City Mayor Paul Dennett has reassured residents that Salford City Council’s commitment to restoring Buile Hill mansion remains as strong as ever.

It had been reported in the Salford Star that £800,000 which had been earmarked for the Mansion was to be re-allocated to replace a number of aging bin wagons within the councils fleet, the Mayor has now released a statement to clarify the situation.

Article: https://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=5781

Mayor Dennett repeated his promise that, although a suitable proposal for bringing the mansion back into use will not happen this year because of the pandemic, finding a long-term suitable use for the building remains a top priority for the city.

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“Due to the pandemic and economic downturn, it is clear that the external funding we hoped for will not be made available this financial year. Therefore, we have to pause, but not abandon our plans,” he said.

“That’s disappointing but we will not give up and it does not mean the council is any less committed to renovating the mansion despite COVID and other pressures we are facing.

“Salford City Council had allocated £1.5 million of capital spend in this year’s budget to support any suitable proposal, if charities and other external funders also pledged money. That will not happen this financial year so our proposal is to use £800,000 of the money on another much needed project - replacing ageing bin wagons.

“We will review the situation when we come to set next year’s capital budget but the council's intentions with regards to the building have not changed at all and we are still willing to pledge the £1.5 million to the building once a viable use has been found. We will continue to work closely with local residents throughout this process.”

 

The capital spending reallocation will be discussed at the lead member for finance and support services' briefing on Thursday. 

Emergency services were called to an incident in Pendlebury at around 6:30 this evening after reports of two teenagers having fallen through the flat roof of a church building.

A young boy said to be 16-years-old was found injured having fallen through the roof of St Mary's Church on Park Street.

Firefighters forced entry to the building in order to gain access to him and he was rushed to Salford Royal for treatement.

His injuries are reportedly non life threatening.Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said:

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"At 6.22pm on Thursday, August 20, GMFRS were called to an incident on Manchester Road, Pendlebury, Swinton.

"One crew from Salford attended the incident where a young male had fallen through a building roof.

"The crew used a door ram to gain entry to the property and safely extricated the male.

"He was then conveyed to hospital by North West Ambulance Service.

"Crews were in attendance for approximately 30 minutes."

 

Police say that Enquiries are ongoing as to why they were on the roof.

Police are looking for the driver of a vehicle which allegedly failed to stop after a collision with a 5-year-old girl in Higher Broughton at around 4:35pm this evening (Thursday 20th august 2020).

GMP has confirmed that the driver did not stop at the scene on the junction of Douglass Street and Hamilton Street.

An appeal for witnesses has now been made.

Unconfirmed reports are that the vehicle involved was a people carrier, but police have so far not confirmed it.

The young child is said to have sustained injuries but they are non life threatening.

GMP have issued a statement saying:

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"At 4.35pm on Thursday, police were called to reports of a collision on Douglas Street, Salford.

"Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

"The driver of the vehicle failed to stop at the scene.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

 

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 1319 quoting 2166 of 20/08/20 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

As thousands of local youngsters find out their exam results today, it has been revealed that GCSE grades in Salford have improved by seven per cent this year despite the challenges of the pandemic.

The percentage of pupils achieving level 5+ in English and maths has gone up from 32 per cent last year to 39 per cent this year. There has also been a six per cent rise in the numbers getting level 4+ in English and maths from 52 per cent last year to 58.5 per cent this year.

Deputy City Mayor Councillor John Merry said young people and school staff should be very proud of their achievement.

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“Our young people and schools have faced an incredibly stormy year so to see these excellent results is like the sun breaking through the darkest of clouds,” he said.

“I am so proud of them and hope they will continue to achieve even greater things as they go on to the next stage of their education.”

 

As students await the results of their GCSE's arriving tomorrow, Deputy City Mayor Councillor John Merry blasted the governments A-Levels debacle and has called for apologies for discriminating against students from deprived areas and demanded that the government do more to ensure that students’ futures are not adversely affected by poor management of the exam results.

New figures have emerged from Salford City College which showed that 66% of their teacher assessed A level grades had been downgraded through using the algorithm, despite several years of improved grades at the College. Nationally the average figure for grades being downgraded was 40%.

Since the U turn and grades being based on college tutor assessments, Salford City College has now achieved a 99.9% pass rate, with 88% high grades (A*-C). That puts Salford City College in the top 10% of schools and colleges nationally for value added. 

