Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has teamed up with Google to use AI to improve traffic flow and reduce stop-and-go emissions.

With responsibility to install, maintain and manage traffic signals on behalf of Greater Manchester’s 10 councils, TfGM oversees a signal network that includes 2,500 sets of traffic signals.

The Green Light project brought together Googles experience in AI, and their wealth of data with TfGM’s knowledge of Urban Traffic Control (UTC), the local road network and signal assets.

During the project Google reviewed traffic movements and provided recommendations where there was potential to for signal timing changes to provide an overall reduction in stop-and-go traffic.

In many instances signals are being used to provide priority to buses, pedestrians or encourage route choice (reduce rat running), so recommendations did not always lead to a change in signal timings. Where they were, traffic conditions were monitored and recommended changes at one junction led to an average improvement of 9% during the morning peak period and 18% during the afternoon peak period.

David Atkin, TfGM’s analysis and reporting manager, said:

“Greater Manchester’s road network – which includes 2,400 traffic signals and millions of journeys every week – is complex and managing it a challenge when balancing the needs of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport users.

“With traffic levels now at or beyond pre-pandemic levels, we are working really hard to tackle congestion and are delighted to be amongst the first areas in the World – and the first in the UK – to work with Google on the innovative Green Light initiative.

“Our aim is to make the network run as efficiently and sustainably as possible and the pilot provided valuable insights, with teams from both Green Light and TfGM bringing expertise and ideas to the table to reduce stop-and-go traffic and emissions.”

This year's Firewalk will take place on 5th November 2023 at their Little Hulton hospice, and the price of registration has just been slashed from £30 to £15!

Everyone who takes part will be in the safe hands of a Blaze ‘Fire Master’ instructor who will take you through a motivational Fear Buster session prior to walking across 20ft of burning wood embers with bare feet, helping you to leap into this challenge feet first.

Marie Foster, Innovation and Digital Fundraiser at St Ann’s Hospice, took part in the Firewalk in 2021. Marie says:

“I’ve worked for St Ann’s Hospice for the last five years. I took on the Firewalk to prove to myself I could do it, and absolutely loved the challenge!

“A few years ago my sister raised money for another charity and did a Firewalk, so I wanted to prove to myself that if she could do it, I could too.

“Whenever I tell people I took part in this challenge they always ask me whether it hurts, and it honestly doesn’t – but there’s no doubt that it’s very hot!”

Each person who takes part has a sponsorship target of £150, and the Firewalk is open to anyone over the age of 14 (under-18s must be accompanied by an adult).

Marie says: “You get to see the fire being lit which makes the challenge very real very quickly, but it’s great to be involved in all aspects of the event.

“I wanted to take on a challenge for St Ann’s Hospice to raise money for a charity close to my heart, and enjoyed doing this with my friend as it was a shared experience between us.

“I had a lot of comments from people saying I was mad to be doing such a crazy challenge, but I’d recommend it to everyone!”

Imagine how you will feel after Firewalking – if you can walk on fire, what else can you achieve if you put your mind to it?

For more information visit www.sah.org.uk/firewalk or contact the Events Team on 0161 498 3631 or events@sah.org.uk.

He may be most at home pulling pints in the Rovers Return, but the new bar at Broughton House has a special place in the heart of Coronation Street star Antony Cotton.

Antony officially opened the bar after money he won on a celebrity version of the TV quiz show Tipping Point was spent on the veterans’ mess.

The actor, who plays factory worker and barman Sean Tully in the soap, is an official ambassador of the charity.

And he was thrilled when they called him to say that his winnings had helped to fund the bar and that they wanted him to come along see it for himself.

Antony became an ambassador of Broughton House in 2019 in honour of his late grandfather Oswald Cotton, a proud Salfordian who served with the British Army during the second world war.

Antony said:

“It is absolutely fantastic to see how they have spent the money and how much the veterans love it.

“I spend all my spare time in the military world, and the mess is so important, it is the centre, the hub.”

Antony could not wait to meet our veterans and serve up the drinks.

Two of the residents are D-Day veterans – Peter Belcher and David Teacher, who are both 99.

And it was emotional for Antony making the connection between Peter and David and his own grandad Oswald who was at Dunkirk himself.

“I love hearing everyone’s stories. It is absolutely astonishing to find out that Peter was at Pegasus Bridge, as my grandad was at Dunkirk. He is 23 years younger than my grandad. He would have been a young soldier serving at the same time and he is still here today to tell the tale,” Antony said.

David said: 

“Having this veterans’ mess is fantastic. It was my idea that we needed somewhere to socialise. It is great to be able to come in here and have a natter, find out what’s going on and enjoy the artists that they put on for entertainment.”

Ruth Tomlinson, 83, moved into Broughton House with her Army veteran husband William four months ago, but William sadly passed away a month later.

Their daughter Helen Stevens said:

“My dad was terminally ill, so we were caring for him at home for 18 months before that. It was so good for them to be able to come here together because I knew they were safe. Having everyone here together with a military background, shared experiences is wonderful. It is just a shame dad didn’t get the chance to take full advantage of it.”

