As a dedicated supporter of St Ann’s Hospice Belinda loves doing a challenge to raise money. This month She's taking on not one but both of the Great Manchester Run’s on Sunday 21 st May – and dressed as a bumble bee!

She's been raising money for St Ann’s Hospice over the last twelve years, originally in memory of her Mum and then for her Mum’s siblings too.

Her Mum was a patient at the Little Hulton site before she died at home in 2011. Her father-in-law and aunt have died at the hospice since, with lasting connections being made between her family and St Ann’s.

Last year She hit the milestone of raising £20,000 for the hospice and She's added to this earlier in year by running the London Marathon with her husband Stephen Neild.

The Great Manchester Run has two races, a 10k and a half-marathon, and she hopes to cross the finish line of both of these races!

She's ran over ten marathons many of which have been in costumes such as a Rubik’s cube, a Forrest Gump and a sumo wrestler, as well as completing a triple marathon challenge.

Belinda is running these races in a brand new costume which is very fitting, as everyone calls her B so it makes sense that for the Great Manchester Run she would run dressed as the Manchester bee – She's the Manchester Queen bee!

Belinda Neild, said:

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Both myself and my family have never stopped fundraising since 2011, I never expected I would still be raising so much money but everyone around me knows how important St Ann’s Hospice is to my family. 

I love fundraising and try to be as creative as possible, leading me to gain two Guinness World Records for running a marathon in the fastest time dressed as an item of stationery – a red crayon first then as a pencil!

From fundraising myself and my husband did for the London Marathon we have raised £5200. We received an amazing donation of £2600 from Electricity North West and £540 from the White Lion pub in Swinton.

I’d love to reach £5500 through money raised for this race, so please donate if you can it would mean so much to me, my family and those at St Ann’s Hospice.

 

St Ann’s Hospice provide important care and services to patients across Greater Manchester who have life-limiting illnesses, and also support their family and friends in their time of need.

Please donate to my Just Giving page here so that I can give as much as possible to St Ann’s Hospice once I’ve buzzed across the finish line!

Plans submitted to create new sustainable neighbourhoods in Worsley and Boothstown, Salford including affordable homes provision Peel L&P’s plans for two new sustainable communities have been submitted to Salford City Council for approval following consultation with residents and stakeholders.

One application is for up to 350 homes off Leigh Road, to the east of Boothstown, near Worsley, and adjacent to the RHS Garden Bridgewater.

The high quality, modern and energy efficient homes will sit within a leafy setting of landscaped streets, woodlands, wetlands and plenty of open space for new and existing residents to enjoy.

The second application will be for up to 400 sustainable family homes at Hazelhurst Farm, off Hazelhurst Road in Worsley.

The plans include new community parks with areas for play and habitat and wildlife enhancement, improvements to Wardley Woods and a site for a new primary school.

In the two applications, Peel L&P has committed to creating mixed communities which will provide 20% affordable housing on each site as well as providing an additional contribution equivalent to 30% of each site towards further affordable housing across Salford – resulting in 50% affordable housing overall.

Both schemes will include homes that are accessible for all, suitable for first time buyers, up sizers, down sizers and for multi-generations to live under one roof. Northstone, Peel L&P’s homebuilding arm, will construct the first phases, being 65 homes at the East of Boothstown site and 157 homes at Hazelhurst Farm, which are being applied for in detail.

Taking an innovative approach to community building, Northstone build modern homes with low running costs and prioritise the creation of pedestrian friendly landscaped streets with green open spaces.

Both sites are proposed for allocation for housing in Greater Manchester's Places for Everyone Plan, which sets out how each part of the city region will meet its local need for new homes, jobs and sustainable growth.

The applications follow public consultation held on both schemes. Peel L&P would like to thank the local community and stakeholders for taking part in the community consultation events.

The planning applications submitted take account of concerns raised and are supported by full assessments of issues including local transport matters.

Commenting on the plans, Annabel Baker, Peel L&P’s Associate Director of Development Planning said: “We are delighted to be submitting planning applications for these two sites.

The East of Boothstown site is a special location, able to provide some of the largest and highest-quality housing in Salford and Greater Manchester.

We are excited to be able to bring forward such a strong landscape-led scheme that reflects its proximity to RHS Garden Bridgewater and the Bridgewater Canal and includes homes that are not just attractive but are sustainable to both build and run, with low energy costs.

“Hazelhurst Farm is an opportunity to provide much needed family housing for Salford, also sustainably built and with low running costs.

The scheme will not only benefit new residents but also the existing neighbours through the creation of accessible open spaces and play facilities which will improve habitats and access to Wardley Woods.

Land for a new primary school will also be provided, to meet the growing school demand identified by the Council, alongside funding for school places. “Our commitment to creating inclusive communities and homes for all sits at the heart of our work at Peel L&P, so we are very proud to be providing the equivalent of 50% affordable housing overall on these two sites and meeting the City Council’s requirement in full.

This will be through a combination of affordable homes within both developments and through off-site contributions to accelerate affordable housing delivery in other parts of Salford.

This will make a significant contribution to addressing the Council’s housing need waiting lists and help those seeking assistance to get onto the property ladder.

