Salford’s deputy city mayor has stepped in to try to resolve a row at a care home over a delay in paying the real living wage to its staff and a host of other grievances.

The workers at the Heartly Green facility in Irlam staged a protest outside the home early on Friday morning (September 15) backed by their representatives  from the Unison union and deputy mayor Coun John Merry, who is also the city’s lead member for adult services.

A meeting took place later on Friday between management and some 60 staff at the home, but Unison representatives were not allowed in.

Heartly Green was taken over by Bradford-based Park Homes in October 2021. Unison branch organiser Jack Hannam Pearson said there had been ‘a marked decline’ in conditions for both staff and residents since the takeover.

He said: “Recent issues include un-contractual deductions of pay for breaks and mandatory training, as well as the employer’s failure to pass all of the recent Foundation Living Wage uplift on to staff, with many staff being owed significant sums of money.

“There have also been issues for residents of the home, where there have been leaks in bedrooms which have gone unfixed.”

Addressing the assembled care workers outside the home, Coun Merry said: “I don’t want to say too much, in case I am accused by Park Homes of prejudging the issues, but the fact remains that some of their behaviour is totally unacceptable.

“One of the things we [the city council] did was to implement the real living wage. The fact that this has been delayed here is absolutely appalling. 

“We made sacrifices in terms of the council budget and other services in order to ensure that you got properly paid.

“To actually just hold off on paying that is not acceptable to the council and it’s something we intend to chase up and make sure that it’s done.

“I wanted Matthew [Dickinson, another Unison branch organiser] in the meeting that you’re going to be having at 10am, but unfortunately they didn’t seem able to agree to that. I would’ve thought that that would’ve shown a degree of commitment on their part to the union and to proper negotiations.”

Speaking separately to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Coun Merry said: “It should never have reached stage. Park Homes should have negotiated property about some of the issues involved.

“The problem is the workforce doesn’t entirely trust them. Hopefully, we can resolve some of these issues, but I hope Park Homes can demonstrate that they are trustworthy. I am anxious to get this sorted out really.”

Responding to the allegations, Park Homes’ executive director of operations Phil Benson said: “We have recently introduced a new payroll and rostering system which has brought to light an issue with automatic deduction of paid breaks for some colleagues who it would appear have been paid breaks historically or have contractual entitlement. 

“This is a regrettable error on our part, and we are actively working with colleagues to ensure this is immediately corrected and resolved so it doesn’t happen again.”

He said that while that issue was being explored, further complaints from staff came to light regarding unpaid mandatory training.

Mr Benson continued: “This is an error on our part as all training at Heartly Green should be paid and we will actively work to resolve this for any affected members of staff.

“We pay our employees at Heartly Green the real living wage and implemented this on April 19 2023 which was our first pay period after April 1. 

“This is what the official guidelines advised we do. However, Salford city council has asked us to make this change from April 3 which we are fixing for this current pay period.

 “We are fully committed to resolving all of these issues for our colleagues and will actively work with all stakeholders to ensure a full resolution for affected team members.

“We have been continuously engaging with staff individually and at a group level and have offered to meet with them regularly and will continue to do so until we fully resolve these issues.”

Mr Benson continued by saying that Park Homes ‘does not formally recognise unions’. “Despite asking for a meeting informally with them to discuss issues, they declined,” he said.

“The meeting on Friday at 10am was not just about the issues staff had expressed but was also a general staff meeting which unions wouldn’t ever be invited to. We had to update the home on changes of leadership and changes and reminders of ways of working.

“In respect of the leaking ceiling, I have investigated this and would like to apologise that this wasn’t picked up quickly enough, our way of working that we have re-introduced to the home will ensure that the facilities ticketing system is used by the staff at the home to alert the central facilities team to any issues which require repair so they can book respective contractors to attend the service”.

The grade 2 listed former control tower of the Trafford Road Bridge, which spans the Manchester Ship Canal between Salford and Trafford, has been sold for a staggering £120,000, which was an incredible £70,000 more than the asking price.

The Three storey former bridge control tower was listed in 1987 and was described at auction as being in Shell condition suiting a variety of uses.

It was sold via an online auction earlier in the month, auctioneer 'Auction House Northwest' listed the property with a guide price of £50,000.

The swing bridge itself was originally single lane in both directions until the addition of a second fixed bridge to the side of it, at which point it carried 2 lanes of traffic northbound into Salford.

An engineering marvel of its time, it spanned 230 feet (70 meters) and weighed over 1,000 tons, making it one of the largest swing bridges in Europe at the time. Its intricate machinery, including powerful hydraulic engines, made it possible for the bridge to swing open smoothly, despite its colossal size.