Coronation Street fan Ruth now enjoys spending social time in the mess, and couldn’t wait to meet Antony and have a chat over a glass of wine.

A Salford councillor is stranded in Jerusalem with his wife and eight children amid the turmoil in Israel with missiles flying overhead.

Independent member of the city council Councillor Andrew Walters flew out to the Middle East for the Jewish festival Yom Kippur a few days ago with his wife Chana and children before Hamas launched their devastating attack.

Speaking from his in-laws home in Jerusalem Councillor Walters told how flights back to the UK have all but disappeared and how he has witnessed missiles flying as the conflict has deepened.

He was due to fly back on Saturday and is due to attend a Salford community and neighbourhoods scrutiny panel on Monday.

“It’s looking like I may not make it back,” he said. “I was scheduled to fly to Verona in Italy, for a flight which has been brought forward to 4am. on Saturday. If I get there, I’ve not figured out yet how I’m going to get back to Manchester from Verona

“People are struggling to get out of the country and are having to spend more than 10 hours at the airport, which sounds awful, but it’s something I’m prepared to do.

“What I’ve seen here is terrible,” he continued. “Missiles flying overhead, in scenes similar to how my grandmother described during the Blitz in World War Two. It’s terrifying.

“I seem to be unlucky with flying. I remember being stuck in the USA during 9/11 22 years ago and stranded as a result of the Icelandic volcano.”

Councillor Walters said there are an estimated 60,000 British people wanting to leave Israel, but with flights so scarce there is little chance of it happening.

“How many jumbo jets would it take to get them all out,” he said. “I know that a British Airways jet was turned back, and flights are getting more and more scarce.”

A plan to turn ‘the grandest ballroom in Greater Manchester’ into a five-bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO) has been submitted to Salford city council.

Its proprietors want to convert the first and second floors of the  Grand Palais (Known as the Wishing Well to some) in Swinton into a residential property. An adjoining shop would also be converted into into a bicycle and bin storage agea.

The planning application says the development ‘will provide some much-needed town centre affordable residential accommodation in the area while bringing back into use the vacant assembly and leisure areas and a vacant retail shop’. 

The venue is still operating as a dance hall with professional ballroom champion Alex Plant billed to appear on Friday (October 13).

A design and access statement submitted by Pentland Design and Management, based in Salford, said the proposal was to convert the first and second floor levels of the section of the dance hall facing Station Road, together with the left-hand stairwell into an HMO.

“Construction work comprises the erection of internal partitions, infilling door openings, to form five bedrooms with en-suite show facilities together with a communal kitchen/dining room.,” it said.

No parking facilities are to be provided with the statement saying there are ‘adequate local parking facilities’.

“The site is in a sustainable transport location, on Station Road, which is on a bus route,” it said.

A YouTube video featuring dancers in the ballroom describes it as ‘probably the grandest ballrooms in Greater Manchester’.

Following approval for consultation by Salford City Council’s Cabinet, a public consultation is set to commence on Wednesday, 18 October which outlines an ambitious vision for MediaCity and Quayside, spanning 23.30 ha (hectares) which has the potential to bring over 3,000 new homes, more business opportunities across circa 75,000 sq metres as well as unparalleled access to employment, retail, leisure and recreation.

The regeneration framework builds on the ‘Salford Quays 2030 Vision’ and outlines four key aspirations for the area: creating a vibrant and convenient town centre offering, developing more commercial office space, delivering high quality and affordable homes within attractively landscaped neighbourhoods and enhancing the current waterfront and public realm areas while creating new green spaces.

The vast scale of the proposed regeneration project will stretch from MediaCity’s current footprint doubling its size including the area around Quayside and will be defined by four distinct quarters each characterised by a specific purpose.

The Media Quarter includes the current cluster of creative, tech and digital companies positioned around the main Piazza and along the Manchester Ship Canal.

The Waterfront and Gateway zone will maximise MediaCity and Quayside’s unique waterfront setting. As the historic gateway to the site, new flexible structures and pavilions are proposed to enable the space to be activated in all weathers. Proposals also include a new pedestrian link bridge from MediaCity to The Lowry and Quayside as well as plans to activate North Bay

The Living Hub presents a new opportunity for the destination featuring new, highly sustainable homes, businesses and convenience retail. This zone will incorporate striking architecture, leafy boulevards and tranquil courtyards.

The Culture and Community Hub centred in and around Quayside and The Lowry Arts Centre is the vibrant cultural, leisure and retail heart of the destination which residents and visitors from across the region can access and enjoy

Stephen Wild, MediaCity’s Managing Director said:

“This proposed Regeneration Framework for MediaCity and Quayside is a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of this dynamic area to reach its full potential over the next 10 to 15 years.

“In partnership with Salford City Council, we want to deliver an unrivalled destination which will provide more quality homes, employment opportunities, community facilities, a rich cultural and leisure scene while making the most of The Quays greatest assets – the waterfront. We’re creating a place for the people of Salford to be proud of which is why feedback on the proposed framework from our local community is so important.

