Salford’s latest library opens to the public next week but it won’t have books on the shelves.

Instead, business owners will be able to choose one of 10 electric cargo bikes to test out swopping delivery vans for pedal power.

Salford City Council has bought 18 e-cargo bikes and three trailers which fit electric or ordinary bikes after a successful £132,00 funding bid to the Energy Saving Trust.

And next week the first two will be presented to local organisations as the bike library goes live at Manchester Bikes, Chapel Street, Salford.

Local community interest company Visit From The Stork will use their bike to launch a toy library, distributing recycled toys to families in need and wholefood shop and café The Deli Lama will use theirs for deliveries.

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

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“The bike library will allow businesses to try different models to see what works best for them before deciding whether to invest. 

“We’re hoping that the bikes will replace local deliveries by van or car to help reduce congestion and contribute towards tackling climate change.”

 

Kimberly Bond, founder of Visit From The Stork, said:

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“That Toy Thing will save toys from going to waste and redistribute them to families across Salford and Manchester.

“We secured funds from the National Lottery Community Fund to give 100 vulnerable families a free subscription for six months or it costs £5 a month for £20 worth of toys.”

Chris Leakey of Manchester Bikes, where the library will be based said: “We are very excited to bring the cargo bike library to Salford.  We have a great range of bikes, trailers, and trikes to suit lots of user needs. 

“Test rides and a 30-minute in person or video consultation are free as this helps us match people and business to the right bike for the job. Hire starts from just £12 a day. “

 

Two bikes and a trailer will go to Salford Royal Hospital, two bikes to the RHS Garden Bridgewater, one bike and one trailer to the University of Salford and one bike to local photographer Simon Buckley, creator of the Not Quite Light Festival.

The A572, Leigh Road in Worsley has been closed and taped off in both directions by police after what is being described as a serious incident.

The road has been closed at the junction of Simpson Road and Booth Hall Way after what witnesses describe as a huge crash having happened at around 6:30pm this evening.

Diversions are in place around the area as police deal with the incident and drivers are being asked to avoid the area.

Up to 10 police vehicles are said to have arrived at the scene, including a special operations incident command van.

As yet it is unknown as to the nature of the incident but police are asking anyone heading into the area to find and alternative route.

Buile Hill Mansion is set to benefit from an extra £270,000 towards its restoration.

Councillor Mike McCusker approved a contribution of £271,816.20 at the Planning and Sustainable Development meeting today (Friday 18 March).

The money has come from Section 106 contributions – which are made from developers to mitigate the impact of their development on local communities.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett has made a commitment to bring the mansion back into sustainable use.

The restored mansion will include a café bar, function room, community meeting room and public toilets on the ground floor and will host civil wedding ceremonies along with the registration of births, deaths and marriages on the upper two floors.

The mansion is expected to re-open in 2024.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“The project to restore Buile Hill Mansion continues and this extra funding will go towards bringing it back to sustainable use. Overall the project is expected to cost over £5.5million.

“The £270,00 awarded from Section 106 money will be used to fund design and feasibility work which are absolutely essential before we can progress to a planning application and procurement of the works.

“The council has been working closely with Buile Hill Mansion Association and I would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication as we work on this project. I cannot wait until works are complete and we can officially open the mansion to the public once again.”

 

The historic Grade II Listed mansion was built between 1825 and 1827 for Thomas Potter, the first elected Mayor of Manchester. It closed in the year 2,000.

For further information please contact: public.relations@salford.gov.uk

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder.

He has been remanded in custody until a hearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Youth Court today (Friday 18 March 2022).

Police were called around 7.30am on Sunday 30 January 2022 to Clowes Park to a report of an unresponsive male.

Emergency services attended and 17-year-old Alan Szelugowski was sadly pronounced dead the scene.

Police are keen to speak to a man who is thought to have been in the area at the time of the incident

Detectives investigating the sexual assault of a woman in Salford last week have released an image of a man they are keen to identify and speak to in relation to the incident.

The victim - aged in her 20s - was walking home from work in the early hours of Wednesday 9 March when she was approached by a man who continued to follow her before pinning her to a bench on Stanley Street - close to the border with Manchester city centre.

