British Transport Police have released a CCTV image (which we have removed from this article because we have been told the person is a minor) of a person of interest that they wish to talk too in connection with an assault which happened at Swinton Train Station.

The 16-year-old victim was sat waiting with a friend waiting for a train when two other girls entered the station and stood on the same platform.

A verbal altercation between the two groups ensued and the two girls left the station.

A short while later they returned and one of the girls began attacking the victim. She repeatedly punched the victim in the head before pulling her to the ground and kicking her body and head.

The attack continued as the girl pulled the victim across the platform by her hair and stamped on her head several times. The assault stopped when the driver of an incoming train intervened.

Officers believe the girl in the CCTV image may have vital information which could help their investigation.

If you recognise her, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 622 of 22/04/22.

Police erected a cordon around Eccles Parish Churchyard after reports that a man thought to be in his early twenties had been stabbed in the leg at around 7:25pm on Tuesday 14th June.

Eyewitnesses claim that the man was taken to hospital for treatment after being treated at the scene.

It is currently unknown as to the severity of his condition but is believed to be serious.

The whole churchyard was cordoned off with police focusing their searches around a bicycle which has been left on the footpath which cuts through it.

The same churchyard was previously the scene of another stabbing which happened on Monday 6th June, during which a man was slashed with a knife leaving him requiring 20 stitches.

Anthony Leather aged 46-years-old, of Southway, Eccles, made an appearance at Manchester magistrates' court on Monday after he was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife.

The case was adjourned until July 18 at Manchester Crown Court.

It is unclear as yet if the incidents are related.

A GMP spokesperson, said:

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"At around 7.25pm on 14/06/22, police were called a report of a male stabbed on Church Street, Eccles. Officers have attended and established that a male had sustained injuries and was subsequently taken to hospital.

"A full investigation is now being conducted."

 

Two men from Irlam have been charged with drug offences after police had to evacuate homes on Neville Drive in the town when they discovered what they considered to be an explosive device during a raid on a premises on the street.

The device was later confirmed to be a firework by Army Bomb Disposal experts who were called to the scene.

Liam Phoenix, 22, of Princess Avenue, Irlam, has been charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possession of cannabis with the intent to supply.

Jake Twist, who is also 22, of Neville Drive, Irlam, was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and possession of a bladed or sharply pointed article.

Both have been remanded to appear at court today.

Hurray and Huzzah, a parp on the trumpet and a roll on the linoleum as I am pleased to announce that my, Magical, Mystical, Hysterical, Historical tour of Eccles will take place on Sunday, 31st July 2022.

The walk more of a limp actually will commence at Eccles Railway Station, Church Street at 12pm and finish in a pub for fun, frolics, a quiz and perhaps food?

Some people are under the impression that this is a pub crawl around Eccles...No Sirree, far from it, we shall have a pint or a half in The Lamb, roughly the halfway stage and finish in the Albert Edward for the quiz, which may or may not have prizes.

But what will I learn on this educational walk I hear you scream from behind your tightly, drawn curtains, bear with me and I shall spill the beans, not all of them, you have to join the rest of the curious rabble on the tour.

You will stand slack jawed in amazement as you learn about horrific train crashes, fatalities one in particular a first in the world, who would put arsenic in the local beer causing deaths galore, men and women, mainly women to be honest, rampaging mobs, hell bent on smashing up shops and pubs, secret tunnels, body snatchers, millionaires, foul mouthed Mynah birds, 'orrible suicides, long gone, shops, cinemas, pubs, the cholera mass burial pit, Eccles Cross it's origins and mishaps, Fred Engels and his chums, the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, Beatlemania (The Kinks) as screaming girls pursue pop stars wielding scissors, Eccles race course, yes we did have one, Eccles cakes and a bizarre death by a lightning bolt...need I go on?

Know here is the good bit where you the reader can feel better about yourself, I intend charging a measly £5 for this two hour extravaganza or if your tight chuck what you can afford in to the collecting bucket wielded by my bodyguard Karl, all of the money raised will be split between the Mustard Tree foodbank and Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre on Liverpool Road, Patricroft, who both do sterling work helping those less fortunate in our community, and disgraceful in my opinion that we need foodbanks in this day and age..

Also if you have any spare tins of food lurking at the back of the cupboard, pasta, toiletries etc please bring them along and they will be shared with the foodbanks.

I think I have covered everything, the last walk before Covid struck attracted lots and lots of people, a bit too many as I had to shout through a rolled up newspaper so I could be heard, perhaps it could be limited to, shall we say 25 people?

