Congratulations to the irrepressible Keri Muldoon who so very much deservedly won the public vote to take her place as the Spirit of Salford awards 'Citizen Of The Year 2023'.

Miss Muldoon is like a whirlwind, full of energy and enthusiasm for every project she touches, which is why we affectionally refer to her as Typhoon Muldoon at Salford Media, the lady never stops.

The award could not have gone to a better person, she is community minded and is always eager to step in and help on any project. If you could condense everything good about the people of Salford into one package, it would look like Keri.

Upon announcement of her win, Keri took to the stage at the AJ Bell Stadium to rapturous applaud, to be presented with her award by both Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett and Salford's Chief Executive, Tom Stannard.

Keri has been referred to as a one woman early warning system for flooding in Lower Broughton where she lives, having suffered greatly as a result of the historic floods which devastated more than 500 homes in the area back on Boxing Day of 2015.

Keri played an instrumental part in highlighting the problems faced by residents in the area, which prompted the environment agency and the council to spring into action.

Since then she has kept a vigilant watch over the unpredictable waters of the river Irwell and takes to social media at the merest hint that levels are rising to both inform and reassure concerned local residents.

Aside her flood watching role, Keri has raised countless funds for local organisations, organised too many local events to count and even manages to somehow fit in Zumba into her busy schedule.

In 2021 she became the poster girl and an ambassador for the Manchester International Festival which saw her face adorn billboards across the whole of Greater Manchester, her involvement in the festival was invaluable. 

She truly is a whirlwind and thoroughly deserves this latest accolade. She embodies everything positive about Salford and is a Salfordian through and through and we applaud her win and say thankyou for all she does.

Police in Salford have authorised stop and search powers following a stabbing in Little Hulton, Worsley.

In response to this incident, police in Salford have implemented a Section 60 authority.

These temporary powers will allow police to stop and search people and vehicles to prevent serious violence, find weapons, or apprehend those suspected of carrying weapons. This will be in place until 8:30am today (Friday 24 March).

Shortly after 5:30pm yesterday (Thursday 23 March) Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a disturbance between a group of young men at Kenyon Way, Worsley, where a man was stabbed.

Emergency services attended and a man was taken to hospital with serious injuries which are believed to be life changing.

A 17 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault. He remains in police custody for questioning.

Initial enquiries suggest this is an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public but a scene will remain in place over night whilst officers continue with their investigation.  

Police are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area before, during, or after the incident. If you have any information – or any CCTV, mobile, dashcam or doorbell footage – please report it directly to GMP

.Detective Inspector Sarah Ball of GMP Salford division said:

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“We understand this incident may cause concern to the local community, but I’d like to reassure residents we have officers working around the clock to establish the circumstances.

“Extra officers have been deployed to the area to reassure the community. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to them, they are there to support you.

“I would urge members of the public who witnessed anything to please come forward and report this information to us. No matter how small the information may seem, it could prove vital to the investigation.”

 

Information can be shared with GMP by calling 0161 856 5410 quoting log 2730 of 23/3/23 or by using our Live Chat function on our website https://gmp.police.uk.

Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

We all have a part to play in fighting, preventing and reducing knife crime. If you know or suspect someone is carrying a knife, please report it immediately - before it is too late. You can contact GMP via gmp.police.uk or 101.

Crimestoppers also have a dedicated website which enables 11 – 17-year-olds to pass on information anonymously – this can be accessed through Fearless.org

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Salford City Council and residents are celebrating the decision by the first-tier tribunal to dismiss the appeal by Wain Estates Limited to overturn the decision taken by the council to list the land at Swinton Park Golf and Country Club 2017 as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The golf course and club house were closed in 2020 with various developers expressing interest for housing development.

The council with the full support of residents has always maintained that the land currently designated in Salford’s Local Plan should remain as recreational land.

The council took the decision to designate the golf course as an ACV in November 2019 which determined that the golf club is land of community value and should be added to the council’s list of assets of community value.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“The city council’s position on the land remains unchanged in that we wish to see the site remain as a venue for golf and recreational purposes for the people of Swinton and Salford. This position is reaffirmed within our Local Plan document, which has been consulted upon with residents and other stakeholders across the city.

“I have made representations to developers in advance of any potential purchase outlining our position.  I hope that the decision taken by the court will secure this vital piece of land as recreational.”

"The ‘Asset of Community Value’ (ACV) was put in place for the golf course given the clear public interest in the future of the site and the strategic importance of the site as articulated in the city council’s Local Plan. We always believed that Wain Estates’ objection to the ACV classification was spurious and we are very pleased this has been confirmed by the court.

“It’s unfortunate that we’ve had to commit public money to defending the city council’s position in the court, especially given the public support for retaining the land for the purposes of recreation.

“I hope that Wain Homes will now reconsider their development aspirations for the site on the back of this decision.”

 

Councillor Jim Cammell speaking on behalf of the ward councillors for Swinton added:

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“We know that our residents want the Swinton Park Golf Club site to remain as recreational land and I would like to thank "Save Swinton Park Golf Club" for their hard work and dedication to this campaign, and the officers at Salford City Council for the extra work they have had to do to defend the decision to register the site as an Asset of Community Value.  The land remains at the heart of our ambitions to retain recreational land in Swinton and the decision of the court is welcomed.”

A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault following a disturbance involving a group of men on Kenyon Way in Little Hulton  which took place shortly after 5.30pm this evening (23rd March).

Emergency services attended and a man was taken to hospital after suffering serious injuries.

The arrested man remains in police custody at this time.

Forensics officers remain at the scene as their investigations continue.

The Air Ambulance was dispatched to the scene.

In a statement, a spokesperson for GMP, said:

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Shortly after 5:30pm today (Thursday 23 March) Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a disturbance between a group of men at Kenyon Way, Worsley.

Emergency services attended and a man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault. He remains in police custody for questioning.