The man then proceeded to inappropriately touch the woman who was able to scream and prompt the offender to get off her and walk away from the scene.

Investigators have made a number of enquiries - including with CCTV - and are now releasing an image of a man that appears to be carrying a guitar on his back who was walking close to the area half-an-hour before the incident is believed to have taken place at around 1.30-1.40am.

Since reporting the incident to us, the victim has been offered specialist support from our officers and partner agencies that are trained to help victims of sexual abuse.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Willis, of the Salford District, said

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"This was a traumatic and shocking incident for the victim to endure and we credit her bravery for firstly getting the offender away from her and subsequently reporting this incident to us.

"We've put a great deal of time into conducting a number of enquiries - including with CCTV - and we are hopeful that the man on the image will be identified so that we are able to speak to him about this incident as we think he could hold some very important information.

"It's our understanding that this man may have been in Manchester city centre for some time before this incident took place and we are still working to establish where he may have been before we see him on this image at about 1am walking in the direction of the Salford border.

"He appears to be wearing a guitar bag on his back and should be distinctive for anyone that may have been walking on Oxford Road or the proximity of the city centre on the night of Tuesday 8 March going into the early hours of Wednesday 9 March.

"If you have any information then please call us on 0161 856 5235 or 0161 856 5194 quoting incident 193 of 09/03/2022; you can also pass information to us anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

 

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester.  We offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages.  Services are available  on a 24-hour basis and  can  be accessed by telephoning 0161 276 6515.

-Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives.  Call us on  0161 273 4500 or email us at help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

- Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.

Around 33,000 vehicles use Trinity Way, Manchester Salford Inner Relief Road every day and new housing has been springing up on either side of the road in Greengate and Irwell Riverside.

Now a new pedestrian and specialist cycle crossing is to be installed at the junction of Trinity Way and Springfield Lane partly funded by Section 106 contributions from developers in the area.

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

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“The CYCLOPS design provides a separate route for cyclists to navigate the junction, keeping them away from vehicles.

“This is part of encouraging people to complete short journeys by walking and cycling to reduce the number of cars on the road. It will be a huge safety boost for the new residents and complement further regeneration of these two areas.”

 

The new scheme is part of the 1,000-mile-long Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s plan for cycling and walking routes covering the city region and is being funded by a Mayor’s Challenge Fund grant of Mayor’s Challenge Fund grant of £1,314,000 and £350,000 of Section 106 funding from nearby development at Exchange Court.   

Salford City Council is also consulting on proposals to improve crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists at the junction of Trinity Way and Chapel Street.

The proposals include segregated cycle crossing facilities, protected cycle lanes along Chapel Street and Trinity Way, extending bus lanes, adding greenery where possible and closing St Stephen’s Street to traffic other than cycles, which is subject to a separate consultation.  

Full details and the consultation can be found at: https://chapelstreettrinitywayjunctionimprovement.commonplace.is

A tree has been planted in Swinton to mark National Reflection Day and Social Care Day of  Remembrance. 

The purple beech tree was planted in the Swinton lawns by the City Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett and Salford City Council Chief Executive, Tom Stannard.

The short ceremony was attended by representatives from adult social care and local rangers.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“This beautiful tree is to remember all the family, friends and loved ones we have lost in the covid-19 pandemic and also all the heroes from adult social care who have played an invaluable role in supporting people over the past two years.

“We must never forget those we have lost through this global pandemic and the heroes who did all they could to provide that vital expertise and support. A big thank you goes to our social care workers who work tirelessly in this city. It is vitally important we mark these special days in the calendar and take time to reflect.

“I hope people can visit the tree, take time to think about those they have loved and lost and remember the good times they shared together.”

 

Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection is on Thursday 17 March and National Reflection Day is on Wednesday 23 March.

Salford Civic Centre will be lit yellow to mark National Reflection Day.

Support is available thought the bereavement support webpages at: Bereavement support • Salford City Council

Children and young people in Salford are all set for a range of activities this Easter and those on free school meals can continue to receive them.

