An estimated 45 empty coaches took a tour around Salford Quays and MediaCityUK this morning as part of their convoy to raise awareness of the plight of their industry caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Drivers from all around the North have come together to take part in the action which encourages vehicle drivers to honk their horns in support.

Usually the coaches would be filled with passengers but since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic in March, the industry has been crippled with many drivers facing job losses.

The drivers are angry that their sector is not receiving the support that they say they need to ride out the storm.

'Honk For Hope' aim to do 2 laps of the Quays and MediaCityUK area after meeting up along Lankro Way.

Organisers state that they want to make their point but not anger the public and lose their vital support.

In the initial days of the viral outbreak, the support was their as coaches were being used to ferry those returning to the country from airports. Since then though the drivers say that they have been more or less forgot about and left to deal with the impacts on their own.

With the usual busiest Summer period more or less now passed, the operators have taken a huge financial hit which means that many may never recover, the impact on jobs will be huge said one driver.

However, not all seemed to be happy about the event on Social media with some complaining about the noise and the traffic disruption, which is all fairness the latter was minimal.

A similar event has also taken place at the same time in Newcastle, although a planned event targeted at the midlands has seemingly failed to materialise. 

Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett, has lead tributes to former leader of Salford's Liberal Democrats 'Stormin Norman Owen' who it has been revealed, sadly passed over the weekend.

I think it is fair to say that Norman was the last and if truth known, only real opposition to Salford Labour over the years, his unique 'direct' style saw him become a regular thorn in their side spanning two decades.

During his tenure as leader, the party enjoyed a sizable chunk of Salford's political seats, with 10 councillors under his control. However, those glory days for the party were not to last, as after what can only be described as a political annihilation at the polls due to the parties association with the Conservative party during the short lived run at a coalition government during 2010-2015.

Norman decided to call time on his tenure as leader after loosing what was once considered a safe seat in Claremont for the Lib Dems at the 2012 elections.

More misery was to follow for Norman the day after as he lost out on becoming the first elected Mayor of Salford to Labours Ian Stewart.

Since that time his former party have languished in the polls both nationally and locally, seemingly never to see a return to any kind of power locally, a former shadow of what they once were.

Norman earned the moniker 'Stormin Norman' due to his high energy outburst during council meetings, but rather ironically it was a name he did not like to be known by, in fact some say that he saw it as a slur against him.

His anger with Labour allegedly spilled out during a fiery argument over student tuition fees, is said to have once resulted in a 'skuffle' with Labour Councillor Bill Hinds in a corridor at the town hall, reportedly the pair had to be separated before it escalated further. In another twist of irony, both he and Councillor Hinds would go on to become good friends bore out of a mutual respect for each other.

After leaving The Liberal Democrats, Norman remained politically active at local meetings where he would regularly use his voice to challenge the same local councillors who had ousted both himself and his colleagues.

It came as a bit of a political shock when a few years later it emerged that Norman had come to join the very same Salford Labour party which he had so fiercely battled against for the majority of his political career. His decision he said, was fuelled by having been let down by his former party during their short term of office, also because of their u-turn on tuition fees, something which Norman was passionate enough about to roll up his shirt sleeves and raise his fists.

During the 2019 elections Norman stood for Labour in the Worsley ward against the conservatives Robin Garrido but he was unable to take the Tory safe seat.

I spoke to him about it personally afterwards and he had not let his loss phase him, as he revealed his real aim and dream was to once more take a seat in either his beloved Claremont or in his home ward of Weaste & Seedley, where he had remained politically active and as outspoken as ever on local matters.

Norman was a well known and well respected figure within Salford, his sometimes abrasive attitude was also well documented but his commitment and years of dedication to the people of this city served it well, he was a true community champion and his reputation for getting things done were both undeniable and unquestionable.

He was lost in the wild for a time but he eventually found his home in the least expected of places, The Labour Party.

Norman was a rarity in politics in being a man of his word and he would go to great lengths to ensure that what he said he would do would happen, and with his non nonsense direct attitude to things he often succeeded more than not.

He did once tell me that his loss in 2012 had affected him more than he had imagined. He told me he had become distanced from politics for a short while but decided to get back up and carry on his fight with a party which he said reflected his beliefs more than the Liberal Democrats were doing.

Salford Mayor, Paul Dennet, said of him in a party communique:

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"Colleagues will all known that Norma was passionate about the City and the people of Salford and worked tirelessly to support residents and communities across out City.

2My thoughts and Prayers are with Norman's family and friends at this time, he will sadly be missed by many and forever in out thoughts."

 

Adding on Twitter:

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"Norman was a great character, a formidable campaigner & deeply passionate about Salford & it's people, he will truly be missed!."

Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long Bailey, said:

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"Sad to hear of the passing of Salford stalwart Norman Owen. He was a tireless campaigner, councillor and parliamentary candidate.