“A lot of work has been carried out to assess the potential transport and other impacts of these sites, including speaking to local people at our consultation events and we’re confident that the applications address the concerns raised.

“We look forward to working with the City Council, stakeholders and local residents as the applications move forward.”

Salford housing association Salix Homes has launched a new fire safety campaign following a serious fire at a tower block sparked by an e-bike battery.

Salix Homes is urging its tenants across Salford to be aware of the potential dangers posed by the lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters.

It comes after a fire at Mulberry Court, Pendleton, last December, which gutted a 10^th floor flat at the tower block and resulted in the building being partially evacuated.

A recent report by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has concluded that the fire was caused by an e-bike battery that had been charging in the bedroom of the property.

Salix Homes has now shared shocking images of the fire damage caused to the flat in a bid to warn others of the potential dangers.

Stewart Kerr, Building Safety Manager at Salix Homes, said: “Thankfully no one was injured during the fire at Mulberry Court, but the outcome could have been very different, and we want to warn our residents about the dangers associated with charging the lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters.

“We’ve carried out extensive fire safety improvements to all our tower blocks in Salford, and fortunately the fire was contained to the flat where it originated, but the ferocity at which the fire took hold and the damage it caused to the property is quite shocking.

“The fire service has seen a rise in e-bike related fires and we are seeing more of our tenants owning and using e-bikes and e-scooters, so we want to ensure they’re taking the necessary steps to ensure they’re not putting peoples’ lives or homes at risk.”

Most e-bikes and e-scooters on the market in the UK bought from reputable manufacturers meet the stringent safety regulations, but many of the safety issues are arising from converter kits, which are lithium-ion battery packs designed to convert a standard bike to an e-bike.

There are growing concerns about these converter kits sold online, which do not meet UK safety regulations and present an increased fire risk.

Last year, GMFRS attended 14 fires that had been sparked by e-bikes and e-scooters, an increase from eight in 2021 and three in 2020.

GMFRS’s Head of Prevention Area Manager Billy Fenwick said: “This is an incident, given it is in a high-rise building, that could have been a lot worse had firefighters not acted so quickly in controlling and extinguishing the fire, alongside the building’s fire safety measures.

“The fire started due to a faulty lithium-ion battery pack that was left charging, and the pictures show just how quickly this type of fire can rip through a property.

“We are urging everyone with an electric bike to please be responsible and follow our safety guidance. Batteries can be a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, or damaged, so it’s important to protect them against being damaged and to charge them safely.

“It’s also really important that when buying an electric bike, purchase them – as well as the batteries and chargers - from a reputable seller. It’s the same if you are buying a kit to convert your normal bike to an electric one; buy from a reputable seller and check that it complies with British or European standards.”

As part of the e-bike safety campaign, Salix Homes has now issued safety advice to its residents, which includes:

• Never charge your electric bikes or e-scooters while you’re sleeping or not at home
• Unplug your charger once it’s finished charging
• Never block your escape route with your e-bike or e-scooter
• Never tamper with the battery and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Ensure your battery and charger meets UK safety standards and always use the correct charger
• Never cover your charger as this could lead to it overheating or setting on fire
• Be wary of DIY kits bought on-line to convert a standard bike into an e-bike

Find out more about the risks associated with e-bikes and other fire safety advice on our website www.salixhomes.co.uk/e-bikesafety

GMFRS has also launched a campaign to raise awareness about e-bike safety. Find out more on their website: E-bikes and e-scooters - Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service

More than 100 people basked in the sunshine at a street party at Broughton House Veteran Care Village to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Residents were joined by their relatives for the occasion, along with staff and volunteers at the Salford care home.

Each guest received a picnic box which included specially-made Coronation cupcakes.

Singer George Porter performed hits from across the decades and guests were also entertained by magician Darren Brand.

Among the residents attending was Major Andrew Dinning, who served with the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade.

Andy, 79, was completing his training at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in 1971 at the same time as the future king had enrolled for training in the Royal Navy, and they met on a number of occasions.

Andy enrolled in the Royal Marines when he was 17 and served all over the world, including in South America and eight winters in the Arctic.

D-Day veterans and Broughton House residents David Teacher, aged 99, and Leslie Stocking, 97, were also at the street party.

David served in World War II from 1942-45 and took part in the Normandy Landings on D-Day. He joined the RAF at the age of 18 in 1942.

He was a mechanic in an RAF Beach Unit, which was among the first to land on Juno Beach in Normandy on D-Day in 1944. His job was to repair vehicles.

After living for three months on the beach in a trench, his unit moved to fight in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and was involved in relieving US troops besieged in Bastogne, Belgium, in December 1944.                                                    

David, a double amputee, later received the MBE for his charitable work.

Leslie was among a brave group from the Royal Engineers who stormed Normandy’s Gold Beach on D-Day in June 1944.

Later Leslie chaired the Normandy Veterans Association for over 30 years. In 2009 he was awarded the Legion D’Honneur by the French government for his role in helping to liberate France.

In Leslie’s room at Broughton House, he proudly displays a photograph of him shaking hands with King Charles during the D-Day Voyage of Remembrance aboard the MV Boudicca in 2019 marking the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.