“We’ve already started to bring forward improvements to Quayside in line with Salford City Council’s 2030 vision for the area, with the £3.5 million investment in Central Bay – the new independent food and drink destination. However, we still have a way to go to improve the town centre amenity but through working in partnership with other agencies and Salford City Council we can accelerate these improvements which will be a crucial element of the agreed planning strategy going forward.”

Mike Hood, CEO of LandsecU+I said:

“We have big ambitions for MediaCity and this regeneration framework will help us on our journey to deliver a thriving place long into the future. It’s vital that this next phase of work is shaped by the community who will continue to live, work and enjoy MediaCity so we get the right answers on how to make positive change here.”

The regeneration framework launch will be a drop-in event taking place on Wednesday, 18 October between 12 noon and 6.30pm on the 6th floor of Orange Tower in MediaCity.

After the launch event the information boards will be on display to review for six weeks in the Customer Service Centre, upper level, Quayside shopping centre. Feedback on the document can be submitted online from 18 October  MediaCityUK and Quays Point planning guidance • Salford City Council.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, added:

“MediaCity has been the flagship development and a great example of partnership working within our city over the last decade, with the City Council’s historic decision to purchase the land at the docks, financially support the building of the Lowry Theatre & Art Gallery, Metrolink and the BBC’s move out of London all being vindicated as great partnership successes, creating a destination for people and families to live, work, visit and enjoy our free time.

“The regeneration of Salford Quays and delivery of MediaCity has seen the transformation of our once derelict dockland into the fastest growing digital, tech and media hub outside of the city of London.  Salford City Council’s unrelenting commitment to the on-going development and regeneration of our city remains a long-standing commitment for our city.

“More recently, it’s been great to witness the work and collaboration of a myriad of partners to animate Salford Quays and MediaCity through the work of Quays Culture, the highly successful and inclusive festival of free time: We Invented the Weekend (WITW), Box on the Docks, the recent delivery of the gastronomic cultural extravaganza that is Kargo MKT at Central Bay or family-friendly initiatives such as the recent free interactive exhibition for children, young people and families celebrating the works of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.  Salford Quays and MediaCity has become a destination for everyone in our city, a great reflection of the Spirit of Salford and something I’m looking forward to seeing continue to develop over the next decade.

“The launch of this new vision highlights that it continues to be hugely important for Salford.  But getting it right is vital, not only to drive growth, bringing jobs and opportunities to our city, but also to ensure that the area continues to provide a place that meets the needs of its residents, businesses and visitors alike.

“Despite the challenges of the global pandemic and more recently the cost-of-living crisis, I think with everyone’s support, building on our many successes to date and the 2030 blue print consultation for Salford Quays, we have started to craft a really exciting future for this important part of the City of Salford.  With this in mind, I’d like to encourage local residents to continue to participate in the conversation and dialogue and join the consultation, have your say and help shape the vision for MediaCity.”

Detailed plans for a huge development of nearly 500 homes as part of the Pendleton Regeneration Area in Salford have been tabled.

The proposals include the re-landscaping of Clarendon Park to include play areas and skate park as well as public open space and allotments on a 35-acre site on land south of Churchill Way and north of Liverpool Street.

They have been submitted on behalf of Lovell Partnerships and Together Housing Group, which have described Pendleton as a ‘pivotal location’ in central Salford, close to Salford Quays, MediaCityUK, Salford University Campus and Chapel Street.

The plan is described as ‘a diverse mix of apartments and houses to create a balanced new neighbourhood’ totalling 485 homes.

This includes nine blocks three and four-storeys high and two, three and four-bed properties which will be terraced and semi-detached along key routes overlooking public open space. 

Houses will comprise red brick, to reflect the character of recently development in Salford and the city’s ‘historic townscape character’.

Currently the site is ‘vacant urban land’ and comprises a network of ‘poorly maintained roads and footpaths’, according to a design and access statement submitted to Salford city council’s planning portal.

The land east of Clarendon Park was once where the former Windsor High School stood. That land is now ‘urban green space’ with trees and scrub.

But the park will create a ‘series of tranquill spaces’ incorporating trees, wildflower grassland and seasonal bulb planting to attract pollinator species, and play areas for different age groups and abilities.

There will be traditional orchards to offer a ‘doorstep edible landscape’, and a cycle route.

Creative studio and multidisciplinary arts collective We are Willow, has collaborated with global art producer Wild in Art, to deliver ‘Six Places In A Different Light’. A series of six striking installations across Greater Manchester to promote mental health awareness and wellbeing.

The series of head sculptures will be installed in Mayfield Park, Greengate Square, the University of Salford’s Peel Park Campus, outside the Imperial War Museum North and MediaCity UK from 30th October – 11th December 2023. The aim is to engage with new audiences and connect with new communities through creativity, to encourage open conversation, embracing mental health in a different light.

‘A Different Light’ is a project that has been creatively evolving since its inception in 2016. The work originally featured four films, an album of music and spoken word and an edition of 300 bespoke mini head sculptures.

