A former history teacher and school inspector has paid tribute to more than 50 years of friendship between Salford and Lünen, Germany by turning to art.

Nick Tyldesley, a member of Eccles Quakers which is part of the Salford Churches' Partnership, created the two paintings during lockdown. One has been sent to Lünen and the other was presented to the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys on his behalf by the Reverend Doctor Keith Archer.

In a letter accompanying the painting Mr Tyldesley, who lives in Bolton, quoted lines from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice when Portia reflects on how far a candle throws its light and shines like a good deed in the world.

He said he had painted citizens of Salford and Lünen meeting under a sunbeam in the centre of the photo to capture the idea of peace and friendship between the two cities continuing to shine in a turbulent world.

The painting also shows the industrial heritage, canals and mines that both cities share and matchstick figures which pay tribute to Salford's famous artist L. S. Lowry.

Ceremonial Mayor of Salford Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys said she was delighted to accept the painting on behalf of the city, saying:

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"The painting not only reflects the heritage of our two cities but is a piece of history itself. It was created during unprecedented times when we were unable to travel but kept up our friendships and partnerships and never lost sight of the connections between Salford and Lünen."

Town twinning was born in the aftermath of World War Two in the hope that the connections and friendships created would spare Europe from conflict in the future.

Lunen was twinned with the former borough of Swinton and Pendlebury from 1966, thanks to a wartime friendship between a local resident and a German prisoner of war.

Both men were miners and after the war they promoted a link between the mining unions in the two towns. That was cemented when Jim Birmingham, a miners' union official, became Mayor of Swinton and Pendlebury in 1966.

Picture caption left to right: Janet and Malcolm De-Gay, Ceremonial Mayor of Salford Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys, Councillor Mike McCusker, lead member for planning and sustainable development, Reverend Dr. Keith Archer and Katie Arche.

Yesterday about a dozen or so hardy souls, defied warnings of weather reports that said rain of Biblical proportions was about to engulf Eccles... it never happened, but the History Walk went ahead as planned.

We met at Eccles Railway Station at 12pm and had a gentle stroll around the Parish Church, looking at gravestones and marvelling at the architecture, then dispelling the myth that the sundial in the Church grounds is a memorial to William Huskisson the MP who died at Eccles Vicarage in September making him the worlds first railway passenger fatality in the world, if not the worlds first trainspotter.

Eccles mural was admired, Eccles cakes were talked about and a mention was given to Impact Catering on Albert Street, Eccles who are the sole makers of these delicacies in the Borough, body snatchers were dismissed as a myth, tales of dirty deeds in local pubs was gossiped about, and arsenic laced beer did actually happen.

Halfway we went in The Lamb for a pint of Joey Holt's finest and marvelled at the Edwardian fixtures and fittings, sadly the full size billiard table has gone... happy memories of the Boxing Day fixture in there with a bent cue knockout competition.

Carrying on we chatted about the World War Two blitz and the fatalities in the are, silent cinema, Eccles Cross and it's various locations, Eccles Town Hall got a mention and not just because L.S. Lowry once did a sketch of it, John Cassidy's impressive war memorial and what is buried beneath it, tales of patriotic looters in May 1915, smashing up local shops who had "foreign" sounding names, following the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, and finally the tale of the chap who officially opened the Eccles Carnegie Library in 1907 by a chap with a solid Gold Key... true story.

More importantly we all enjoyed ourselves and £60 was raised plus lots of food and toiletries for The Mustard Tree foodbank, so give yourself a hearty pat on the back for attending and being a good audience.

Will there be another History Walk this year I have been asked, possibly in September when the Eccles Festival is on, we shall see.

Officers from GMP's Transport unit spotted this vehicle driving in an erratic manner on Great Clowes Street, Charlestown.

The vehicle was stopped and the occupants were subjected to a section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 stop search, with the driver being found to be in possession of a quantity of cannabis.

The driver was also subjected to a roadside drugs test which was also failed for cannabis.

As such, the driver, Lois John of Seabrook Road Manchester, was arrested with her being later charged with possession of a cannabis and failing to provide a sample blood for analysis.

Police have said that she has been bailed to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates in September.

Police are  appealing for help to trace the next of kin of a woman from Salford.

Jean Anderton, 72, of Thornmere Close, Salford, sadly passed away on 28 July 2022.

Police say that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

Anyone with any information about Jean’s next of kin should contact the Police Coroner’s Office in Bolton on 0161 856 4687.

Police have confirmed that they responded to a report of a stabbing in the Weavers Arms Pub on Swinton Hall Road, Swinton, late yesterday evening (29th July).

A police investigation is currently underway.

It is understood that there was an altercation between two males which happened inside the pub.

A 50-year-old woman not thought to have been involved in the initial disturbance was found to have suffered a non-life threatening wound.

A man in his 20s is said to have self attended hospital having suffered a number of stab wounds and is in a stable condition.

Police have confirmed that no arrests have so far been made and the investigation is ongoing.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police, said:

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"We were called by NWAS at 12.20am today (30 July) to a report of a woman with a stab wound after an altercation involving two men at a pub on Swinton Hall Road, Swinton.