Let me know what you think and try and keep it clean, children these pages, so weather and the police permitting we set sail at 12pm from Eccles Railway Station. 

See you there.

Picture This will run from Saturday 23 July until Sunday 30 October 2022

The evocative world of children’s literature and theatre is being explored at a major new exhibition running from July to October 2022 at The Lowry in Salford.

Picture This will feature six popular children’s books that have a strong visual identity on the page and have also been vividly brought to life on stage.

Each section of the free family exhibition will include illustrations and artwork from the books – which range from much-loved modern works to iconic classics. Alongside will be filmed extracts from stage productions, with a variety of props, costumes, designs and posters.

Throughout there will be interactive opportunities for visitors to draw, write, perform, read and play and even devise their own production ideas. At the heart of the exhibition will be a stage, featuring daily readings of the featured books and many other titles, as well as performance, music-making and artist-led workshops.

The six books / productions featured in Picture This are:

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson; illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Presented on stage by Tall Stories

Coming to England by Floella Benjamin; illustrated by Diane Ewen. Presented on stage by Birmingham Rep, Floella Benjamin, Keith Taylor/Nicoll Entertainment.

Wild by Emily Hughes. Created by How It Ended and originally presented by Unicorn Theatre in association with How It Ended.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Presented on stage by Protein Dance. With exclusive new artwork by Chris Riddell.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; illustrated by Chris Riddell. Presented on stage by The Royal Opera House.

You Choose by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart. Presented on stage by Nonsense Room Productions.

Chris Riddell, Illustrator of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Little Prince says: 

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"I am delighted to be part of such an exciting family exhibition that celebrates both the power of children’s books and the sheer enjoyment of creativity. Alice in Wonderland and The Little Prince have long been enjoyed both on the page and stage and it is wonderful to see these experiences brought together by the Lowry for everyone to share." 

Diane Ewen, Illustrator of Coming to England says:

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“I’m hugely excited to be asked to contribute to such an amazing exhibition to celebrate Coming to England in a phenomenally respected gallery such as The Lowry.  As an artist and illustrator, who has visited and loved art galleries forever, I can’t wait for everyone to see this exhibition.” 

Michael Simpson, The Lowry’s Director of Visual Arts says:

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“It has been fun and exciting to work with so many creative storytellers, illustrators and theatre companies on this exhibition.  We are so grateful to them, and to Macmillan Children’s Books, Flying Eye and Puffin Books, for their ideas, support and enthusiasm.”

Situated on the waterside, at the heart of Salford Quays, The Lowry is an award-winning venue housing two major theatres, extensive art galleries and a range of public spaces including cafes, bars, a restaurant and shop. The Quays is also home to MediaCity, which includes Imperial War Museum North and bases for the BBC and ITV Studios.

The Lowry art galleries are free to everyone and display the famous LS Lowry Collection, alongside a vibrant programme of special exhibitions. Bringing visual arts and performance together are central to The Lowry’s exhibition and engagement programmes.

Picture This and the accompanying programme is committed to ensuring it features and celebrates a diverse cast of characters, stories, authors, illustrators and performers.

For more information on Picture This, and The Lowry, please visit https://www.thelowry.com

A man from Salford has been jailed following a fatal collision in North Rode on Christmas Day in 2019.

Nathaniel Ritchie, 34, of St Pauls Road, Salford, was sentenced to three and a half years on Thursday 9 June at Chester Crown Court.

He was found guilty of dangerous driving by unanimous decision at a previous hearing.

The court heard how Ritchie was driving an Audi RS5 on the A536 Macclesfield Road to buy some soft drinks after celebrating Christmas at his home address.

On leaving his home, Ritchie realised the shop he was intending to travel to was likely to be closed due to it being Christmas Day.

He decided to turn around and travel to a petrol station in Congleton.

It was when Ritchie drove back along the A536 he travelled at speed on a left-hand bend, veering into the opposite side of the carriageway colliding with a white Volkswagen Up.

The Volkswagen was being driven by 46-year-old Lakshmi Basford, from Rainow, who tragically died at the scene.

Ritchie was subsequently arrested and then later charged with dangerous driving.

Police Constable Nick Anderton, who led the investigation, said: 

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“The family of Lakshmi have been waiting over two years to receive justice following her tragic death.

“Christmas Day is a time for celebrating and being with your family – sadly Lakshmi’s family will never be able to experience this again due to Ritchie’s reckless actions.