"Funny, fearless and one thing was clear: he loved the people of Salford.

"My deepest sympathies are with his family."

 

Norman was a huge supporter or Rebecca during her election campaigns and once told me that he had finally found in Rebecca, someone who had restored his faith in politics. However his attitude towards her would not long after change as he declared publicly that she was unfit to represent Salford as it's MP after a change of heart.

Political Activist, Joe O'Neil spoke of the respect he had for Norman:

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"Great days with Norman Owen,we never saw eye to eye but he had my respect,a Salford Politicion who will be sadly missed, RIP."

The Green Parties, Bryan Blears, nephew of former Salford MP Hazel Blears said:

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"When I stood for the Green Party in Salford, one of the people who encouraged me was Norman Owen who ran against my Aunt in past elections.

"Sad to hear of his passing; he was a good listener and cared about Salford."

We have been told that Norman had been ill for sometime before his passing.

Our thoughts are with both Norman, his wife Barbara and his family and friends this evening.

With the announcement this year that due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and to protect public health and avoid breaching regulations, all public fireworks displays in Salford are now cancelled.

This means that undoubtedly more and more people will be looking to mark the historic occasion with smaller fires and displays in their own gardens, hopefully complying with the governments rule of six stipulation for gatherings of course.

With this in mind Salford City Council has urged people to ‘be sensible and safe’ in the run up to Bonfire Night this year after reports of young people throwing fireworks at each other.

Emergency services are already overstretched as is and hospitals are having to deal with unprecedented pressures already, the last thing they need right now is to be treating people who have been injured by fires and fireworks.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, said he was concerned people would turn to displays at home without treating fireworks with the respect they deserve.

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“Fireworks are not toys to play with. They are small explosives which can cause serious injuries if not handled correctly and people must never forget that,” he said.

“People may have become used to going to organised displays and forgotten about the dangers of handling fireworks. I’d urge parents to speak to their children about safety as we don’t want anyone to get hurt.

“If anyone knows of any shops locally selling fireworks before October 15 which is when they legally go on sale please let the council know so we can take action."

 

If you are planning your own firework display at home please remember these five safety tips:

1.         Read and follow the Firework Code to stay safe - https://www.rospa.com/home-safety/Advice/Fireworks-Safety

2.         Only celebrate with your household in line with current COVID-19 regulations

3.         Be considerate of neighbours and animals who may not enjoy fireworks

4.         Remember it is illegal to let fireworks off between 11pm and 7am or to let them off or throw them in a public place

5.         Keep pets indoors and safe

A spokesperson for GMP confirmed they responded to reports of an incident involving fireworks in Salford.

Salford has launched a new initiative to train the workers of the future.

The tech talent pipeline partnership has been created by the city’s public and private sectors to link education, training and local employers to tackle skills shortages and help residents make the most of digital opportunities. Salford City Council has been working on this initiative with anchor institutions in the city including the University of Salford, Future Skills, Salford City College, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, The Landing and MediaCityUK. 

Salford is already part of the biggest cluster of digital businesses outside London and recent government figures* suggest growth in the digital sector is six times that of other areas of the economy.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“The potential for digital business growth and job creation in Salford was huge and then came the pandemic which has made technology and the skills to use it even more critical.

“We’re determined to work together as a city to make the most of that and become the UK’s leader in digital enterprise. It’s about showing young people the opportunities that exist now and helping them find the training, skills and qualifications that give them a clear route into high quality jobs.

“At the same time we are helping businesses discover the new, skilled talent they need to grow. It’s a win for everyone.”

 

The initiative has already helped connect people to digital opportunities with the launch of two academies to develop the next generation of cyber and data analysts. The cyber academy is led by Raytheon Professional Services and train residents for cyber-security engineer roles whilst the University of Salford leads on a digital data specialists academy, both increasingly important areas for the future.

Salford Chief Digital Officer Jon Corner said:

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“In the current covid climate, we need to focus on digital skills more than ever. We need to inspire learners and ensure they can progress. By bringing together businesses, education and the skills infrastructure in the city, we are pooling our efforts so that talent is nurtured and retained for our economy. It is part of our digital strategy to embrace the new economy and ensure residents are connected to opportunities.”

The tech talent pipeline partnership links together schools, colleges, the university, other training providers, partner organisations and local employers including AJ Bell, BUPA, Morson Group, Morson Projects, Raytheon Professional Services, Raytheon UK, TalkTalk and Sodexo.

Employers are already committed to help young people by providing virtual resources for #FindMyFuture, an online youth hub with support around employment, training, wellbeing, finance and travel. A group of 16-24 year olds have been helped by industry professionals to create digital CVs to help them stand out from the crowd through DEVA/hack (Digital Entrepreneurs and Video Artists Hackathon)

The cyber and digital data specialists academies came out of #Digital Salford and Salford City Council working with employer partners to successfully secure funding from the Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund. Set up to address digital skills shortages and train underrepresented groups, this is a joint venture between Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership and the government.