"The woman - aged in her 50s and not thought to have been involved in the initial disturbance - suffered a wound that thankfully isn't life-threatening or physically life-changing.

"A man - aged in his 20s - is believed to have arrived at hospital himself with a number of wounds that he was treated at hospital for and he is in a stable condition.

"No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing by detectives in our Swinton CID."

Anyone with information should contact us online via our LiveChat facility, or by calling 101 quoting incident 69 of 30/07/2022.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester hailed the ‘tremendous’ standards of care and facilities at the UK’s first Veteran Care Village during a tour of the recently-completed £12.5m development at Broughton House in Salford.

Andy Burnham met residents and staff during his visit to Broughton House, where he was shown round by chief executive Karen Miller.

The Mayor is chairman of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which provided part of the funding for the scheme.

He gave a glowing seal of approval to the redevelopment, saying:

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“I could not be more pleased by what I have seen. It’s tremendous, I’m very impressed.

“You would want people who have served our country to have the very best that we can offer, and the new Broughton House is THE very best when it comes to standards of care and facilities.

“We are proud as the GMCA to have played our part in helping Broughton House develop a home for the 21^st century.”

 

Broughton House has cared for more than 8,000 veterans since it opened its doors to the ex-service community in 1916.

Its transformation into a modern Veteran Care Village was completed earlier this year. The complex features a 64-bed care home and six retirement apartments for independent living. Facilities include a museum, a gym, hairdressing and barber’s salon and a veterans’ mess.

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

Mr Burnham met Hub manager Jackie Cornmell, who told him the service has seen an increase in the number of referrals, particularly during the pandemic, with 66 in the last 12 months alone.

Mr Burnham met several residents, including World War Two veteran Derrick Corfield, 95, who served in the Merchant Navy and showed the Mayor his medal collection, and David Teacher, 98, who took part in the Normandy Landings on D-Day and later received the MBE for charitable work.

David told Mr Burnham the Care Village was a ‘first-class place to live’.

“It’s fantastic, we are well looked after and well fed,” he added.

Mr Burnham also chatted to other staff members, including household manager Erica Wright.

Chief executive Karen Miller said:

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“The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been integral in helping us to create this amazing facility and we are proud that we have in this area the only care home for veterans in the north west.

“Staff and residents were really honoured and thrilled that the Mayor came to visit, taking time out of his busy schedule to tour the facility and meet and chat with them.”

 

Photos: Kevin Feddy

Salford is set to benefit from almost £10million of brownfield development funding.

On Friday 29 July, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) approved the allocation of £27million of tranche three funding to be split across local authorities in Greater Manchester. On top of this is £9.6million of underspend which has also been redistributed.  

In total 31 brownfield sites across Greater Manchester were successful from 147 nominations. The sites identified for development were assessed by officers on their viability and how they support the principles of the Greater Manchester Strategy.

In Salford five sites were successful taking up a quarter of the share of the funding to provide 620 homes. This equates to just short of £10million of funding awarded to Salford.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, GMCA Deputy Mayor and portfolio holder for Homelessness, Healthy Lives and Quality Care said:

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"Bringing forward the most sustainable brownfield land for development is the approach we are taking in Greater Manchester and this decision once again supports that.

"The aim is that brownfield land – which is land that has been used before and is disused or derelict – is much better to develop on than a green field site that has never had development on it. This is something that is backed by all local authorities in Greater Manchester.

"Green space is vital as we work to be carbon free in Greater Manchester by 2038. Green land is cheaper to develop on so this important funding will be used to unlock brownfield land ready for development.

"We are in the middle of a national housing crisis and need to provide much needed land for homes for our communities across the whole of Greater Manchester."

 

This new announcement supports the ambition of Greater Manchester leaders to take a brownfield first approach to development. Leaders set out this approach as part of the previous Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, and the Places for Everyone plan will also have a brownfield first preference towards development in order to meet the Government's housing targets while minimising the impact on the green belt.

The third tranche of the Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) was awarded to the GMCA from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This follows previous awards that were approved by the GMCA in October 2020 and October 2021.

B2C Retail, of Invar Business Park, Invar Road, Swinton, is a small warehouse which stocks a range of items sold via Amazon. The business is run by B2C Retail Limited, of which Mr. Michal Kempiak is the sole director.

Mr. Kempiak appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Thursday 28 July and pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to four offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to select appropriate equipment for working at height, failing to ensure that work at height was appropriately planned, supervised and carried out safely, failure to ensure that lifting equipment was thoroughly examined and failing to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the health and safety risks, to which employees were exposed.

The firm was fined a total of £40,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs and a £190 victim surcharge.

Magistrates heard that the dangers came to light when the business applied to sell food, triggering a hygiene inspection. An environmental health officer from Salford City Council visited on 28 April, 2021 and was concerned by the blatant disregard for health and safety.

The court heard that storage arrangements and general health and safety conditions in the warehouse were poor, with broken pallets leaning on racking, the floor cluttered with trip hazards and combustible material on the floor, which was particularly concerning near the battery charging area of the forklift truck. Palletised stock at height was not shrink wrapped, stock had been taken from lower levels making loads unstable and there were risks of objects falling from height.