The project works with three different mental health charities across the region,Mind,Start and the Jamie Horrocks Trust

In this latest project, six large scale head sculptures will each be uniquely decorated by illustrator and community artist Kelly Ma, illustrator Tom J Newell and painter Ekun Richard.

They will work with mental health participants to generate inspiration for their work, all of which will respond to We Are Willow’s specially written 12 track album of music and spoken word.

Chris Butler, Co-Founder & Creative Lead for WE ARE WILLOW, said:

“The opportunity to collaborate with Wild in Art and three inspirational charities, to promote the crucial work they deliver across Greater Manchester through creativity is extremely exciting.

The previous projects we have produced have raised awareness, but we can always do more. We can make it count for more, bring more people with us and, with collaboration as our guiding light, make a bigger difference. “

The giant head sculptures arrived at Mayfield Park this week where they will remain in a dedicated painting space until they are installed in their locations across Greater Manchester.

Laura Percy, Development Director for Mayfield, LandsecU+I, comments:

“Mayfield is delighted to support ‘Six Places In A Different Light’. This sculpture trail encouraging people to talk about their mental health is a wonderful idea, and where better for this to happen than the city’s newest park, a place for peaceful reflection. The blend of culture and nature is integral to Mayfield, and we look forward to welcoming many more visitors to the park over the next few months.

This initiative, together with the recreation of the iconic Ian Curtis mural at the Star & Garter to support World Suicide Prevention Day in September, underlines our deep and lasting commitment to using our spaces to inspire, educate and support our city.”

Residents from Salford and the surrounding areas can now conveniently access a range of diagnostic testing, after work was carried out to transform former Adams clothing store at WestOne retail park into a new Salford Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) which is now open to NHS patients from across Salford.

Available testing includes scanning (MRI, CT and Ultrasound), heart and lung tests and tele-dermatology, helping to quickly and conveniently investigate a range of symptoms including suspected cancers and breathlessness. Patients are referred to the centre by their GP or other healthcare professional. 

Located on the Southern part of West One Retail Park, the CDC offers the latest technology in diagnostic tests. The centre aims to serve approximately 20,000 NHS patients from in and around Salford each year in a convenient location away from busy hospital sites.

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust will be delivering these services alongside InHealth, the UK’s largest specialist provider of diagnostic solutions, who are also located in the centre.

The Salford CDC is the second CDC featured within the NCA’s footprint, joining Oldham’s CDC that opened in December 2022.

On Friday, 6th October, a critical care paramedic from the North West Air Ambulance Charity had their flight helmet stolen.

The crew, based at Barton Airport, were responding to a 999 call in Whitefield, Manchester at 3.30 pm when the theft took place. As the crew were preparing to attend to a patient, a group of youths on bikes rode past and took the flight helmet from beside the helicopter.

The flight helmets are specialist and vital pieces of equipment, importantly they allow crew members to communicate with each other when in the air.

They are not only worn for communicating but they provide vital safety to the person wearing them.

Without the flight helmets, the charity’s pilots, doctors, and critical care paramedics cannot respond to emergency incidents in the helicopters as it is a mandatory safety feature.

The flight helmets cost around £2,200 and are made to measure for each crew member, as they come with special fittings that are tailored to the shape of the person’s head.

David Briggs, Operations Director at the North West Air Ambulance Charity, said:

“It is really disappointing to have essential safety equipment stolen from our crews, whilst they are at scene attending to critically injured people. The charity costs £12 million pounds a year to provide lifesaving treatment to the people of the North West.

“Our crews and equipment are paid for directly by our hardworking, kind and generous supporters. I’d ask those responsible to consider the impact they made, as their actions prevented us from responding to those who could be their family, friends or neighbours. Our crews are shocked and saddened by this mindless act.”

Luckily there was a spare helmet at their base that could be used as a replacement, which Helimed 72 had to return back to base at Barton to collect before they could continue accepting call-outs to critically ill and injured patients.

The North West Air Ambulance Charity is not part of the NHS and doesn’t receive any government funding, they rely on the generosity of the general public to help fund their lifesaving work.

The flight helmet that was stolen is a vital part of the crew’s kit, without it they cannot attend emergency situations in the North West.

IMCO Holdings has won planning permission to demolish a number of buildings at Riverside Retail Park, off Regent Road in Ordsall.

Branches of Kentucky Fired Chicken and MacDonald's as well as the Grosvenor Casino will be levelled to make way for a new residential development at the site.

Proposals were first brought forward in 2017 in documents which outlined a 'Master Plan' for the site which included four blocks between 9 and 25 storeys high close to the banks of the river Irwell on the border between Salford and Manchester.

The news comes as a growing opposition is being mounted against what campaigners say is the gentrification of another part of Ordsall, following an application to build ten new tower blocks and a 5 acre park on the current site of Regent Road Retail Park by Henley Investment Management.

Imco's initial application was declined due to environmental concerns over its proximity to the river, but the council was swayed by the provision of additional information on mitigation measures, which satisfied the conditions for approval.

This could mean that the demolition at the site could start as early as May 2024.

"The world is facing a climate emergency and we all need to act to prevent irreversible damage and to leave a better world for our children.", says the header of a new website launched by the city council as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the perils of climate change.