“Ritchie has made Lakshmi’s family relive her last moments all over again by making them sit through a trial.

“I hope in some way this sentence that has been passed down by the courts to Ritchie will in some way help bring Lakshmi’s family some comfort knowing that he is now behind bars.

“Our thoughts remain firmly with Lakshmi’s family as they will continue to deal with the devastating outcome of this heart-breaking incident every day.”

 

Lakshmi’s family, who were present throughout the trial said 'No sentence passed can ever reflect the loss we continue to suffer' but wished to pass on their thanks to all officers involved in the investigation but in particular PC Anderton, PC Hilton (family Liaison Officer) and all at the prosecution team for bring them a sense of justice.

Paying tribute to their sister they added: 

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"Lakshmi was such a beautiful, kind and gentle lady who had many years of life to live. Our lives will never be the same and we miss her greatly."

Police are attending an incident on Chapel Street after a man scaled a crane in the early hours of this morning as part of a protest against what he claims was the cover up of a racist attack by a judge on behalf of GMP, claims that we hasten to add are unsubstantiated at this time.

Police support officers have been attempting to communicate with the protestor that we believe to be Mr John Omalley from Wigan, who has unfurled several banners at the top of the crane.

Mr Omalley has made unconfirmed claims via Facebook that he was prosecuted for defending his home against a number of men with knives, bats and screwdrivers after stopping drug dealers who were operating on a street corner across from his home.

John claims that as a result HE was arrested for violent disorder and prevented from returning home to his wife despite what he says were 18 witness statements from neighbours being used in evidence to support him.

Mr Omalley has staged protests before outside Wigan and Leigh Courthouse.

He, has declared his intention to stay up there for what could be weeks and is making claims of a coverup.

All workers at the site were sent home this morning, a cordon remains around the crane owned by the Heyrod construction company who are undertaking construction work on the site.

Police remain at the site this evening but could be there for some time to come.

Photo: Supplied via Facebook.

Police evacuated homes on Neville Drive in Irlam after discovering a potentially explosive device during a raid in relation to an assault which happened earlier today Monday (June 13th).

A cordon was put in place and police evacuated nearby homes as a precaution.

An army bomb disposal unit was seen to be attending at the scene with locals reporting that a robot had entered a home.

However, it was soon established to be a false alarm as the device turned out to be just a firework.

Locals were allowed back into their homes shortly afterwards.

Despite 91 objections and opposition from Salford's Mayor, MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP Barbara Keeley and members of the Womens Equality Party, controversial plans to open a branch of the controversial Hooters Bar at Salford Quays has been passed by planners.

The premises at number 3 Capital Quay was granted a licence to operate between the hours of 9am and 11:30pm seven days a week, after an initial plan to open until 1am was scaled back.

As part of the conditions of the licence there will be no external speakers allowed at the unit, the number of seats available inside will be no more than doubled and noise levels are required to be kept to a minimum so as not to disrupt nearby premises. Staff will also be required to collect litter on a regular basis from around the premises. No unaccompanied children will be allowed on the premises. Food and drink must be consumed within the premises with no seating allowed outside.

The Hooters chain has been accused of outdated views which exploit and objectify women by campaigners, who include Male Allies Against Sexism, Yes Matters, WomanChester and the Women's Equality Party.

Proponents in favour of the Bar claim that the Hooters brand empowers and celebrates beautiful strong women.

Regardless, it was the law which decided the outcome with Salford Council required to consider the application in a process set out in legislation.

The panel determined that the venue should be granted a licence.

Panel Chair, Councillor John Warmisham, said:

Quote

 

"There has been considerable public interest in the application for the opening of a Hooters bar and restaurant at Salford Quays. Salford City Council’s Licensing Panel considered the application on Friday 10 June.

"Salford City Council as a licensing authority has a requirement by law to process a premises licence application. The process is set out in legislation and government guidance with opportunities for interested parties to make representations.

"The decision to grant or refuse a premises licence application or the imposition of any conditions to a licence must be within the parameters of the licensing objectives. Opinion and personal choice are not relevant or legitimate reasons to refuse an application and decisions are made by the Licensing Panel after careful consideration."

 

A poll undertaken on our own social media page indicates that just 16% of those asked if the chain should be allowed to open a bar and restaurant in Salford said No, with 32% in favour and a majority 51% saying they were Not Fussed. The majority of votes overall were cast by women with just 11 cast by women placed in the No category. 