A member of staff was seen stepping onto a pallet and climbing the racking to reach an item on a second shelf, putting them in danger of serious injury. There were no stairs to a mezzanine floor where stock was stored, so staff were riding up in a high level order picker (HLOP) and stepping off it whilst at height which is unsafe. Salford City Council served prohibition notices for both these activities as they were so dangerous.

Mr. Kempiak could not produce thorough examination certificates (similar to an MOT for a car) for any of the lifting equipment used in the warehouse as required by law.

The lifting equipment was subsequently tested and the safety certificates produced after the company was served with an improvement notice. In the meantime, the company had purchased a new HLOP for a different task which was also found to be unsafe. A prohibition notice was served for that machinery banning it from use until made safe.

Staff were not carrying out industry standard documented daily safety checks before using lifting equipment and there was no written risk assessment in place, as required for any company employing five or more staff. B2C Retail employs 10 to 12 staff. An improvement notice was served requiring a risk assessment to be undertaken.

The company employed a health and safety consultant to assist with documenting the risk assessment and both the improvement notices were complied with.

As the company was new, Mr Kempiak was asked to accept a caution in relation to the offences, but he refused to sign it as he thought he had done nothing wrong. He was invited to an interview to explain his actions, but this was declined so Salford City Council took the company to court.

Speaking after the court case Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment, neighbourhoods and community safety, said:

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“Health and safety law is there to protect people and the fine reflects the seriousness of these offences.

“Workers could have been seriously hurt by the practices taking place in this warehouse and our interventions have ensured the workplace is now operating safely.

“If proper procedures had been followed the company could have avoided the dangers and this court case. I hope it sends a clear message to all companies that workers’ health and safety is to be taken seriously and the council will not hesitate to act on breaches.”

The cost of a school meal in Salford is set to 'reluctantly' rise for the first time in three years.

Members of the city council’s cabinet agreed a rise of 10p to which will make the new cost £2.20 when the change takes effect on January 1st 2023. Despite the rise the cost of a school meal within Salford will remain the lowest in the Greater Manchester region.

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

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“We have kept prices fairly stable for the last seven years, and this would be the first increase since April 2019.

“It is something we are considering very reluctantly but the loss of income during the pandemic combined with increasing costs has affected the service very badly.”

 

She cited that increasing costs of food and fuel could see the service as unviable if things do not change.

Councillor Bentham went on:

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“We know that for some of our children, the school meal is the main meal of the day, and with this in mind, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards and will not compromise on the quality or quantity of food we serve to our children.”

She said that with school meals at £2.20 they are priced joint lowest of the 10 authorities in Greater Manchester.

Some 11,000 school meals a day are delivered to 57 schools across the city for 190 days a year. Some 300 permanent staff are employed on a turnover of £6 million a year.

 

Councilor Bill Hinds, said of the increase:

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“I don’t think we’ve any real choice. We are living in unprecedented times.

“When we’ve raised prices before there hasn’t been any fall off, but this time there could be.

“People who are paying now are really struggling in many cases. People may decide to walk away [from taking meals].”

Councillor Tracy Kelly, responded by saying:

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“This is being done reluctantly, but there is a role for us all to play in talking to parents and staff and supporting them where necessary.”

As it increasingly focuses on making wide-ranging recommendations to better council services, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has directed more improvements to local councils in the North West in the past year than ever before.

Launched today, the Ombudsman's annual review of complaints gives a concise overview of the state of local government complaints over the past year.

The Ombudsman upheld 69% of complaints in the region, which has increased from 65% last year. This year's data also show:

11% of all complaints from this region 

Most complaints are about Children and Education - 24%, up from 23% last year  

Fewest complaints are about Housing at 4%, down from 5% last year

Highest uphold rate is for complaints about Adult Social Care and Children and Education (78%). Last year this was for Corporate and Other Services (78% last year)

Lowest uphold rate is for Planning (42%, up from 30% last year)

This region has the joint highest proportion of its complaints about Benefits and Taxation (10%, England-wide average of 8%), and Environmental Services (14% compared with 12% England-wide)

This region has the lowest proportion of its complaints about Housing (4% compared with England-wide average of 13%)

This region has the highest uphold rate nationwide for its complaints about Highways and Transportation (71%, compared with national average of 55%)

And although the Ombudsman's role is to remedy individual people's problems, it is increasingly looking at how it can make sweeping recommendations on the back of those complaints to help councils learn and improve services for everyone.

In 2021-22, the Ombudsman made 1,848 service improvement recommendations nationally, with all but a vanishingly small number of councils complying (99.7%).

In one case, a council insisted a family pay a top-up fee for a relative's care home place, despite not offering one where they did not need to pay extra. Following the Ombudsman's investigation, the council reviewed its processes and reimbursed a further 29 families.

In another case, the Ombudsman found a council was not paying friends and family foster carers the correct allowance. It asked the council to look at whether other foster carers were being similarly underpaid. Six other families received their missed support, and the council put in place changes to ensure this would not happen again.

Link: Salford City Council - Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

There were 10 upheld decisions in Salford based on 21 detailed, which means that 48% were upheld by the ombudsmen which is below the national average of 68%.

We are happy to report that the council was in 100% compliance with the ombudsmen's recommendations.