The council has also ditched the usual 'Magenta' from it's branding and has gone green on X (Formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

The council says that there is already a lot happening to help with reductions in the city's carbon footprint, with solar car ports, zero emission buses and e-scooters which seemingly can be found strewn across almost every pavement in Salford.

The city has come a long way since the 'Smokey Town' image of the early 1900's.

Gone are the huge smoke and pollution belching chimney stacks, much beloved of Fred Dibnah (Although for all he loved them he sure did demolish enough?).

The city has some  of the best recycling rates in Greater Manchester and many council owned buildings have recently been kitted out with solar panels to reduce both costs to the council coffers as well as carbon being pumped into the atmosphere. All in all Salford is a much cleaner and greener place to live.

We have a solar farm on the outskirts of Little Hulton and much has been done to improve the energy efficiency of social housing throughout the city.

With 3,774 solar panels, it will generate 2.1 megawatt hours of clean electricity per year and will reduce Salford’s carbon emissions by 720 tonnes each year, as well as saving the council money on buying energy. Not quite enough to power my DeLorean but a considerable amount none the less.

We are even host to Europe's largest 'Green Wall' which adorns the outside of a 12 storey tower block at New Bailey on the border with Manchester.

The wall provides real environmental benefits by removing toxins from the atmosphere, creating a significant increase in bio-diversity, providing habitat for birds, butterflies and pollinators, and also improves the thermal performance of the building.

It’s net zero carbon in operation and features enhanced, demand-controlled ventilation with CO2 monitoring, and is fossil fuel free with air source heat pumps generating heating, cooling and hot water.

Our local University of Salford is at the forefront of pioneering research on home efficiency with its Energy House 2.0 project.

Led by The University of Salford, in partnership with Bellway, Saint-Gobain and Barratt Developments, The Energy House 2.0 is researching and testing, in tightly controlled conditions, new ways of powering, heating and insulating homes, making them more energy efficient and helping to meet new standards which require a significant reduction in carbon emissions for new-build homes from 2025.

You have noticed the changes, they are hard to miss.

It is hard not to notice the effects of global warming and it has already started to impact on our City, as anyone whose home was damaged during the horrific Boxing Day Floods in Kersal back in 2015.

Since then we have seen the Irwell close to tipping point on a number of occasions but thankfully we now have a much more robust flood protection system in place in those affected areas, flood basins which have a dual role as havens for local wildlife and waterfowl. They are also mighty pretty too which is always a bonus.

More recently we saw widespread flooding as torrential downpours came out of the blue, causing roads to turn into rivers and water to pour into homes. Eccles was hit particularly badly with roads closed and the junction of the M60 underwater. (Main Photo)

Whilst some parts of the country burn, others suffer unseasonable levels of cloud and rain and if forecasts are correct, we can only look forward to these extreme weather incidents becoming more common place in the future.

So with this in mind, the council has set itself the task of becoming Carbon Neutral by the year 2038, which means that the city would be producing the same amount of carbon that is removed. A lofty goal, but one which is achievable. 

There is a lot to do if the city is to hit those targets but a lot of work has already taken place.

The new website is full of information educating residents about climate change and encouraging sustainable practices in their daily lives., from recycling waste to cooking healthier and less environmental damaging food.

It has useful and helpful tips on reducing our carbon footprints as well as clearly explaining why we need to do so.

Our planet can only take so much and the tipping point is ever moving closer. We need to act now to secure a cleaner environment for ourselves and future Salford residents to continue to live and thrive in.

Photos: GreenerSalford.Info / Salford City Council

Metrolink passengers are set to get somewhat of a surprise this week as Liam Gallagher announces the trams stops on his favourite line.   

The Manchester music legend will take over the tram announcements in celebration of the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s integrated public transport system, and Beyond the Music festival. 

Beyond the Music is a new music festival and change-making conference that takes place across Manchester 11th – 14th October. The spotlight is on new music, grass roots venues and developing talent and infrastructure support for the city region that will make an impact on the music and content sectors across the UK and Beyond.  

More than 100 artists will be performing at 17 grassroots venues across the city - including an entire day of free concerts in partnership with Lush, titled ‘Music for Everyone’ – culminating in a secret gig sponsored by The Face.

Beyond the Music organisers are urging the people of Greater Manchester to make most of the new Bee Network system to travel into the city to enjoy and support the incredible music heritage Manchester has and continues to have. 

A spokesperson for Liam Gallagher said:

“Liam’s doing his bit to get behind the festival and encourage people to get into the city and support new up and coming talent.  

“When the request was first made by Bee Network champion Andy Burnham, Liam loved the idea of surprising tram users by doing the announcements and he was given the chance to choose his favourite line. You’ll have to get onto a tram into the city to find out which it is!” 

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said it was ‘truly wonderful’ to see the inaugural ‘Beyond the Music’ finally taking place with such a strong line-up in venues across the city.

The  founding member of the Beyond the Music co-operative, alongside Manchester City Council, CityCo and the city centre BIDs AO Arena, Coop Live and Factory International,  added:

“We are supporting it all the way and are confident that it will become a fixture in the city’s calendar.