Admittedly the number of votes cast was not proportionate to Salford as a whole but it is interesting indicator to see a large number of women openly in favour.

Robbie Williams will go on tour later this year bringing his high-octane shows to cities across the UK and Ireland.

TICKETS GO ON PRE-SALE THIS WEDNESDAY & GENERAL SALE THIS FRIDAY

Last week Robbie announced his new album ‘XXV’, out on 9 September (available to pre-order now). The record features many of his greatest hits and fan favourites, all re-recorded and newly orchestrated with the Metropole Orkest. Opening with two nights at London’s The O2, the autumn arena tour will be a joyous celebration of Robbie’s 25 years as a solo artist. The tour will then take in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin.

Fans who pre-order the album from the official Robbie Williams store by 3pm on Tuesday 14 June will receive access to a special ticket pre-sale on Wednesday 15 June. The pre-sale starts at 9am for 48 hours. General sale tickets are available from 9am on Friday 17 June.

Official Robbie Williams Premium VIP Hospitality Packages are available exclusively from markbutler.co.uk or via telephone 020 7603 6033. Hotel, ticket and merchandise packages are available exclusively from Event Travel (eventtravel.com) or via telephone 08444 721 222.

The full list of tour dates is -

9 October – The O2, London
10 October – The O2, London
15 October – Resorts World, Birmingham
19 October – AO Arena, Manchester
21 October – AO Arena, Manchester
24 October – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
25 October – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
29 October – 3Arena, Dublin

As well as featuring countless Number 1 smash hit singles which have been newly orchestrated by Jules Buckley, Guy Chambers and Steve Sidwell, and re-recorded with the acclaimed Metropole Orkest in The Netherlands, ‘XXV’ also features several brand new tracks. Both the standard and deluxe albums will include what is sure to be an instant classic, ‘Lost’, while the deluxe album will feature three more original tracks – ‘Disco Symphony’, ‘More Than This’, and ‘The World And Her Mother’. The new version of ‘Angels’ was released last week and was performed by Robbie during the half-time show at this year’s Soccer Aid, which took place on Sunday.

 
The track listing for ‘XXV’ also includes the iconic songs ‘Let Me Entertain You’, ‘Millennium’, ‘Strong’, ‘No Regrets’, ‘She’s The One’, ‘Kids’, ‘Rock DJ’, ‘Feel’, ‘Come Undone’ and many more. The album is another huge milestone in the glittering career of one of the world’s most decorated artists. Robbie has six of the Top 100 best-selling albums in British history, has sold a huge 80 million albums worldwide, achieved 14 Number 1 singles and a record 18 BRIT Awards – more than any other artist in music history. His most recent album, ‘The Christmas Present’, secured Robbie his 13th UK Number 1 album when released in 2019 - equalling Elvis Presley’s chart record as the solo artists with the most UK Number 1 albums. Robbie’s total chart-topping albums across his solo work and with Take That is 17, placing him in the top three acts of all time with the most Number 1s across their catalogue.

https://robbiewilliams.com

A 31-year-old man required stitches after an attack which happened at St Mary's Church grounds in Eccles at around 5:45pm on Monday 6th June.

Police say the offender used a knife to slash the face of his victim, which led to him requiring 20 stitches.

Anthony Leather aged 46-years-old and from Eccles, was charged with wounding with Intent to cause GBH and possession of a bladed article.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates on Monday 13th June.

Photo: Via Facebook

Salford City Council has spoken out and is backing tenants who are living in two extra care schemes that are due to close.

Deputy City Mayor, Councillor John Merry – has sent an open letter to the chief executive of ForHousing reiterating that the council is ‘opposed to the current plan to decommission Monica Court and Astley Court’.

Elderly tenants in the schemes were told by ForHousing just over a week ago that they plan to close the two schemes and rehouse tenants over the coming years.

Moncia Court is in Monton and Astley Court is in Irlam.

Councillor John Merry, who is also the lead member for adult services, health and well-being said:

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“The decision to close these two extra care schemes is an absolute disgrace and we stand with the people who lives in them, their families and loved ones. The people who live in these schemes need a high level of care and they absolutely deserve to live in their homes they are comfortable in, in peace.

“It is totally unacceptable that ForHousing made this decision without any agreement from the city council . In fact senior council officers and politicians were not even invited to the meeting where residents were told. We understand that eventually these two extra care schemes would need to be phased out, but not when there is no new provision being available in the localities.

“Now a job advert has been placed by ForHousing to decommission the homes which shows they have little regard for local people and their care.

