As well as all the latest books, classics and fiction titles, the libraries have an extensive event programme including free and low cost events for all the family and other facilities including computers, eBooks and e-Audiobooks.

Three van loads of illegal disposable vapes and e-liquids, some with up to eleven times the legal limit of e-liquid, have been seized in Salford.

One of the vapes seized was blueberry flavoured and shaped like a toy soft drink, raising fears that some producers are deliberately targeting children. Another resembled a bottle of beer. It is illegal to produce or supply an electronic cigarette or refill container that resembles a food product and to sell vapes or e-cigarettes to under 18s.  Other e-cigarettes seized had more than twice the nicotine strength allowed.

Salford City Council’s trading standards officers with support from Greater Manchester Police raided the company after a complaint. They found a storage area concealed behind shutters, containing racks of shelves full of illegal vapes. In all over 35,000 illegal disposable vapes and 3,500 e-liquids were seized and a criminal investigation has been launched.

Since January, the team has seized almost 85,000 illegal vaping products, worth more than £650,000 and issued a stern warning to local companies.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety, said:

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“Some producers are cynically and deliberately designing vapes to appeal to children and it’s horrifying to find a local business buying into that exploitation.

“I’m very grateful to the person who complained about this, enabling our officers and police to go in and clear the shelves of these non-compliant and illegal products. In addition to taking action, such as prosecution, we can investigate money made illegally, in order to recover the proceeds of crime.

“If people have any concerns about products or sales to under 18s, they can report information to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 so it can be investigated. We all need to work together, particularly to keep children and young people safe.

“The legal maximum tank size for a vape is 2ml, which is around 600 puffs. The maximum legal size for a refill bottle with nicotine is 10ml, and maximum strength of nicotine is 20mg/ml. Anything which deviates from that should be reported.

“Properly regulated vapes can be a great way for adults to stop smoking but non smokers and under 18s should not be using them because nicotine is highly addictive.”

 

The Modernist Society are releasing their new architectural guide to Manchester and Salford for tourists and Mancunians alike.

The 21st century has seen a huge amount of building and parts of the city have changed so much they are unrecognisable since the turn of the century.

Despite this, the last architectural guide to contemporary Manchester architecture was over 20 years ago.

With this in mind, The Modernist Society have produced a guide to 21st century architecture in Manchester and Salford titled ‘GMC21’ and recognising the architects that have shaped the modern skyscape.

Covering the period from 2000 until 2023, the book will have over 100 examples of new architecture covering all types of buildings – from skyscrapers to sub stations, apartment blocks to tram stops, and bridges to B of The Bang.

The Modernist Society point out that this is not necessarily a ‘best of’ but more of a subjective list, selected by their team, with the aim of showing a wide variety of Manchester and Salford’s architecture
from the last 23 years.

With architectural tourism on the increase and more visitors coming to Manchester to see and explore its buildings, the book guides the reader through the historic buildings and artworks to be found
at the heart of the city region.

Eddy Rhead, one of the Directors at The Modernist Society, says:

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“The book will be of interest to those who have an interest in modern architecture and the shape and look of our modern cities. It is
hoped the collection will encapsulate the seemingly relentless building boom that has been on going in the city since 2000.

“The information for each building has been collected with the help of the architectural firms involved, with a huge amount of support and goodwill from them.”

 

Each entry will include factual information, a short contextual description and high-quality photography of all 110 buildings that the book includes.

The book launched for presale on 23rd July, with publication in August 2023 and will cost £18.00. To find out how you can buy one of their new books, see The Modernist Society’s website here. 

This week (Monday 3 July – Sunday 9 July 2023), Greater Manchester Police is supporting Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week.

The week, organised by Resolve – the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation – promotes and puts emphasis on social responsibility and aims to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour.

ASB is categorised as any offence that causes harassment, alarm, or distress. From aggressive, noisy or abusive behaviour to neighbourhood disturbances involving drugs or animals, anti-social behaviour takes many forms.

Throughout the week, there will be a series of national events taking place involving Councils, Police Forces, Housing Associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.