The council has joined together with schools and organisations to provide an action-packed Easter from Monday 4 April to Thursday 7 April.

The activities include baking and cooking, arts and crafts, sports and music.

Councillor Sharmina August, Lead Member for Inclusive Economy, Anti-Poverty and Equalities at Salford City Council said:

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“This new announcement that our support continues is great news for young people who will be able to try new experiences and make new friends in a fun and safe environment.

"It is important that no child goes hungry in this great city and young people on the scheme who receive school meals will continue to get them.

“The campaign follows on from the scheme last year and is once again delivered in partnerships with brilliant organisations across Salford.”

 

The activities are open for children aged from four to 16-year-olds in Salford.

People can see what is available and book sessions on our Easter fun page at  https://www.salford.gov.uk/easterfun

It is with great sadness that we have to report that a motorcyclist involved in a collision with a car on Liverpool Road (A57) in Barton yesterday morning, has sadly died as a result of his injuries.

Police have now launched an appeal for information from members of the public who may have witnessed the accident which saw the Westbound carriage way of the busy road closed completely yesterday morning.

Officers were called at around 5.56am to a report of a collision on Liverpool Road, near to Barton Airport, involving a car and a motorbike.

Emergency services attended and sadly the driver of the motorbike - a man aged 46  - was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car - a Ford Fiesta - remained at the scene to assist police.

There have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage should contact GMPs Serious Collision Investigation Unit, on 0161 856 4741 quoting log number 428 of 16 March 2022.

Information can also be reported online or by using the Live Chat function at www.gmp.police.uk.

If you can't report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Our thoughts are with his family at this tragic time.

Church Street, Eccles
Saturday 19 March 2022, 3pm - 8pm
FREE

Following the February half-term tour around the neighbourhoods of Salford, Sounds From the Other City (SFTOC) are back with ‘finale’ event to mark the end of the Home is on the High Street campaign.

This time the team at SFTOC, in conjunction with Walk the Plank and Langworthy Live, are bringing a daytime live mini-festival to Church Street, Eccles on Saturday 19March. Taking place across 5 different venues along Church Street, the day will feature live music, djs, exhibitions, live art projects, and a burst of colour and energy across the street.

Venues taking part include Malaga Drift, AJs Cafe and Bar, The Northern Type, The Grapes, and Eccles Community Art Gallery, featuring entertainment and activity from 3pm - 8pm, all of which are free to enter.

Malaga Drift

3.00pm Solis
4.30pm New Dolly
6.00pm Sarah Angel
Music from DJ Vajayjay throughout the day
 

The Northern Type

3.15pm Songs for Walter
4.45pm Liv Mayall
6.15pm Elmo Ashall-Kelly
Music from DJ Neon Eyes throughout the day
 

Aj's Cafe & Bar

3.45pm John Haycock
5.15pm Quincey May Brown
7.00pm Burn into Sleep
Live typewriter art project ‘Carriage Return’ from 3.00pm -7.00pm
{Carriage Return} is a postal exchange of typewriter drawings. We celebrate the limitations of the typewriters mechanisms. We love the noisy click/clack, the miss hits and mistakes. Come to Aj’s cafe and join our typing pool, make a drawing, tell us what you think, write a poem, or add to our Salford High Streets (slowly) rolling news feed!
 

The Grapes

4.00pm At Home with Lilac
5.30pm KINGBIRD
7.15pm Joel C Murray
Music from DJ A2A throughout the day

Manchester will be going green tomorrow as it celebrates St Patrick's Day and the Emerald Isle with 'The Manchester Irish Weekender'.

The free four-day music and street food event runs from tomorrow Thursday 17 March, through to Sunday 20 March on the boardwalk in Piccadilly Gardens.

The city already plays host to an annual community organised city-wide Irish Festival and this new additional event has been put together to help bring a taste of Ireland into the heart of the city centre itself.

The weekender will see a foot-stomping programme of live music and dance, alongside food and drink stalls serving traditional Irish tipples.

Irish dancers, pipe bands and Irish folk musicians will be taking to the stage at regular intervals throughout the weekend between 12 noon and 7 pm each day.