Broughton House has cared for more than 8,000 veterans since it opened its doors to the ex-service community in 1916. Recently it has been transformed in a £12.5m scheme into a complex with a 64-bed care home and independent living apartments, an array of modern facilities, a museum, gym, hairdressing and barber’s salon, and a restaurant and bar for residents.

There is also an Armed Forces Support Hub which provides welfare support and counselling for ex-service people of all ages living in the local community.

Karen Miller, chief executive of Broughton House, said: “Our party in honour of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla was a resounding success in bringing together residents and their families to celebrate such a momentous occasion.

“We truly hope all who attended had an excellent time with their loved ones and will look back on this day with the fondest of memories.

“For staff and residents’ families, this was the first time they were able to celebrate such an event, but many of our residents remembered the late Queen’s Coronation and got much joy reminiscing about this with one another.” 

Apartment owners say they have been told they must foot a £2.5million bill for a backlog of maintenance and repair work to their rundown properties.

The leaseholders on the Canterbury Gardens estate in Eccles pay £186 a month but claim the property management company Onward Homes has failed to invest their money in routine fixes for years.

They complain of unpainted outer walls, neglected window sills, entrance ways and front doors which have mismatched letterboxes.

Canopies, window boxes and fencing are left with flaking paint, and they claim trees in the back gardens are being ‘mismanaged’, leading to subsidence in in nearby flats.

The residents of Knights Court, Squires Court and Reeves Court have been issued with Section 20 notices which stipulate leaseholders must be consulted over the work.

A cost analysis issued to the leaseholders amounts to £2.5m of work needed to bring the properties up to scratch, say the residents.

Many of the 144 flats at Canterbury Gardens are occupied by tenants, while others are lease owners.

Jacqui Theaker and her partner Kevin Armes are among 16 households from the estate who met with the Local Democracy Reporting Service to air their grievances.

They said that their lease stipulates there should be ‘no sub-letting’ but that 75 per cent of the flats have been allowed to be sub-let.

“We are forced to micro-manage everything, despite having a caretaker who is supposed to be on site from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday,” said Jacqui.

“But the caretaker prefers to run errands, take residents to hospital appointments, visit people for tea and biscuits and generally be a social worker on the site for residents instead of undertaking the duties that the leaseholders pay for.

“Onward appears to have free reign to dismiss us and treat us as a money tree, while they decide on shoddy maintenance and repair standards, delayed responses, break promises and show no appetite to run the scheme in an efficient cost-effective manner.”

She also claims Onward was ‘picking and choosing’ if and when it responds to official complaints.

“Delays [in maintenance work] has cost us, as we are now facing the consequences of hyper-inflation when the work should have been done four or five years ago.”

The residents say there is £500,000 in their ‘sinking fund’ which is supposed to be used for cyclical painting, internally and externally, but this is way behind schedule.

They say they are not allowed to store bikes in ‘common areas’ because of the fire risk. Items left in communal areas are ‘confiscated’ and leaseholders are charged £40 per item to get them back, they say. The residents say Onward cites fire regulations, post-Grenfell, for this.

Jacqui said: “Onward bang on about fire safety and have made all leaseholders remove items from the ground floor internal store cupboards, yet it has come to our notice that a blind eye is turned for certain people.”

Meanwhile, an Onward Homes spokesperson said: “Residents have previously made us aware of some issues relating to Canterbury Gardens and we have been working with them to resolve any questions. 

“We take any feedback from customers seriously and will always listen and do what we can to make things right.  

“We are currently working on a programme of works to enhance the appearance of Canterbury Gardens including improvements to windows and doors, as well as painting and fire safety work. A formal consultation process has been undertaken with customers and we anticipate the works will be completed in the summer. 

“Regarding other issues raised by residents, sub-letting is not tolerated and we tackle this on a case-by-case basis. We are unable to allow bikes to be stored in common areas due to the fire safety risk this presents to all residents. Customers have also asked us to review our pets policy and we are currently doing so.”

On the subject of the £2.5m costing, the spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work with residents at Canterbury Gardens to deliver a series of improvements to the building over the next five years.

“Leaseholders have been provided with indicative costs for the five-year improvement programme and at the start of this year received a Section 20 notice for the first year of this work. This did not include final costs. 

“A formal consultation process has been undertaken and we will discuss any implications on the sinking fund with residents as soon as this information is available. 

“In relation to the costs quoted below in the past we have provided various cost breakdown options for leaseholders for the programme of works. One of these options included a £500,000 cost for provisional sums, which include things like unforeseen works, but this has not yet been confirmed.”

The iconic Lowry bridge at Salford Quays is to be refurbished to take it through the next quarter century.

Also known as the Salford Quays Millennium bridge, the £6 million architect-designed structure which runs between the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal was installed in 2000 and has only had minor, routine maintenance work since.

Councillor Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development, said: “Routine inspection work has shown that the bridge needs work to extend its lifespan and prevent more costly work in the future. National road and bridge guidelines say paintwork should be renewed every 20 years to protect the structure so the Lowry Bridge is due its facelift.

“It’s also an opportunity to repair lighting and the deck surface which is now rather worn after 23 years of heavy foot traffic. The bridge will remain fully open on match days and during major events but at other times we may need to narrow the footpath slightly during the day to keep the bridge safely in use.”