A scene is in place whilst police conduct enquiries. "

 

I was delighted to be contacted by Mark Griffin the Security Manager on Eccles Precinct who told me that an envelope of photographs showing Eccles Precinct in what looks like 1991 had been found in a drawer by the Centre Manager, Darren Askew.

Darren has kindly loaned them to us so that we can scan them and add to our photographic archive, which we are pleased to do but more importantly share them with you.

Memories came flooding back as shops, long gone such as Kingfisher, Play In, Hampsons Fish and Animal World, Timpsons, Liquor Zone, Silcocks, Coltons, News Centre, Greenwoods, Lunn Poly and many more have been captured by the anonymous photographer.

With the future of Eccles precinct looking to be changed forever with it's purchase by Salford Council this year for £4.15M this is a good time to wallow in a spot of nostalgia.

We shall be showing the photos over the next few days, you can't rush a good thing! but here is one of The Kingfisher Cafe now the site of Eccles Coffee Bar ran by Yvonne and Colin.

Build social value into your bid – that’s the message being given to local companies and organisations which want to do business with Salford City Council.

The council has contracts worth £58 million that are due to expire in the next three to four years and will be looking to local suppliers to meet those needs.

Councillor Jack Youd, lead member for finance and support services, said there were huge opportunities for Salford or Greater Manchester based companies and organisations – but social value must play a key role.

He , said:

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“Social value is about getting the maximum benefits for the city from our spend. That’s everything from using local suppliers to keep money in our city or city region economy to making sure companies are paying the Real Living Wage to uplift local wages,”

“It’s about creating jobs, apprenticeships and opportunities for local people, employers working with our schools to offer careers advice and support, giving back to the local community with volunteering and supporting their own staff to get training and development opportunities.

“In the last year alone public sector spending has brought £864,000 into the local economy and social value worth an estimated £73,000.”

 

Councillor Youd said Salford City Council had a huge range of needs for products and services to support its many services, projects and day to day running:

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“From foster care to school meals, from maintaining the city and our buildings, to collecting recycling or council tax to managing cost of living support schemes, the scope of what we do and what we need to support that is immense,”

“We spend millions annually on buying goods and services and 54 per cent of that spend is with Salford suppliers.

“We want to increase that proportion particularly with local small and medium sized enterprises, voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises and keep even more money in Salford.”

 

Councillor Youd said payment of the Real Living Wage – a rate calculated by an independent panel to reflect the true cost of living – was crucial to lifting local people out of poverty pay. Salford City Council became England’s first Living Wage City in 2019, working to encourage more local organisations not only to pay the rate but to accredit with the Living Wage Foundation so they are committed to the annual increase and encouraging their supply chain to pay the Real Living Wage. 

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“Over 100 Salford organisations are now accredited Living Wage employers – a 33 per cent increase since December 2021. That has already boosted the pay of thousands of local people and we’re working to get more employers to follow suit to carry on tackling poverty and inequality and growing our local economy.

“We are also mindful of the environment and climate change so we will be asking companies what they can do to protect and mitigate impact in those areas. But, in all of this we won’t sacrifice value for money or quality.”

 

The council’s new procurement strategy which sets out its purchasing plans until 2027 has just been published at Supplying the council • Salford City Council

As well as applying a minimum social value weighting of 15 per cent for all new tenders, the council will apply higher weightings for specific contracts where bidders have greater capacity to deliver social value. 

Being autistic or having a learning disability shouldn’t be a barrier to paid work – but without dedicated support many people struggle to breakthrough.

That’s why a new service has been launched in Salford this week to help 140 local residents achieve their career dreams.

Salford Supported Employment Service, run by Salford City Council and the Growth Company will help people who are currently unemployed to find suitable paid jobs. The service will provide people with one to one support, including in-work training and guidance for both the new recruit and employer, which can include minor workplace adjustments which could benefit all their employees.

Councillor Phil Cusack, Executive Support Member for Skills, Work and Business at Salford City Council, said:

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“Unemployment amongst people with autism or learning disabilities is high in Salford. This new service is vital in tackling this. It will make a significant difference to so many lives – people who may have never worked, or those who want to return to work or try something new.

“We have been providing supported internships for young people aged 16 to 24 with autism or learning disabilities for several years and many have gone on to use that experience to get paid jobs.

“This new service is for people aged 18 and over and offers permanent paid employment. We strongly believe that anyone who wants to work should be given the opportunity to do so. This service will help people to find a job that matches their interests and aspirations and will support them in the workplace for as long as needed.”

 

Michelle Leeson, Managing Director for Employment at the Growth Company said:

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“People with autism and learning disabilities often bring a different outlook and skill set, making them real assets in an organisation.

“We have extensive experience of working with businesses to provide supported employment. Usually minor changes are needed, such as adapting the interview process, introducing a quiet room or a quiet hour in the staff canteen. There’s value in providing this targeted support to improve diversity and encourage people into careers that have previously been off limits to them.”

 

Salford is one of only 24 areas in England and Wales to receive the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Local Supported Employment grant funding to provide the new service. Salford City Council will work with the Growth Company over the next two years to find and support individuals and businesses.

To find out more about this new service, go to www.salford.gov.uk/supportedemployment or email supportedemployment@salford.gov.uk

Drop in sessions are also being held between 10am and 2pm.

·       Thursday 30 March 2023 - Eccles Gateway, 28 Barton Lane, Eccles, M30 0TU

·       Wednesday 5 April 2023 - Swinton Gateway, 100 Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 6BP

·       Thursday 13 April 2023 - Pendleton Gateway, 1 Broadwalk, Pendleton, M6 5FX

·       Thursday 20 April 2023 - Walkden Gateway, 2 Smith Street, Walkden, M28 3EZ

Businesses and organisations interested in the scheme can email supportedemployment@salford.gov.uk

Four men were arrested this morning (Thursday 23 March 2023), after officers swooped in on a suspected cannabis farm on Arthur Street in Swinton.