At a local level, officers and partners will be out-and-about across the region, highlighting the ongoing work that is taking place to address ASB-related issues that affect our communities. This will include patrols in hotspot areas from our green spaces to our transport network as part of our ongoing Safe4Summer operation, which focuses on providing positive diversionary activities to young people across the region and encouraging them to stay safe when out and about over the summer, particularly around water and outdoor spaces.

Superintendent Roger Pegram, the force’s lead for ASB said:

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“We are supporting ASB Awareness Week to increase people’s understanding of what ASB is and the impact it has on our communities, and to highlight the options available to those facing it.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe, which is why tackling ASB is a priority for ourselves and partners and I would like to take this opportunity to stress that the type of behaviour that intimidates or puts people at risk, is completely unacceptable and won’t be tolerated. 

"Week in, week out, we work alongside local partners to build on the links that we have established with our communities to ensure they are reporting areas of concern to ourselves.

“We recognise that the weather getting warmer may exacerbate ASB, so we will continue to monitor intelligence and prioritise locations using GMP data and reports from the community. Partners will also meet on a regular basis to formulate shared actions and responses and develop strategic tactical plans."

 

If yourself, or a member of your community is experiencing ASB, please report it to us via LiveChat or via the dedicated link on our website - https://www.gmp.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour/ Always call 999 in an emergency.

You can also report incidents 100% anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111, or through their online form.

If you are a victim of anti-social behaviour or other types of crime, you can access the support that is available to help you cope and recover at: https://gmvictims.org.uk

If you want to make a difference in your community and are interested in joining GMP as we work to make Greater Manchester safer, apply to be a police officer via: www.gmp.police.uk/recruitment

Eden, a £36 million, 115,000 sq ft 12-storey office building in New Bailey, Salford, developed by The English Cities Fund (ECF) has achieved a 5.5 NABERS ‘Design Reviewed’ Target Rating – the first new build building in the UK to achieve this record-breaking certification. Due to complete in late summer, Eden brings a unique workspace opportunity to organisations seeking one of the UK most sustainable premises.

What is a NABERS rating?

Like the efficiency ratings that you get on your fridge or washing machine, NABERS provides a rating for the energy efficiency of offices. Their one- to six-star scale helps building owners to understand how their building performs compared to other buildings. To date there are only 20 buildings that have been certified through the independent design review ranging from 4 to 5-star rating, Eden is one of two with the highest 5.5 star target rating, with the other building being a refurbishment.

Once complete, Eden will be enabled to run solely on 100% renewable electricity, with no gas heating or hot water, and has been designed using the UK Green Building Council’s 2030-2035 operational energy targets. Designed by Make Architects, Eden is also a LETI (London Energy Transformation Initiative) pioneer project (a group of projects that seek to achieve KPI targets in line with LETI's Climate Emergency Design Guide).

Phil Marsden, Director of Project Management (North West), Muse, and key to the genesis of Eden, comments:

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“Eden’s creation was motivated purely by the ambition to build the UK’s most sustainable and environmentally considerate commercial building. We are thrilled with the result and have learnt so much; learnings we look forward to sharing with our sector to help build a brighter future, together.”

What is Design for Performance?

The UK has historically had a design-for-compliance culture which has led to a ‘performance gap’ between original design intent and how a building truly performs in-use. To counter this, Design for Performance is the process where a developer or owner commits to design, build and commission a new office development or major refurbishment to achieve a specific NABERS UK Energy rating during the project design and verify it once the building is operational through the NABERS UK Energy for Offices rating scheme.

What about Whole Life Carbon?

During the design stage of the scheme’s inception, partners undertook early-stage, whole-life, and upfront embodied carbon assessments to eliminate waste and reduce the building’s whole carbon footprint. Sustainable materials have been used throughout Eden where possible, such as recycled steel for reinforcement, 40% cement replacement for the substructure and 30% cement replacement for the superstructure. This results in Eden reducing its upfront embodied carbon intensity down to 662kgCO2/m2, compared with over 1100kgCO2/m2 for a typical development of this type.

Will Eden be smart enabled?

Eden will be kitted out with the latest in smart tech solutions to improve resource efficiency, with upgraded insulation in line with the Passivhaus standard, enhanced ventilation to improve the flow of fresh, clean air, along with an air source heat pump to provide low-carbon heating, hot water, and cooling.