Musical highlights for St Patrick's Day itself include performances from singer and guitarist Niamh Finan, fiddle player Méabh Kennedy, the award-winning Fianna Phadraig Pipe Band, and singer-guitarist Joe Keegan.

Founded in 1948, the Fianna Phádraig Pipe Band is North West England’s oldest Irish pipe band. From the early days in St. John’s parish, in Benchill, and then at St. Anthony’s from the mid-fifties, the Band has always carried with pride the Fianna Phádraig (Soldiers of St. Patrick) banner.

Talented singer-songwriter Niamh Finan is really making her mark on the Manchester folk music scene.  She writes and releases her own original music as well as performing traditional Irish music.  Her family hail from the West of Ireland and she grew up competing as an Irish dancer in Manchester.

Singer-songwriter Joe Keegan began his career aged 16 years old on the BBC 1 show The Voice UK in 2014. The show was broadcast to around 10 million people globally, and since then he has performed hundreds of live shows to people all over the world.  He recently received a Masters in Music from Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music.

Fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist Méabh Kennedy, from County Tyrone, Ireland, is a talented musician who has been making waves in the traditional Irish music scene.  She has performed all over the UK, Ireland, and Europe, including in the UK tour of the hit show 'Fairytale of New York'.

Other musical highlights during the weekend include performances from Nicky and the Astronauts, who rattle out the best in Irish/country/bluegrass/rockabilly all in their own inimitable style and are sure to get feet moving and hands clapping; singer-songwriter Ben Williams; Sicilian singer-guitarist Paolo Fuschi and his high-intensity blend of Electric Blues, Classic Soul, and Vintage Funk; Hannah and Adam Smikle, who perfom as duo 'Rivers Run' mixing rich harmonies, delicate finger-picking, and soulful soundscapes, and will be performing live-lounge style covers; and 18-year-old Tom O'Donoghue from Galway, who moved to Manchester to study at the Royal Northern College of Music last year and sings, plays piano, guitar, bass and drums, and who will be releasing his first single in April.

Traditional Irish dancers from the McConomy Bradley Doherty Academy will also be taking to the stage during the weekend.

Councillor Pat Karney, city centre lead Manchester City Council, said:

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"We all know that if you can't be in the Emerald Isle itself then Manchester is the next best place to spend St Patrick's Day.  And there's so much to celebrate about Ireland and its unique cultural heritage of music and dance that one day isn't nearly enough to do it justice, which is why we've put together this fantastic free four-day weekender.

"We've got some great entertainment lined up from tomorrow throughout the weekend. My toes are already tapping, and I can't wait. So grab yourself a shamrock, wear something green, and come on down and join the craic!"

 

The event has been funded through the European Regional Development Fund and their Welcome Back Fund which has provided councils across the country with a share of £56 million to support the safe return to high streets and help build back better from the pandemic.

For more information about what's on during The Manchester Irish Weekender head to https://www.manchester.gov.uk/irishweekender  

For more information on Manchester Irish Festival visit http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/

A former firefighter avoided a jail sentence after he was found to have downloaded over 1 Million indecent images of children over a period stretching as far back as 1998.

Police obtained a search warrant on the Worsley home of 59-year-old Bill Platt after information was brought forward to them that he had been downloading indecent images of children onto his computer. However, officers were unaware of the enormity and scale of the amount of vile, sickening images and videos of minors ranging in age from young babies to 16-years-olds.

In total, police confiscated 24 devices from his premises and upon forensic analysis by specialist police officers, he was found to be in possession of 15,690 of the worst type Category A images, 15,753 Category B images, and a staggering 837,729 images within Category C.

Mr Platt plead guilty of the offences at the first opportunity and admitted that he had downloaded the images.

During their investigation, police had established that Platt who set up as a photographer after leaving the fire service, had taken a number of non-sexualised images of children himself which the prosecution argued had been a worrying change of tactic.

Alex Leach QC said:

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“This was a substantial collection of sickening images depicting the rape and sexual abuse of children.” 