The bridge was also equipped with a set of pedestrian walkways and at one time it carried trams which ferried in workers to the docks from neighbouring Trafford.

It is unclear as to what the property will be used for and the name of the buyer has not yet been disclosed. 

A series railway arches in the historic heart of Salford looks set to be converted into vibrant commercial outlets like mocrobreweries, bars, restaurants and cafes.

There could also be bespoke woodwork and furniture manufacturing, glass and ceramic production, bicycle repairs and retail floor space under plans from The Arch Company.

Its proposals are due for discussion at Salford’s planning and transportation regulatory panel meeting on Thursday (September 21), but are recommended for approval by city hall officers.

The arches are right in the middle of Greengate, an area undergoing intensive development and growth in the city.

A report to the panel says the plan is ‘borne out from the council identifying Greengate as a regeneration area suitable for comprehensive redevelopment and high-quality public realm opportunities’.

“One of the core aims is to deliver a successful and vibrant community which supports culture, heritage, active ground floor uses and public open spaces,” it says.

The application site consists of 10 vacant commercial railway arches fronting onto Norton Street.

Permission is being sought for a chance to provide retail, office, restaurant and cafes alongside light industrial ‘artisan’ uses.

Several representations have been received following publicity about the application.

One says the creation of drinking establishments and outdoor seating areas could lead to ‘excessive and intolerable noise and disturbance’ to homes nearby.

Concerns have also been voiced about raised voices, late-night drinkers, bottle banks and crowds.

“Even if bars/pubs close at 10pm, this will likely lead to people loitering outside for long periods of time,” said one.

The prospect of possible anti-social behaviour has also been mentioned.

Council officers argue that the planning application is accompanied by a noise assessment, reviewed and corroborated by the authority’s environmental consultant, who considers planning conditions can mitigate any effect on neighbours.

The Salford Walking Festival is back!

Offering residents the best way to explore the beautiful City of Salford with the added bonus of getting fit whilst doing it. 

Enjoy over 40 walks exploring Salford’s heritage, countryside, and rural areas. There are long, short, and differently themed walks to suit all abilities. Please note that some events may require booking.

To find out where and when the walks will be taking place and how you can get involved, download their leaflet here. 

Coming up on Wednesday 20th September, Salford Health Improvement Team are asking for the public to join them in a Walk For Wellness around Winton Park and the Incredible Education Community Forest and Cafe.

The walk is scheduled to take place between 2pm and 3pm and all abilities are welcome to join in.

Walkers are asked to meet at the entrance of Winton Park on Sutherland Street, M30 8BR.

A 27-storey block of purpose-built student accommodation looks set to be built on the site of the former McDonald’s regional head office in Salford – with the developer coughing up £1m for ‘specific projects’.

Plans for the development on an acre of land in Cross Lane include the demolition of the existing building which served as its North West HQ until 2020 have been recommended for approval when the planning and transportation regulatory panel meets on Thursday (September 21).

The applicant, Q Developments Ltd, will be asked to contribute £1m for schemes to be determined by the city council, as part of the approval, under what is known as a ‘section 106’ agreement.

The building would comprise of two masses – a 19-storey adjoined ‘shoulder’ and the main 27-storey tower – with a total of 538 bed spaces provided.

Pedestrians will gain access from Cross Lane, with a new landscaped plaza leading from the footway and a pelican crossing.

The proposal submitted by Q says the tower has been designed with a ‘clear and simple aesthetic’.

Q engaged in pre-application consultation with local community in January, with a leaflet distributed to 852 addresses near the site.

This resulted in a ‘statement of community involvement’ and in its summary of the responses there were concerns raised over existing issues with noise from students at the nearby McDonald’s restaurant and potential noise nuisance from student residents.

There were also fears over a possible loss of privacy from overlooking, impact on traffic flows and loss of views for residents of Albion Towers and Thorn Court.

Increased pressures on local services, including public transport capacity and healthcare provision were also issues of concern

The length of the consultation period was extended following criticism that it was too short.

But these objections are rebuffed in the report by planning officers which will be presented to councilors.

The application site is in zone four or ‘transport hub’ of the Crescent Development Framework (CDF) – intended to deliver a ‘successful and vibrant new city district’ – which was approved in 2021.

CDF will be ‘a landmark infrastructure project which reduces car dominance, connects communities and provides a hub for sustainable mass transit in Salford’, including integrated bus services, Metrolink services, mainline train services and cycle facilities.

Meanwhile, the city council planners have made recommendations following a crime impact statement for the area.

These include ‘appropriate glazing’, access controls, CCTV and intercoms and the provision of security staff or concierge.

Langworthy Live is a music festival like no other, featuring bands and music artists performing in the shops, businesses and community centres down Langworthy road and surrounding area.