30% of cases were resolved before the complaint reached the ombudsmen which is also above the national average of 11% in similar authorities.

The decisions on the 10 complaints which were upheld are as detailed below.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

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"One complaint can have immense power to change things for the better, and we're increasingly focusing on to how we, and the local authorities we investigate, take the learning from those complaints and improve service provision.

"The vast majority of councils agree to the recommendations we make and see them as common-sense ways of providing better services for people in their area. However this can only happen when councils act swiftly when they have committed to do so.

"Unfortunately we are seeing some councils taking longer to make those changes, which put them at risk of making the same mistakes again. In 18% of cases we found compliance was late.

"While I welcome the professional way in which the majority of councils continue to work with us, I would urge those authorities who are having problems to pay close attention to this final, but crucial, step in the complaints process."

 

The Ombudsman's report is published with detailed data for every English authority on how they perform against similar organisations. It also includes resources for councillors and senior council officers to raise the profile of complaints within their organisation.

People can search for their local council's data using the Ombudsman's interactive online map, where they can find details of upheld complaints, service recommendations and their authority's annual letter, detailing how the council has responded to the Ombudsman's investigations.

Salford now has nine Green Flag Award winning parks and green spaces as Parr Fold Park is awarded its first ever Green Flag Award this year.

Following a successful programme of improvements over the last two years, the hard work and dedication of the Friends of Parr Fold Park and Salford City Council parks team, Parr Fold Park achieved Green Flag status. There are other exciting plans for the park in the pipeline with investment in new tennis courts starting in the autumn.

Agecroft Cemetery, Blackleach Country Park, Boothsbank Park, Clifton Country Park, Peel Green Cemetery, Peel Park, Salford, Victoria Park and Winton Park have all once again kept their place amongst the best in the country increasing Salford's total to nine.

The Green Flag Award is a national award that recognises the best green spaces in the country and Salford's nine are among more than 2,200 others to receive or retain the award this year.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment, neighbourhoods and community safety said it was a remarkable achievement and praised the efforts of the many volunteers who support the council in maintaining and improving the parks and green spaces.

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"Our parks and green spaces are places for everyone to enjoy. They are vital for our communities" she said.

"Having nine of our spaces recognised for their excellence is a huge achievement for the city. Parks and green spaces have to meet and maintain very high standards to win this prestigious award, so it is a great accomplishment and I'd like to congratulate and thank everyone involved."

 

Judges assess all areas against strict criteria. The spaces are rated on being welcoming, clean, healthy, safe and secure and how well they involve the local community.

Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status for each site.

The Green Flag scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under license from the government.

Residents can now give their views on proposed new crossings that will enable more people in the Cleggs Lane area of Little Hulton to walk, cycle or wheel for everyday journeys.

The proposed improvements, being developed in partnership between Salford City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which are now under consultation, would contribute towards GM’s ambition to deliver the UK’s largest cycling and walking network.

The consultation on the proposed changes will run until Monday 22 August.

Commenting on the plans, Active Travel Commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey, said:

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“It is great to see the consultation open for the proposed improvements on three crossing points along Cleggs Lane. A key part of the Bee Network becoming a fully integrated transport system is having well-connected, convenient, safe and accessible places for people to cross busier roads, whether they are walking, wheeling or cycling.

“The proposed improvements to these three busy junctions in Little Hulton are aimed at making it safer and more convenient for residents to travel on foot or by bike, something that is often harder to achieve when communities are so close to major motorway routes and the subsequent numbers of vehicle journeys from the strategic route network.

“The Bee Network strategy is to create a transport network that reflects the needs of every community so I recommend everyone who travels in the area to get involved and provide their feedback on the proposals.”

 

The proposed changes include:

a new signalised walking and cycling (Toucan) crossing across Cleggs lane between Coniston Avenue and Old Lane;

a new signalised walking (Puffin) crossing across Cleggs Lane between Eastham Way and Amblecote Drive West;

a new raised speed table on Eastham Way between Trafford Drive and Buile Hill Avenue; plus

associated footway widening and provision of new tactile paving at crossing points.

Councillor Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development said:

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“This is a very exciting project that will provide Little Hulton residents with safer and better connected road crossings at three very busy junctions.

“It will be another vital link in the Greater Manchester-wide Bee Network programme that is delivering a joined-up system of walking and cycling across Salford and the wider city region to encourage residents to use active travel in their journeys.

“I would encourage residents to get involved in this consultation and provide their thoughts to help shape these much-needed improvements to their local roads.”

 

Anyone with views and opinions on the proposed improvements can have their say via the online survey.

Or to access the survey in an alternate format, please contact Salford City Council by:

email: mcf@salford.gov.uk

phone: 0161 686 6286

post: FAO: MCF Cleggs Lane Consultation, Salford City Council, Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Salford, M27 5FJ

Diamond Bus NW have reinstated the 36 bus route along Kenyon Way in Little Hulton within hours of suspending it due to unruly teens throwing objects at the buses as they travel through the estate.

The bus route which runs from Manchester Piccadilly to Bolton Interchange via Walkden, was temporarily diverted to avoid the estate between 1:40pm and 2:20pm today (26th July).