Councillor Jack Youd, lead member for finance added: “The contract is also a great opportunity to get social value for Salford from our spend – something the council is strongly committed to.  The contractors will employ local people, use local suppliers, many of which are small businesses and will donate materials and time to local community improvement projects, worth around £2,400.”

The bridge, which can raise or lower 18 metres (59 feet) in under three minutes to allow large ships to pass beneath, will not be raised during the refurbishment which is expected to last four months.

Contractors will use scaffolding to spray paint the 91 metre (299 feet) span and a cherry picker to paint the very top of the bridge by hand, which is 13 metres above the deck. The scaffolding will be covered to prevent paint or other debris dropping into the water below.

The cost of the refurbishment, which includes minor repairs to the structure and lights, resurfacing the footway and painting the huge span is £777,480. Scaffolding is expected to start next week.

Repairs and repainting work are also planned for Palatine Bridge which carries Chapel St over the River Irwell. The contract will also create local jobs, local spending with suppliers and £950 worth donations of time and support to local communities by the contractors, as part of the Salford City Council’s drive to secure social value. The work is expected to start before the end of May and will not affect road traffic.

The launch of new pilot projects between the Youth United Foundation and Intergenerational Music Making, funded by mutual insurer, Royal London, which is connecting Scouts, Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, and the Boys Brigade with their local care homes saw Salford Boys Brigade join forces with Pendleton Court Care Home.

Intergenerational Music Making (www.imm-music.com) is a national not-for-profit organisation and delivers programmes, training, campaigning & research to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of the old and the young in communities across the UK, through the power of music.

Youth United Foundation works with 1.5 million young people aged 4-24 to ensure young people, regardless of background or location, have the opportunity to become a member of a unformed youth group. This helps them to gain skills and experiences, overcome barriers and be the best they can be.

The initial six-week pilots included intergenerational music making and creative training for the young people, giving them the skills to use music as a tool to support their individual and community wellbeing.

The project is aimed at helping young people increase their sense of citizenship, and develop respect and empathy for older people in their community. The pilots will see Beavers and Cubs visit their local care home at the Bridge of Weir in Scotland and in Banstead Surrey, the Boys Brigade meeting care home residents in Salford, and Rainbows partnering with a care home in Horley, Surrey.

Emily Abbott, Programme Director at IMM said:

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“We are so delighted to be working with YUF to inspire good citizenship amongst young people through intergenerational connection, music and community awareness. The projects are designed to improve the personal wellbeing of the care home residents and the young people taking part as well as empowering, inspiring and skilling up the next generation. Feedback from the initial sessions is already demonstrating the impact of the partnership in helping young people to develop empathy, communication and confidence and play an active role in their community”.

Max, a Boys Brigade member who took part in the Salford project said:

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“I would recommend it because if they (young people) need to build up their confidence, they can definitely do that here and they can also have a great time doing it while making other people happy.”

Lesley Moore, Activity Co-ordinator at HC One, Pendleton Court Care Home in Salford said:

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“It brings people to life, people who might be withdrawn. We've had two residents who never really want to join in sessions, interacting and having fun with the kids, it's amazing.”

Natalie Whipday, Director of Operations The Boys Brigade said:

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“The first week they were really nervous & apprehensive to come in. By week two, they're running in, they've made relationships, you can see the confidence shine through, the residents are really excited to see them, and the kids are excited to take the lead. You see the development of how they've appreciated the different needs of older people and making sure everyone's included.”

Sarah Atkins, Project Manager at Youth United Foundation said:

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“It’s great to be working alongside IMM to provide young people with a real sense of belonging in their communities. When young people feel like they belong, their confidence increases as does their ability to create relationships. Music is enabling them to create long lasting relationships with the residents of the care homes, and learn skills that they can use throughout their lives. It’s an amazing project to be a part of.”

The residents of Gilda Crescent Road, Eccles rarely need an excuse for a street party and the recent Coronation was celebrated in style.

I have a special affection for this Road as I lived there for 40 years and I have seen many changes the one constant being, The Gilda Glee Club as they are called, who have arranged so many events over the years with the help of residents from Glendale and Snowden Road.

It was great to see the community spirit as locals donated money to buy food for the children's party and prizes, and for the adults? what better than a barrel of, Flat Cap, Real Ale on a stillage in Irwin's front garden and tables literally groaning with food, pasta, sandwiches, cheese, quiche, fruit even a  Greek Salad which was a nod to Charlie's Dad... very posh indeed.

The fun and games started with a Coronation Bake Off competition in which families made a traditional cake, which was judged by Tracy Gibbs and her friends, sadly the cakes were all eaten before we got there.

Musical Chairs was fiercely  contested by both youngster and adults, what is it about this game that causes such excitement and shall we say, "competitive spirit?" but it has to be said it was great fun to watch.

The event was due to run until 10pm with gazebos set up and chairs lining the street, a DJ had a booth set up and it promised to be a long and happy evening and long may this tradition continue.

Police say that the suspect arrested on suspicion of the murder of a man on Friday, 5 May 2023, on Seedley Road in Salford, has been released pending further enquiries.

A man was found injured and was taken to hospital but was sadly pronounced deceased at 5.10pm.