Digital opportunities in Salford and across Greater Manchester will continue to grow as all sectors become increasingly digitised. More details of the tech talent pipeline partnership can be found at www.digitalsalford.com/publications To find out more or get involved, please email skills@digitalsalford.com

A planned protest which was to have taken place tomorrow (Saturday 3rd October) against the sale of the historic Swinton Park Golf Club to a housing provider has been called off after a new development in the long running battle to save the club.

Your Housing Group which is one of the country’s largest affordable housing providers has pulled out of the purchase of Swinton Park Golf Club, honouring a commitment it had made to members and residents. 

The Group had been exploring the site as an option for development for affordable housing, reportedly the asking price was £10m, which was £20m less than the £30m price which it was rumoured Bellway Homes were offering before pulling out.

Earlier this year the group’s CEO Brian Cronin met with members as well as residents and came to the agreement with them that the company would not progress with their bid if golf was found to be viable. 

Following the release of the findings of the golf viability study commissioned by Salford City Council, Your Housing Group has confirmed that they are to withdraw from the purchase of the site in Salford. 

Richard Jones, Director of Growth at Your Housing Group, said:

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“Our Chief Executive and I took the time to meet with members and residents to discuss our proposals and hear their views, at that time we made the commitment that Your Housing Group would not progress with our bid if golf was found to still be viable.   

“Following the release of the findings of the golf viability study, Your Housing Group has decided against proceeding with the purchase of Swinton Golf Club. We will continue to seek ambitious opportunities to provide affordable housing and remain committed to investing in sustainable communities.”

 

This move from Your Housing Group is welcomed by the City Mayor who sent the housing provider a letter re-stating his desire that the site should remain as a golf course following the outcome of the independent viability report commissioned on behalf of the City Council which concluded that the golf course was viable. 

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett has previously met with residents opposing the sale of the club and given them his backing. 

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

Quote

 

“This is welcome news for local people and for the city and I would like to also thank Your Housing Group for the action they have taken and I look forward to working closely with them on other projects in the City given the affordable Housing challenge we have.

“Now that Your Housing Group has withdrawn from a purchase of the site and given that the club closed on 30th September, I would again now urge the owners of the golf course to look at the opportunity for the sale of the course to allow its continued operation as a golf course.”

 

The mere mention of his name stirs many different emotions within Salford, the foremost of which is pride, for he represented the spirit of our city on the global stage, not with words but with his selfless actions.

Alan saw a problem and knew he had to help do his part to resolve it, and when war tore through Syria, the Salford dad could not sit back and watch children suffer.

So the Eccles taxi driver took action, joined a humanitarian aid group based out of Bolton and headed into a war zone to bring much needed aid and supplies to the countless orphans who were left behind after their parents were killed in the fighting.

It was during his travels with that humanitarian relief convoy that he was kidnapped and held hostage by the terror group which became known as Islamic State, ultimately to be callously murdered by their hands as his brutal ordeal came to an end.

In late September, two of his alleged captors learned that they would finally face justice in the American courts for their parts in the barbaric murders which were carried out by the fundamentalist state.

When news of Alans death broke, the City immediately united in grief to pay tribute and stand shoulder to shoulder in support of his loving wife and young family of which he had been stolen from.

Since those dark days his name has become a symbol of light within Salford, a shining example of the best that its people can be.

We talk about the 'Spirit of Salford' a lot, but Alan encapsulated it with every fibre of his being and his selfless actions are seen as nothing more than truly heroic.

In short he is without a doubt, Salford's finest son and that is why so many signed a petition to ensure that his name should be forever imprinted upon the cities landscape.

https://www.change.org/p/salford-mayor-let-us-have-recognition-for-salford-s-finest-son

We are happy to say that the Council agreed and plans have been underway to make a dream into a reality.

The Salford Western Gateway, the one-mile dual carriageway which connects the A57 Liverpool Road in Salford and Trafford Way to the east of the M60 in Trafford will be named Alan Henning Way.

Salford City Council is currrently working with the developer Peel Holdings to complete the final process of adoption and the road will be formally named in the near future.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said once the road is in public ownership it will be “an honour” to name it in tribute to Alan.

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“Port Salford is the first inland UK port and distribution hub which is served by short sea shipping, using the Manchester Ship Canal, rail and roads linking it to the motorway network,” he said.

“The new road was chosen for several reasons. It is a vital, international distribution link and an essential part of the Port Salford scheme. As the port continues to grow, Alan Henning Way will become an even more important gateway to Salford.

“There is so much of Alan in that – a man who was a vital part of humanitarian aid missions and a man willing to give up his home comforts to travel internationally to distribute goods to families and children in desperate need.

“It will be an honour to see his name on the signs so that his bravery and kindness are never forgotten.”

 

Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley and Eccles, paid tribute to Alan and said she was delighted with the decision.