To take part, all you need to do is buy a ticket for £5 plus 50p booking fee and you’ll be given a wristband on the night that will give you access to all venues across the festival weekend.

You can also invite your friends, family, neighbours and dog walkers to the best community party!

Local businesses and venues will serve as unique stages for live music from all genres.

The fun starts at 2pm and goes on until 11pm.

A full list of the entertainers is available via this link

Tickets available via this link

All ticket profits from Langworthy Live will go to support the Lifecentre, a Christian organisation who have been supporting the community of Langworthy for over 20 years.

They run breakfast clubs, counselling sessions, fitness groups and support the city with the Healthy Holidays project.

Salford City Council has helped part fund this project through their Community Grants scheme.

Those pesky Normans are setting up camp in Salford's beautiful Peel Park tomorrow (16th September) between 10am-4pm.

Historia Normannis will be bringing history in England to life, with a full day of medieval displays on what it was like to live during the 12th century.

The group prides itself as a society, bringing history to life in a historically accurate, engaging and exciting way. Their events and educational visits allow people to engage with history – seeing, feeling and hearing first-hand aspects of the lives and deaths of 12th-century people – Knights, freemen, craftsmen, ladies of the court and Barons of the realm.

From dynamic and exciting massed combat, knights displaying their prowess in the tourney, displays of archery, woodwork, metalworking, to the singing and music of the court of the time, Historia Normannis presents you the workings of 12th-century life, and offers a history lesson that you will never forget!

Come learn about the clothes, cuisine, crafts and combat of the times!

Entry to the event is FREE and all ages are welcome.

Catherine Sharkey, aged 83, has sadly passed away at her home address on Basten Drive, Salford on 11/09/2023.

It is said that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

Police officers investigating the death are appealing for information regarding next of kin.

If you can help police with their enquiries, please call the Coroner’s Office at 0161 856 4687.

The Diocese of Salford has announced plans to divest from BP PLC and Shell PLC, ending their direct investment in fossil fuels.

In a statement released the Diocese said

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"The Diocese our investments are guided by the principle of stewardship, putting our care for people and our common home at the centre of all that we do."

The Diocese added:

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“We are committed to being a responsible and active investor, using our influence to challenge companies to set ambitious targets and make the lasting change we need. As part of this commitment, we also regularly review our investments monitoring our impact and responding to changing landscapes.

In recent weeks it has become clear that both BP PLC and Shell PLC have altered their stance and are no longer ambitious enough in their decarbonisation pathways and transition plans. We would be failing in our duty to our common home and our brothers and sisters, if we decided not to act.

We must take a stand against companies that do not align with our principles and that put their profits ahead of the common good. We will therefore divest from both companies by the end of 2023.”

 

The decision ends their direct investment in fossil fuel production.

They say that they We will continue to use their voices to champion for dialogue, change, and action.

Parking restrictions are being imposed in a residential area close to Salford Quays as well as Ordsall Park – against the wishes of some living in the area.

A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) means there will be ‘no waiting at any time’ on West Craven Street, Greenwood Terrace and the surrounding area, following a decision by Salford city council’s lead member for planning, transportation and sustainable development Coun Mike McCusker.

The order is to address ‘indiscriminate parking problems’ caused by the flouting of existing double yellow lines in the area.

A report to a briefing meeting chaired by Coun McCusker said the most of the properties in the area have off-street parking with a private driveway, an allocated on-street parking bay, garage, or underground car park. 

Salford Quays and Primrose Hill Primary School are nearby and Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium is within walking distance. 

Coun McCusker was told that ‘temporary’ double yellow lines have been in place along nearby Greenwood Terrace since the development was constructed, but they are currently ‘not enforceable’, enabling households with more than one car to park while deterring other members of the public from leaving their vehicles there.

But the report said: “This arrangement cannot be maintained. Either these yellow lines must be enforceable, or removed.”

Coun McCusker said that the parking restrictions were necessary to allow bin collection lorries to have access to the streets.

An objector who lives in the area addressed the briefing and said that some people would feel forced to move house if they couldn’t park their second cars near their homes.

“There have been attacks on people in that area,” he said. “If people have to walk a long way in the dark to get to and from their cars, it will be very dangerous.”

He also said it ‘wasn’t practical’ for people to be expected to have only one car.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that parking in the area was a particular problem on days when Manchester United are playing at home. 

“Sometimes, it’s terrible round here when United are playing,” she said. “It’s been a problem round here for a long time.”

Despite three objectors to the plan, Coun McCusker imposed a permanent TRO on West Craven Street and Greenwood Terrace and further TROs at the junctions of Groves Avenue, Markendale Place and Hulton Square.