A 52-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and was held in custody after police cordoned off an area between Fitzwarren Street and Seedley Road.

Officers received a call at approximately 4pm to reports of an ongoing disturbance on Seedley Road in Salford this evening, Friday 5 May 2023.

On attendance, a man was found injured and was taken to hospital via colleagues with NWAS. He was sadly pronounced deceased at 5.10pm.

A 52-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning as investigations into the incident continue.

There is currently a scene in place from Fitzwarren Street to Seedley Road.

Superintendent Joe Harrop said:

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"Detectives from the Major Incident Team are now investigating the murder and it is believed there is no risk to the wider community, as it appears to be an isolated incident.

"We are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident this evening, or if anyone has any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage, to contact us via 101."

 

A serving Salford councillor has been newly-elected in the Tetbury with Upton ward on Cotswold District Council, prompting a by-election in Ordsall as he announces he is to step down.

Christopher Twells sparked controversy both in Gloucestershire and Salford with the Costwolds Conservative party calling upon the Liberal Democrats to withdraw him as a candidate before the election as he already represented residents on Salford Council.

Mr Twells, said on the eve of his win, that he would resign from Salford Council should he be elected in Tetbury with Upton and has now announced that he will be starting that process within the coming days.

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“I will be taking some time off over the weekend and speaking to the Chief Executive of Salford City Council after the Bank Holiday weekend to establish what action I need to take to resign as a councillor, to allow for a by-election to be held in my ward.”

The move has left many residents in Ordsall feeling betrayed after offering him their votes at the previous election.

One resident who wished to remain anonymous told us:

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"I saw the Liberal Democrats as a chance for real change in Ordsall but instead I feel that we have been sold on a lie.

"I find it unbelievable that the party and it's recently elected councillor would effectively drop our deprived area to head off to the leafy suburbs of the Cotswolds, especially after such a short time serving.

"The people of Ordsall wanted change but instead I feel that we have been sold down the river yet again.

It is pretty obvious that he hedged his bets and if he had lost in Upton he would still had his seat here to fall back on, do we really need candidates like that?

I just hope that people in Ordsall are not stupid enough to fall for this kind of tactic twice.

It's pretty abysmal by any standard."

 

Amanda, told us:

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"What do you expect? Seriously, they sell you the moon on a stick and people believe them, only to then wake up and face the reality that we are just pawns on a board to them and all they want is for us to give them our votes so they can move up the ladder, leaving us idiots behind.

"It just goes to show you how quickly they will bolt for the door given a better option in a posher area."

 

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennet, previously described Mr Twells as a "paper candidate in the Cotswolds" and had called for him to "do the right thing and resign" from his Ordsall seat.

Local MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey previously wrote to ministers urging them to close the "bizarre" loophole which allows council candidates to stand for election in multiple areas.

Earlier in the week, Mr Dennet wrote to Michael Gove urging him to make alterations to electoral law to prevent such an occurrence happening again.

Mr Twells announcement of his plan to step down, will now trigger a costly by-election.

Costs to the city coffers which could have been avoided had he stepped down before hand.

A primary school where pupils have ‘borne the brunt of a serious decline in the quality of education’ has been deemed ‘inadequate’ by inspectors.

This follows a visit by an Ofsted team to Kerem Shloime in Broughton in January. At its prior inspection the school was said to be ‘good’.

“[The pupils’] academic development has suffered considerably,” the report said. “They deserve better.”

It said expectations for pupils’ achievement were low. “In most subjects, the work that they receive does not help them to build up the knowledge that they need,” it continued.

“In some subjects, they have hardly any lessons at all. This means that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not achieve well.”

In contrast, it said, leaders’ expectations for children in the early years are much higher. “They thrive and learn in their well-organised environment.”

The report said that pupils understand and follow school rules. Older pupils are respectful to adults and the school is ‘generally calm and orderly’.

“Leaders take swift action to address any bullying if it occurs,” the report said.

“Pupils have opportunities to visit sports centres and local parks in order to learn more about their community.

“They learn that they must respect people who are different from themselves. However, their understanding of the range of differences that exist between people is limited.”

The school, which has a capacity of 221 pupils, has been without permanent leadership since its last inspection when it was judged to be ‘good’.

“During this time, the curriculum has become disorganised and fragmented,” the report continued. “Leaders have failed to get to grips with the necessary work to improve it.

“Instead, they have become too dependent on temporary external support. Consequently, in most subjects, pupils experience jumbled, disconnected learning that prevents them from learning as well as they should.”

The Ofsted team said the curriculum does not meet the independent school standards.

“Leaders have not ensured that staff have the subject knowledge that they need to teach the curriculum effectively,” the report said. 

“The activities teachers provide are frequently too easy for pupils. This prevents them from deepening their understanding.

“In almost all subjects, staff are unclear about how to check pupils’ learning because there is insufficient information in the curriculum. This prevents staff from using assessment information to improve the learning that they provide for pupils.”

However, the report said the curriculum in the early years ‘shines brightly’ in comparison to that for older pupils.

“Here, leaders have a clear vision for what they want children to know and to be able to do in readiness for Year 1,” it said. “They have organised the curriculum well in each area of learning. Children build their new knowledge securely on what they already know. 