Councillor Merry said the government should apologise to each and every student for the harm caused by using such a discriminatory algorithm:

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“Teachers know their students and their capabilities; an algorithm does not,

“Applying the algorithm did not downgrade many independent and selective grammar schools yet had a significant impact on state schools and college outcomes. It is blatant discrimination and the government has put our young people and their teachers through hell because of it. 

“I know the government has now done a dramatic U turn and thankfully A level students at Salford City College have now received the outcomes that they deserve.  The results now reflect the hard work of staff and students at the college.

“However, students are still living with the consequences of the original decision. Many still don’t know if they can take the university places and other opportunities they have worked so hard for because the exam grading system is in such a mess.  

“Some universities have not yet honoured offers of places that students lost through their results being downgraded. The Secretary of State needs to act on this now or risk going down in history as the person who blighted thousands of students’ lives. We will speak out on behalf of any Salford student that has suffered. It’s time for our young people to get on with their futures.

“We are now waiting for tomorrow’s GCSE results which will be based on school assessment. Our schools and students know they have the council’s full support but the damage has already been done.”

 

Police in Salford are appealing to the public for information after reports of a stabbing which took place after a street fight broke around the junction of Farringdon Street and Nadine street in Langworthy at around 10pm on Saturday 15th of August.

Officers attended after they were made aware of an altercation which had taken place in which a man received what is described as a minor stab wound, they are asking the public to come forward with information as to what happened in order to help their ongoing enquiries.

There had been speculation that a stain on the wall of a nearby home was blood but police have now dismissed it as just discarded food.

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"GMP is appealing for information about an incident in the Farringdon Street and Nadine Street area of Langworthy on the evening of Saturday, August 15 at around 9.55pm.

"A male sustained a minor stab wound as the result of an altercation, any information would be welcomed.

"In relation to Nadine Street, rumours of blood being found on a wall in the area are unfounded, it has been investigated and transpired to be foodstuffs."

 

Police officers from Salford North East and Salford South East Neighbourhood teams took to social media to show off a huge haul of  Cannabis plants taken from a farm which was discovered in the Weaste area earlier today.

The bumper crop was so large, the officers boasted that they were struggling to fit it all in the van to take it away for disposal.

It's not known how much the crop would have been valued at on the streets but this evening some green fingered individual's efforts are all in vain. 

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"Erm, we are going to need a bigger van and sorry to the owner of this huge seizure of

"Cannabis plants, your hard efforts in producing this have been wasted, another cannabis farm dismantled and taken off the streets of Salford."

 

A man from Salford has been charged following a disturbance on Kingsbridge Road in Manchester in which three responding officers were assaulted. 

Mahar Mansour (01/01/1996) of Lower Seedley Road, Salford has been charged with criminal damage, possession of a bladed article and two counts of Section 18 assault. 

He has been remanded in custody and will appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court today (Monday 17 August 2020). 

Shortly before 4.25am on Saturday 15 August 2020, police say they were called to Kingsbridge Court on Kingsbridge Road to reports of a man causing a disturbance, smashing up cars with a metal pole and in possession of a knife.

In detaining the man, three officers were injured and received treatment at hospital, with one male officer sustaining injuries believed to have been caused by a knife.

Police were called over concerns for the welfare of a woman at a block of flats in Barton earlier today (Sunday 16th August).

After attending at Mee's Square on Barton road at around 2pm, officers found the woman had sadly passed away.

There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and police remained on scene throughout the day with an area around the block cordoned off as far as the Dutton Arms public house.

An investigation into the circumstances that led to her tragic death has been started.

Our thoughts are with both her family and friends this evening.

Three teenage boys have been arrested and have since been released under investigation. after alleged firearms offences.

Shortly after 4.15pm yesterday (Saturday 15 August 2020), a concerned member of the public called the police reporting that there was a man with a gun on Nelson Street in Eccles. Due to the nature of the report; specialist armed officers were quickly deployed into the area to conduct a search.

Three teenage boys – all aged 15 - were arrested and remain in custody. One teenager was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm or imitation with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of cannabis. Another was arrested on suspicion of firearm or imitation with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of an offensive weapon. The third boy was arrested for possession of a firearm or imitation with intent to cause fear of violence

Two suspected guns, which were later confirmed as BB guns, were also recovered. 