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“Alan was a local hero and local people wanted a tribute to him, knowing that he had given his life taking aid to children and families in need in Syria. It is right that the city of Salford is naming a road after Alan and people in Salford and across the UK will be pleased with this tribute to his compassion and generous spirit,”

In 2016, after discussions with Alan’s family, Salford City Council created a memorial park to Alan at Eccles Recreation Ground, where people gathered to light candles and hold a silent vigil after news of his murder was revealed.

The design is based on a clock face and features a circular flower bed with yellow flowers and plants, wooden sleepers painted yellow and two granite boulders bearing memorial plaques to recall to the yellow ribbons that were used to show solidarity with Alan’s family during his captivity and after he was murdered. A family headstone at Eccles Parish Church also bears his name.

Eccles ward councillor, Councillor Sharmina August, added:

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“Alan touched the lives of so many people. Thousands of people across the city spoke out and said they wanted a way to make sure Alan was never forgotten as a true son of Salford. This road will make sure we remember that the world would be a better place, if we all showed the same Spirit of Salford as Alan did.”

Additionally, Alan has been put forward by both Barbara Keeley MP and Councillor Sharmina August to posthumously receive the freedom of the City, something which we think would symbolically well and truly bring Alan home.

In his final months his freedom was cruelly taken from him, we as a city can give him it back so he can can spiritually have a freedom no one can ever take from him again.

As ever we would like to give mention to Alans family who have been stoic and resolute in their fight for justice, we hope that in the not too distant future, those who brought them such unimaginable pain will be brought to account.

Police were called to the scene of a stabbing on Church Street in Eccles yesterday evening (Thursday 1st October).

It is said that the stabbing took place during an incident between two men and that a 26-year-old received a stab wound to his arm. As a result he was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

The altercation took place close to Eccles Parish Church which was temporarily cordoned off whilst police conducted enquiries.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5235, quoting incident number 2320 of 01/10/2020, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A spokesperson for GMP said:

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"At around 6.40pm on Thursday police were called to reports of a stabbing on Church Street in Eccles.

"Initial enquiries have established that the incident happened during an altercation between two men.

"Emergency services attended and a 26-year-old man was taken to hospital with a stab wound to his arm where he remains in a stable condition."

Two Swinton men who were caught with drugs worth more than £40k have been jailed for over eight years.

Andrew Pierce (15/11/1962), of Buchannan Street, Swinton, and Ernie Wilkes (07/04/1987), of Leinster Road, Swinton, were jailed yesterday (28 September 2020) at Manchester Crown Court.

The court heard that officers executed a warrant at Pierce's home address just after 7am on Wednesday 19 February 2020.

Following a search, a bag of white powder was found underneath a mattress and MDMA was found in a vacuum-sealed bag weighing almost half a kilo in the back cavity of a sofa - drugs with a street value of just over £42,000.

A total of £27,030 in cash was also found in the address along with drugs debtor's lists, paraphernalia and digital scales. Wilkes was staying with Pierce at his address at the time.

Wilkes was jailed for six years and six months after pleading guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and Peirce was jailed for two years and three months after pleading guilty to allowing his premises to be used in the supply of drugs.

Detective Constable David Moran, from GMP's Serious Crime Division, said:

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"Thanks to the hard work of our officers, we have prevented a significant quantity of drugs from reaching the streets.

"Drugs blight communities and this result shows our ongoing commitment to tackling illegal drugs supply in Greater Manchester.

“Pierce and Wilkes have been put before the courts and they now have a long time in prison to contemplate the foolishness of their actions.”

 

Police were called to the scene of a reported stabbing after a disturbance at a property on Manchester Road West in Little Hulton at around 9pm last night (Monday 28th September).

It is said that the victim received injuries whilst allegedly defending a family member during an altercation at the premises.

Police cordoned off a number of houses in the vicinity whilst the incident was dealt with but the cordon has since been removed.

(North West Ambulance Service) NWAS said that a person had been taken to hospital for treatment but declined to give any further details due to it being a police incident.

GMP have been approached for comment.

Salford's very own Lowry Theatre will welcome a new production next month, with an outdoor performance that promises to be 'raucous and deliciously dark'.

Dr Blood's Old Travelling Show will premiere outside at the Salford theatre on Saturday October 17, with two shows in one night and all proceeds going to support the venue.

It comes from theatre company Imitating the Dog and Leeds Playhouse, who recently created a stage adaptation of George A. Romero's classic zombie film Night of the Living Dead.

Dr Blood's Old Travelling Show promises to be a similarly spooky performance, drawing on elements of the classic horror film genre as well as carnival and medicine shows. The 30 minute production has been created specifically to be performed in outside spaces.

In the twilight show, Dr Blood will tell a dark and captivating story about the price paid for ambition, hypocrisy and greed.