What does it all mean for occupiers?

Simon Wyatt, partner, Cundall, and member of the UK Green Building Council’s Members Advisory Committee, said:

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“Eden is truly ground-breaking in the world of construction –ECF has been innovative in the truest sense in how it has gone about reducing the carbon impact of the build and the building’s eventual operational performance. What this means for occupants and investors is greater ROI – a happier, healthier, and higher performing workforce and work environment, reduced energy consumption, ESG targets hit and so forth… it is a win/win for all involved.”

Eden is a key part of ECF’s (the strategic joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Legal & General, one of the UK's leading financial services groups and a major global investor, and Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency), £1bn transformation of the Salford Central area of the city into a diverse mixed-use destination, complete with a bustling commercial district, alongside a vibrant community of homes and amenities, to provide something to suit everyone’s needs.

Commenting, Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford said:

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“Our city has a proud history of innovation, from the first steamboat to the first swing aqueduct, and we are thrilled to add Eden to that list – a sustainable endeavour Salfordians will be working hard to add to for the benefit of our city and future generations to come.” 

The building is due to complete late Summer2023 when it will also hold the title of having Europe’s largest living wall which, 3,300 sqm, will also be the second largest in the world. This façade has been designed to remove air pollutants including carbon, reduce urban temperatures offering thermal benefits to occupiers, and deliver a 174% net gain in the biodiversity of the area, while at the same time providing high-quality green spaces. Alongside this, the façade has a range of health benefits, with Eden designed to enhance occupier health, wellbeing, productivity and will embrace the WELL Building Standard principles, which aim to improve health and human experience through design. Eden is also one of a small number of LETI pioneer projects and is on target to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating.

Last year, Homes England, Legal & General and Muse, reconfirmed their commitment to their long-standing partnership for a further ten years, to December 2036. This will enable the ECF to continue to deliver against its mission to transform deprived, urban areas and create exceptional new places across England, tripling its development potential to date. This commitment will allow for an additional 6,600 homes to be built and allow ECF to reinvest its capital into new, long-term urban regeneration schemes that will support the Levelling Up of towns and cities, creating places where businesses want to invest, and people want to live and socialise.

On Friday 30 June at Manchester Crown Court, Krishan Patel (02/08/1998) of Stephenson Street, Preston was jailed for four and a half years and disqualified from driving for seven years after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Another man, Daniel Hawkins (04/03/1996) of Station road, Swinton pleaded guilty in 2022 to an offence of dangerous driving and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and banned from driving for three years.

The court heard that on Thursday 10 September 2020, the victim was driving down the dual carriageway on Trafford Road, Salford. At the same time both Patel and Hawkins were driving their cars at, excessive speeds, in a dangerous manner. Patel was driving at a calculated speed of 65mph on a 30mph road.

As Hawkins passed through the junction with Phoebe Street, he narrowly missed a collision with another vehicle, and had to break heavily and swerve around the vehicle that was turning right.

Patel passed through the junction a few seconds later and collided with the victim’s taxi.

The victim suffered severe and unfortunately un-survivable injuries in the collision and passed away a few days later in hospital, despite the best efforts of emergency services. Patel sustained minor injuries in the collision.

Police Sergeant Andrew Page of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said:

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"Patel and Hawkins drove with blatant disregard for the safety of other road users and Patel’s actions ultimately led to a man losing his life.

"Patel has failed to take any responsibility for his actions since the incident and despite the overwhelming evidence against him, has failed to admit his guilt.

"I can only hope that as he undertakes his custodial sentence the true gravity of his actions and the lasting effect it will have on all those involved will sink in.

"An innocent life was lost that day, and thoughts are firmly with the victim’s family and I hope today’s sentence and conclusion of criminal proceedings will go some way towards helping them grieve and come to terms with their loss.

“I hope this case also serves as a warning to others of the devastating consequences that can arise from driving dangerously and I urge the public to adhere to the rules of the road which are put in place for the safety of all."