Chief Inspector Chris Boyd, of GMP’s Specialist Operations team, said:

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“This was a really frightening incident for members of the public and one that meant we had to deploy a lot of specialist resources to the area swiftly. Whilst we have now confirmed that the weapons were BB guns, this does not alter how seriously we must take reports of this nature and just goes to showcase the variety of incidents we get called out to across the force on a day to day basis.  This was a real and serious incident which required the deployment of armed officers and numerous other resources. In fast moving situations it can be difficult to distinguish between real firearms and toys and firearms officers have to make split second decisions.

“This comes at a time when we’re facing unprecedented demand on our 999 lines and it’s hard to ignore this context. It is incidents like this one, which could have had much graver consequences, that we need to prioritise and need to be responding to quickly.

“Yet, due to the colossal demand on our call centres at the moment, there is real concern that next time, someone in serious trouble may not be able to reach us. I would ask people to really consider this context when next picking up the phone. It’s absolutely imperative that people only call 999 when in an emergency.”

“Thankfully, on Friday (14 August 2020), despite a 55% increase on 999 calls when compared to the same day last year, we were still answering the phone within 24 seconds. This couldn’t be done without the help of the staff across the force, so I would also like to say a huge thank you to them.”

 

A man has been arrested and taken into custody by Greater Manchester Police last night after they carried out a sting operation on a vehicle travelling along Trinity Way yesterday evening (Saturday 15th August).

Police say that the arrest was made as part of an ongoing investigation and the male occupant of the vehicle was taken into custody.

The forces helicopter was used overhead to track the vehicle and relay information and coordinate the operation with officers on the ground.

A spokesperson for GMP said:

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"At approximately 2210 hours on 15th of August 2020 armed police officers stopped a vehicle on Trinity Way in Salford in relation to an ongoing investigation.

"One male has been arrested and taken into police custody. Enquiries are ongoing."

 

Police have been combing an area near to Cost Cutter's store on Chorley Road in Swinton after unconfirmed reports of a shooting in the area last night (Friday 14th August).

The search seems to be focused on an alley way and the nearby Swinton Civic Centre.

As yet there have been no injuries reported

A GMP Spokesman said:

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"Last night we received an unconfirmed report of a firearm discharged near to the alleyway at Costcutter, Chorley Road, Swinton.

"At present officers have preserved the scene and are currently conducting a search for any evidence.

"There have been no reported injuries."

 

A man in his 40's was hospitalised after being stabbed at around 8:45pm yesterday evening (Friday 14th August).

Another 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault and grievous bodily harm.

Police had said that the victim was taken to hospital with a stab wound, his condition is being described as non life threatening, although he was kept in hospital for observation.

A police cordon was put into place around an area of Symons Street, Great Cheetham Street East and Gainsborough Street.

The 20-year-old man has been detained for questioning and remains in custody.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 3347 of 14/08/20.

Reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Photo: Google Maps

Emergency services were called to the scene of a car crash on Thursday night (13th August).

Police, Fire and Ambulance services attended the scene at around 22:15pm after being called by members of the public.

A rapid response team and first responder from North West Ambulance Service was first on the scene and immediate started treating the man.

Fire services used hydraulic cutting gear to free a 30-year-old man who had become trapped inside the vehicle.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire Service said:

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"We were called at 10.19pm on Thursday, 13 August, to reports of a road traffic collision involving two vehicles on Trinity Way, at the junction with Blackfriars Road, in Salford.

"Two fire engines from Salford and the technical response unit from Ashton, quickly attended the scene.

"Fire crews extracted one man trapped in one of the vehicles, alongside colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service.

"Crews were at the scene for around 50 minutes.”

 

The man was taken to hospital and the extent of his injuries has not yet been disclosed.

I have to admit that in the past I have voice many criticism's of Salford City Council and I can assure anyone reading this that I will most definitely have more of those critical words to say in the future, but as the world slowly tore itself apart with toilet roll hoarding and fights breaking out in supermarket isles over pasta and corned beef, the cogs had long been starting to whirl within Swinton Civic Centre and what happened next shocked even my critical mind.

Whilst the government was in disarray on how best to handle the impending crisis, a spark was lit which would bring a little ray of light to Salford through some of its darkest days on record. A spark which would ignite the long quietened heart of Salfordians and go on to ultimately save lives and reduce the misery that so many of us were staring in the face.

It is absolutely true to say that Salford has endured some of the most savage cuts to public services during this last decade, so maybe it could be forgiven if its response to the coronavirus pandemic was lacking, but nothing could be further than the truth.