The piece has been directed and written by Imitating the Dog's co-artistic directors Andrew Quick and Pete Brooks, and will fuse live performance with digital technology.

Andrew Quick said:

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"It’s a strange time to be making a new show but we are really looking forward to meeting the new challenges of creating work in the present conditions.

"We felt it was important to keep going and create a piece that was not only magical and entertaining but will abide by social distancing guidance and be COVID 19 safe.

"It will be a challenge to make but it is a hugely entertaining production that is scary in parts but also full of fun, with some deep and dark themes running through it. 

"We’ll be using screen and camera technologies for which we are known and I just can’t wait to share with audiences at The Lowry that have supported us over the years and for us all to come together and experience all the joys of live theatre outdoors."

 

In its 20 year history, Imitating the Dog has also been behind productions of Hotel Methuselah, A Farewell to Arms, Heart of Darkness and most recently the Night of the Living Dead ™- Remix.   

Tickets for Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show are priced from £5 and can be booked online at thelowry.com.

The shows are recommended for ages 14+ and will take place on Saturday October 17 at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.

E-scooters have today (Monday September 28) been given the go ahead in Salford – and will be on the streets next month.

City Mayor Paul Dennett gave approval to a trial scheme, for up to 12 months, in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the University of Salford.

Lime, which already provides e-scooters in 125 cities around the world, has been chosen to supply and operate the scooters.

The trials will begin at the University of Salford Peel Park and Frederick Road campus, before being expanded to connect the campus to MediaCityUK. Phase three will see the trial zone expanded to cover Ordsall and city centre Salford. The trial will be open to everyone over 18 with either a provisional or full driving licence to use within the designated trial areas.

Councillor Mike McCusker, Executive Support Member for Planning, Housing and Sustainable Development, said:

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“This is an exciting opportunity for Salford to trial sustainable, green transport.

“We’ve made huge advances in green transport, with investment in electric car charging points, investment in our network of former railway lines which now provide 27 kilometres of traffic free routes for commuting and pleasure and now we’re delighted to pioneer the use of e-scooters.” 

 

Nicola Kane, Head of Strategic Planning, Research and Innovation at TfGM, said:

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“E-scooters have been hugely successful in many other countries around the world. We know people want to use them to get about and they can be a stepping-stone to encouraging them to use cars less for local journeys – reducing congestion, improving connectivity with public transport hubs and making our air cleaner. 

“We’ve worked in close partnership with Salford City Council on this project. We have also engaged widely with stakeholders such as Greater Manchester Police, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and local council members, putting us in a strong position for launch and ensuring that the schemes are accessible.”

 

Mike Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the University of Salford, said:

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“Our research and teaching in autonomous and electric vehicle innovation leads the way in the UK. We saw trialling e-scooters and researching ‘micro-mobility’ over short distances around and between campuses and local transport hubs as an opportunity we could not miss.

“I am sure our students will welcome the use of e-scooters and I hope it will help provide some enjoyment and excitement in the return to campus during these uncertain times.”

 

E-scooter hire schemes are widespread in other European cities such as Paris, Berlin and Rome. The UK trials have been fast-tracked by the government as part of the national response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lime was appointed after thorough selection process, being chosen over 15 other providers which expressed an interest. Lime was selected due to its global experience, commitments to investing in Salford, strong record of safety and its reliable and sturdy scooter design.

Lime is the world’s leading micro mobility company, operating in over 125 global cities, including the UK’s first multi-modal scheme in Milton Keynes, which has seen thousands of people benefit from this new, environmentally friendly mode of transport, with over 18,000 rides being taken in the first month of the trial. Lime will be fully responsible for all implementation and operating costs.

Florence Milner, Lime General Manager for the UK and Ireland said:

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“We’re delighted to have been selected by Salford to run their trial.

“As the leading global provider, we are excited to work with innovative towns and cities such as Salford, offering the best and safest solution for its residents to move around their city with zero impact on the environment.”

 

E-scooters can be accessed through the Lime app on a smartphone. Riders will approach a scooter and scan the QR code on the handlebars to begin a ride. Each scooter ride will cost £1 to unlock and 15p per minute to ride. When a ride is complete, users must park the scooter in designated parking locations and take a photo to confirm the end of the ride. This ensures the scooter is responsibly parked and out of the path of pedestrians. 

When it comes to COVID-19, Lime is taking a range of precautions to address potential safety concerns. While COVID-19 is considered to transmit through close contact from person-to-person, and surface transmission is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, Lime has enhanced the cleaning of scooters and increased its frequency. Lime cleans all parts of the scooter that are touched by people and only uses products on the Centre for Biocide Chemistries list that have been approved by public health officials for use against the coronavirus.

Lime distributes hand sanitiser, masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to its employees in all of its warehouses. Mechanics and operators in the field are required to wear gloves and wash their hands regularly.