“Staff use information from their assessments to adjust learning for children.”

The report said leaders and staff work together to identify pupils with SEND. But it went on: “However, the support that these pupils receive to access the curriculum cannot compensate for its deficiencies. Pupils with SEND suffer from the same curriculum weaknesses as their classmates and consequently, they underachieve.”

The report said that pupils learn about values such as democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. They learn about relationships between friends and family members, but learn very little about other faiths and cultures.

“They do not learn, in ways that are appropriate for their age, about the differences between people that are protected by the law,” it said. “This limits their readiness for life in British society.”

The report said arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Although its overall grading is ‘inadequate’ for the sub-categories of behaviour and attitudes and early years provision, it was said to be ‘good’. For personal development it was judged ‘requires improvement and for the quality of education it was deemed ‘inadequate’.

Kerem Shloime has made no comment after numerous requests from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Emergency services were called over concerns for the welfare of a man who had climbed onto scaffolding afront the Civic Centre in Swinton this morning.

At around 10:45am the man wearing a red jacket was seen climbing up towards a platform erected to the left hand side of the main entry to the civic centre.

Thankfully the incident ended well as after a four hour standoff the man chose to come back down on his own.

He is said to now be receiving specialist support from officers.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police, said:

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"At around 10.45am today (Thursday 4 March 2023), Greater Manchester Police were called to concerns for welfare of a man on Chorley Road, Salford.

"Colleagues from GMFRS and NWAS also attended.

"The man was led to safety and is currently receiving support from specialist officers."

 

A spokesperson for Northwest Ambulance Service, said:

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"We sent resources to the scene. But I believe the situation is now over. We haven't taken anyone to hospital."

His Royal Highness, King Charles is to take his rightful place in Winton this week, atop a bright red post box.

Once more the lovely and very creative Vicki Johnson has created another crochet/knitted topper for the Parrin Lane post box, this time featuring none other than the King himself, as well as one of his loyal Kings Guards.

What's more is Vicki will on hand to crown the new king herself as she has also knitted him some resplendent royal robes and even a crown to go on top of his regal head.

Oh and before anyone has any designs on nicking it, we should remind you that it is covered my more cameras than Will's and Kates wedding.

Vicki has created a number of toppers over the past few years and this is in our opinion is one of her finest.

Vicki told us:

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It took a few weeks to make King Charles due to work and family commitments, the crown and guard was recycled from my jubilee topper.

I Started making them during lockdown to cheer the community up during a difficult time.

I've made about 9 different ones I try to recycle any items that that survived the elements.

I'm just in the process of putting a topper together for Morrison's in Eccles for the charity they support which is Together for short lives, I've made colourful butterflies to decorate it with I just need to find some spare time to go put it on and sew everything in place as it's a different style from my usual postbox which is local enough to go try it on and tack items in the right places.

This one will be removed at night and put back out in the mornings and I've got a crown and gown ready to add to King Charles for Saturday's Coronation.

I'll be spending the weekend with my children and probably crocheting and planning my next topper.

 

Operation Vulcan executed their latest warrant yesterday (3 May 2023) at a property on Great Ducie Street in Cheetham Hill.

The warrant was carried out after intelligence came to light suggesting the property - a large distribution warehouse - was being used to supply a network of counterfeit stores throughout Cheetham Hill.

The number of items seized have an estimated worth of £1.2million pounds. 

The enterprise was so vast officers made use of a conveyor belt to speed up the transfer of seized items into waiting vehicles. 

Over the last 6 months through relentless policing and support from dedicated partners, Operation Vulcan has turned the tide against the criminals. The support of partners has been integral to Operation Vulcan and that was on full display yesterday (3 May 2023) with over 15 departments, teams, organisations and partner representatives in attendance - including from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Intellectual Property Office, Trading Standards, Brand Experts and Border Force.

GMFRS also raised concerns about the safety of the building, which led to it being issued it with a prohibition order.

Inspector Andy Torkington said:

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"The network of counterfeit stores in Cheetham Hill might seem chaotic and disorganised but this is far from the truth. The latest warrant demonstrates that these stores are well funded and well supplied and it's big business for organised crime groups who have been operating out of the area.

"This warrant is an opportunity to make a huge dent in the supply chain by cutting off the head of the snake. I hope it sends a message to any remaining counterfeit stores in the area who persist in trading to pack up now or face the consequences. 

"Operation Vulcan is here to stay and we will continue making it unsustainable for criminal businesses to exist here and will work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to re-build the area into a thriving community where people feel safe.”

 

Neil Fairlamb, Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods for Manchester City Council said: 

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"The work that has taken place throughout Operation Vulcan has shown the scope and scale of the counterfeit industry. It is huge enterprise, one which has had an incredibly negative impact on our communities. By striking a blow against this criminal supply chain we will succeed in forcing these traders out for good."

The Intellectual Property Office’s Deputy Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement, Marcus Evans said: 

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“Criminal networks are seeking to exploit consumers and communities for their own financial gain through the trade in illegal counterfeits – with absolutely no regard for the quality or safety of the items being sold, which are often dangerous and defective.  Such items can cause genuine harm to the people who buy and use them, as well as those workers often exploited during their production.