However, bosses at the bus company say they will pull the service again should they feel that their passengers and drivers are being put in danger.

It is believed that no one on board was injured.

A spokesperson from Diamond Bus NW said:

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"Due to kids once again throwing missiles at our vehicles, we will not be serving Kenyon Way until we are confident our drivers are safe."

A Texaco petrol station in Walkden praised for lowering the cost of Unleaded and Diesel fuel on its forecourt has lowered its prices even further - after the owner vowed to help local residents in the area who were suffering as a result of the cost of living crisis.

The Limes Service Station on Manchester Road in Walkden is now listed as among the cheapest stations in the country according to online price checker website confused.com. 

Prices are currently listed as low as £1.59.9p per litre for petrol and £1.79.9p for Diesel which makes it not only the cheapest station in the region but possibly in the country.

This means that the station is now at least 30p cheaper than most supermarket forecourts for petrol.

The Co-Director of the company, Hassan Mohammed hopes to keep the prices at that level for at least a week if not longer but it is dependent on fluctuations in the market.

Once more people lined up to take advantage of the cheaper than national average prices to fill up their tanks.

Hassan has been hailed as a local hero and in these times of economic uncertainty he most certainly is, it clearly goes to show that lower prices are achievable. 

The family of a 17-year-old boy from Irlam have paid tribute to their 'Kind Hearted' boy who sadly died in a tragic motorcycle accident on Holcroft Road in Culcheth on the Monday 18th July.

A 13-year-old boy he was travelling with also suffered serious injuries.

In a tribute, Ben's family said:

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“08/03/2005 - 18/07/2022 - Ben Smith The kind hearted boy who made everyone laugh. He was deeply loved and will be missed by so many people.

“Funeral details to follow. Family request privacy at this time. Always loved but never forgotten. A loving Son and Brother Xxxx.”

 

A statement from Cheshire Constabulary reads:

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"Ben Smith, 17, from Irlam, was involved in a collision on Holcroft Lane, Culcheth at around 9.30pm on Monday 18 July. Sadly, Ben passed away at the scene. His family are being supported by specialist officers.

"Officers are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have seen a moped and another motorbike around the time of the incident to come forward. The same goes to anyone who may dashcam footage from the area around the time of the incident to come forward."

 

Anyone with any information is urged report it to Cheshire Police quoting IML 1320718 via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/police-forces/cheshire-constabulary/areas/cheshire/about-us/about-us/provide-more-information-about-an-appeal/ or call 101.

Information can also be passed on to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or report it via https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

Works are expected to continue until December 2022 to create the new facility at the site of the former environmental services depot off Chestnut Avenue. It will provide 107 parking spaces, four motorcycle bays and cycling storage for up to 32 bikes.

The scheme will boost access to sustainable travel for Walkden residents, help combat congestion within the town’s busy road network and reduce on-street parking with currently no dedicated off-street parking available for those using the station. It will also provide electric vehicle charging points, new lighting and CCTV, landscaping and boundary fencing.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

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"It's great news that work is getting underway on this new park and ride site, not only will it help boost access to public transport in Salford, it also supports the growth of the Bee Network - Greater Manchester's vision for a truly integrated public transport system across the whole region and opens it up to even more people.

"New and additional park and ride sites open up the network and make switching from the car to public transport easier and more convenient for people, helping to make travel around Greater Manchester easier, more accessible and affordable for all.

"In addition, this latest project at Walkden will also compliment TFGM's Access for All scheme and see a range of improvements made to the station itself, ensuring it is fully accessible for all users."

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“I am delighted that work is finally starting on this project which I have long campaigned for and I know will be greatly appreciated by the people of Walkden.

“This brand new facility will only enhance the asset that this railway station provides for the town and will provide a sustainable option for those who are keen to shorten their car journeys or who are able to cycle for part of their journey.

“This work is part of a wave of developments for this very popular station with residents now also able to benefit from dedicated bus services onwards on weekends to RHS Bridgewater and the RHS Links project is also going to make the station even more connected to the fantastic visitor attraction.”

The park and ride works are being led by Transport for Greater Manchester in conjunction with the council and work will be carried out Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm with work also taking place from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays if it is deemed necessary. Construction work will require the use of large machinery and site vehicles and may therefore be noisy at times but measures will be put in place to minimise disturbance to nearby residents.

The work will also kickstart a wave of improvements that are planned for the station itself which includes a new lift for passengers through TFGM's Access for All programme. The works are currently in design stage with the project expected to be completed in 2024. Further improvements are also being planned for Irlam and Swinton stations to make them fully accessible.

It comes as statistics from the Office of Rail and Road show Walkden had an estimated 374,228 rail users in 2019-20, marking it as the fourth busiest station in the city.

Users of the station will benefit from the £3.8m RHS Links walking and cycling project that is providing a 6.2km specialised route for those travelling from the station to RHS Bridgewater and into Worsley and Boothstown. A significant proportion of the route is already open for public use and it is expected that the remaining sections will be complete by Spring 2023.

A new hourly direct shuttle bus service between the station and RHS Bridgewater has also launched in time for the summer running from 2 July through to 25 September. The service will run hourly on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays with fares capped at £1 for adults, 50p for children and it will be free for concessionary pass holders. It has been developed by the visitor attraction in partnership with South East Lancs Community Rail Partnership and is supported by Friends of Walkden Station, Transport for Greater Manchester, Northern Rail and Avanti West Coast.