The drugs warrant was carried out by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Salford Neighbourhood Team after evidence came to light that the property was being used for the cultivation of cannabis.

Initial searches of the building uncovered 3 rooms full of suspected cannabis plants.

The plants were seized and four men were detained under section 23 of the misuse of drugs act. They were subsequently arrested on suspicion of involvement in the production and supply of cannabis and remain in police custody for questioning. 

Sergeant Peter MacFarlane said:

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"Locating a cannabis farm is a great result for the team who are gathering intelligence and working hard to crackdown on drug-related crime across Salford.

"Farms of this nature are also incredibly dangerous to other occupants in the area. The building itself is still being made safe due to the amount of wiring around the plants. Criminals running these types of enterprises have no regard for public safety and in these conditions, an electrical fault from bad wiring could easily start a fire and endanger lives.

"The arrests and seizures therefore go someway towards disrupting the supply of illegal drugs and the criminality that comes with it, and will also make our communities safer.

"This operation was intelligence led and a huge part of our intelligence comes from members of the public sharing information with us. If you have suspicions about a crime taking place please report it so we can take positive action and bring those responsible to justice."

 

You can make a report by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also report via the LiveChat function on GMP's website: www.gmp.police.uk

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

GMP recently rolled out a new Neighbourhood Policing model which means there will be more officers on the streets taking action against the crimes that matter to you the most. 

Click the link below to sign up to #BeeInTheLoop and receive free email or text alerts, get involved in shaping local priorities and be amongst the first to know about incidents/emergencies and receive targeted crime prevention advice.

Bee In The Loop is your direct line to your neighbourhood policing team and will keep you in the loop about what is happening on your street and in your local community. Sign up today – https://orlo.uk/Q9mmE

A former employee of Britain’s biggest union has been sacked as a ‘trustee director’ of its pension scheme after alleging discrimination against 350 retired members of its staff who are in their 80s.

Dave Marsh says he was informed he had been ‘removed’ from the role by Alex Ryan, the pension secretary of Unite the Union’s pension scheme (UPS) in a telephone conversation.

The union has confirmed Mr Marsh ‘was removed from his unpaid position after evidently sharing confidential trustee information’.

Mr Marsh has served as a trustee director of the scheme since 2015 and says that since then he has been re-elected every three years by more than 2,300 pensioners – the “largest constituency in the scheme”, he said.

As reported by the LDRS last week, 73–year-old Mr Marsh accused Unite of ‘vindictive and spiteful’ discrimination against the 350 pensioners over the refusal by the UPS to up their payouts.

Mr Marsh, from Salford, was a union official based in Manchester from 1977 until he took voluntary redundancy in 2005. But he continued as a trustee director and is also one of the people affected.

Mr Marsh told the LDRS: “On Friday March 17 at around 3.30pm, I was advised by pension secretary to the UPS, Alex Ryan, that a decision had been made to remove me as a trustee director with immediate effect.

This was relayed to me by telephone, he said:

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“I believe this is because I have exposed systemic discrimination from the heart of Unite the Union – the general secretary and executive council – that they refused to increase 350 80-year-old pensioners a £3 a week increase at no cost to them.”

He said he believes the Unite bosses think:

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‘if they get rid of me, the problem will go away’, but he added: “This has actually created more resolve than before among the affected 350 pensioners.”

Meanwhile, a petition has also been raised on behalf of the affected former employees of Unite, who have an average of 80, two-thirds of whom are women and include many bereaved widows.

The post on the Change.org website by Sheila Furmedge says:

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“Help stop Unite the Union discriminating against 350 pensioners average age 80 and bereaved widows. Yes, this is unbelievably true.” It appealed for people to sign the petition so it could be sent to the general secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak, to investigate and ‘put an end to this deliberate act against people who have worked for the union most of their lives’.

“These pensioners rely on a pension increase directly approved by the general secretary [of Unite] and executive council, but shamefully they have refused such an increase, even though the pension scheme has a £60m surplus,” it continued. “Any increase would cost the union not a penny because it would come from the pension funds.

“In February, the general secretary refused a £3 per week increase of which two-thirds of the 350 are female. It’s shameful and heartbreaking, so please sign the petition and send it to all your contacts. Who would have thought the biggest union in the UK can act in such a vindictive and spiteful manner against former trade unionists?”

 

Documents compiled by the actuary running the pension scheme and seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) appear to confirm the pension fund would be unaffected by an increase.

Hilary Salt, of the Salford company First Actuarial, wrote:

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“The latest actuarial funding update at September 30 2021 and the more recent funding tracker show that the scheme is now in surplus…this surplus is greater than the actuarial cost. I would advise that if the trustee decided it would pay a discretionary increase at this level, that [the scheme] would not need to seek additional contributions from the union.”

The union is an amalgamation of several different unions which came together under one umbrella in 2013 as Unite along with their respective pension schemes. Mr Marsh has said that the way the pension scheme is constituted, increases for former members of the former electricians and engineering unions pre-1997 are at the discretion of the general secretary of Unite and the executive council.

The elderly 350 pensioners have received rises of 2.5 per cent in 2018 and 2019, but a request for a further rise now in the midst of the cost of living crisis, has been turned down by Unite. Other documents seen by the LDRS show that Unite members who are part of the scheme post-1997 have received regular annual increases, amounting in one case to 193pc since 2001. Over the same time span, the affected 350 have received just 5pc.

Mr Marsh also says that there are ‘other related issues’ of which the government’s Pensions Regulator should be advised.

He says that under the recent government proposal ‘Guarantee Minimum Payment Rectification’ needed to be introduced, meaning all pensioners needed to be advised of their correct pension.

“No problem,” said Mr Marsh:

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“Except a number of the UPS trustees actively campaigned that this is members’ money and any outstanding payments should be secured.

“This money would then go onto members who are on strike. This resulted in not one, but a number of members receiving demands in excess of £12,000 when they receive just over £400 per month pension.