 

Monton is well known across Salford and further afield for its vibrant nightlife and mix of eclectic bars and restaurants, over the years it has rightfully earned its place as a destination to be. Few places across the city have managed to retain a busy high street but Monton has somehow not only managed to buck the trend of shuttered shops and decline seen in other areas but is also thriving.

Much of its success can be attributed to the local community village association (MCVA), a band of community heroes who deserve recognition for all the hard work they continually put in to their local community.

Yesterday (Sat 01 July), Monton saw it's annual summer festival return for 2023 and I have to say, I have attended quite a few events this year but for myself it was the highlight of my calendar so far, it certainly did not disappoint. The festival brought people from across the city together to join in with the fun and that for me made it extra special.

A particular highlight for myself was seeing the pampered poochies at the first Monton dog show, this year it was won by this little goggle wearing scamp riding in a motorcycle sidecar. However, the competition was woof... I mean tough.

Another highlight was local band 'BL€€Ch!' who are a 5 piece local band of Ellesmere Park High School year 10 students, with influences ranging from The Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac, and Oasis.

The band of youngsters have already played gigs at Manchester Academy, Buile Hill Park Hall, as well as Leeds. Their set list included songs from Fleetwood Mac, Oasis, Example, and the Foo Fighters, as well as their own original tracks which were all fantastic and well received.

They are definitely one to watch out for in the future.

All in all it was a fantastic day and even the rain even stayed away for the most part. There was so much going on it would be impossible to list everything but I have listed a few of my own personal highlights below and look forward to seeing how they can possibly top this years.

Well done to all those who organised the festival and to all those who attended. 

And now a few highlights

It seems that everyone in Salford is trying their hand at poetry these days and so it would be amiss for Monton not to have its very own.

I have to admit I am not a huge fan of poetry but I was pleasantly surprised to find he was actually really good.

There were stalls both inside and outside of the church hall, selling all manner of items, many of which were individually crafted by some seriously talented people.

We noticed the ladies were particularly fond of local celebrity and well known face around Monton, Phil the lighthouse keeper. Tony was jealous that he was not getting all the hugs. 

Eccles Burrough Band provided the musical backdrop and as always they sounded superb with not a single wrong note. 

Sadly, this majestic beasty did not win the dog show but sure as hell won my admiration. So well trained and absolutely magnificent. The owner let me feed him a scooby snack which made my day.

It was also great to see so many dads out with their kids.

You can check out many more photos of the day on our Facebook Page, there are simply too many to list on here.

It would seem that the mindless vandals have struck within Buile Hill Park, damaging and possibly killing a tree which was donated to both the park and the City of Salford as part of the Queens Platinum Jubilee, back in 2022.

The Rowan tree was one of 350 saplings which were originally part of a sculpture called the Tree of Trees, which stood for a time within the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

Photo ©: WPA POOL

The Buile Hill Mansion Association were one of the 350 community organisations from across the UK, which were given the honour of receiving a tree and had recently commissioned a plaque at their expense  to commemorate the occasion.

The trees were eventually taken from the palace grounds and distributed in their iconic silver pots adorned with the queens crest, across various parts of the realm, with Salford's 'Rowan' planting its roots firmly within the park back in January this year (2023) thanks to former Ceremonial Mayor of Salford - Ann Marie Humphries.

Photo ©: Buile Hill Mansion Association

Sadly someone has seen fit to vandalise the tree which in our opinion looks to have been deliberately targeted as none of the other trees around it have been damaged.

Branches appear to have been snapped and an attempt has been made to break the whole tree trunk at the bottom.

Why on earth someone would do this is anyone's guess? Why this particular tree? It seriously makes us question just what goes through the minds of some people.

The park is due to undergo huge changes in the coming years, with the ongoing renovation of the mansion and surrounding area eventually coming to completion. The tree was intended to become a focal point for future generations to enjoy but now someone has put its own future in jeopardy.

This is an iconic tree with both local and national relevance and should be preserved and properly protected. It was a gift to our city by the late monarch.

If you have any information regarding those who damaged the tree then please get in touch via newsdesk@salford.media. If are an expert and could help save the tree then please also get in touch via the same email address.

The former owner of a Salford takeaway where hygiene records were faked has been prosecuted by Salford City Council.