“ForHousing need to reconsider this decision. This has caused tenants and their families much distress. Any decisions should be made in consultation with tenants, some of whom are over 100 years old and some who have lived in their homes since the early 1990s.”

 

Residents at Monica Court recently held a party to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Alan, 75 from Swinton, says writing his personal biography has helped him find a new lease of life.

The life of an older person struggling with mental health problems has been transformed over the pandemic, all thanks to writing his life story book.

Alan, 75 from Swinton, completed his life story book with the support of The Salford Older Adult Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service, part of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH).

Many older people have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic and are reporting much higher than normal levels of mental distress.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the proportion of older people reporting symptoms of depression has doubled across the course of the pandemic; whilst research by Age UK has found that a third of older adults feel more anxious than before. Many older people have also reported feeling afraid to leave their home, being more withdrawn, and losing confidence and motivation.

Age UK research has also highlighted the impact of bereavement during the pandemic on older people; with many having lost loved ones without being able to say goodbye or grieve with family and friends.

The Salford Older Adult service at GMMH provides a variety of one-to-one and group talking therapies to older people across Salford who are experiencing a range of difficulties, including depression and anxiety, bereavement and loss, coping with physical health or cognitive changes, and loss of confidence due to reduced mobility.

The team knew that working creatively would be key to supporting service users at this difficult time.

They quickly adapted their ways of working, switching from face-to-face appointments to telephone and virtual sessions, using tools such as artificial intelligence smart speaker technology (although safe face-to-face sessions did continue for those who needed them).

This meant that vital contact at a time of increased isolation continued; and many service users like Alan were able to see an improvement in their mental health.

At the start of the pandemic, Alan experienced poor mental health, following the decline of his physical health due to Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

He said:

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“I’ve really enjoyed my life, but this all changed when I was diagnosed with MS. I went from being so active to totally losing my mobility.

“I was very depressed. I would just lie on my bed staring at the ceiling.”

 

However, Alan’s mental health quickly started to improve after his GP referred him to the Salford Older Adults team at GMMH, where he embarked on a project to write his life story book with Dorinda Farrington, Senior Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at GMMH.

Alan said:

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“It’s been an amazing experience to work with Dorinda to write my life story book. I’ve really looked forward to our conversations each week. And during the pandemic when we couldn’t meet in person, we were still able to meet virtually. It’s kept me going.

“The process has really helped with my memory. We went right the way back to when I was basically a baby. We’d go into a session expecting to talk about one thing, and that would spark another memory that I’d long forgotten about. I’d end up sharing so many different stories – some funny and happy, some more difficult. But all worth talking about.

“It also helped me to connect with friends and family members. We would reminisce together over past antics, and they would even call me to tell me about thing things they had found in their attics – old receipts, photos and relics. It was great to chat about something different, other than my physical ailments or coronavirus.”

 

Research shows that writing a life story book can improve older peoples’ mental wellbeing, mood, self-esteem and life satisfaction.[1]

Alan said:

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“Writing my life story book has helped me to put things into perspective. There’s no point worrying or getting upset about things you can’t change, you just have to get on with life.

“For anyone else out there who is struggling with their mental health, don’t give up. Get help, talk about what is on your mind, and treasure every day. You might surprise yourself how much you have to offer others and how it can improve your own mood. One quote that inspires me is: Live everyday as if it’s your last, because one day you’ll be right!”

 

Dorinda Farrington, Senior Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at GMMH said:

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“Life story books can help people to make better sense of their past and how different events and situations have affected their life, which can be beneficial in their mental health recovery journey.

“A life story book can also be a powerful tool to give others a greater understanding of the older person and the life they have lived. It can be a personal gift to be treasured by younger generations.

“I was truly fortunate to have met and shared this time with Alan. Listening, learning, and appreciating his unique story was a wonderful and memorable experience. I feel honoured to have been privileged to pen this book, actively encourage him to be creative, and help him get back his zest for life. He is an inspirational man.”

 

If you are struggling with your mental health, support is available. Visit www.gmmh.nhs.uk to find out more about local support services available to you; or speak with your GP. A free mental health support helpline is also available, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you live in Bolton, Manchester, Salford or Trafford you can call 0800 953 0285, or for Wigan call 0800 051 3253.

A cocaine dealer from Weaste became the latest to be rumbled by Salford's anti-gang cops after he was jailed yesterday for nearly three years.