 “True to Manchester’s traditions, Beyond The Music is a cooperative endeavour which aims to give all players in the music industry an equal voice and equal say on the change it needs. By doing that, our aim is to strengthen one of Manchester’s, and Britain’s, most important exports.” 

“There surely can't be any better way of marking the launch of the Bee Network and the first Beyond The Music than getting one of Manchester's most famous voices announcing the stops on his favourite Metrolink line.

"It means a lot to us that Liam has agreed to do this and show his support for his home city. Supporting our music venues and giving people cheaper and better public transport to and from our gigs is what we're all about. I am sure that Liam's dulcet tones will wake up a few early-morning commuters, brighten up many a journey and produce a lot of smiles along the way."

The Bee Network has taken a huge step forward with last month’s launch of Greater Manchester’s first locally controlled bus services in nearly 40 years. Bus franchising signifies the start of the plan for an integrated, ‘London-style’ transport network across the region, combining bus, tram, active travel and eventually rail. 

Beyond The Music will take place at venues across Manchester from 11-14 October 2023. Tickets can be bought from beyondthemusic.co.uk

Cast your minds back to the 1980s when to own a VHS player was considered posh and the thrill of rushing to your local Video Shop which had sprung up overnight and actually renting a film out for a whole week for a couple of quid.

I heard whispers around Eccles that a film called G.B.H, (Grievous Bodily Harm) had been filmed in various locations including, Eccles and Manchester and was a no holds barred, violent, gangster movie with blood and guts galore, so after a few week wait we sat and watched the film, open mouthed and watched it over and over again....until it finally got banned for being a so called "video nasty"...

The writer of the film and starring role was Cliff Twemlow, a well known character around Eccles and the more I read about him, the more intrigued I became, Cliff was an extraordinary man, a man of many talents, body builder,  author,composer, musician, film maker and incredibly all self taught.

He went onto make several more films, films of all genres including Target Eve Island, Ibiza Connection, Mason’s War, The Blindside Of God, Tokyo Sunrise, Moon Stalker. The Eye Of Satan, Firestar, G.B.H. 2: ,Lethal Impact, Bad Weekend all shot on low budgets, some never finished and others shrouded in mystery.

Cliff died in 1993 without ever fulfilling his dream of Hollywood stardom, yet he remained an enigmatic figure, C.P. Lee and Andy Willis wrote what I would call the definitive book on him, The Lost World Of Cliff Twemlow: The King Of Manchester Exploitation Movies, a must read for any fan of "B movies" and a fascinating insight into the man.

As a fan of his work, I was delighted to read that his unbelievable, but totally true story has been brought to life by director Jake West (Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape, Razor Blade Smile and Doghouse) and Severin Films, in a documentary film, ‘Mancunian Man: The Legendary Life of Cliff Twemlow’.

It premiered recently in America and also at Frightfest in London but the good news is that the film is now returning to it's rightful home with a glamour filled Manchester Premiere on 12 November 2023 at Cultplex, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill,Manchester,M4 4HF..

I for one will be there to see what promises to be a fascinating documentary with exclusive new interviews, insane film clips and rare behind-the-scenes footage, pleased to see Cliff getting the recognition he so fully deserves and check out these rave reviews already in for it.

  An underrated northern artist whose impact could have been greater given the right breaks. Cliff Twemlow’s story should provide encouragement to the current crop of British indie filmmakers. One can only imagine what wonders Cliff would have created with modern equipment. An essential watch’ Starburst ‘Fantastic…

Will easily be in my top 5 documentaries of 2023…’ 60 Minutes 

With ‘Hugely entertaining documentary about a truly unique character, Through contemporary interviews, archive footage and clips from Cliff’s bonkers back-catalogue, Jake West paints an affectionate portrait of a genuine one-off, whose work you’ll want to dive into once credits roll’ Dexerto 

Cliff absolutely deserves a place in the pantheon of low-budget, guerrilla style filmmakers and hopefully this documentary will introduce him to an entirely new audience’ Set the Tape   

Tickets available here: Link

Operation Venture continued their blitz on serious violence last week which led to 9 arrests related to a variety of offences and 8 weapons seized.

Operation Venture is a team of specialist officers who work across districts targeting serious violence and knife crime.

The team is intelligence led and uses data to determine where patrols are needed the most to help reduce violent crime and reassure communities.

On Monday 2 October, officers patrolling in Salford arrested two males aged 17 on Basten Drive, Salford on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class Band the other on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, possession of an offensive weapon and possession with intent to supply Class B.

Two knives were seized along with 25 snap bags of cannabis and a number of mobile phones. Following the incident officers conducted a house search and seized an air rifle.

A 44-year-old man was then arrested on 6 October following patrols in Salford after he was stop-searched by officers on Milford Street. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A substance and possession of a bladed article. A knife and a quantity of cocaine were seized.

A further arrest was also made on the same day in the Broughton area of a 14-year-old male on suspicion of possession of a bladed article following the suspect being searched and found in possession of a large combat knife.