Mr Amroodhin Ghayase, 37, of Westbourne Road, Eccles, former owner of Milano hot food takeaway, Liverpool Road, Eccles, pleaded guilty at Manchester and Salford magistrates court  on Thursday 29 June to two offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013 of failing to keep a food premises clean and failing to implement and maintain permanent procedures.

He was fined £480 and ordered to pay £850 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

The court heard that Mr Ghayase had run the business since 2019 and while in April 2022 it had a satisfactory food hygiene rating of 3, it had twice been rated 1 (unsatisfactory) before improvements were made.

On 19 April 2022 a member of the public contacted Salford City Council alleging that cooked chicken bought from Milano had made her and her partner unwell over the weekend. 

An environmental health officer visited to review cooking practices and food safety monitoring records. Although the alleged food poisoning could not be substantiated, they were concerned about the standard of cleaning and hygiene practices observed at the premises and carried out a detailed food hygiene inspection.

That inspection found that cleaning throughout the food handling areas was very poor.  Grease and food debris were building up on surfaces, wall and floor junctions and food equipment.  It was apparent that a deep clean had not been undertaken at the premises for some time. The officer returned a week later to check that cleaning had taken place but found little improvement to the cleaning. A further check a week later found standards to be better.

Although the business was completing a daily diary suggesting food safety standards were being complied with, the officer found this was clearly not the case. Hot and held food and freezer storage temperature records were being completed in advance throwing into doubt the validity of the safety monitoring records.

The wash hand basin in the preparation room was completely obstructed with food equipment, making it impossible for food handlers to effectively wash their hands.  Staff were using the sink instead of the designated wash hand basins, which is not acceptable. There were no hand towels in the dispenser in the toilet.

An area used for raw meat preparation had food equipment for ready to eat food, including a milkshake blender and a cup containing an ice cream scoop, presenting a cross-contamination risk.  There were damaged food containers in use. Had staff been carrying out proper daily checks, these issues would have been dealt with.

Mr. Ghayase is no longer the owner of Milano and the business is under new management.

Speaking after the case, Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment, neighbourhoods, sport and leisure, said:

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“Food hygiene regulations are there to protect the public and we won’t hesitate to take action against any business which fails in its duty of care.”  

This week, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH)’s GM dementia support group has teamed up with national not-for-profit, intergenerational Music Making (IMM) to celebrate Thank You Day.

IMM delivers programmes, training, campaigning and research to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of the old and the young in communities across the UK through the power of music.

The Open Doors support group, run by GMMH’s Memory and Dementia service, leads on a range of initiatives to support people living with dementia and their carers across Greater Manchester.

The UK’s third annual Thank You Day, will take place on Sunday 2nd July which in the last two years has brought over 15 million people together to strengthen bonds and create kinder communities. This year, Music for Dementia (the cross-sector campaign to make music an integral part of dementia care) is calling for the day to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of people in Britain who change their own lives to care for someone else, particularly those living with dementia.

The 'IMM/Open Doors Dementia Choir’ formed to bring people living with dementia together with their carers to celebrate Thank You Day. The initiative began on the 18th April. Fortnightly rehearsal sessions have taken place during the Open Doors support group’s ‘Dementia Café’ based at Elmwood Church, Salford; where activities have included movement warmups, cool downs & mindfulness. 

The celebration event took place at Elmwood Church, where a choir of 25, made up of GMMH service users living with dementia and their carers, performed songs they’ve been learning during the project.

Chris Durkin, IMM’s Northwest Community Development Manager said:

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“We are delighted to be working with Music for Dementia and Open Doors to spread the joy of music and celebrate Thank You Day. The project has been a huge hit with everyone who has taken part. We absolutely loved coming together to perform together for a final time to celebrate Thank You Day and thank those selfless individuals who have changed their own life to care for someone living with Dementia. It was so heart-warming and emotional to see people singing out load and observe how their confidence had grown.”

Cath Riley, Manager at Reach Beyond, Open Doors and the Older Peoples Befriending Service at GMMH said:

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“The benefits of music to support the mental health of people living with dementia is well documented; and it can be a fantastic way for our service users to come together, alongside their family members and carers, and experience something joyful.