The 40th anniversary production of Michael's Frayn's multi award-winning farce, Noises Off is heading out on a major UK tour this autumn, following a sell-out West End season at the Phoenix Theatre earlier this year. Directed by Lindsay Posner, the touring production will star Liza Goddard as Dotty Otley, Matthew Kelly as Selsdon Mowbray and Simon Shepherd as Lloyd Dallas. They will be joined on tour by Simon Coates as Frederick Fellowes, Lucy Robinson as Belinda Blair, Daniel Rainford as Tim Allgood, Dan Fredenburgh as Garry Lejeune, Lisa Ambalavanar as Brooke Ashton and Nikhita Lesler as Poppy Norton-Taylor. Noises Off will be at The Lowry, Salford from Tuesday 17th – Saturday 21st October.

Noises Off will opened at Birmingham Rep on 23 August for three weeks, before touring to a further 13 cities nationwide until 13 January 2024 including: Newcastle, Bath, Truro, Blackpool, Poole, Salford, Guildford, York, Norwich, Aberdeen, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Chichester. Further dates and casting for 2024 to be announced.

One of the greatest British comedies ever written, Michael Frayn's celebrated play serves up a riotous double bill, a play within a play. Hurtling along at breakneck speed, Noises Off follows the on and offstage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through the fictional farce, 'Nothing On'. From the shambolic final rehearsals before opening night in Weston-super-Mare, to a disastrous matinee in Ashton-Under-Lyme seen entirely, and hilariously silently, from backstage, we share their final, brilliantly catastrophic performance in Stockton-on-Tees.

Liza Goddard's extensive stage comedy credits include Life of Riley, Communicating Doors, Season's Greetings and Relatively Speaking. Matthew Kelly won the Olivier Award for Of Mice and Men and his West End credits include Waiting for Godot, Comedians and Troilus and Cressida. Simon Shepherd's many stage and TV credits include Peak Practice and West End productions of Posh, The Duck House, Rapture, Art and Hay Fever.

Hailed as the master of farce comedy, multi award-winning playwright and novelist Michael Frayn has inspired a generation of comedies since his production of Noises Off first opened in 1982. Now considered a comedy classic, Frayn's legendary play has enjoyed staging's worldwide, including five productions in the West End and three on Broadway.

The 40th anniversary production also returns to the West End in September playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket with Felicity Kendal, Jonathan Coy and Alexander Hanson reprising their roles. The West End production will run concurrently with the touring production.

Noises Off is written by Michael Frayn. Directed by Lindsay Posner, with design by Simon Higlett, lighting by Paul Pyant, sound by Gregory Clarke, composition by Will Stuart, movement and fight direction by Ruth Cooper-Brown and casting by Ginny Schiller. The Associate Director is George Jibson. Produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association with Birmingham Rep.

Noises Off is at The Lowry, Salford from Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st October 2023.

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

In the week that marks 10 years since the first episode of Peaky Blinders aired on the BBC, The Lowry, Salford announces the return of Rambert’s hit dance production Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby next year.

The show will return to The Lowry from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th October 2024.

In addition, going from stage to screen, Rambert will also unveil a new dance theatre film Peaky Blinders: Rambert Dance which will be aired on the BBC later in the year, following a limited cinema release.

Created by writer Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders has become a household name across the world.

Inspired by the TV series produced and owned by Caryn Mandabach Productions, the explosive and exhilarating performance has been adapted for the stage by Steven Knight and choreographed and directed by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer.

Featuring the full Rambert dance company and an iconic Peaky soundtrack from a live on-stage band, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby showcases exhilarating and athletic dance combined with electrifying music.

It tells the story of love and loss at the end of World War One through the lens of the Peaky Blinders and main protagonists Tommy Shelby and Grace Burgess.

Having included exclusive plot and characters never seen on screen, Steven Knight opens the story in the trenches of The Somme in 1916 to tell a personal story of post-war industrial Birmingham, where the Shelby family navigate the decisions that determine their fate and Tommy is intoxicated by mysterious newcomer, Grace. 

While Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy’s gang. As the story unfolds, hearts are broken and revenge is sought, in a script that is spoken by Birmingham-born writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah who played street preacher Jeremiah Jesus in the TV series.

Fans of Peaky Blinders may have spotted guest appearances of Rambert in Episode 4 of Season 5, when Tommy Shelby invites the dance company to perform at his wife’s birthday party.

The collaboration between Peaky Blinders and Rambert becomes full circle as the stage adaptation pivots to the screen later in the year on the BBC, following a limited cinema release.

Rambert in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is presented in association with BBC and will be broadcast on BBC 4 later this year.