On Sunday 8 October officers were deployed to other hotspot locations to disrupt violent crime. In total 4 arrests were made, and two knives seized following patrols in Trafford, Wigan and Bolton.

Amongst these was a 23-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and possession of Class B substance near Queen's Road in Manchester. A further two males aged 28 and 16 – were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B within Eccles Town Centre Later that day, a 30-year-old man was also on suspicion of possession with intent to supply psychoactive substances on Trafford Road, Eccles. A quantity of cash, cannabis, nitrous oxide and several mobile phones were recovered.

A number of disruption visits were also carried out to people who had previously been arrested for violent crime related offences and to ensure they were complying with bail conditions.

During the visits officers also offered Navigator referrals to offenders. Navigators is a service provided to young people to help them break the cycle of falling into further violence and provides them with access to local support networks.

Inspector Jon Ezard of Operation Venture said:

"Operation Venture is intelligence led and it is about sending officers into communities where they can do the most good. Ultimately, we want to disrupt the chain of violence and safeguard as many young people as possible.

"This involves talking to people that we come across, building that intelligence picture of violent crime hotspots, taking appropriate action and arresting offenders where necessary and also making referrals into support services to try and reduce violent crime for the long-term and make our communities safer."

Salford council bosses have moved to restrict the ‘proliferation’ of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) in the city. 

The town hall’s cabinet has agreed to extend the areas of the borough where ‘permitted development rights’ – which allow residential homes to be converted into HMOs without planning consent – be removed.

HMOs are typically where single and often young professional people live at a lower cost than traditionally rented accommodation.

Wards to which this is being applied are Little Hulton, Swinton and Wardley, Walkden North, Walkden South, Worsley and Westwood Park.

Additional areas of Barton and Winton, Pendlebury and Clifton and Swinton Park are also being included. 

But the whole of Boothstown and Ellenbrook and Cadishead and Lower Irlam and parts of Higher Irlam and Peel Green will be exempt from the restrictions.

Cabinet member Coun Phil Cusack, who is also chair of the city’s planning and transportation regulator panel, said there had been ‘a lot of issues’ throughout the city with HMOs.

“There’s no doubt whatsoever that the proliferation of HMOs can lead to a decline in communities,” he said. “But many of the HMOs are necessary, although we need to control them, and we need to make sure they don’t change the nature of the areas where they are.”

Coun Jim Cammell, who represents Swinton Park which has the highest number of HMOs in Salford, said:

“There is a requirement for HMOs, but residents want to be consulted.

“Quite a few of these schemes are from various developers doing it for the money.”

He said that more recently there have been terraced and three-bed semi-detached houses converted into HMOs for five people in small streets and cul-de-sacs.

Coun Barbara Bentham added:

“We’ve got developers offering cash for properties so they can convert them into HMOs. It’s just not appropriate. 

“But we have to accept that there is a need for low-cost accommodation. We are not going to completely ban HMOs.”

Coun Bill Hinds said the ward he represents of Swinton and Wardley does not have a great number of HMOs, “but they are growing,” he said.

“Developers and landlords are offering far more [than the market value] for a semi-detached house.

“They are taking advantage of homelessness within the city and that worries me. I do accept that there can be a need for them in many areas. 

“We’ve seen them for years, particularly in Claremont, Ellesmere Park and Broughton where there are big houses. 

“But I get really concerned when I see smaller terraced houses becoming HMOs, or a normal semi-detached being extended and turned into an HMO.”

Salford city council’s cabinet has agreed to ask to public what they think of plans to expand MediaCityUK and Salford Quays with thousands of new homes.

Proposals for 3,200 homes, 300 new hotel rooms and 800,000 sq ft of commercial space will be subjected to six weeks’ public consultation, starting on Wednesday October 18.

Peel Media and major investor Landsec are revamping and amending previously approved plans dating back to 2016. Salford Quays is already home to 1.4million sq ft of offices and upwards of 1,100 homes.

A workshop of events will now take place for interested stakeholders, the local community and ward councillors.

There will be a permanent exhibition during the consultation in the Quayside shopping mall in addition to consultation access via the Salford city council website and social media.

“Following successful completion of the consultation, a full analysis of comments will be undertaken and where necessary alterations made to the document,” a report to the cabinet said.

The Draft MediaCity Development Framework Public Consultation document was approved by the cabinet with no comment, apart from Coun Bill Hind, who said:

“I’m impressed with what’s going on at Salford Quays, but I have concerns about the shopping mall, where shops keep closing.

“But what is happening on the waterfront is really good.”

The document says:

“MediaCity has matured with a vibrant food and drink offer emerging alongside the growing value of the area as a residential community [since it opened in 2011].

It said that following the pandemic, there are now fewer people in offices from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, while footfall has fallen and ‘office space is being used differently’.

“Higher quality experiences are demanded by workers with the choice of being at home,” it said.

“MediaCity has embraced this change and has encouraged independent retail, food and beverage providers to move in. That said, more people working from home means fewer people on site.