“This made one 80-year-old pensioner very ill and they needed medical treatment. Eventually, after 16 months, the attempt to reclaim the money was abandoned.

“Another example for the Pensions Regulator to look at is that when I queried why the union was not increasing the pension for the 350, I was told it was because of the Ukrainian War.”

 

Responding, a Unite spokesperson said:

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“Unite stands by its previous statement on this matter and will not comment on specific allegations that have been made about confidential discussions between trustee directors of the UPS.

“There is no discrimination from the union and all pension scheme members are being paid the benefits they are entitled to under the scheme rules. The union and the trustee directors of the UPS take into account the interests of all members when making decisions.

“The individual was removed from his unpaid position after evidently sharing confidential trustee information. Confidence has been breached so all the other trustee directors felt they could no longer conduct business as usual and unanimously decided to remove the individual in the interests of all scheme members. This is within their legal power.

“The UPS is a separate legal entity to Unite the union and is governed by specific legislation with operations overseen by the Pensions Regulator. The scheme prides itself on good governance.

“Unite emphasises that the issue of discretionary pension increases for some scheme members to which there is no legal entitlement has already been to the Pension Ombudsman. The Pension Ombudsman, who is in possession of all the facts, determined that the complaint would not be upheld against the union or the trustees.

“The UPS is made up of a number of legacy union pension schemes in which different benefits are both built up and paid. These differences include the treatment of increases to pensions-in-payment, the age that an individual can retire or the level at which benefits are accrued over the time of being of scheme member. This has the effect of members of the UPS not receiving identical benefits.

“Active members have recently been asked to pay increased contributions to receive the benefits as outlined in the current trust deed and rules.

“Unite and the trustee directors of the scheme review the situation of those affected members referred to on a regular basis and, after following due process, have decided not to pay a discretionary increase at the current time. The union and the trustees will continue to review this situation on an ongoing basis.”

 

Fifth and fourth generation family-owned businesses, Seddon and Wates, recently joined forces to plant 500 trees in a woodland space in Little Hulton. The project, led by environmental charity, The Conversation Volunteers, saw a total of 30 volunteers pitch in to help enhance the biodiversity of the area.

Volunteers from Seddon and Wates, as well as Salford City Council members, local community organisers and local residents, planted the trees which will go on to be cared for by the charity. Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys, the Ceremonial Mayor of the City of Salford, was also present at the event to support this community project.

The tree planting took place on a woodland area that sits behind two projects currently under construction by Seddon and Wates. Longshaw Drive is Seddon’s £39m residential project in Little Hulton. It is set to be Salford City Council’s largest social housing scheme for 50 years, delivering 177 homes to the area.

Adjacent to this, Wates is delivering Star Salford Academy, a new 750-place secondary school, for the Department for Education (DfE) and multi-academy trust Star Academies, on the six-acre site just off Longshaw Drive.

Both Seddon and Wates celebrated 125 years of business in 2022. Both family-owned businesses are committed to the sustainability of the environments in which they work, and community value for the residents.

Jamie Bawden - project manager for Construction North West at Wates, said:

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“Working in partnership with Seddon in the Little Hulton area has meant that we can enhance our support in the community and create more opportunities for those in it. This tree planting event is a great way to bring the Wates and Seddon teams together to do some environmental work alongside Salford City Council and most importantly, the local residents.”

The tree planting project is led by Wates’ five-year long charity partner, The Conservation Volunteers, an organisation that focuses on environmental conservation through volunteer led tasks. The charity delivers projects across the UK which create healthier and happier communities by connecting them to green spaces. The existing woodland plot comprised a range of native British tree species which the volunteers have been able to expand on.

Nicola Hodkinson - owner and director of Seddon said:

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“It has been rewarding to see two long-standing family businesses come together to enhance the local area of their neighbouring sites. As well as creating an opportunity for residents to become involved such a rewarding project, it has been beneficial for us to build on our experience of providing social value through volunteer-led environmental initiatives.”

The area is of special significance to Seddon as it was Little Hulton where Seddon saw the inaugural stages of the family business, 125 years ago.

Photos ©:  Seddon and Wates tree planting event 

Police in Salford are continuing to investigate following a shooting in Eccles.

Emergency services were called to the Higher Croft area of Eccles on Sunday 19th March). following reports of a 16-year-old boy having been shot in the arm whilst riding a motorbike. by two men who were also said to have been on a motorbike.

The teenager was taken to hospital with arm injuries but is said to be in a non-life-threatening stable condition.

A number of roads in the area were cordoned off at the time, along with a section of Ivy Steet Park which saw police searches take place.

As a result of the shooting, police have stepped up patrols in the area and are appealing for the help of members of the public who may have witnessed or have dash cam footage of the incident.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police, said:

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"I would like to reassure the local community that we have increased the number of patrol officers deployed to the area and are working at pace to understand the full circumstances surrounding this incident.

"If you have any concerns about this incident, please speak to one of our officers in the area who are on hand to support you. We would urge the public to come forward if they have any information that could assist our investigation, and if they have any CCTV, doorbell, or dash cam footage, to report it to us directly.

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area before, during, or after the incident, who may have seen something. No matter how small the information may seem, it could prove vital."

 

The beautiful Grade 2* St Luke's Church, Liverpool Street, Salford also known as "The Church on the Hill" has been looking after it's parishioners' for well over 150 years and with an amazing history, but no now it needs your help.

Designed by eminent Victorian architect, George Gilbert Scott and featuring incredibly beautiful stained glass windows by Charles Eamer Kempe, however it is most probably well known for being the church, where the Suffragette leader, Emmeline Pankhurst got married in 1879.

However the elements have taken their toll on the church over the years and now rain is coming into the church bringing down chunks of plaster and exposing roof spaces in several places.

New roof tiles are urgently needed and so far 150 tiles have been replaced by specialist workmen, who have also removed years of mud and silt from the church gutters which also caused water damage.