Inspired by the television series Peaky Blinders created by Steven Knight and produced by Caryn Mandabach Productions, it is supported by The Space, Arts Council England and Birmingham Hippodrome, with thanks to The Lowry.

Co-produced by North South, the Executive Producers on the screen adaptation are Helen Shute, Steven Knight, Caryn Mandabach, Emma Cahusac and Fiona Morris.

Having written and adapted the production for Rambert, Peaky Blinders writer and creator Steven Knight said: “I’m absolutely thrilled the Peaky/Rambert collaboration has been such a resounding success. So many people came to see the show and so many of them were new to live dance, which is why we all wanted to do this.

“By popular demand the show is back on the road in the UK in places the first tour didn’t reach. Next, it’s Europe, then the world.

“Now that our friends at the BBC and North South have captured the performance with such creativity and panache, we hope that more people will enjoy this phenomenal new template

in how TV becomes stage then stage becomes TV again.’

Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer, who choreographed and directed the production said: “As a company, we are so proud of the success of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby and are excited to see its return.

“Having had the opportunity of presenting this work to audiences across the UK, I’m excited for even more people to see it on stage and screen.“As a choreographer, I love that I get to tell these stories through movement, and recreate these iconic characters through dance, in collaboration with a talented creative team that includes Steven Knight.

“Rambert is one of the world’s most diverse companies of dancers, and I’m proud that we present adventurous, dynamic and daring work that inspires audiences, locally, nationally and internationally.”

In just over a week, the first of the region's bus services to be run under public control in nearly 37 years will be hitting the streets of Greater Manchester.

Today (13th September), activists at Better Buses for Greater Manchester have released the full list of services coming under public control from Sunday the 24th.

The list contains over 180 services and was made available through a Freedom of Information Request to Transport for Greater Manchester [1].

The majority of newly publicly controlled services will be within Bolton and Wigan, but some services travel as far as Rochdale, Manchester City Centre and beyond [2].

Other services across the Greater Manchester region are due to come into public control from 2024.

Some of the changes public control is bringing are increased frequencies on over 40 services, including the Leigh Guided Busway [3]. They will also see Matthew Topham, a campaigner at Better Buses for Greater Manchester, said:

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"It's fantastic to see the hard work of local people, unions, climate groups, and civil society pay off.

"This list shows us 180 ways Greater Manchester will now work for people and planet, not just profit.

"For too long, bus services were run in the interests of private companies in an extreme Thatcherite experiment: services were axed, corners cut on reliability, and fares ever rising. All for the benefit of shareholders who don't live in the region.

"This is the beginning of a process where the people of Greater Manchester are winning for themselves a network that is run by and for the region's residents, not fat cats overseas."

 

The full list of services coming into public control on Sunday 24th is below:

A pioneering cleantech company is set to unveil its prototype flatpack home built using sustainable and advanced materials after undergoing testing at a ground-breaking research facility in Greater Manchester.

Vector Homes is working with Energy House 2.0, part of the University of Salford, to develop its new rapid-build housing system.

The prototype is a low-carbon, one-bedroom bungalow measuring 40sq metres which has been constructed using recycled materials, including steel and plastics, as well as advanced materials such as graphene.

Vector is designing affordable, energy efficient homes with features including low-embodied carbon materials, infra-red heating, solar cells, breathable mould-resistant plaster and render, as well as embedded technology to provide smart environmental controls that efficiently measure and control the temperature, humidity and air quality in each room.

Its homes are designed for rapid production and assembly. Vector is looking to mass manufacture homes in a range of shapes and sizes which are sold as flatpacks to be built by a small team of people.

By incorporating graphene into the structures, the panels used in the construction of a Vector home have improved tensile strength, a greatly-reduced flame spread and increased UV resistance. Vector has worked with the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre to develop ways of incorporating the material into its housing systems.

Vector is using the unique features of Energy House 2.0 to test the prototype’s thermal properties and its efficiency in different climates.

Energy House 2.0 can recreate temperatures from -20C to 40C, representing 95 per cent the inhabited earth, as well as recreating snow, wind, rain and solar energy to put the Vector home through its paces.

Launched earlier this year, the £16m Energy House 2.0, at the heart of the University of Salford’s Peel Park Campus, is globally unique and is helping to drive innovation in the housing sector already, through work with housebuilders Barratt and Bellway, and manufacturer Saint-Gobain.

Vector, which is led by chief executive Nathan Feddy and chief technical officer Dr Liam Britnell, has so far received backing from SFC Capital, GC Angels, the Greater Manchester Investment Fund which is the investment arm of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Innovate UK, the European Regional Development Fund and social housing investment firm HSPG.

Liam said: “Our mission is to cut carbon and costs in construction and our homes are designed to have 80 per cent fewer carbon emissions in the building process compared to a standard brick house.