“We have so enjoyed our dementia choir sessions over the past couple of months, the group has really grown in confidence since the beginning of the project and have been speaking more and singing out loud. It’s been an absolute joy to have IMM here, and we really enjoyed performing our songs for Thank You Day. We’re always so in awe of the amazing carers in our communities who do so much for their loved ones, and this is such a lovely and apt way to celebrate them.”

 

Music and dementia the facts: (M4D)

·       IMM has delivered over 800 projects for people across the UK with many of those

 living with dementia

·       Music therapy has been shown to be the best type of therapy for reducing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

·       Singing in residential care homes can halve anxiety

·       The ability to process engage with and respond to music remains intact however severe the dementia

A man has been jailed for seven years after GMP officers uncovered a kilogram of cocaine during a stop – before an investigation revealed links to wholesale drugs supply.

Alan Nisbet (05/10/1986) of Towyn Avenue, Salford, received the sentence at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 28 June 2023)

In Salford on 18 December 2022, officers were proactively patrolling as part of Operation Naseby, a dedicated policing operation aimed at disrupting organised crime in the city.

Officers pulled over Nisbet after noticing him driving in an erratic manner, with a subsequent search of his car resulting in the discovery of approximately a kilogram of cocaine.

A mobile phone recovered from the car revealed comprehensive information about the supply of drugs, with investigators concluding that Nisbet had been involved as a courier in the wholesale of supply of Class A and Class B drugs in the region.

The street value of the total drugs transported in the four weeks before Nisbet’s arrest were valued at more than seven million pounds.

This included 40kg of cocaine and 70kg of MDMA, in addition to quantities of ketamine and amphetamine. 

Nisbet received seven years imprisonment after pleading guilty to the following offences:

-              Possession with intent to supply cocaine

-              Possession of cannabis

-              Conspiracy to supply cocaine

-              Conspiracy to supply amphetamine

-              Conspiracy to supply MDMA

-              Two counts of money laundering

Detective Sergeant Daniel Worthington, from GMP’s City of Salford district, said: 

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“We are determined to crack down on the wholesale supply of drugs and this was a fantastic result for the officers working on Operation Naseby.

“Drugs cause so many issues within our communities and by taking someone off the streets who was involved in the transportation of these illegal products, we are sending a clear message that we will be doing all that we can to bring offenders to justice.

“I would urge anyone with any information about possible drug dealing in their area to please get in touch with us. You can do this by dialling 101, or by calling Crimestoppers – anonymously – on 0800 555 111.” 

 

On Sunday 4th June 2023, Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a burglary at a clothing shop on Salford Precinct.

Officers investigating this incident have followed up on a number of lines of enquiry and are now in a position to ask for the public's assistance.

Police have released footage of a male they would like to speak to as it’s believed he could assist with enquiries.

Anyone with information that may help identify the male are asked to contact police Neighbourhood Crime Team DC Blackburn on 0161 856 5272 quoting log 823 of 05/6/23.

Information can be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Keri Muldoon our favourite Salfordian has added yet another string to her bow, at the time of writing she is the current Salford Citizen of the Year, tireless community worker, charity fundraiser, lollipop lady! and now the Salford Ambassador the Manchester International Festival which runs from Thursday 28th June - 16th July.

The artist Ryan Gander who lived in Salford for several years is one of the many people taking part in the MIF, he has struck some 250,000 coins to be scattered around Manchester on park benches, library shelves, tram seats, the coins in sets of three.

Each coin shows a version of heads and tails, and they all relate, the artist says, to “values that we maybe don’t think about often enough”. The idea is people might pick one up, a little piece of art, and feel lucky to have found it. “They might put it in their pocket as a decision-making tool. It is a currency, but it’s a currency of happenstance.”

However Salford wasn't included in the areas where the coins were to scattered until Keri stated that Salford was just as important and was given several thousand coins which she will be leaving in various locations throughout Peel Park from 7am this Saturday, well done that girl!

So, why not go treasure hunting this Saturday as these coins are not only collectors pieces but you are involving yourself in an art project.

Once again thanks to Keri Muldoon for standing up yet again for Salford, we salute you.