The church is sending out an urgent appeal to the people of Salford to help them but purchasing a roof tile for £10, on which your name or a loved one's will be engraved and placed on the church roof.

To be honest this is basically putting a plaster on a hemorrhage and is only a short term remedy to a long term problem and so they are appealing for donations through their Facebook page.

If you can donate no matter how small the amount please give and help save this wonderful church from further damage

St Luke's Church

Sort Code:16 00 18

Account No 41460967

Camera Operator: Carl Davison

A local historian is writing to the Pope to protest over an ‘abandoned’ Roman Catholic graveyard which he says has become a ‘drugs den’.

The overgrown cemetery – known as Barton Upon Irwell Roman Catholic Graveyard – in the Peel Green area of Eccles has not been used for a burial since 1940. 

Craig Ellis, who lives just over the boundary in Stretford, has studied the history of the area and says he has discovered that in fact, no-one owns the graveyard.

The 52-year-old IT consultant told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

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“I’ve been investigating to find out who owns this cemetery for months.”

He said the small 30-metre by 30-metre cemetery was formerly owned by the de Trafford family who were big landowners around Peel Green for hundreds of years.

But when the family offloaded the burial ground to the Catholic church the necessary paperwork for ownership to be secured was never completed, meaning that the graveyard is now owned by no one.

Salford city council has confirmed that the site is not their responsibility.

Mr Ellis said he is concerned the graveyard is being used as a drug den and is a possible source of danger to local residents, although during our visits to the site over the past few years we have found no evidence to support that, however fly tipping has taken place.

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“There are overgrown trees and the perimeter wall, which is eight feet high, doesn’t seem safe, with the roots pushing the brickwork out,” he said. “It could easily fall onto a passing pedestrian [on Peel Green Road].

“I’m astonished that no one seems to want to take responsibility for this graveyard. There are priests and entire families buried there. It’s very sad.

“I’ve exhausted every avenue I can to try to get something done, and the only person I can think of who might be able to step in is Pope Francis, so I am writing to him.”

 

But he added that a ‘successful outcome’ would be for Salford city council ‘to secure the site, replace the main gate with a metal fence and then the authority could work out how the land and trees can be maintained’.

Responding to this, Coun Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety, said:

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“We will raise the issue of maintenance of this graveyard with the Roman Catholic Diocese which remains legally responsible for it.

“Salford city council has no legal authority to bar access to this public cemetery or to carry out work on this land but we will raise concerns about illegal activities with Greater Manchester Police for investigation.

“Our building control officer inspected the perimeter wall again on March 21 and is satisfied that it was not in a dangerous condition at that time.”

 

Chio endured icy conditions and a hail storm whilst stranded on the ledge 

Curiosity almost got the better of a cat who found himself stranded 60ft (18.2m) in the air on a narrow building ledge in Salford.

After going missing overnight, Chio was eventually spotted nestling into a window corner, 60 ft above the ground after he escaped from an apartment last Tuesday (14 March). 

Emily Davis, who was looking after Chio for a friend, contacted the RSPCA in distress after discovering the cat had escaped and spent the night napping on the dangerously high ledge.

RSPCA inspector Jessica Araujo arrived on the scene later that morning, but was unable to rescue the cat due to the height and difficult location. 

Jessica contacted the local Fire and Rescue Service to see if they were able to assist - given the equipment at their disposal - and firefighters quickly attended. The crew erected a ladder and attempted to coax the frightened cat over with food.

Jessica said:

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“The ledge was next to a large glass window and Chio was desperately trying to get in through it, but unfortunately the window didn’t open. The angle was really difficult and the crew eventually made the decision to come back down after fearing Chio was going to jump if they reached over. He kept stretching his front paws as though he wanted to jump so they backed off.”

Firefighters abandoned attempts to reach him by ladder, and called another crew from Stretford to bring their cherry picker.

Jessica, continued:

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“The second crew went up with a cat carrier in the cherry picker and were thankfully able to reach Chio and bring him back down to safety.

“The poor lady who was looking after Chio was distraught. She said the flat had a balcony and roof garden area that the cat went out on all the time and he had never wandered off before. 

“The apartment Chio lives in is on the other side of the building, so he’d roamed quite far away from home. He really picked his moment to go wandering, the weather was horrific. It was really cold and it had been hail storming and raining whilst he was out on that ledge.

“Situations like these really demonstrate the excellent relationship we have with the emergency services and what can be achieved when organisations work together for animal welfare.”

 

Thankfully, the daring Chio was rescued safely and returned to his owner. 

Emily said:

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“I want to say a massive thank you to the fire and rescue teams and to the RSPCA inspector who helped bring Chio down safely. I was so distressed at the time I could only think of getting Chio back safely. I’m so relieved to have him back and that he is okay!”

Often if a cat is stuck up a tree, or on a roof, they are usually able to get themselves back down again. Unless there are severe weather conditions, the cat appears injured or hurt, or the cat is at an impossible height such as this one, the RSPCA advises that people monitor the situation for 24 hours and try coaxing them down with smelly treats or fish.

Anyone concerned about the welfare of an animal can visit the RSPCA website for advice on what to do.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit: https://rspca.org.uk/give.

Photo ©: RSPCA - Salford

The lovely Joan Fielder who successfully bid a whopping £420 to have a full family tree researched by premier Genealogist, Glenn Kennedy with all proceeds going to local foodbanks, today received her ancestry pack.

Not just any ordinary family tree this consisted of a full family tree research going back to the 1730s, an additional  book of census return records for her family, additional information relating to her family name and last but not least, her family coat of arms in a frame, to hang on the wall.

Joan was delighted and told us:

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"I am really looking forward to reading this and to see if I have any skeletons in there!. Glenn has done a wonderful job researching this and presenting it in this format.