Luke Oliver (28) became one of the 300 people arrested by GMP's Operation Naseby disruption taskforce that has helped drive down shootings in the city by over 70% since its inception two years ago after over 300 car seizures, nearly 130 house searches, and around 50kilos of drugs recovered.

Officers stopped a black Volkswagen Golf in April when they spotted cash and observed that Oliver – the sole occupant of the car – appeared nervous and looked as though he had taken drugs.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle – under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act – police officers found five snap bags of white powder that Oliver said was ketamine, as well as three mobile phones.

Further more, a search of an apartment linked to Oliver uncovered nearly £2500 of cash and a plethora of drugs worth an estimated total of around £18,600; including 25 grams of cocaine, 287 grams of ketamine, and 123 grams of cannabis as well as MDMA, LSD, and diazepam.

Police say he was charged and convicted of possession with intent to possession of class A, B, and C drugs with intent to supply, and yesterday was sentenced to two years and 10 months imprisonment.

It is the latest case that has seen Op Naseby officers bring to justice organised criminals who have been sentenced to almost 70 years’ worth of custodial sentences, with many others being recalled to prison or receiving criminal behaviour orders requiring them to continue abiding by strict conditions following their release from custody.

GMP said:

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Our commitment to maintaining the crackdown on weapons, criminals, drugs and their assets is hoped will continue to drive down violent crime on our streets even further as our work sustains without relent.

We've been able to conduct well over 100 house searches in the last year thanks to intelligence we have received from the public, and we continue to urge anyone with information or concerns to contact us online via LiveChat, if able, or by calling 101.

 

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

The Greater Manchester Fringe Festival returns for its 11th year. It's back in its original summer slot from Friday 1st until Sunday 31st July with exciting shows and premieres across multiple venues.

Over the years, The Greater Manchester Fringe has become a hotbed of new performers and writers, with many showcasing their work ahead of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and this year promises to be no different.

The programme of events is packed with over 100 productions, including drama, comedy, music, mime, children's shows, storytelling, puppetry, visual arts, spoken word, walking tours, running tours and lots of fabulous performers, at affordable ticket prices. In addition, some of the shows are free to offer access to a non-traditional theatre-going audience.

Over the years, people have performed fringe shows in all sorts of unusual spaces, including camper vans, tents, Roman forts and even in a crypt - weird and wonderful settings are always encouraged.

Lisa Connor, Director of The Greater Manchester Fringe:

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"Some of the greatest performers, actors, poets, bands, artists and creative writers have come from the North West, so it is fitting to have our Fringe Festival in Greater Manchester as a host for exciting, emerging talent. We can't wait to see all the exciting shows lined up for next month."

There certainly is something for everyone at this year's Fringe. To browse through the listings and/or book tickets, visit: https://www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk

Salford residents are invited to a free family event this weekend to celebrate the reopening of one of the city’s key cycling and walking routes.

The Swinton Greenway, a 7km off-road path that runs from Monton Road in Monton to the A6 Manchester Road in Swinton, will be re-launched to residents following a near £6m transformation at an action-packed celebration on Saturday 11 June during Bike Week 2022.

The event will run from 11am to 3pm, taking place off Overdale in Swinton and offer a range of activities to keep the family entertained, such as trying out an electric bike on the route, a pump track, boogie bikes, smoothie bikes, a 70s-themed street performance and children’s craft-making tent.

The route has been significantly upgraded to make it more attractive, safer and accessible for all, whether its for cyclists, commuters, dog walkers or wheelchair users.

Upgrades include widening the route up to 3.5m for 5km of the path to allow more users than before, new motion-detection sensor lighting to ensure trips are well lit, all year round, and the route now offers over 30 different entrances to open it up and connect it to more communities living nearby.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“The revamped Swinton Greenway will be used and loved by cyclists and walkers alike.

“As someone who enjoys cycling and walking, I know that this upgraded route has massive potential to revolutionise the way residents travel between Swinton and Monton and is an example of how we are delivering on our vision to make it easier and safer for cyclists and walkers to get about in our city.

“I am very excited to formally launch Swinton Greenway at Saturday’s event and head out on to this stunning route where I am sure that I will be joined by many other fellow residents keen to make use of this wonderful asset as we head into the summer.”

 

Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, said:

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“Well-connected, safe and accessible routes are vital to getting more people to walk, cycle or wheel for everyday trips.