He went on to say:

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“I am told you have been tackling the root of your offending, and that your partner stands by you , whilst the probation service feel they can assist you and that you are a good candidate for rehabilitation.

“I have received a letter from Safer Lives and the probation service who say you do pose a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. A short custodial sentence would not accomplish these aims.”

 

Platt, of Gambleside Close, was handed 20 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years, 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Additionally he was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, along with being banned from using the internet without first informing the police.

The order also prevents Mr Platt from using any software that circumvents the recording of his internet history.

He was also ordered to sign the notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years.

Sailing to The Lowry Tue 4 - Sat 8 July 2023

Produced by Danielle Tarento, Steven M Levy and Vaughan Williams in association with the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, the production will open at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on 16 March 2023, 10 years since it made its critically acclaimed debut at Southwark Playhouse in London. Sailing to The Lowry from Tue 4 to Sat 8 July 2023.

Danielle Tarento said: 

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‘Steven, Vaughan and I are so excited that the great ship Titanic is setting sail on a new UK Tour. I can’t believe that it’s been 10 years since that first production at Southwark Playhouse - it feels like a lifetime ago and only just the other day in equal measure!  After the couple of years that we’ve all lived through, to be able to mark this anniversary by revisiting some favourite venues from the last tour and also bringing the show to some new ones feels especially joyful.’

In the final hours of 14th April 1912, the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, collided with an iceberg and 'the unsinkable ship' slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic disasters of the 20th Century. 1517 men, women and children lost their lives.

Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Titanic The Musical is a stunning and stirring production focusing on the hopes, dreams and aspirations of her passengers who each boarded with stories and personal ambitions of their own. All innocently unaware of the fate awaiting them, the Third Class immigrants’ dream of a better life in America, the Second Class imagine they too can join the lifestyles of the rich and famous, whilst the millionaire Barons of the First Class anticipate legacies lasting forever.

With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel) and a book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year and 1776), the pair have collectively won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, an Olivier Award and three Tony awards.

The original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. This new production celebrates the 10th anniversary of its London premiere where it won sweeping critical acclaim across the board.

The director is Thom Southerland, the set and costume designer is David Woodhead, the lighting designer is Howard Hudson, the sound designer is Andrew Johnson, musical staging is by Cressida Carré and new musical arrangements are by Ian Weinberger.  The cast is yet to be announced.

Update: The road is now reopened both ways.

The A57 (Liverpool Road)  is currently closed this morning along the Eastbound carriageway after a road traffic accident involving a car and a motorbike.

The accident happened at around 5:56am this morning (16th March) on a stretch of the road between the Stadium Way and Port Salford Way.

Traffic is being diverted  whilst emergency services attend the scene.

The cyclists condition has so far not been disclosed.

The Westbound carriageway is passable but there are large tailbacks Eastbound

Drivers are urged to avoid the area and bus services towards Irlam and Cadishead are currently terminating at Peel Green.

In a statement, GMP have said:

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"Officers were called to Liverpool Road, Eccles, at 5:56am today (16 March 2022) to reports of a collision between a car and a motorbike.

Emergency services are in attendance and the public is advised to avoid the area."

Go Northwest has made the following changes to its bus services:

100 to #Warrington / Cadishead to terminate at the Trafford Centre

100 to Trafford Centre to run as normal

67 to terminate at Peel Green

Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown will return to the stage across September and October, after refusing to play any shows at venues that had COVID restrictions in place during the pandemic.

He will be appearing at Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse on the 30th of September 2022 and tickets are expected to sell out fast when they go on sale at 9.30am on Friday 18th March.

This will be the Warrington born singers first solo headline tour in more than a decade.

The 59-year-old shot to fame as lead singer of Madchester indie legends The Stone Roses, whose eponymous 1989 debut album is widely considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time.

You can purchase them on the day via https://www.gigsandtours.com and https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Police in West Yorkshire are appealing again for information regarding a High Risk Missing Person who they believe could have travelled to Lancashire.

Jason King 50 years from Halifax was last seen wearing a green army style parker coat, black baseball cap, blue jeans & carrying a red & black rucksack.