Also the money I bid went to a good cause, helping less fortunate who rely on foodbanks, which sadly are a life saver for so may families"

 

The money was split between Emmanuel Church Foodbank, Langworthy Road, Eccles Resource Centre Breakfast Club, St Andrew's Church, Eccles Foodbank, Winton Veterans Breakfast Club, Swinton Veterans Lunch, Hive Swinton and St Anne's Hospice.

We cant thank Glenn enough for his more than generous donations over the past few months and he has hinted that his charity work isn't over with a possible Christmas surprise for our Foodbank appeal.

If you would like your family tree research done by the best then contact Glenn on familyancestry044@gmail.com or via his Facebook page.

A brand new park and ride facility at Walkden Railway Station is almost complete and set to open in April 2023.

Salford City Mayor, local councillors and representatives from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) paid a visit to see the progress before it officially opens to the public.

The facility, to be managed and operated by Salford City Council, provides over 107 car parking spaces and includes electric vehicle charging points, motorcycle bays and cycle storage for up to 32 bikes. The Cycle Hub will also be managed and operated by the council and will provide secure storage for registered members, with access via a smart app. 

Members can register for access to the Hub online at www.salford.gov.uk/Walkden-cycle-hub. The car park will also be covered by CCTV and street lighting.

Structural repairs and restoration of the Victorian platform canopies were completed in June 2021.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“What was once an environmental services depot is now a park and ride facility which will improve the attractiveness of rail services for Walkden residents and help to reduce road congestion.

“It is fantastic news for local people as we provide a sustainable, inclusive transport system. And best of all it will be free to use for all rail users, including those in cars, on motorbikes, push bikes and electric vehicles.

“I’d like to thank TfGM, the Friends of Walkden Station and their partners for their work to make this happen.”

 

Ongoing construction continues to provide a £3.8million walking and cycling project that will provide a 6.2km connection for communities between Walkden Station and RHS Bridgewater. This project is now almost fully complete, with all sections now open for public use, and only minor remaining works still required.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett continued:

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“After significant lobbying and close working with our partners, funding has been secured from the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Access for All programme to provide step free access at Walkden Station. Network Rail is leading the project with our continued support. We want to see step free access at all our stations in the city.”

TfGM’s interim Chief Operating Officer, Alex Cropper, said:

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“Improving access to public transport is a key part of the Bee Network vision, making it easier for people to travel sustainably by bus, train or tram for some or all of their journey.

“With more than 100 parking spaces as well as space for bikes and motorbikes, this new facility adds to the hundreds of extra spaces recently put in across the Metrolink network. Walkden is a popular station at the heart of the local community, and I hope as many people as possible take advantage of these new facilities.”

 

Photo ©: Salford City Council

Left to Right:

Colin Crabtree – Project Manager, TfGM

Anthony Murdan – Project Sponsor, TfGM

Lee Evans – Group Leader, Sustainable Transport and Travel, Salford City Council

Alex Cropper – Chief Operating Officer, TfGM

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor

Cllr Sammie Bellamy – Walkden North

Cllr Joshua Mark Brooks – Walkden South

Cllr Irfan Syed – Walkden South

Cllr Mike McCusker – Lead Member for Planning and Sustainable Development

Andrew Fisher – Sustainable Transport Co-Ordinator, Salford City Council

Reuniting the team that produced the international stage sensation The Kite Runner, the world premiere of Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler’s stage adaptation of Christy Lefteri’s gripping bestselling novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is embarking on a UK National Tour, arriving at The Lowry, Salford from 18 April - Sat 22 April.

Directed by Olivier Award winning Miranda Cromwell (Death of a Salesman – Young Vic, Piccadilly Theatre and Broadway), the production will feature Alfred Clay (The Winters Tale, The Comedy of Errors – RSC) as Nuri; Roxy Faridany (This Is Going To Hurt – BBC, Magic Goes Wrong – West End) as Afra; Joseph Long (Spiderman Far From Home – Marvel Studios, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - tour & West End) as Mustafa; Aram Mardourian (The Borrowers – Polka Theatre, The Night Of The Iguana – Ustinov Studio) as Nadim, Fotakis; Ali and other parts, Daphne Kouma (Dirty Dancing – Secret Cinema, Offside – Pleasance Courtyard) as immigration officer, Dr Faruk, Dahab and other parts; Nadia Williams (The Darkest Part of The Night – Kiln Theatre, The Meaning of Zong – Bristol Old Vic) as Angeliki, Lucy Fisher and other parts; Elham Mahyoub (The Visit – National Theatre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Lazarus Theatre) as Mohammed and Sami; and Fanos Xenofós (Margot, The Most Famous Ballerina In The World – King’s Head Theatre, Don Quixote of Algiers – White Bear Theatre); and Lily Demir (The Secret Love Life of Ophelia – Greenwich Theatre, Empty – Soho Theatre) – as swings. 

The Beekeeper of Aleppo tells the story of Nuri, a beekeeper; and his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. On their terrifying journey, they must face the pain of their own unbearable loss alongside incredible danger. Above all, they must journey to find each other again.  

This compassionate and beautiful play is a story of connection - between friends, families and strangers. 

The creative team comprises Set and Costume Designer Ruby Pugh, Lighting Designer Ben Ormerod, Sound Designer Tingying Dong, Film Designer Ravi Deepres, Composer Elaha Soroor, Casting Director Christopher Worrall, Voice and Dialect Coach Khaled Abunaama, Cultural Consultant Nesrin Alrefaai, Drama therapist Nikki Disney, Associate Director Nadia Emam, Associate Film Designer Luke Unsworth and Video Programmer Edward Freeman. 

Director of The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Miranda Cromwell says:

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‘I am so thrilled to be working on this beautiful adaptation of Christy Lefteri’s stunning book. An arresting, courageous exploration of one family’s struggle to deal with the aftermath of losing everything. Deeply moving and visually striking this layered story illuminates their nearly impossible journey to find a way to live again, a way back to each other. It holds a mirror to this moment in our history when so many people are being forced from their homes. It is a call to arms for compassion, understanding, connection and love.’ 