Police have issued CCTV footage of two men in hoodies they wish to speak too with regards a burglary at Cleavley Community Forrest Garden, based close to the Athletics track in Winton.

GMP Eccles said on Facebook:

"Do you recognise these men? We need to speak to them about a burglary at the Community Forest Garden in Eccles on 20/05/2022 at 21.10.

"Get in touch with #SalfordNCT on 0161 8561451, SalfordNCT@gmp.police.uk or online: https//crowd.in/ETHzl8. (Quote CRI/06FF/0014428/22)"

The North West’s Working-Class Heritage is in the spotlight today (Tuesday, 26 July) as Historic England announces funding for community-led projects through its Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories.

Eleven projects across the region will receive grants from the scheme which focuses on heritage that links people to overlooked historic places, with a particular interest in recognising and celebrating working class histories.

In Greater Manchester:

A project based around Heywood’s Peel Street Mill and its people, will highlight the stories of former workers

Unearthing Pendleton's Past at St. Thomas’s church in Pendleton will revealing gravestones, shedding light on the lives of the working class people behind the industrial revolution in the area

In Stretford, The Kathleen Project will uncover hidden tales from people who worked in Manchester’s famed clothing and textile industry from the 1940s

Ordsall’s Fault Lines project will document the rich histories of working class communities in the area of Ordsall in Salford, Greater Manchester, gathering and sharing the memories of at least 60 local residents through aural history interviews, music, creative writing and podcasting

In Salford, Navvies will commemorate the 17,000 anonymous labourers who dug the Manchester Ship Canal and create a permanent micro-forest memorial in the centre of Media City

In Lancashire:

A project will build a new archive documenting and engaging people with the heritage of Blackpool’s working class African and Caribbean community and their relationships to places and buildings in the town

In Chorley, the Lost Farms of Brinscall Moors project will bring the history of Lancashire’s hill farming to life, working with local community groups, schools, churches and Withnell Parish Council to collect and record people's memories

In Morecambe, a grant will fund a project by local organisation Morecambe Heritage, which will create 20 oral histories, 12 films, an exhibition at Morecambe Heritage Centre and further web articles exploring the lives and stories of the landladies (and landlords) who ran bed and breakfasts in Morecambe up until the 1980s

In Merseyside:

Birkenhead's Working Class History, will work with the local community to will undertake research, workshops, share stories and hold a community event

Southport’s The Marshside Fog Bell project will convert the empty fog bell building which stands close to the Southport shore into a micro museum dedicated to telling the stories of life, and of saving lives, along the coast

In Cumbria:

In Workington, the People of Jane Pit project will use film, digital trail, minecraft 3d models, DigVentures to work with young people to reveal and celebrate the contribution that miners made to the Workington's history and development

The announcement follows an open call earlier this year, inviting community or heritage organisations across the country to apply for grants of up to £25,000 in a bid to further the nation’s collective understanding of the past.

The projects in the North West were selected from more than 500 nation-wide applications and are among 57 successful bids being announced today.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: 

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“I’m excited to see the wide range of creative approaches and subjects proposed for Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories. These community-led projects demonstrate that heritage is all around us and accessible to everyone. They will highlight that wherever people live they are surrounded by historic buildings, landscapes and streets, industrial and coastal heritage that can help bring communities together.

“The histories of castles and great houses and their inhabitants are well documented, but we know far less about our everyday heritage. From council estates, pubs and clubs, to farms, factories and shipyards, these are the places where most people have lived, worked and played for hundreds of years. We want to explore these untold stories and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our history.”

 

Heritage should be for everyone. But not everyone’s stories are told and not everyone’s history is remembered. Historic England’s Everyday Heritage Grants aim to address this imbalance by engaging with the widest possible range of heritage.

The projects selected contribute positively to participants’ wellbeing, as well as

providing innovative volunteering opportunities for young people or those facing loneliness and isolation.

Each project will enable people to creatively share overlooked or untold stories of the places where they live and encourage communities, groups and local people to examine and tell their own stories in their own ways.

Local heritage gives people a sense of pride in place, a cornerstone of the Government’s levelling up agenda, and can act as a powerful catalyst for increasing local opportunities and prosperity. 

Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories is among many cultural projects that Historic England aims to deliver to highlight the diversity of the nation’s heritage.

In the North West, the projects receiving funding are:

Peel Street Mill and its people, PossAbilities, Heywood, Greater Manchester, £10,000 

This project will highlight the stories of former workers from Peel Street Mill - a former textile mill in Heywood, Greater Manchester.  It is led by PossAbilities - a social enterprise supporting 400 people with learning disabilities. Their HQ is based on the site of the mill. Co-created with the people PossAbilities supports and the local community, this project will build a picture of the working-class lives that lie buried beneath the places where this community lives and works. Outputs will include: web content, a publication, teaching resources for schools, films, animations and artworks, a physical model of the site as it was, and a walking trail in their local wellbeing garden.  