“They are also designed to be dismantled rather than demolished at the end of life, with the components finding a second or even third life elsewhere.

From the microstructure to the superstructure of a Vector home, everything links back to efficiency and sustainability. Our homes will be super standardised to ensure the rapid production of components and assembly.

“The opportunity to work with Energy House 2.0 has been a dream come true. It’s a one-of-a-kind facility which enables testing for new types of construction methods.

“The Energy House 2.0 team have been incredible to work with, and in a few months’ time our housing system will have more empirical data than any other in the world. This will enable us to continue our iteration cycles to take Vector to the next level.”

The Vector Homes prototype will be officially unveiled at an open day and housewarming event on Thursday, September 21, which is being hosted in conjunction with specialist finance firm Together, for housing associations, local authorities, private developers, housebuilders and investors.

As well as showcasing the Vector Homes prototype, other digital technologies such as AI-assisted site planning, smart home and digital tools and other new materials will be exhibited.

Also exhibiting will be F&T Terrix, Ambion Heating and HAHN Plastics, which have provided mould-resistant plaster and render, infra-red heating and outdoor furniture made from recycled plastic respectively for the prototype.

Prof Will Swan, director of Energy House Labs, said: “This type of project is exactly what our unique Energy House 2.0 facility was built for. Vector Homes is an ambitious, innovative north west company and if we can help them to develop a new product which can provide cheap, safe and, most importantly, warm housing, then there will be huge benefits.”

Elliot Vure, director of corporate sales at Together, said: “We’ve been incredibly impressed with Vector’s vision to provide quality, sustainable and affordable housing, made from innovative materials.

“The prototype building that Vector has produced is a fantastic example of researchers and the private sector working in partnership, and we believe that Vector’s low-carbon, rapid-build homes can go some way to providing a solution to some of the UK’s future housing challenges.”

You’ve heard of the Bee Gees – well now there’s the Gee Bees.

Whereas the pop legends’ numerous hits included songs such as Jive Talkin’, there’s plenty of Hive Talkin’ at Howorth Air Technology.

Howorth engineer and keen beekeeper Scott Gee is helping the company to enhance the local environment after it adopted four beehives next to its assembly facility at Raven Locks in Little Hulton, Salford.

This year, Scott has reaped a bumper honey harvest totalling 800 jars from the thriving Howorth Hives.
And he has not finished there – he will soon begin making candles from the beeswax drawn from the honeycomb.

August was a key month for the production of honey, as nectar flowed in abundance from a variety of flowering plants and trees. Honeybees foraged on the likes of bramble, clover, rosebay willowherb and Himalayan balsam to bring the nectar back to the Howorth Hives.

It was also a time for the 200,000 bees in the Howorth Hives to build up their nectar supplies to sustain them during the winter.

Scott, 32, a pharmaceutical commissioning engineer at Howorth, is a member of the British Beekeepers Association and has 50 of his own hives around Warrington, where he lives. He is studying to become a master beekeeper.

He has his own brand, Crafty Bees, and sells jars of honey produced from his own hives at fairs and events, as well as from an honesty box outside his home.

Scott established the Howorth Hives with the blessing of the company and is supported with his beekeeping activities there by colleagues Ryan Ince and Mick Mortimer.

Dad-of-two Scott said:

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“The company has been really supportive by adopting four hives. Everyone appreciates just how important bees are for the environment. 

“Bees are under threat in many parts of the world. Their numbers are declining due to factors such as the loss of habitat and extensive use of pesticides.

“Every new hive of bees increases pollination, and therefore has a positive impact on the food supply chain. 

“They are also crucial to our economy – without them it would cost UK farmers a fortune a year to pollinate their crops. It’s great that Howorth is playing its part to help reverse the decline in the bee population and enhance the environment.”

 

Honey is produced when worker bees bring nectar back to the hives. They store the nectar in the honeycomb and reduce its moisture by fanning their wings, which eventually transforms it into honey.
Scott’s interest in beekeeping began in 2018 when he bought his girlfriend Sarah a Flow Hive for her birthday. The Flow Hive is an Australian invention which collects honey from a tap without the need to open the hive.

He said:

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“I became obsessed – it’s an interesting hobby and is environmentally friendly too. I’m truly grateful to Howorth for supporting me and contributing to the environment while also enabling me to produce more delicious honey.”

Howorth, which has its headquarters in Bolton, designs, manufactures and assembles ultra clean air equipment for use in operating theatres, and for the pharma, biotechnology and life science industries.
It supplies the pharma industry with containment equipment such as isolators, downflow booths and a multi-connection system to create a pure air working environment for the safe handling of active ingredients and formulations in an enclosed space, free of contaminants. 