Christy Lefteri’s novel was the Winner of the Aspen Words Award, Runner up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and one of The Times top three bestselling books of 2020.  

For more information and tickets visit https://.thelowry.com.

One in three young people in Britain are scared (33%), sad (34%) or pessimistic (34%) about climate change, with 28% feeling “overwhelmed”, according to a YouGov poll.

As part of a nationally representative sample, the survey by the Woodland Trust found deep concerns about the future among 16-24-year-olds, with almost one in four (24%) saying fears over the climate crisis mean they are willing to consider, or have already decided, to have fewer children than they would otherwise like.

Research showed that although seven out of 10 young people are worried about climate change and its effects, 86% of people surveyed felt that being outdoors and among nature had a positive effect on their mental health.

Woodland Trust chief executive Dr Darren Moorcroft said that, with access to woodland declining and tree cover in the UK one of the lowest in Europe, the results were “alarming.

He said:

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“Young people are experiencing an epidemic of climate anxiety and are increasingly worried about the health of the planet. This new data shows that climate change is jeopardising more than just the environment, with people’s mental well-being and future life plans also affected. 

“We know that being outdoors and among nature has a positive effect on mental health – but the level of access to green space in the UK is simply not good enough.”

 

The UK currently has just 13% woodland cover, only 7% of which is in good ecological condition, compared to a European average of 37%. The Trust’s groundbreaking State of the UK’s Woods and Trees report, published in 2021, also showed that only 16.2% of people in the UK had access to at least two hectares of green space within 500m of their home. This was down from 21.1% in 2016.

The YouGov poll, conducted in February 2023, showed that only 9% of people aged 16-24 felt young people have a great deal of influence making decisions about climate change.

The Woodland Trust has long recognised the importance of empowering the younger generation in climate conservation and put young people at the heart of the creation of the 400-acre Young People’s Forest at Mead in Derbyshire in 2018.

Elyse White, 22, who works for the Trust as a forest engagement and environment assistant at the Young People’s Forest, said being close to nature has had “a monumental impact on her life”.

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“I suffer from anxiety but the Young People’s Forest has contributed massively towards the transformation of my confidence,” she added. “I turned to the environment and nature for comfort and distraction; this habit led to a life-changing therapy.

“I have gained the most valuable experiences, had opportunities to learn, to physically take part in the project and to meet new people who have the same interest in appreciating and looking after our environment.”

 

With climate anxiety an ever-increasing issue, Hayley Jarvis, head of physical activity for the mental health charity Mind, said outdoor activities can be a great way to improve mental wellbeing.

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“Ecotherapy, a type of formal treatment which involves doing activities outside in nature, can be as effective as antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression and anxiety,” she added.

“Unlike working out in the gym or other indoor activities, the colours, sounds and smells we find outdoors stimulate our senses in a different way and can boost our mood. Getting away from modern life and into a relaxing outside space can allow us to switch off from everyday pressures, help relieve stress, and give us time to clear our heads.”

 

The Woodland Trust has more than 1,000 woods across the UK. They are all free to visit and the perfect way to get nature therapy. To find your nearest wood just enter your postcode in the Woodland Trust’s handy wood finder tool  

Along with improving our mental wellbeing, green spaces can help make us physically healthier too.

Nature stabilises blood pressure and its effects have even been shown to increase anti-cancer cells, reduce the incidence of underweight births, and accelerate recovery from surgery.

The Woodland Trust, the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK, has launched its ‘Plant More Trees’ climate campaign with a mission to plant 50 million more native trees across the UK by 2030 and create a greener, healthier world for people and wildlife.

Three quarters of all people surveyed in the YouGov poll would be willing to plant, or have already planted a tree, with only 9% saying they would not be willing to do this.

The Trust has already planted more than eight million trees of the 55 million trees they have planted since 1972, with young people and children.

Dr Moorcroft continued:

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“There is hope but we need to take drastic action. Woodland cover in the UK is desperately low and we want to see it increased to at least 19% by 2050.

“Trees and woods are integral to tackling both the nature and climate crises, but many young people miss out on both the physical and mental health benefits of being among nature.

“We know government recognise this and have ambitions to stave the freefall in nature by 2030, hit net zero by 2050 and give everyone access to a green or blue space withing 15 mins walk of their home by 2030. All the targets are right but action is sorely missing.”  

 

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is pleased to introduce a new scheme that will enable thousands of families and individuals from low income households, and who are less likely to have access to a garden at home, to benefit from visiting an RHS Garden.

Starting on 1 April 2023, the brand new Access for All scheme will afford visitors in receipt of Universal or Pension Credit the opportunity to access all RHS Gardens for a reduced ticket price of just £1, and will run all year round.

Access for All will make RHS Bridgewater,  accessible to a wider and more diverse audience and builds on existing offers whereby free entry to gardens is granted to a number of groups. These include carers with a disabled visitor, school children on guided and self-guided school visits, and Under 5s, affiliated horticultural societies and community groups supported by the RHS Community Outreach programme.

The RHS recognises that entry fees are just one of the financial barriers that might prevent people from visiting its gardens, and to that end are also investing in sustainable and affordable public transport options across all five sites, to enable even more people to visit.

The popular RHS Wisley shuttle bus which runs between the garden and Woking Station costing just £2 each way, returned on 4 February, of which one visitor said: ‘The shuttle bus makes the garden so much more accessible for those who don't have a car. Thank you for this important initiative’. Meanwhile RHS Bridgewater’s shuttle bus (which stops at Manchester Piccadilly Station, Salford Crescent, and Walkden Station, and also costs £2 each way) will return on 1 April.

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

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“One in ten people don’t have a garden or access to one and many can’t afford to visit a public garden, yet green spaces are an important lifeline for so many of us. We believe it is vital that everyone should have access to a garden or green space, which is why we have launched our ‘Access for All’ scheme and we hope that many people who might never have thought to visit an RHS Garden before will take advantage of it.”