As other towns and cities struggled to cope, Salford delivered a master class in how to handle a crisis.

Weeks before the lockdown was ever implemented and long before the full extent of the impact of the virus was obvious, preparations were already being put into place should the unimaginable happen. The council had done its homework and liaised with all of the key players within the city in order to coordinate a response, from the NHS to the CVS, the council prepared for the worst and it was that forward thinking that led to one of the clearest responses of any city within the UK.

From day one, local councillors sprang forth to set up groups on social media in order to coordinate directly with those in the community who most required their aid. The Spirit of Salford Network as it came to be known, was a key asset in delivering the correct and reliable information, coordinating food deliveries for vulnerable people and allowing people to get in contact with those who could best aid them.

Some councillors even took to turning into chefs to cook meals for countless people in need, in order to ensure that no one went unfed or was left to suffer.

The City Mayor - Paul Dennett, came under a little criticism on social media at the start of the lockdown for a lack of communication but in reality that turned out to be a blessing as other cities were overwhelmed by officials giving conflicting advice to people, statements from multiple sources within councils which clashed with each other and often made little sense.

In Salford we had none of that, what we did have was clear concise leadership at a time when it was needed.

Rather than take to the podium to give blustering diatribes about the Tories response, the Mayor opted for a calmer more clinical approach as he struggled to keep Salford ticking over. Ultimately that approach worked and I think it is fair to say that Salford managed a lot better than some much larger and more affluent cities because of it. The correct information got put out to the correct audiences and panic and confusion were minimised as a result.

I can guarantee that below the water the Mayors legs were kicking like a sinking duck to keep it all afloat, but above water, his composure remained calm which sent out the correct message to the people and helped keep them calm in turn.

What happened over those following months was nothing more than astounding. Thanks to an army of council workers, the bins remained emptied, key infrastructure was maintained and Salfords heart kept beating strong. 

Heroes in the community rose, NHS workers were lofted to their rightful respected position in society and shop workers were recognised for their courage and bravery in and essentiality in keeping shelves stacked and a city fed.

The most inspirational thing though was the resurgence of community, neighbours who had never spoken before took to the streets to applaud the NHS on a weekly schedule, colour, race and all of those other things which divide us were put aside and for the first time in a long time, Salford came together and acted as one all encompassing community. Yes, it is true that some people acted selfishly and foolishly but they were in the minority and I truly hope that it remains that way in the future.

If there is one thing that this pandemic has taught us it is that when Salford is united under a common cause, we are stronger. Despite decades of the decimation of local communities, new ones were born and the real face of Salford shone through the darkness, one full of compassion and love.

The acts of kindness from people to strangers was nothing short of inspiring and there were far to many to mention. One however which does stand out for me personally was the selfless act of one mother who had managed to obtain extra baby milk and rather than hoard it for herself she offered it to another mother who was struggling to find some for her child.

That for me defines what this amazing city of ours truly is.

We still have a distance to go before we can say that this is all over, our local economy is in dire need of help and I was shocked when I heard the amount of money that the response had cost the council I was shocked and left a little worried that they would struggle to get compensated by the Government. I truly hope that after such an amazing response, Salford Council is not left picking up the whole tab. This is not only true of Salford but in other towns and cities which are struggling already too.

So, I am happy to say that when Salford council were needed to act like a council, they preformed admirably. Their actions and early responses had a huge effect in how things panned out and if it were not for those actions, things in this city would have been far far worse. Something that I honestly do not want to even contemplate.

Yes, the gutter press also had a few words to say about Salford, the Murdoch owned rag 'The Sun' ran an article which tried as usual to paint Salford as an out of control wild west town, but in reality nothing could have been further from the truth.

For those who read my posts on our SalfordOnline group, they will know that praise for the council is something which I don't often bestow, but in this case I am more than happy to give it for a job well done.... so far.

I say so far as the virus is still out there, Salford needs to get back on its feet and safely open for business, which is WE come in. 

In order to do that it is vitally important that we continue to maintain our social distancing for the foreseeable future, and although the science behind mask wearing is full of opposing views from the medical profession and Facebook Karen's, I go for the old adage that if it can possibly help then why the hell not?

The speed of the spread of coronavirus has shown clearly that personal hygiene is imperative and it is vitally important to keep our hands clean to cut down on infections from not only this virus but countless other bugs and pathogens we come into contact with on a daily basis.