“As well as helping to sustain serious and organised crime, the sale of counterfeit goods has been estimated to contribute to over 80,000 job loses each year in the UK by diverting funds away from legitimate traders and into the hands of criminals. We are pleased to support the ongoing activity by Greater Manchester Police to clamp down on this illegal activity and help protect the public, as we continue to work with partners across in industry, local government, and law enforcement to help empower consumers and raise awareness of the damage these goods cause.” 

As has been widely covered, there are huge changes in how voters will cast their ballot on Thursday, May 4 with the introduction of a photo identification requirement. The new requirement will come into effect for the local elections across Greater Manchester.

However, that is not the only change voters will experience on Thursday as they mark their ballot paper as other legislation comes into effect designed to make the act of voting more accessible. The Election Act of 2022 introduced measures requiring authorities to provide disabled voters with specialist equipment to support them to vote if needed, and allow anyone over the age of 18 to accompany them in the polling station.

The changes are applicable throughout Greater Manchester.

A spokesman for Bolton Council, said:

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“From May 2023, all polling stations are being updated to improve accessibility to disabled voters. We aim to provide greater flexibility and choice in how disabled voters are supported to vote at polling stations.”

A summary of the changes are set out below.

Arriving at the polling station:

– Polling stations will have greater accessibility in the form of ramps to gain access to the building.
– These may be temporary access ramps which are included specifically for election day.
– Parking and disabled parking may be provided if it is already available at the polling station.

Signage:

– All polling stations have a large ‘Polling Station’ sign attached outside for increased visibility.
– signage may also be used to provide clear directions outside and / or inside the building.

Polling station staff:

– If you have any questions or need any help, please ask a member of polling station staff.
– All returning officers will be required to take reasonable steps to provide support for disabled voters at polling stations; they can help with questions about voter ID and voting.

Polling station equipment

The following equipment will be provided in your polling station:

– Polling booths to allow you to cast your vote in secret, including a polling booth which is accessible to wheelchair users.
– A screen, private area or separate room if you want to show your photographic voter ID in private.
– Appropriate lighting for ample visibility.
– A seat for use if necessary.
– Pencils including large chunky pencils and those with pencil grips for you to mark your ballot paper.
– You can bring you own pencil or pen if you would prefer.
– Magnifiers to increase the size of text on the ballot paper.

Assistance with voting

– A large sample copy of the ballot paper will be displayed in your polling station and a sample hand-held copy will be available for you to take into the polling booth to use if needed.
– A tactile voting device to assist voters in marking their vote on a ballot paper will be available.
– Audio recordings of the wards, their candidates, addresses of the candidates and the party they are representing can be found on the the notices and results page
of council websites.
– You may use any specialist devices or apps in the polling station that assist you to cast your vote independently. For example, speech apps, video magnifiers.
– You may take your assistance animal with you into the polling station.
– You can also ask the presiding officer for assistance, if needed. This includes asking the presiding officer to mark the ballot paper for you.
The presiding officer will need to complete a form to record they have assisted you to vote.
– You may bring a companion with you to help you cast your vote. The companion must be aged 18 or over (but the companion does not need to be registered to vote). A companion can only assist up to two people at the same local election. The Presiding Officer will need to complete a form where a companion assists a disabled voter, and the companion must sign a simple declaration.

Requesting additional support

-Disabled voters who require additional support which is not listed, can contact the elections team at the applicable council to see if they can help

Information available in other languages in the Polling Station

-In polling stations the following legal notices will be available in English, Urdu, Gujrati, Punjabi, Somali and Polish.
– How to vote at this election – displayed inside and outside the polling station (this includes a pictorial guide).
– A notice containing the accepted forms of photographic ID that a voter needs to produce – displayed inside the polling station.
– A notice on how to mark the ballot paper at this election – displayed inside each polling booth.

Voter ID

– From May 2023 there will be a new requirement for voters to show verifiable photo identification at all polling stations to vote in elections.
– The new requirement will come into effect for the local elections on Thursday, May 4 2023.

Golfers are getting in the swing to raise funds for Broughton House Veteran Care Village after their newly-appointed club captain chose it as his charity of the year.

Paul Walsh, aged 50, has just taken up the role at Prestwich Golf Club in Greater Manchester and has already teed up several fundraising events for Broughton House, which is in neighbouring Salford.

Financial adviser Paul, who lives in Sunnybank, Bury, said he hopes to raise thousands of pounds for the care village during his year in office.

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“I wanted to choose a local organisation as my captain’s charity for the year, and Broughton House is less than a mile away from the club as the crow flies,” he said.

“It’s a charity which resonates with many of our members. A number of them served in the army, the RAF and the Merchant Navy. Others have known friends and family who have lived at Broughton House.

“It’s a great place and an important charity, as it helps not just veterans who live there but also those living in the community, through its support hub. Judging by the response I’ve had so far, everyone at the club is really behind it.”

 

The first fundraiser at the club will be a charity golf day on Friday, June 2 and this will be followed on Thursday, June 22 with an event coinciding with Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot. It will take place at the club from 12.30pm and will feature drinks and cocktails, an afternoon tea buffet, activities and a raffle. People attending are asked dress up for the occasion.