He could possibly in the Bradford area but he is also known to use trains to travel and may have travelled as far afield as Lancashire, North Yorkshire or Cleveland.

Any information ring 101 quoting log 1235 14th

Firefighters were called to bin which had been set alight on Chadwick Street close to the rear of the Asda store car park in Swinton yesterday evening. The flames had started to spread to the exterior of a nearby building.

Three fire engines from Whitefield, Agecroft and Eccles were dispatched the the scene and the fire was quickly contained and extinguished.

It has not been revealed as to how the fire started but locals who witnessed the blaze say that a group of youths were seen in the area not long before the fire broke out.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said:

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“Just before 8pm on Monday 14 March, fire crews were called to reports of a fire outside a commercial building on Chadwick Street, Swinton.

“Fire engines from Whitefield, Agecroft and Eccles stations quickly attended the incident, which involved a bin fire which spread to the exterior of a nearby building.

“Firefighters used a short extension ladder and a hose reel to extinguish the fire.

“GMFRS crews were in attendance for around half an hour.”

 

Thirty ex-offenders are being helped to build new lives thanks to Salford’s pioneering Jobs not Prison project which aims to keep them from returning behind bars.

Salford Community Safety Partnership, which brings together Salford City Council, Greater Manchester Police and a range of other organisations to tackle crime, launched the project with the Broughton Trust a year ago.

Dedicated workers help the men find work in Salford’s booming construction industry, thanks to local connections. They also pay for safety equipment and cover travel and subsistence costs until the men receive their first pay packets. 

According to the Prison Trust, within a year of leaving jail 48 per cent of adults are reconvicted of an offence and only 17 per cent are in employment.

Thanks to Jobs not Prison 17 ex-offenders are now holding down jobs (57 per cent), 13 of whom no longer need support from the project. Sixty three per cent of those taking part now have a CSCS card to work in the construction industry. Only six of the group (20 per cent) were recalled or returned to prison through conviction for historic offences and all have either returned to the project or plan to do so when they are released.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, said the scheme was part of Project Gulf, set up in 2010 to steer people away from crime as well as tackle gangs and organised crime.

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“People with criminal records can struggle to find work which leaves them vulnerable to being drawn back into a life of crime. This project is offering them the chance to break that pattern so they can turn their lives around,” he said.

“We’ve seen coaching and mentoring help deter young people from getting involved in crime and find a better way forward. Now it’s working for adults who have taken the wrong path and want to change.”

 

Graham Cooper, project manager with the Broughton Trust said:

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“This is about taking away barriers to getting a job that pays good wages. It starts by cutting out the recruitment process which would disadvantage ex-offenders. Then we help them get photo id documents and set up a bank account as well as covering the costs of starting work. And we give them the encouragement and support they need.

“It’s about giving people who have made mistakes a second chance and a secure and safe future. We are very proud of all those taking part and grateful to local employers who are supporting them.”

 

Funding Jobs not Prison  has come from Project Gulf, Project Challenger, the Greater Manchester wide initiative to tackle gangs and organised crime and Greater Manchester Police which refers offenders to the project.

Detective Superintendent Chris Packer said:

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“This is a project which recognises the importance of ensuring that adults, who may have had difficulty keeping out of trouble in the past, have an opportunity to have a true and proper stake in society that steers them away from future serious and organised crime.

“We appreciate the difficulty that those with criminal records can have when striving to get back into employment and therefore the support that this project offers has our unwavering commitment.”

 

Dame Sarah Storey has been appointed Greater Manchester city-region's new Active Travel Commissioner.

Dame Sarah, Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian, has worked as a policy advocate for British Cycling, with a particular focus on promoting road safety and improving access to cycling for women and those with disabilities.

Most recently, she was Active Travel Commissioner in South Yorkshire, where she led the transformation of the region’s cycling and walking network.

Dame Sarah will start her new role in May and will work alongside the newly appointed Transport Commissioner Vernon Everitt.

Dame Sarah said: 

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“Getting physically active is a great way to improve both physical health and mental wellbeing, and cycling and walking short, everyday journeys are some of the easiest ways to do it.