If we want Salford back on its feet again we need to help it stand and keep it steady so we don't fall over. We do that as a community, united and together.

And on that note I shall say thank you to the councillors, essential workers and support staff who came together during this crisis, you truly did this city proud and we are all forever indebted. 

With students receiving their A Level results today, Salford City Council has quite rightly issued a statement voicing concerns over the potential for discrimination of students based upon the results being graded taking into account results from schools and colleges which have had poor results in previous years.

The council has suggested that the results should solely be based upon the academic abilities of the student and we wholly agree.

If there is one thing that this pandemic has made evidently clear, it is that the education system has been heavily neglected as well as mismanaged - and when tested, it buckled in spectacular fashion leaving a generation of students kicked to the kerb.

This is completely unacceptable and should never be allowed to be repeated, we need a modern and flexible education system in place to ensure that should future generations find themselves in a similar position, the system will remain functional.

Meanwhile, the council has pledged to support any student that takes issue with the grades they receive.

Deputy City Mayor Councillor John Merry said:

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“I am extremely concerned, even with the additional measures announced by the government late in the day, that students in Salford may not have got the A-levels they deserved today – and that it will be similar with GCSE results next week.

“It is simply wrong to take account of factors other than the student’s own performance in assessing their achievement and it is certainly wrong to discriminate against students who have attended schools that have not achieved good results in the past.  We will be supporting any school and student who wants to take issue with their grades.

“Today should be a day of celebrations but please only celebrate safely and legally in line with the current anti-COVID-19 measures. I know that's a very sad situation, but we are dealing with a virus that can kill older and vulnerable people. We are in the midst of a deadly pandemic and restrictions on parties and social gatherings still apply. We all have to do our bit.

"These last few months have been and continue to be very difficult for both students and teachers and I have nothing but praise for their resilience and hard work.

“There is plenty of careers advice and support available including www.salford.gov.uk/findmyfuture which has information on apprenticeships and opportunities and mental health support services such as www.Kooth.com if things have not gone to plan."

 

Unfortunately four individuals had to be pulled from the waters of the River Irwell by rescue services after they were called to attend an incident close to Bridge Street at around 12pm this afternoon, Weds 12th August.

The casualties, three men and a woman, were rescued from the water and taken to hospital but as yet it is not known what their current health status is or how they came to be in the water, we have been told that the lady was pushed in and the three men had attempted to come to her aid before getting into difficulties themselves.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester's Fire Service said:

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"Fire crews were called to Bridge Street, Salford, at 12.06pm on Wednesday, 12 August.

"Two fire engines from Manchester and Salford, alongside the Technical Response Unit from Leigh and the Water Incident Unit from Eccles quickly arrived to the scene.

"Four casualties were rescued from the water by crews from Heywood who happened to be training in the area.

"GMFRS were at the scene for approximately 40 minutes."

 

As temperatures soar across the region it is tempting for people to take a dip to cool off but this can very easily end in tragedy, the river is well known for its swirling under currents which can easily drag a person under the water very quickly.

In this instance those involved seemingly entered the water to rescue someone but it shows just how dangerous that stretch of the river is and why it is important to remain safe and act responsibly around water.

People are reminded to take heed of the water safety warnings.

The coronavirus lockdown did not only take human lives, both small and large businesses fell as a result of loss of income. None more spectacularly than the countries fourth largest shopping location - Intu Trafford Centre which lies just over the water in nearby Dumplington.

In mid June the beleaguered company went into Administration and the future of the centre was left in doubt.

Alas, there is some light now ahead as the centre is up for auction with PJT Partners and property agents CBRE given the task of marketing the site. It is thought that it will come under the auctioneers gavel within the next few weeks.

The site is valued at approximately £1.7bn but it is expected that there will be at least a 20% loss regardless of any efforts by the administrators to maximise profits. 

The pandemic savaged the high street during lockdown leading retailers struggling to pay rents due to the impact of reduced footfall. The downturn has continued since restrictions were lifted as more people have turned to shopping online due to safety fears.

It is expected that it could take as long as four years for public confidence in the high street to return.

This morning it was revealed that the UK has entered into recession for the first time in eleven years, prompting fears that the coming months will see a jobs blood bath. This morning Chancellor Rishi Sunal declared that 'Hard Times Are Here' as the GDP was shown to have made a 20.4% plunge at the peak of the pandemic, which has led to seventeen years of GDP growth being wiped out.