“Swinton Greenway is a superb scheme that will enable more people to leave the car at home and choose to travel on foot or by bike. Using this new route to replace an existing vehicle journey with an active one will help people build activity back into their days, improving both physical and mental health in the process, as well as reducing congestion and even saving people money. These improvements have also made the space more enjoyable for a leisurely stroll or cycle, with three impressive artworks and plenty of benches and green space to have a picnic.

“I would encourage people to get down to the event on Saturday to celebrate the launch of the scheme and give these new paths a go."

 

Nearby schools will have direct access onto it including Monton Green and Springwood primary schools, Eccles College, Oakwood Academy, and Chatsworth High Schools and Community College meaning schoolchildren and parents can make safer and more sustainable journeys more easily.

Artwork has also been installed off Overdale to commemorate the historical significance of the route being on a disused railway line and further pieces are present off Monton Road and near Campbell Road field to create an attractive leisure space with strong ties to its heritage.

Saturday’s festivities will include a wide range of activities on offer for families including:

Bicycle pump track

Smoothie & Boogie Bikes

Electric bike hire

Performances from 70s street act Kitsch Kafe

Children’s craft making

Bike repairs

Greenway walks with Manchester & Salford Ramblers & Bridgewater Canal guided tours

Information on keeping active

Mini-health checks from Salford Health Improvement

SALFORD’S city mayor was among a host of VIP guests invited to visit the newly unveiled show homes at the Spinners Quarter development in Pendleton. The event marks a milestone for Lovell Together, the joint venture between Lovell Partnerships and Together Housing Group.

Paul Dennett city mayor of Salford was joined by members of Salford City Council including deputy mayor and portfolio holder for housing, councillor Tracy Kelly and assistant director, Peter Openshaw to meet the Lovell Together delivery and sales teams, in advance of the opening of the show homes.

Located in close proximity to Salford city centre, this unique community has been created on what was once a thriving industrial site and is already proving hugely popular with house buyers.

Named in honour of the area’s rich textile history, Spinners Quarter will consist of 127 three- and four-bedroom mews and semi-detached modern, energy efficient properties – 17 of which will be affordable homes for social rent. This initial phase is part of a wider masterplan, which benefits from outline planning for more than 1,000 homes.

Lee Sale, regional managing director at Lovell Partnerships, said:

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“The launch of these show homes marks an important moment in this fantastic project. Redeveloping communities through partnerships is what Lovell is all about, and it was great to be able to welcome the city mayor, Paul Dennett, along with key members of Salford City Council to what is set to be one of the biggest regeneration projects in Greater Manchester.

“The scheme will not only provide much needed affordable housing but also rejuvenate the local area in line with the council’s vision. There are some great features on this site that will instil real pride in the area and improve desirability.”

 

The contemporary properties offer energy efficiency measures, on average, 52 per cent better than building regulation standards through enhanced fabric thermal improvements. Furthermore, a selection of the homes meet the internal space standards set by Lifetime Homes and more than 20 per cent of the affordable homes are designed with wheelchair accessible requirements in mind.

The scheme also centres on a high-quality public realm throughout the heart of the development and several innovative features such as a cycle street linking into wider Salford cycle routes, rain gardens – planted areas on the main street to help with natural drainage – and adjacent allotments.

Kevin Ruth, chief executive of Together Housing Group, said:

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“Together Housing Group has been operating in Salford for some years and it is great to continue to play an active role in making sure the area remains a great place to live.

“Working with partners like Lovell and Salford City Council is central to what Together Housing does and we look forward to continuing to work together.”

 

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said:

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“It is fantastic to see these new homes that, when fully complete, will provide high-quality, spacious homes including some that will be available through social rent. We are in the middle of a housing crisis and the demand for affordable homes is higher than ever and it is important that we work to address this.

“Salford is also pushing forward with ambitions to become a carbon neutral city by 2038 so it’s great to see energy efficient homes are being built here. These homes go way beyond national standards which is something we want to strive for in other parts of the city too.”

 

The Pendleton project will be delivered by the Lovell Together joint venture, which launched in 2020 and is set to deliver 3,000 new homes in the next five years. 

The JV vehicle will create much needed quality developments, form new communities and meet housing delivery targets across not only the North West but also the East Midlands, Yorkshire, and Humberside.  

For more information, please visit https://corporate.lovell.co.uk.

The new community garden is to celebrate the lives of those in the armed forces who have passed away. It is also intended to be a space where people can relax, reflect and take some time to think.

The garden, in the sunken gardens next to the Swinton Cenotaph, is being refurbished by Salford City Council in partnership with the Salford Veterans Association. 