Unearthing Pendleton's Past, Greater Manchester, £10,000 

Led by The Friends of St. Thomas and the Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Service, the project will include members of the congregation, the local community, Iranian refugees and asylum seekers, Salford Veterans, two schools and a mental health charity. 

St. Thomas’s church in Pendleton was consecrated in 1831, built in response to the influx of the working classes to the booming textile industry.  Today, the church graveyard contains approximately 9,700 burials, the majority from the nineteenth century. For nearly half a century, the gravestones have been hidden under turf.  

The project will remove turf in two areas, permanently revealing the gravestones beneath. Research will be undertaken on those buried, shedding light on the lives of the working class people behind the growth of Pendleton, who fuelled the industrial revolution.  Their untold stories will be displayed on interpretation boards within the graveyard.  

Salford Mayor Paul Dennett, said:

“It is fantastic to see the Friends Group at St Thomas’s Church working on an exciting collaborative project with Greater Manchester’s Archaeological Advisory Service (GMAAS), young people and teachers in our local schools and Salford’s START Inspiring Minds’ team to unearth Pendleton’s rich heritage, industrial and social history and importantly the many stories and experiences that have characterised our great City of Salford through-out the years in a heritage bid to Historic England. 

 Exploring our social, industrial and political history in this way is a really important part of animating our City, bringing people and communities together and importantly reflecting on our City’s proud and diverse history.  I’m really supportive of the Friends Group’s bid to Historic England and I wish them every success and look forward to hopefully seeing and experiencing this great collaborative heritage endeavour.”  

The Revd Canon Daniel Burton, Salford All Saints Team Rector, said: 

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“The grant from Historic England to the Friends of St Thomas Pendleton is wonderful news. We are now looking forward to delivering this exciting project.  The vision is to celebrate forgotten histories of Pendleton people and we hope to engage local institutions and individuals in working towards this common goal. In doing so, we hope that the project will become a source of community pride and celebration for the future.” 

The Kathleen Project, Stretford, Greater Manchester, £10,000 

Inspired by an unknown textile worker, this project will uncover hidden tales from people who worked in Manchester’s famed clothing and textile industry from the 1940s onwards, revealing the impact this has had on them and their communities to this day.  The Kathleen Project will capture these stories, with audio recording of first-hand accounts, as well as through photo and video documentation. Local people will be able to access the content online and, in an exhibition, held at a pop-up shop in Stretford, Manchester. 

Stitched-Up's Bryony Shanahan said: 

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“We’re so excited to be bringing to life a project that we’ve been dreaming about ever since a knackered old industrial sewing machine was left on our doorstep in 2016, its drawer containing a photo and name badge of a woman called Kathleen. The Kathleen Project will allow us to uncover hidden histories from Manchester's industrial past, reflecting on our shared history and how this relates to the clothing makers of today.” 

Fault Lines, Ordsall, Greater Manchester, £10,000 

The project will document the rich histories of working class communities in the area of Ordsall in Salford, Greater Manchester, gathering and sharing the memories of at least 60 local residents through aural history interviews, music, creative writing and podcasting. Working in collaboration with community organisations such as the New Barracks Association, Ordsall Community Allotment and Salford Lads Club, and supported by five young Community Reporter volunteers, a musical and aural history trail will be created. The trail will be displayed through QR codes at local landmarks in the area and made available online as a digital archive of the project. 

Katie Charlton, Founder & Director of Starling, said: 

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‘We are thrilled to have this exciting opportunity to hear and share the lived experiences of the Ordsall community and creatively celebrate the fascinating social history of an often overlooked area.’ 

Navvies, Salford, Greater Manchester, £22,000

A ground-breaking, multi-strand participatory project commemorating the 17,000 anonymous labourers who dug the Manchester Ship Canal. A team of 150 local volunteers and heritage experts will uncover the stories of those original workers, before creating a permanent micro-forest memorial in the centre of Media City. The project will culminate in community events celebrating local working class and Irish history, plus a spectacular light and sound installation in the canal itself.

Birkenhead's Working Class History, Merseyside, £9,000 

Working with the local community, this project will undertake research, workshops, share stories and hold a community event to recognise Birkenhead’s working class history. The town’s rich heritage includes Lairds Shipyards, Birkenhead Market, Birkenhead Park, The Laird School of Art, Mersey Ferries, Birkenhead Priory and Tranmere Rovers FC. The project will ensure that everyone involved has shaped the work to demonstrate a place where ordinary people work and live. 

Andrew Shaw, Convenience Gallery Director, said: 

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"Receiving the award for this project is a massive honour. We’re excited and proud to work with local people explore and tell the working class histories of the town. Birkenhead is home to the first municipal park in the world, pubs of historic significance, the first art school outside London, the shipyards and so much more. Our whole ethos as a community interest company is about making accessible ways for people to come together through arts and culture. We can’t wait to get started.” 

The Marshside Fog Bell, Southport, Merseyside, £6,000

This project will convert the empty fog bell building which stands close to the Southport shore into a micro museum dedicated to telling the stories of life, and of saving lives, along the coast. Local schools and churches, the North Meols Family History Society, North Meols Civic Society and the Southport Lifeboat crew will all collaborate with NW Heritage to create interpretation boards, family trees, oral recordings and video material.