Lime asks riders to stay safe and take the necessary steps to help protect themselves and their communities as advised by public health officials. The company focuses communication with riders on the below health and safety tips when riding with Lime, delivering education through in-app messaging, emails, social media, local media and its blog.

Lime asks to:

·         Listen to advice from your local public health officials on COVID-19 prevention

·         Inspect the e-scooter or e-bike to ensure the wheels, brakes, throttle, lights, and frame are all in good working condition

·         Mask up in public settings and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after riding with Lime

·         Educate yourself on safe, vigilant, and socially-distanced riding. Don’t forget your helmet! Visit https://safety.li.me/.

About Lime

Lime's mission is to foster people-first cities by empowering residents with more affordable, reliable, and sustainable transportation options. As the global leader in micromobility, Lime partners with cities to deploy electric bikes and scooters enabled with GPS and self-activating locks. Lime has powered more than 150 million rides in more than 120 cities across five continents, spurring a new generation of clean alternatives to car ownership. Learn more at li.me.

Don't be alarmed if you are walking through the streets of Eccles and see scarecrows popping out of gardens, hedges and bushes, it's only entries for the inaugural Eccles, Winton, and Monton Scarecrow Festival organised by Megan Dwyer a teaching assistant at Clarendon Road School.

Check Out The Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/nZhOG4aUTuo 

We went down to her school as she explained what the festival was all about.

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"It was my idea to bring a bit of fun to the area in these troubled times,  and bring back a bit of fun to the community, I had seen scarecrow events in other parts of the country and thought,, why not have one here.

"With the help of the Monton Village Community Association we have set up a safe, organised family event and the response has been fantastic.

"So far we have had over 200 entrants dotted all around the area, we had had trail maps made up so people can go and see them and vote for their favourite scarecrow, we have been donated prizes by local shopkeepers which will presented when all the votes have been cast"

 

We took a drive around to see some Scarecrows and were delighted at the variety and imagination that have gone into making them, Super heroes, Harry Potters, Mary Poppins, The Big Friendly Giant, Wee Willy Winkie,  and an amazing Yellow Brick Road themed front garden.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EMWScarecrowFestival/

It is great to see so many people coming together and making a concerted effort to have fun and everybody who has participated deserves a pat on the back if not a prize! and hopefully this will be an annual event.

So get out, get spotting and get voting!

There are four easy to follow trails, covering, Eccles, Monton, Peel Green, Brookhouse, Winton which pinpoints where the scarecrows are located, they can be picked up from the following establishments.

Barlow and White, Monton, The Monton Van, Green Lane, Morrisons, Eccles, New Happiness Chippy, Winton

Police were called to disperse a large crowd of people who had gathered outside of the Mayo building at Salford Royal Hospital at around 1pm this afternoon (Thursday 24th September), after staff at the hospital raised the alert.

It has not been disclosed as to the purpose of the gathering but staff reportedly closed entrances to buildings to restrict their access. 

Reportedly there were up to 200 people gathered outside of the building at one point. Gatherings of this size are forbidden as they contravene social distancing rules set out by the Government.

A number of police vehicles were called to the scene to deal with the crowds which have since dispersed.

GMP have released a statement which says:

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"Police were made aware by staff at Salford Royal Hospital of a large gathering of people outside the building earlier this afternoon (Thursday, September 24).

"Officers are currently in attendance and are engaging with the group."

 

So far the hospital which is currently under reduced access due to the covid-19 pandemic restrictions has not released a statement.

So far no date has been set for the trial of Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh who stand charged of the brutal murder or local taxi driver, humanitarian aid worker, father and husband, Alan Henning back in 2014.

Mr Henning had been travelling to distribute aid to the orphaned children of Syria as part of an aid convoy which had set off from Bolton.

Tragically he was kidnapped and held as a hostage by the group known as Islamic State of which both Kotey and Elsheikh are accused of being members of. It is alleged that they belonged to a cell within the group known as 'The Beatles' due to their British accents, who were responsible for the brutal and barbaric murders of both Alan as well as a number of other Western captives, including US born David Haines.

After a landmark decision on Tuesday to allow the sharing of intelligence information with US authorities, the pair will now stand a fair trial in America.

Speaking via a statement from the Hostage International charity, the family made the a short statement expressing their praise for the decision which they describe as being a 'Huge Result'.

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“We have only ever wanted to see these two men being held accountable and brought to justice through a fair trial for their alleged actions.”

For a time, the prospect of a criminal trial looked distant after Elsheikh’s mother, Maha Elgizouli, asked for a judicial review as she sought to prevent evidence against her son and his co-accused being sent to the US.

Ms Elgizouli had tried to argue that the decision was unlawful as it was incompatible with the Data Protection Act, and asked the court to order that no material should be provided to the US.

However, the court upheld the decision made by the Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The groups ringleader, Mohammed Emwazi who was given the moniker of Jihadi John by the worlds press, was killed in a US airstrike in 2015.