A key pedestrian and cycle route between Salford and Manchester has opened underneath the iconic Ordsall Chord railway bridge.

Network Rail invested £12m in the new footbridge to replace the former Prince’s Street bridge over the River Irwell, which was demolished in 2015 to make way for the major railway upgrade above.

That saw the world’s first asymmetrical railway bridge built so Manchester’s three main railway stations - Piccadilly, Victoria and Oxford Road – could be linked together for the first time, giving more flexibility to run trains right across the North.

While that was being built between 2015 and 2017, the footbridge below was also completed, as part of the future masterplan for the area.

In the intervening years, major construction work on both side of the river has seen multiple residential developments and the creation of Manchester’s new world-class arts venue, Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International.

Now this is ready to host the Manchester International Festival which starts today (Thursday 29 June) the footbridge can welcome its first users.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig and Jill Stephenson, principal development manager at Network Rail have now officially opened the structure.

Jill Stephenson, Network Rail principal development manager, said: 

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“It’s great to see this footbridge finally in use as it’s been waiting in the wings since the completion of the Ordsall Chord railway bridge in 2017. It was always built with the future in mind, and it’s been incredible to see the area redevelop on both sides of the river in recent years. The footbridge can now play the role we always intended it to – connecting residents to their homes, workplaces, leisure and world class venues in both cities, directly underneath the iconic Ordsall Chord above.” 

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: 

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“Both cities have a rich and distinct, yet intertwined cultural identity. This work forms part of our sustainable transport plans for the whole city and with this bridge we’re creating a gateway to enable Salfordians access to cultural experiences on offer at MIF and Aviva Studios. 

“Bridges have played a huge role in literally bringing our cities together and forging links. Our two cities worked together to span the Irwell way back in 1830 with the Stephenson Bridge. Today, this bridge is further evidence of our joint commitment to opening up the cities and to providing alternative, greener options for crossing our famous river border.”

 

Cllr Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: 

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“The connections between our two great cities are long-standing and complementary so having a new physical link in our city centre is an important moment.  

“While the river Irwell is a seen as a geographical boundary it is not a barrier between the flow of people, trade and ideas. It’s particularly welcome that this new bridge will connect Aviva Studios, a world-class arts and social attraction and the new home of Factory International, and the new St Johns area with growing new districts on the Salford side of the Irwell. It’s a symbolic celebration of using culture as an economic and regeneration driver to deliver mutual success in growth of new jobs, communities, and districts to benefit our city region.”

 

Network Rail has worked closely with the two councils on its joint work to landscape the areas around both sides of the bridge as part of its wider sustainable travel plans for pedestrians and cyclists through Salford and Manchester.

Additional improvements on the Salford side also includes interpretation panels, to tell the story of behind perhaps the Irwell’s most famous crossing, the Stephenson Bridge.

Stephenson Bridge, a Grade I listed structure, was built by George Stephenson in 1830 and formed part of the world’s first passenger railway line, carrying passengers between Liverpool and Manchester.

At approximately 11pm last night (Wednesday 28 June 2023) officers responded to reports of an assault in which a man in an alleyway on Mather Way in Pendleton, Salford.

NWAS also attended and took the man to hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries, which are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.

A Section 60 stop and search order was implemented last night and will continue to run throughout today. This order enables officers to stop and search a person or a vehicle for weapons without suspicion.

Detective Inspector Steve Hughes said:

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"We understand that members of the local community are going to concerned regarding this incident, but we do believe that it is a targeted attack and there is no threat to the wider community.

"However, there will be an increased police presence over the next few days, as we endeavour to trace the offender and bring him into custody. We have also implemented a S60 for the next few hours (see map), which allows us to stop and search people or vehicles for weapons.

"We are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage of the area at the time of the offence.

"We urge anyone who may be able to assist us to contact us via 101 quoting log number 004277-28062023. Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity - Crimestoppers - on 0800 555 111 or via the Live Chat function on our website www.gmp.police.uk."

 

The S60 stop and search order covers Nursery Street, Seedley Road, Fitzwarren Street, Heywood Way, Hankinson Way, Belvedere Road and the A6.