“I can’t wait to get started and to enable the benefits of active travel to reach every community in Greater Manchester.”

 

The Paralympian said she will call on the Government to invest in health and wellbeing for people in the North of England.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: 

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“I am delighted Dame Sarah Storey is coming home to Greater Manchester after making such an impact working in South Yorkshire.

"We have much to deliver together. Over the next 12 months we will continue to build on the plans set out by our former Transport Commissioner, Chris Boardman, to make active travel the number one choice in our city-region for everyday trips to work, school and the shops, or as part of a longer journey using public transport."

 

Dame Sarah will advise the Mayor on the Bee Network active travel vision: a £1.5bn plan to create 1,800 miles of routes to connect every area and community in Greater Manchester, by integrating cycling and walking with other public transport modes and making it easy, safe and attractive for people to travel on foot or by bike for everyday trips.

A new vision to set out how Salford Quays could look and feel in 2030 has been launched.

The blueprint, titled ‘Salford Quays: A New Vision 2030’, names five guiding principles for future development at the neighbourhood with it expected to double in size over the next decade.

More than a thousand people and local businesses fed into an extensive consultation process in Summer 2021 to help shape the document which will ultimately seek to ensure that the Quays is a place that works for everyone.

Central to the vision is the proposal that the waterfront neighbourhood further develop its own identity with a new town centre situated between MediaCity, the Lowry and Cotton Quays supported by new cafes and restaurants which open out on to the waterfront.

There will be distinctive neighbourhood identities that meet the different needs of those who live, work and play in the Quays. A year-round cultural programme will showcase the city’s greatest artistic talents and the vision proposes a new all-weather pavilion by the waterfront for consideration over the next few years.

It also commits to finding space for a new historic or cultural walking trail to tell the Quays’ unique story as one of Europe’s most successful regeneration projects so that its community feels better connected to our city’s roots and the people that made it.

How the public were consulted:

During the consultation period between 24th March and 30th April 2021, the council recorded 2,274 unique visitors to its website, split equally between male and female contributors.

In total, 38% of visitors viewed all of the pages’ information and approximately 600 of the visitors were referred to the page via links on Facebook.

They received a total of 1,318 contributions, made up of 651 individual comments and 667 agreements with other comments.

Of these 651 individual comments, 70% were deemed to be positive, 20% were considered to be neutral with just 10% recorded as being negative.

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor said:

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“The historic regeneration of Salford Quays is one of our city’s greatest success stories. It has become a beacon of opportunity and inspiration for those working in our creative industries and for the vibrant and diverse communities who call it home.

“Its growth over the next decade will further our ambitions for Salford to be a pioneering city in developing and nurturing skills in the media, technology and cultural sectors with more opportunities for Salford residents to tap into this world-class resource on our doorstep.

“As this neighbourhood flourishes, we must make sure that people are placed at the centre of the Quays’ future. This is at heart of the vision - to show how the successes and lessons over the last 30 years are the blueprint for delivering a neighbourhood that works for all. It has been born by the views and priorities of the local communities who make the Quays such a special place to be.

“Through this vision, the Quays of 2030 will not just be the landmark destination for culture, entertainment, media and skills in the North West, it will also be a neighbourhood that echoes the vibrancy of its communities, is better connected to the waterfront, celebrates its rich history and makes space for everyone.”

 

Stephen Wild, Managing Director, Media City said:

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“MediaCity and Salford Quays is a unique destination and as a business, we have been committed to its regeneration for the last four decades. It is already a fantastic place – with homes, employment and learning opportunities, plenty of wide-open space and an unrivalled waterside leisure and cultural offering.

“We are excited to continue working in partnership to grow and develop the area, putting people at the centre of a collective, long-term vision to create even more sustainable and innovative places to live, work and visit.”

 

Five guiding principles make up the basis for the overarching vision and should be used to guide all future decisions on development and public policy. They are;

1. A place that puts people at the centre
2. A place that works for everyone
3. A place where creativity brings people together
4. A place that’s dedicated to wellbeing
5. A place that celebrates its past

Main Photo: salford.media

Additional Images: Modern Designers