It will feature four commemoration benches for Salford people who have received the Victoria Cross. They are Lance Sergeant Joseph Woodall, Sergeant Joseph Lister, Private William Norman and Private Henry George Crandon. 

Four flagpoles will proudly display the armed services flags. 

Councillors Margaret Morris and Barry Warner are armed forces champions at Salford City Council.

Councillor Morris said:

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“We are proud to work with the Salford Veterans Association to provide this memorial garden and community space. It will be an important space for our armed forces community and we’d like to thank them for all they do for us.”

Councillor Warner added:

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“When the memorial garden is opened we will have a fitting ceremony. Our fallen heroes will never be forgotten."

Saturday at The Irlam Live Show was once again a winner as a sold out crowd of 5,000 people, rolled back the years as they danced exuberantly bringing back memories of acid house raves, no dummies or Vic inhalers on show though...

The dance acts, Scratch, Manchester Ska Foundation, and Brutus Gold's Love Train were just was needed to get the crowd in the party mood, never seen so many youngsters getting involved and joining in, happiness was truly in the air.

N Trance didn't fail as they proved to be show stoppers and to hear their dance classics, Set You Free and Electronic Pleasure was treat for these tired ears, memories of Hacienda, Sankeys, Wigan Pier anyone? A superb live show.

Top of the bill was the delectable, Bananarama. sadly missing Siobhan Fahey, however they soon showed why the have been in the business since 1982 and still wowing the crowds.

Kicking off with, "Really Saying Something" they had the audience in the palms of their hands as their hits kept on coming, I looked around as they sang, "Robert De Niro's Waiting" and I swear everyone in the crowd was singing along word for word, and it is such a great, pop song.

Between 1982 and 2009, they had 30 singles reach the Top 50 of the UK Charts which is a staggering amount of record sales, Shy Boy, Nathan Jones, Cruel Summer, Help, Love in the First Degree, Venus, I Want You Back... and many, many more, the ideal show headliner who sent you home no doubt, still humming those songs.

I must mention the Grass Roots Stage which showcase local and sadly I missed Kingbird the new band from Fast Cars, Steve Murray, however Fast Cars are playing the Grass Roots Stage today, so be sure to catch them.

The band I did see perform there was a bunch of young lads in a band called Censored, I caught them by accident as I walked across the fields and heard, jangly guitar chords and thought it was a band playing Artic Monkeys songs, far from it these boys not only write and perform their own songs but do classic covers, their version of "Teenage Kicks" was a joy to listen to, and this is how it should be, 17 year boys who can certainly play their instruments, and are having fun at the same time, no pop star poses of histrionics, pure pop and pure fun.

Darren Goulden get these boys on the main stage next year, they are beyond excellent and are destined to be big...you heard it here first.

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We attended the second day of Irlam Live and the first we noticed was how big the crowd was, literally hundred and hundreds of music lovers, sat in their chairs, drinking dancing and adding to the general feel good party mood.

A mooch around the  stalls was good, with orderly queues for the various drinks outlets, with Kingsland Wines doing a roaring trade in Margarita Slushes, even a Salford Rum and Ginger Beer cocktail..Velocity Bars were doing a roaring trade with Karen and Jo keeping the customers happy with Holts Crystal lager being the best seller, and yes Jo gave me a free sample to try out.

Food from Greece, Indian, Chinese, Pizzas, Burgers, Hot Dogs and good to see Vegetarian choices, was sold throughout the day and night.

Once again the music was delight with Small Weller band being exceptional as they stormed through their set of Jam and Paul Weller material, highly recommended, The Bob Marley Experience soon had the crowd, skanking away at the front as the spirit of Bob floated over the crowd, a fine band indeed.

The Runaway Killers had a lead singer who was a dead ringer for Brandon Flowers and a voice to match, far too good looking for my liking..as to be expected Mr Brightside was the ultimate crowd pleaser with the audience, matching him word for word, a classy act.

Finally, NoOasis came on stage with the lead singer in a white smock jacket, probably Stone Island, swaggering about the stage, and adopting the Noel Gallagher hands behind back pose as he screamed out in a pure Manc voice the lyrics to Oasis's hits, he certainly had stage presence in spades and owned the stage for the entire set...Sorted I believe the word is.

A quick word about the barstaff and waiters in the VIP tent, for doing an amazing job, prompt and polite service as they put in a ten hour shift, take a bow, boys and girls you deserve it.

See you on Saturday then and feel free to buy Karl and I lager etc it's a hard job.