Carlo Rava, Howorth’s pharma operations director, said:

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“Scott has set up a fantastic project at our Raven Locks facility and the company is supporting him by purchasing some of the honey. The jars of Howorth Honey make a great talking point with visiting clients, many of whom end up taking one or two home with them!”

Health chiefs are set to introduce smoking and vaping bans outside schools and in parks amid concerns nicotine addiction rates in Salford are the highest in Greater Manchester.

The move comes as the government is poised to ban single-use vapes after calls from local councils, paediatricians and public waste campaigners, making the selling of disposable devices illegal on health and environmental grounds.

Ministers have concluded that the products are chiefly aimed at children, who then become addicted. Salford’s health and wellbeing board has said it will actively discourage the use of e-cigarettes by children, young people and non-smokers. 

A report said:

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“E-cigarettes are regulated and are illegal to sell to those under 18 so we will ensure that this is enforced and monitored through regulatory services. We will also introduce smoke and vape-free zones where children and young people are present, for example  in park play areas and at school gates.”

It said that smoking remains the ‘biggest cause of preventable disease and death’.

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“Smoking disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities,” the report said. “A reduction in smoking prevalence would have a positive impact on all health and wellbeing policies.”

Smoking rates in Salford have reduced from 27 per cent of the adult population in 2011 to below 20pc in 2022.

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“But this still equates to 40,000 smokers in Salford, which is the highest rate in Greater Manchester.”

It went on:

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“The current evidence says that e-cigarettes are up to 95pc safer than smoking, for a period of one to two years, there is no current evidence in relation to long-term use.

“The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance recommends the use of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as a safe and effective smoking cessation aid.

“It does not recommend that non-smokers or young people start using e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are currently the most popular quit aid amongst smokers. However, the product market is varied. Public health-supplied products will be sure to meet regulatory requirements.

“E-cigarettes are not completely risk-free, but based on current evidence they have a lower risk than tobacco. The evidence suggests that e-cigarette awareness and experimentation among young people has increased, this issue is being actively tackled.”

 

The report said smokers in Salford would have access to behavioural support and quit aids to help them quit tobacco smoking completely. 

It added:

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“E-cigarettes form part of our smoking cessation offer and can be supplied by our Specialist Stop Smoking Service, with e-liquids offered for free for up to 12 weeks. Everyone issued with an e-cigarette through this service will be supported to quit vaping within 12 months.”

Pepco, owner of the popular Poundland brand, has snapped up 71 Wilko stores following the demise of the high street chain.

PwC, administrators for Wilko, revealed that Pepco has sealed a last minute deal which will see the stores saved and reopened under the Poundland brand.

The good news is that talks are underway to ensure that the Eccles store is among those to be given a new lease of life and although staff will not be automatically transferred over to Poundland, it is said that they will be given priority.

It is hoped that the contracts will all be in place and the store reopened in time for Christmas.

Poundland intends to open the former Wilko stores under its own name bringing its fast-growing clothing, homewares, chilled and frozen food ranges to aisles, with its promise of amazing value –  positive news for customers and those high streets that faced the loss of an important retailer.Poundland managing director Barry Williams said:

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“In the coming weeks we will work quickly with landlords so we can open these stores as Poundlands with the new ranges that have been pivotal to our recent development.

“And once that process is complete, we will ensure a significant number of the Wilko colleagues will join our Poundland team.

“We know how valued Wilko colleagues have been in scores of communities across the UK and we look forward to offering them opportunities to join our family.

“We recognise the last few weeks have been difficult for them and we will move quickly to secure new consents from landlords so we can offer them the certainty they deserve.

“The Wilko stores will accelerate our existing transformation programme, offering amazing value for consumers, providing growth opportunities for suppliers and supporting employment in the high streets, shopping centres and retail parks customers love.”

 

The first winners of the Equilibrium Foundation Grant Awards have been announced. The six winning charitable organisations in the North West will receive a share of £60,000.

The awards, launched in April of this year, provide annual funding to smaller, lesser-known charities in the North West of England. Introduced by The Equilibrium Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Cheshire-based Equilibrium Financial Planning, the awards centre around a different theme each year.

With 34% of children in the North West living in poverty, an increase of 5% since 2015, and the cost of living crisis worsening the situation for many, the inaugural awards invited applications from not-for-profit organisations working to alleviate child poverty in the region.

The six winning organisations are:

Manchester-based Norbook Youth Club, which provides young people between the ages of 6 to 18 with weekly sessions in a secure environment. Established in the community within Northern Moor, Wythenshawe for over 60 years, the grant will be channelled towards enhancing the centre's kitchen facilities to aid healthy cooking classes and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Home-Start, which has built a community network of trained volunteers and experts around Trafford, Salford, and Wigan to support young families with children during challenging times. The grant will provide targeted aid for local families facing poverty and debt. It will also sustain a part-time position dedicated to organising and distributing essential items.