“There is therefore a need for an effective scale and balance (especially employment and residential to provide a critical mass of people to support the different uses throughout the day.”

Weather providing, on October 26th, Buile Hill Mansion Association (BHMA) is inviting you to join them in the park as they dare to look up into the vastness of space and enjoy the beauty of the night sky above Salford.

On Thursday 26th October, between the hours of 6pm and 8pm, you are invited to come and join the association and their friends at Salford Astronomical Society (SAS) for a guided tour of the universe, during which (weather permitting) you can enjoy close up views of the moon and the beautiful gas giant Saturn though society range of telescopes, plus many more stunning deep sky objects above Salford. (NB: Remember not to mention the gag about Flynny's wallet being a black hole).

The Salford Astronomical Society or SAS as I prefer to call the crack team of astro boffins, has operated from it's purpose built observatory on Chaseley field in Weaste since it's opening by none other than the legendary Patrick Moore himself in October 1971, but the society can track its ancestry back almost a decade further, having been founded by local enthusiast, Arthur Taylor who oddly discovered he was not the only one in Salford that liked staring up at the skies. A lot has changed since then, light pollution for one, but the society is still going strong today.

The observatory holds the coveted 18inch telescope which was donated to them by Jodrell Bank radio observatory in Cheshire, which has recently undergone refurbishment after decades of use by society members. The society and observatory is going from strength to strength, and is currently fundraising to raise cash towards finally having running water and sanitation installed under the hallowed dome.

We have no idea what they did before when caught short but there are lots of trees surrounding the observatory building?

This looks to be an amazing night of science and fun, hosted by none other than the wonderful BHMA who are looking forward to the reopening of another of Salford's iconic buildings as work is soon to get underway on transforming the old mining museum back into the glorious mansion it once was, a venue for weddings and community events.

Please note, by the nature of it being held outdoors at night, this event is subject to the weather and may need to be cancelled at short notice. We have put a good word in for fair weather but it is not guaranteed.

Mindless vandalism struck again as Eccles Rugby Football Club took to X (Formerly Twitter) to vent their anger after yobs caused damage to a pair of cross bars on one of their rugby pitches for a third time.

A spokesperson for the club described the damage as 'mindless vandalism' and ongoing, deliberate criminal damage:

"A few months ago we suffered mindless vandalism to a bent crossbar which left a pitch unusable.

"When the repaired crossbar was reinstated it lasted just two weeks before it was re-bent. No doubt the perpetrators thought this was hilarious as they've now returned to damage both sets of posts.

"As a consequence of losing a pitch, we are now struggling to accommodate all our weekend fixtures - to put it bluntly, this ongoing, deliberate, criminal damage is preventing the club from providing sport for children in our community.

"Not wishing to give 'fame' or attention to this trespassing and damage we have previously not published this activity.

"However, considering the escalation of the vandalism, we would like our members and social media followers to know we are reviewing CCTV footage and respectfully request if anyone has any information on the identity of those responsible to please contact the police or the club."

Eccles Rugby Football Club, is a well-established and highly regarded rugby club with over 120 years of rich history and a strong presence in the local community.

Founded in 1897, the club has been a cornerstone of rugby culture in the Eccles area for over a century.

Sadly this latest act of blatant vandalism means that one of their four pitches is now out of action until the damage can hopefully be repaired.

If anyone has any information as to those responsible, please get in touch with either the club of GMP, via 101.

Photo: Eccles Rugby Football Club

Bolton’s link to the rest of Greater Manchester could end up being the unlikely beneficiary of the scrapping of HS2 as plans to bring the Metrolink tram service to the town look on the cards.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled plans to invest nearly £4billion on improving connectivity in the Northern towns and cities when the HS2 link from Birmingham to Manchester was axed last week.

It is now believed this could result in the Metrolink being extended to Bolton as well as Wigan, Heywood, and Stockport.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has long talked about extending the Metrolink, citing huge increases in passenger traffic in all areas served by the city region’s trams.

It has been argued in the past that because Bolton is on the main railway route into Manchester and beyond, it doesn’t need a Metrolink.

But speaking before he was re-elected two ago, Mr Burnham disagreed. “Passenger numbers have risen by more than 60 per cent where ever there has been a Metrolink,” he said then.

His comments have been backed up by University of Bolton visiting professor Dr Paul Salveson, who said of the Metrolink:

“We don’t know the details as yet but its something that everyone in Bolton is keen to get.

“It looks like it will be an extension of the exiting line, probably to Radcliffe.

“What it would mean is that people living in the eastern parts of Bolton, like Breightmet and areas like that, will have another route into Manchester.”

However, Dr Salveson, a former head of government and community strategies at Northern Rail, said that people should not automatically assume the new line will be connected to Radcliffe.

He said he has also argued for a connection from the south of the borough to Royal Bolton Hospital and on to areas like Little Hulton and Walkden in Salford.

Meanwhile, a major redevelopment of Walkden town centre’s shopping mall looks set to go ahead under plans put forward by its owner, The Derwent Group.

Derwent wants to invest £15m and to bulldoze Egerton Walk and Victoria Square and modern retail units with a new facade.