‘Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror’: a new circus theatre musical and spectacular story of love and resistance set in a travelling circus comes to The Lowry this April.

A daring tale of humanity, Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror is based on an original idea by Hattie Naylor, and co-written by Hattie Naylor and Jamie Beddard with an original score by Charles Hazlewood arrives at The Lowry, Salford from Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 April.

Set in 1933 Germany where Nazis are burning books and suspending civil rights, Waldo and his eclectic troupe of acrobats and clowns dedicate themselves to their craft. Concealed within the glamour of Waldo’s big top, stories of love, courage and resistance are revealed as the world outside this remarkable circus troupe becomes darker and more dangerous. The story is informed by historical research and the experiences of real performers. The star of Waldo’s Circus is ‘Krista’ played by Abbie Purvis with Lawrence Swaddle as ‘Gerhard’. Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror is a large scale collaboration between D/deaf, disabled, and non-disabled artists and creators and tours nationally in 2023.

Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror is presented by Extraordinary Bodies based on an original idea by Hattie Naylor (Ivan and the Dogs, The Night Watch) and co-written by Hattie Naylor and Jamie Beddard (Messiah, The Elephant Man). The composer is Charles Hazlewood (Artistic Director, Paraorchestra) and it is co-directed by Claire Hodgson (Diverse City), Billy Alwen (Cirque Bijou) and Jenny Davies. Waldo’s Circus is co-produced with Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal Plymouth. All shows are Chilled Performances, BSL interpreted, captioned and audio described. It premieres at Bristol Old Vic with National press night on 16 March.

Extraordinary Bodies acknowledge the Holocaust and the millions of Jewish victims, and other groups* including disabled people who were targeted for persecution and murder. In making this work, the company affirms its unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence. 

The world of Waldo’s Circus of Magic & Terror takes the painted-on glamour, skilful risk-taking, fierce loyalty, and the idea that ‘the show must go on’ as its narrative pillars. Set in 1933 when the law for “Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases” is passed, Waldo the Ringmaster with his travelling circus of outcasts and misfits, acrobats and aerialists, lovers and fighters are surviving in the fervour of Hitler’s dictatorship.

Jamie Beddard, Writer said:

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“As a disabled person and artist, I’m acutely aware of the stigmatisation of particular groups and people through the growth of fascism in the past and now. The popularity of Eugenics in early 1930s Germany marked the beginning of a dark chapter in history where millions of people who were deemed not to conform were brutally hunted down and ‘dealt with’. Whilst researching this period, the role of the circus in helping some of these people escape and find sanctuary provided the basis for Waldo’s Circus. Our dramatic exploration of this moving and brave story reminds us to be always vigilant, and with the energy, skills and creativity of our artists, we hope to create a spectacular, meaningful and vital piece” 

Hattie Naylor, Writer said:

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“The inspiration and story of Waldo’s Circus evolved from initial interest and conversations generated by Todd Browning’s iconic film Freaks, released in 1932. It occurred to me that there must have been circuses in Germany that had so-called ‘freak shows’ at that time. So, I started researching, and I found that not only was this the case but these performers were smuggled out of the country through the circus networks, to Paris and beyond. Jamie, Extraordinary Bodies and I worked on the characters together, taking inspiration from a variety of circus artists from both the past and present. Extraordinary Bodies is not only doing radical work but is utterly inclusive and aims as a principle to make everyone welcome and heard. It is a privilege to work with a company with this profound ethos at its heart.”

The score is composed by Charles Hazlewood and developed alongside rehearsals, and research and development sessions with the cast and creatives. The music promises a bold mix of styles with live, multi-instrumentalists onstage.

Charles Hazlewood, Composer said:

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“When I write a score for a piece of theatre, I write for the performers in the rehearsal room and borrow from each and any, and all musical worlds. For Waldo’s Circus where Hattie and Jamie have written very beautiful, lyrical prose, I thought - how about if we created a kind of punk circus that also borrowed from new romanticism, techno and renaissance? There's no incongruity about having a punk aria followed by a piece of renaissance counterpoint - and that's what the show will be. Extraordinary Bodies is a phenomenally skilled, and ultimately, very, very open-hearted, adventurous bunch of individuals.”

Announcing lead performers Abbie Purvis and Lawrence Swaddle:

Abbie Purvis is an actor and musical theatre performer. She plays ‘Krista’, the star of the circus and the main attraction. She has a brave heart and is funny, sassy and loyal. The circus is Krista’s family and the only place where she has felt safe. Purvis comes from a lineage of actors, she is the granddaughter of Jack Purvis (Time Bandits, Monty Python and Star Wars) and her mother Katie Purvis played the iconic role of Maternal Ewok in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. 

Lawrence Swaddle plays ‘Gerhard’, handsome but gullible, and a Nazi Party member. Lawrence is an actor and circus performer who trained at the Oxford School of Drama. Over his career, he has performed internationally and nationally in circus shows and theatre productions.

Extraordinary Bodies is a collaboration between Cirque Bijou and Diverse City, who have worked together for the last decade creating multi-disciplinary circus shows with D/deaf, disabled and non-disabled artists. 

Claire Hodgson and Billy Alwen, Co-Directors, Extraordinary Bodies said:

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“In Extraordinary Bodies’ shows, we try to reflect the world as it truly is - on stage. It is important that our work connects the inside and the outside of theatres to the audiences that see it, and we embed the work as much as possible in the community before and after the shows. Waldo’s Circus is a cross-genre feast and the music is surprising, jumping across genres and decades. The circus will be varied and exciting. It is quite punk, feisty, astonishing and about the best of us and the worst of us as humans. You will be entranced by the performers and their characters and unable to forget the beautiful writing and the songs.”

For more information and tickets visit https://thelowry.com.