The Captain’s Away Day at Wallasey in July and a golf event on Remembrance Sunday will raise further funds.

In addition, golfers whose balls end up in the bunker at the 18^th green will have to pay a small ‘fine’, with the proceeds going to Broughton House.

Paul took up golf at the age of eight and plays off a handicap of three. He was vice-captain of Prestwich Golf Club last year. His mixed doubles playing partner is Jean Nutter, mother of award-winning celebrity chef Andrew, who was a schoolfriend of Paul.

The club is currently on a recruitment drive for members and anyone interested in joining or attending the charity events is asked to get in touch via info@prestwichgolf.co.uk.

Broughton House has been redeveloped in a £12.5m scheme to create the UK’s first Veteran Care Village and is currently welcoming new residents.

It has been transformed into a modern complex featuring a 64-bed care home and independent living apartments, an array of modern facilities, a museum and the Armed Forces Support Hub, which provides welfare support and counselling for ex-service people of all ages living in the local community

Jack Stephenson, marketing coordinator at Broughton House, said:

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“We are very grateful to Paul for choosing to support our home during his year as Prestwich Golf Club captain. Donations and support from the local community are vital to us. Paul has some fantastic ideas for fundraising, and we can’t wait to see how everything turns out.”

I was saddened to hear of the death today of Ted Edwards, a man once described as, "Eccles answer to  Indiana Jones, he had  trekked across the Sahara Desert, walked Death Valley, the Grand Canyon in America, and canoed the length of the Everglades in Florida and attempted to become an Astronaut, all incredibly true.

Hailing from Wigan, he was an accomplished musician, author and a regular on the North West folk music scene, he achieved fame when his song, Coal Hole Cavalry was covered by The Houghton Weavers and scores more.

I would often see Ted at the Eccles Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, despite him being a wheelchair a legacy from a stroke he suffered several years before, and I can say hand on heart he was a true character, a word often misused but Ted was the rea deal and I shall miss him.

Tomorrow we shall publish a more in depth article about Ted and his exploits and we would love to see your memories of Ted.

There were emotional scenes at the Council Chambers,  Salford Civic Centre today, Friday 28th April 2023 as the family of the late Alan Henning accepted the Award of Honorary Freedom Of Salford for him.

The Ceremonial Mayor, Anne Marie Humphries invited the City Mayor, Paul Dennett to move a motion for the admittance of Alan as Honorary Freeman of the City, he gave a speech extolling the virtues of Alan who was murdered in 2014 whilst doing humanitarian work in Syria.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Sharmina August who also gave a moving speech, praising him and how he embodied the spirit of Salford, this was followed by a speech from Barbara Keeley the MP for Worsley and Eccles South.

His family stepped forward to accept the award on behalf of Alan and signed the declaration confirming acceptance of the Freedom of the City, they were presented with the official scroll and and medal.

Alan's son Adam, gave a heartfelt speech in which he talked about his Dad and what an honour it was to accept the award,

Finally with the event falling within the pre-election period of purdah, local Councillors sadly were unable to go on camera and speak about Alan, a great shame as we had set up a few to speak to us about Alan.

Photo ©: Salford City Council

A large Victorian ‘villa’ in Salford is to be converted into a girls’ secondary school for 125 pupils despite objections from neighbouring residents.

Alterations to the three-storey property in Broughton have been approved by the city’s planning and transportation regulatory panel.

Councillors approved extensions to the ground and first floor and work to make the current pitched roof flat along with the change of use to a new high school for girls.

The house which currently contains nine self-contained homes – five one-bed studio apartments, three two-bed flats – will have its main vehicle access on to Singleton Road with secondary access on Westfield Street.

The Me’or High School currently based at 18 Moor Lane in Salford, in the grounds of a synagogue, will now move to the new site.

Members of the panel were told the school currently employs 19 staff and will offer the full national curriculum.

“The proposal will allow the existing school to be relocated at 47 Singleton Road with the building extended and altered to meet its needs,” a report to the panel said.

“Expansion is anticipated to take place gradually over a three-year period. The building will be extended to the rear and converted to provide five classrooms, with 25 students per class.

“The anticipated total capacity of the school will be 125 students.”

Objectors to the scheme cited increased traffic on Westfield Road and the surrounding area which will lead to ‘access issues’ for nearby apartment blocks, safety concerns over speeding cars on Singleton Road, congestion, loss of parking for residents, and an increased likelihood of accidents as well as restricted access for emergency services and refuse trucks.

“Westfield Street is an extremely narrow street, incorrectly drawn and misrepresented on the plans,” one objector said. “It is only wide enough for one car to pass going one way.”

Others said cars using the staff park would not be able to turn around and that there will be a loss of housing stock in the area.

“The council should not be misled into thinking this is a small school,” another said. “This is a rapidly growing school caused by the political turmoil in the community which will continue to exclude more girls from existing well-equipped schools.”

However, Coun John Warmisham told the panel: “As someone who has lived in Broughton Park all my life and seen the growth of the Orthodox Jewish community, the need for Jewish schools is paramount.

“The way that [some people] behave and the way they are treated by the indigenous community is unacceptable. This is something which is desperately needed in the area.

“In Salford we have a proud history of supporting the Orthodox Jewish community.”