The Marshside fog bell is a local landmark, built following an 1869 tragedy when seven local fishermen drowned after becoming disoriented in fog and cut off by the incoming tide.  A community fund was set up by the working class people of Southport to construct a building with a bell on top of a tall mast that could be rung to guide fishermen safely back to shore in the event of fog.

Paul Sherman, Director of NW Heritage Community Interest Company, said: 

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“The Everyday Heritage grant from Historic England means the long hoped for dream of converting the fog bell site into a unique community heritage asset is now within our grasp. By working with members of the community as co creators throughout the project, NW Heritage hopes that the Marshside Fog bell Micro Museum will be able to tell the fascinating stories of our coast and of saving lives along our coast.”

Blackpool's African and Caribbean Community Archive, Lancashire, £10,000 

The project will build a new archive documenting and engaging people with the heritage of Blackpool’s working class African and Caribbean community and their relationships to places and buildings in the town. Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre African Caribbean Friends and Relations Association (AFRA) will help to identify significant locations, together with members of the wider community, who will be invited to contribute their stories, images and videos.  

Volunteers will be trained to take photographs and record oral histories, they will also work with photographers and artists to create new photographs and films. Participants will be able to add their own place-themed artworks to the archive. They will also decide how the stories and images are shared, this could be through exhibitions, installations, zines and online. A new permanent collection will be made available online and at AFRA’s new venue. 

Carter and Donna Jackson, Blackpool Fylde & Wyre African Caribbean Friends & Relations Association, said: 

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"We’re really looking forward to starting the project this autumn. We can’t wait to reconnect with our members and the local African Caribbean community to share memories, explore our history and build something for the future.” 

Lost Farms of Brinscall Moors, Chorley, Lancashire, £12,000 

The project will bring the history of Lancashire’s hill farming to life, working with local community groups, schools, churches and Withnell Parish Council to collect and record people's memories.  Using the area’s farm ruins as a focal point, local people will produce sign boards with links to audio and video recordings, a website and run a series of family events and guided walks with themed activities to promote local heritage. 

The landscape around Brinscall, Chorley, is scattered with many farm ruins - over 50 in just five square miles. Lancashire hill farming was a typical way of life for most families throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with the last farmhouse being inhabited up until 1960.  

Elizabeth Webley, Director of Wildwood Days, said: 

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"We are so happy and excited to be able to work with the local community on this project. The Lost Farms of Brinscall Moors are a unique part of our landscape but they are often unnoticed by visitors. This funding means we can really bring this rich local history to life and record people's memories of Lancashire hill farming for posterity". 

The Landladies of Morecambe, Lancashire, £10,000 

The grant will fund a project by local organisation Morecambe Heritage, which will create 20 oral histories, 12 films, an exhibition at Morecambe Heritage Centre and further web articles exploring the lives and stories of the landladies (and landlords) who ran bed and breakfasts in Morecambe up until the 1980s, when it was a favourite holiday destination for working class families from Northern England and Scotland. Famed for their no-nonsense reputation, gruff manner and strict rules and regulations, there are many stories about Morecambe’s landladies and landlords from the experiences of holidaymakers over the decades. Through searching out landladies and landlords, their children and customers, and through interviewing them and recording their memories, the project will aim to record this valuable working-class archival information before it is lost forever.  

People of Jane Pit, Workington, Cumbria, £24,000

Through film, digital trail, minecraft 3d models, DigVentures will work with young people to reveal and celebrate the contribution that miners made to the Workington's history and development.

Work to build 685 homes on the former Brackley Golf Course is set to start as Countryside & Bellway were given the green light by Salford Council.

Salford Council Planning Officers green-lit the plans which will see the developers working in collaboration on the site in Little Hulton, Salford, with Bellway delivering 343 homes and Countryside 342 homes that will range from two- bedroom semi-detached to four- bedroom detached houses.

Countryside will follow a mixed- tenure approach for their share, with homes being built for private sale and for rent, all of which will be built off-site at Countryside’s modular factory in Warrington.

Bellway will start construction of its new build homes later in the year, delivering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties from its stunning Artisan Collection.  Carefully considered, each Bellway home will benefit from luxury design features, boasting a superior internal and external specification.

As part of the development, the developers will be investing over £6million into the local community. This includes almost £2million in education contributions to local schools, over £3million for off site open space, as well as improvements to pedestrian infrastructure, public transport facilities and Amblecote Playing Fields.

Joe Turner, Managing Director, Manchester and Cheshire East, Countryside commented:

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“We are delighted to be partnering with Bellway Homes to repurpose the vacant premises into brand new contemporary housing for Greater Manchester. The significant wider community investment will also ensure that the benefits of this development are extensive and far-reaching.

“Our continued commitment to our partnership model enables us to deliver the homes that people need in the areas that need them most. Together, we will create a sustainable community where people will love to live.”

 

Stuart Gray, Managing Director at Bellway Manchester, adds:

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 “The plans to redevelop Brackley Golf Course with Countryside are impressive.  We are very much looking forward to getting started on site, bringing our Artisan Collection homes to Little Hulton.”

Work on Countryside’s homes will start imminently with first completions expected to be in April 2023.