Fortunately the GDP has made a few gains since lockdown ended so the future may not be so bleak in the long term so long as their are no further full lockdowns implemented. 

Which ever company ends up taking on the Trafford Centre, most certainly has their work cut out to make it financially viable once more. 

With 1,106 reports of COVID breaches to Greater Manchester Police last weekend alone - a 25% increase on the previous weekend - GMP are urging people to follow the new regulations and keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

New legislation published by the Government last week (Wednesday 5 August 2020) included additional restrictions on socialising in indoor spaces and allows police to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to those who continue to blatantly breach the COVID legislation.

The tightening of restrictions means that people must not meet people from other households inside a private home or garden, or socialise with them in other indoor public venues. Following this announcement, GMP increased resources across the 10 boroughs over the weekend to ensure early intervention and engagement with communities on the new restrictions, prevent incidents and large gatherings, and only enforce where blatant breaches of COVID legislation took place.

As part of the new legislation, police are now able to specifically target the rising issue of house parties and social gatherings in households by issuing FPNs to occupants or hosts who encourage a breach of the regulations.

Of the 1,106 reports of COVID breaches to Greater Manchester Police, 540 of those were reports of house gatherings and parties and 48 reports of licensed premises breaching the restrictions. Officers attended 40 of these reports which led to 10 arrests and 11 FPNs being issued. Breaching the legislation not only puts individuals at risk of catching the virus, but also compromises the safety of loved ones, as well as others within the community. This is utterly unacceptable and GMP will take action.

Our proactive approach and close partnership working over the weekend led to an illegal car meet being prevented in Wigan over the weekend, as well as two illegal gatherings in Salford and Rochdale being shut down by officers who attended.

Assistant Chief Constable and Chair of the Local Resilience Forum Nick Bailey said:

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“As the restrictions have eased, it may seem as though the virus is no longer as much of a threat, however this is absolutely not the case. We are very much still in the middle of a pandemic and are seeing increasing numbers of COVID cases across Greater Manchester.

“I understand that people want to return to normality as soon as possible, but in order for us to be able to achieve this, it’s important that we as a community follow the regulations and guidance to stop any increase from occurring in virus transmissions.

“National figures show that people between the ages of 18-41 have been issued the most FPNs. Coronavirus doesn’t discriminate – absolutely anyone can get ill whether you’re old or young and it’s imperative that we continue to treat this situation seriously and adhere to the rules in order to reduce infection rates. Even though you may not suffer serious symptoms yourself, by breaching the regulations which are put in place for public safety, you could end up spreading the infection to loved ones who may not be so fortunate.

“I would like to remind people to please take note of the new regulations and not meet up with members from other households in indoor spaces. We will continue to engage with the public and explain the new legislation, encouraging people to take personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of others, but where people continually flout the rules, we will act.

“We shall continue to investigate house parties and illegal gatherings and with the new legislation in place, we shall specifically target those who are organising the events and encouraging others to breach the regulations and put others at risk by attending.

“I understand that A-level results are coming out this week and people will rightly want to celebrate. However, please be mindful of the COVID regulations in your celebrations as we do not want to spoil what should be a joyous occasion by issuing FPNs at any house parties or illegal gatherings. It is worth noting that recent spikes in Greater Manchester which lead to the additional restrictions were centred around house parties with 17/18 year olds.

“I would like to ask the public to continue to report breaches of the restrictions. Where there are no immediate risks or disorder, I would ask where possible matters are reported via the online reporting systems which can be accessed via the GMP website, or call 101. We are currently receiving a lot of calls around the regulations and what people are allowed and not allowed to do. If you have any questions regarding the regulations, all information can be found on the Government website.

“Finally, I would like to thank the majority of people who have been following the guidance and playing their part in helping to keep our communities safe. I appreciate that this is a difficult situation and I am incredibly grateful for the personal sacrifices you have all individually been making in order to protect the public and prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

 

The UK Digital Terrestrial Broadcaster 'Freeview' carried out essential maintenance on their broadcast transmitter network in the Northwest and parts of Wales over night.

The work started shortly after midnight on Wednesday 12th August.

This means that in some cases, viewers will be required to retune their receivers/tv's in order to access the channels, as some have changed frequency. 

The work should be completed by around 6:00am this morning.

If you need help with retuning, or retuning doesn’t restore your channels, you can call the Freeview Advice Line free on 0808 100 0288.

Please make sure you are in front of your TV and can access your remote control when you call them.