Awarded for their work to tackle hygiene poverty is Bare Necessities – a toiletry bank based in South Manchester that collects and distributes products to a network of charities. The funding from The Equilibrium Foundation will support its Give a Smile and Give a Wash initiatives, which provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, and laundry detergents to those in need and play a pivotal role in bolstering the self-esteem and wellbeing of children and their families.

The Bolton Toy Library, which is dedicated to improving outcomes for children, young people, and vulnerable adults by providing therapeutic play and specialised resources. The grant will be used to appoint a diversity support worker who will focus on assisting non-native English-speaking families out of poverty.

Prevent 2 Protect, an organisation that aims to tackle safeguarding issues for young people through educational workshops. The charity's primary focus is its Gang for Life? project which combines physical and mental wellbeing and anti-gang educational sessions. Utilising the experiences of ex-gang members who have changed their lives around, the funding will allow them to expand the reach and frequency of the workshops.

The final winner is the Swinton Lions Community Sports Foundation, which promotes healthy lifestyles and sports engagement as a method for personal empowerment. With the support of this grant, the club will develop innovative programmes that cater to those aged 7 to 18 across four targeted community hubs in Manchester.

Sarah Warburton, Chairperson of the Equilibrium Foundation, said: 

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"We created the Equilibrium Foundation Grant Awards to show our appreciation for the local charities that provide vital support to those who need it most, and it was incredible to receive such a high volume of applications in our first year.

"Although our judging panel had an extremely difficult job in selecting just six organisations, we take immense pride in announcing this year's winners, each of whom makes an outstanding contribution to tackling issues affecting children and young people in the local community.

"We look forward to following their journey as they implement new programmes and resources, and we can't wait to see the difference the money will make in shaping the lives of those in the region."

 

Since its formation in 2010, The Equilibrium Foundation has given almost £1m to good causes, with an aim to raise £4m by 2028.

For more information, please visit https://equilibrium.co.uk/charity/equilibrium-foundation-grant-awards/ 

A new women’s centre on the site of a former facility looks to be the cards after councillors agreed a deal to lease the site to the developer – for nothing.

Housing group ForViva has been given a 250-year lease for the site of the former St Mary’s Centre in Eccles where it will put up a nine-storey block including 35 affordable apartments.

But the ground floor will be ‘surrendered’ back to the city council which is granting a 25-year lease to the Salford Foundation, which ran the St Mary’s Centre until 2020.

The one-storey building was closed because of the condition of the building and in November 2021 it was demolished.

Services run by the foundation are currently provided at Foundation House in Salford.

Councillors at a property/regeneration briefing approved the deal without comment yesterday before going into closed session to discuss the financial implications.

But a report said the foundation will pay a ‘peppercorn rent’ for the facility, meaning it will pay a very small or nominal amount of cash for its use.

Meanwhile, ForViva has submitted a planning application for the development to the city council, yet to be determined.

The report said the site was ‘surplus to requirements’.

It said ‘the original thrust’ of ForViva’s involvement in St Mary’s was on the basis it could deliver three things – new premises for Salford Foundation, new social housing on the site, and a capital receipt for Salford city council.

However, ForViva confirmed that, ‘based on financial modelling’, the only way it could achieve its objectives was with ‘nil payment to Salford city council’.

The report also said:

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“The main hurdle associated with the proposal has been planning and creating a scheme that meets planning policy, in line with the council’s requirements, whilst retaining the density and unique design requirements of Salford Foundations occupation of the ground floor.”

To ensure all demands could be accommodated the site boundary has been extended to incorporate additional land adjoining an air monitoring station on St Mary’s Road.

Part of this additional land, extending to 33.5 square metres, is currently open to the public. There have been no objections to the disposal of the land.

I took a walk through the mainly empty aisles of the Wilko Store, Eccles today ahead of it's closure this Thursday.

It has been serving Eccles for about 20 years that I can remember then before that Morrisons, International Stores and even a store called believe it or not, Giro! and how can we forget when it was used in Coronation Street with Curly Watts and Reg Holdsworth as The Bettabuy Store...

Some 400 Wilko store nationwide will shut despite hopes it could be saved by a last minute buyer, sadly to avail but I did my bit today buying half price stationery and picture frames along with a few other shoppers looking for a bargain.

I can only think the winner from all this will be West One and stores like The Range and B and M, but that can be a distance if you have no transport as it entails crossing busy main roads.

Lets see what the future brings and lets try and not be too negative in the next few days of trading.