Since his death at the hands of Islamic State, the outpouring of love for one of our greatest Salfordian's has led to his name being immortalised on a road which is soon to be named in his honour, there are also plans to give Alan posthumously the freedom of the City in honour of his selfless act of kindness, compassion whilst showcasing the spirit of Salford to the world stage.

A local journalist who was once declared Fleet Streets greatest newspaper editor has died aged 92-years old in New York.

Harold Evans was born on the 28th of June 1928 in Patricroft, Eccles, son of Welsh parents who had moved to Eccles, his father finding employment as a local train driver.

He would go on to enjoy a career in journalism which would span 70 years but very much founded in local journalism.

Sir Harold found employment as a journalist with the Manchester Evening News but built his reputation back in the 1960's as the hard hitting editor of the Northern Echo, working on campaigns which led to national screening for cervical cancer which has undoubtedly saved countless lives over they years as well as in reducing air pollution which at the time and as now, was a major problem in inner cities and urban areas.

He also tirelessly investigated and campaigned for compensation for British expectant mothers who had been prescribed Thalidomide during the late 1950's, which led to thousands of children being born with missing limbs, deformed hearts, as well as a whole host of other birth defects attributed to the drug which was administered to prevent morning sickness.

His campaign led to an increase in the compensation given to victims by drug manufacturer Distillers Company.

Sir Harold would spend some 14-years as editor of the Sunday Times, then moving on to edit the Times of London, not long after Rupert Murdoch bought the paper in 1981. His term with the publication would last only a year as he quit or was rather ousted after a dispute with the Australian media mogul over editorial independence.

The giant of journalism never forgot his humble working class roots and used his talents to both represent and fight for the people of this country during many media campaigns.

For his efforts, in 2004 he was bestowed with a knighthood by the Queen for his services to British Journalism.

However it was during 2002 that he was given the even higher honour in his eyes of being named as the greatest newspaper editor of all time by Britain's Press Gazette and the British Journalism Review, an accolade he cherished.

In his final years, Evans would continue to write and conduct interviews as editor-at-large of Thomson Reuters. He would continue to encourage journalists old both and young. 

Sir Harold passed away due to congestive heart failure in New York, according to his second wife Tina Brown.

A man has been taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries after police were called to a disturbance which was reported on Ellesmere Street in Eccles yesterday evening.

Upon arrival officers discovered that the man had been injured.

A spokesperson for GMP said:

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“At 7.45pm on Wednesday 23 September 2020, police were called to reports of a disturbance on Ellesmere Street, Eccles.

“Officers attended. A 25-year-old man has been taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

“Anyone with information should contact police quoting 2564 on 23/09/20 or the independent charity - Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

 

At around 11.40pm on Wednesday 23 September 2020, police observed a vehicle being driven at speed on Frederick Road, Salford.

Officers initiated a pursuit and the vehicle in question collided with two third party vehicles.

Two men from the vehicle in question were sadly pronounced dead a short time later.  

One man and two women from a third party vehicle were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

No arrests have been made.

In line with normal procedure, this incident has been referred to GMP's Professional Standards Branch and the IOPC.

Newly resurfaced pitches have been installed at Salford Sports Village thanks to investment from developers.

Section 106 money from five developments in the city, which was earmarked for improvement of open space and sports pitch provision has been used to resurface four of the five artificial 5G pitches at Salford Sports Village (SSV) after 14 years of intensive use.

The venue, operated by Salford Community Leisure also houses a gym, studio space, Lower Kersal library and a local nursery. In addition to the five 5G pitches, SSV has 18 grass pitches and welcomes hundreds of players each week. 

The centre is also the home of the JP Football League and the Manchester International Football Academy (MIFA), which provides training for 16-24 year olds to achieve BTEC qualifications in sport and pathways to a career in professional football both on and off the field.

The centre also takes regular bookings from groups aimed at getting older players back on the pitch, including the successful Man vs Fat initiative.

Salford has a long history of developing football talent, including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Phil Bardsley. The investment aims to attract more players of all ages and abilities and help nurture the next generation of talent.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, said:

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“We ‘re always aiming to upgrade sports facilities to keep people healthy and well, physically and mentally. It’s good to see Section 106 money being used in this way.”

Garry Bateman, Director of Sport at Salford Community Leisure, said

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“It’s great news for players. We’re committed to helping people be active, whether it’s playing team sports or exercising by yourself, and this investment further reflects that commitment. The job now is to encourage more players of all ages to take part and use these great facilities on their doorstep.”

Geoff Hodges, Sport and Leisure Manager from Salford Community Leisure said,

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“We’ve been a part of the local community since 2006 and it’s great that we’ve been able to improve our offer here and keep up pitch development.”

Hannah Evans from MIFA said: “The fantastic facilities at SSV attracted us to be based here and it’s great to see them being improved once again.”

 

The work was carried out by north west company SIS Pitches, with consultancy services provided by Surfacing Standards Limited. 

Pictured in the photograph left to right are:

James Lockett, 18, MIFA

Geoff Hodges, SCL

Abdulkadir Nasir, 24, MIFA

Garry Bateman, SCL

Somuadina Ndu, 19, MIFA

Renowned arts institution Islington Mill, in collaboration with Salford City Council have been awarded a £3.3m grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to create a new artist-led community around the Islington Mill site – ‘The Other City’.

In what could be one of the last tranches of European investment money into the UK, the £3.3m grant has been awarded towards the £6.83m project to build what Salford’s City Mayor Paul Dennett has described as a model to help “communities resist gentrification”.

In addition to renovating the Mill’s current role as a venue and workspace for artists The Other City will provide 25,000 sq. ft. of new creative workspace for creative SMEs . The ERDF funding supports the purchase and conversion of New Islington Mill to complete the heritage footprint of the historic mill and expand the Salford’s creative centre for generations of artists to come. 

Maurice Carlin, one of the founding Directors at Islington Mill said

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“Artists are experts in creativity and their ability to imagine our world differently will be in high demand across almost every sector and area of life over the next few years. The Other City will deliver a physical place, and a support programme, to equip all manner of artists and creatives to apply their skills and entrepreneurialism to the region's recovery.

“Islington Mill was founded as an artist led community 20 years ago by artist and designer Bill Campbell. It is a place where experimentation and artistic freedom have, to date, supported over 4,000 people to become artists who have made a social, cultural and economic difference. Whether it was the Ting Ting's at the start of the millennium or Drag SOS launched on Channel 4 last year, the artists of Islington have a common message that this community helped them turn ideas into reality and take their cultural products, services, celebrations and congregations to regional, national and global audiences and markets. 

“The Other City will support artists to lead recovery across Greater Manchester, drawing on the learning and experience at Islington Mill, to grow new products and services; apply creativity to innovate in other industry sectors; bring new end uses to under occupied buildings and district centres; sustain national and global networks; and navigate new ways we can congregate, participate and celebrate together.” 

 

As one of the 16 remaining heritage mills in Salford, Islington Mill needed funding for refurbishment to sustain its artist-led community into the 21st century.

Islington Mill sits in a part of Salford experiencing extensive change and development. The Other City is a key project in growing and sustaining Salford’s role as a ‘city of makers’, supporting the arts industry from through the productive stage and providing training opportunities, education and early job opportunities for budding young artists.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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"This is a hugely exciting project, and a unique opportunity to explore solutions for sustainable creative communities and local residents at a time when affordable rents are a huge issue facing many millions of people in our country.

"This is about protecting and cultivating the production of culture - not just the consumption of culture. Ownership is key and, moving forward, the project we are embarking on with the Mill will be crucial in creating models for communities to resist gentrification. It's about putting power into the hands of local communities, recognising the huge cultural contribution made by the arts sector to the lives of Salford people, and providing a stable home and future for our residents and our creative community.

"This project is a testament to the importance of true partnership working between Islington Mill Arts Club and Salford City Council, drawing on their different strengths in achieving a common aspiration.”

 

The project represents a true partnership with funds also being contributed by Salford City Council, Arts Council England, National Heritage Lottery Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, The Women's Organisation, Islington Mill Arts Club, founder Bill Campbell, by the innumerable artists and their audiences who contributed gigs, performances and art works, and 100 Temporary Custodians who bought into a shared ownership art-work donated by Maurice Carlin.  

Salford City Council has now been accredited with a silver award for its commitment to supporting defence services within its origination and the wider armed forces community.

The award recognises the council for ‘going the extra mile and turning written pledges into concrete action.’

The local authority is also praised for acknowledging the contribution serving personnel, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers and their families make to the country – and making sure they are not disadvantaged by their service.

The silver award follows City Mayor Paul Dennett picking up the bronze award In March from the Naval Regional Commander for Northern England and Isle of Man, on-board HMS Prince of Wales at Royal Albert dock in Liverpool.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“To be recognised by the armed forces one again for our work and dedication in Salford is positive news.

“At the local authority we want to acknowledge the service by the armed forces community and the issues that face them. By working together, we can make sure they get the recognition they quite rightly deserve.”

 

In October 2013, Salford City Council with members of the armed forces, together with a number of partners signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant.

Salford City Council has a dedicated housing support services for members of the armed forces community to help with any housing/welfare issues.

Councillors Margaret Morris and Barry Warner, both former members of the armed forces, are veterans champions for the city.

Councillor Morris said:

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“The silver award fantastic news for the city - we now have the gold award in our sights.”

Councillor Warner added: “I’m proud the work we have done behind the scenes at the council and the difference we are making to peoples’ lives has been formally recognised.”

 

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

Photo: Paul Dennett receiving a Bronze Award aboard the HMS Prince Of Wales earlier this year in March.