Today (Friday 20 October 2023) David Perry (12/02/1957), of Eyston Drive, Weybridge, Surrey, has pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrate's Court, following an investigation carried out by Greater Manchester Police as part of Operation Octant in connection with malicious communications sent to MP Angela Rayner.

Perry is set to be sentenced at Staines Magistrates on Thursday 16 November 2023 after pleading guilty to sending a grossly offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message.

On Monday 2 May 2022, Perry sent an abusive email to the Shadow Deputy Prime Minister saying:

"Do you really think anybody would be interested in an ugly menopausal pig like you?

"With your sad old m***e, which you could throw a kipper up, typical career politician, useless, no experience, no qualifications."

Detective Inspector Christopher Dean of GMP's Tameside CID said:

"Abusive and threatening communication, towards anyone, is unacceptable and not only impacts the life of those they are directed at but also those close to them.

"The abusive correspondence sent to this woman left her understandably distressed. We launched a full investigation to identify those responsible and I hope today's guilty plea and the subsequent date for sentencing clearly demonstrates that these actions have consequences.

"What you think may be a quick and harmless email can result in a criminal conviction and we will always do what we can to take robust action against you."

Anyone who has been a victim or witnessed a hate crime is asked to report it at the earliest opportunity online or by using their LiveChat service at https://gmp.police.uk.

For victim support and information, visit gmvictims.org.uk. To find out more information and advice about hate crime, visit https://letsendhatecrime.com.

Essential work being carried out at Cornbrook station this coming Sunday (22nd October) will mean that trams running along the Salford Metrolink branch line will see disruption to service.

There will be no trams between Eccles and Manchester City Centre for the whole day, with a replacement bus service in operation.

The work will also result in disruption across much of the network, with Bee Line buses taking their place throughout the day.

The replacement Bee Line buses will call at:

Eccles, Ladywell, Weaste, Langworthy, Broadway, Harbour City-Anchorage, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, Pomona & Exchange Quay, Cornbrook, Deansgate-Castlefield, St Peter's Square, Piccadilly Gardens, Piccadilly Rail Station.

Eccles – Piccadilly - First service at 6.31am and last service at 12.01am

Piccadilly - Eccles - First service at 6am and last service at 11pm

A new social housing development at the site of a former Trafford pub has officially opened its doors.

Residents are now settling into their new homes at Wynt View on Manchester Road in Partington, which was once the site of the Greyhound Pub.

Housing association Salix Homes has worked alongside contractor Whitfield and Brown to transform the derelict site into a three-storey apartment block, comprising 24 two-bedroom homes, which have all been let for social housing rent to people on the Trafford housing register.

The site had been vacant for almost 30 years after last orders were called at the pub in 1995, and it was later demolished.

Liam Turner, Executive Director of Assets, Growth and Development at Salix Homes, said:

“At Salix Homes, we’re committed to delivering more desperately-needed social housing to help tackle the housing crisis, so it’s a proud moment to see the residents at Wynt View settled and making memories in their new homes.

“At a time when social housing is in such short supply, we’re delighted that this new development has created 24 modern, energy efficient and high-quality homes for people on the social housing register.

“This is also a site that has stood derelict and been an eyesore in the Partington community for almost three decades, so we hope the local residents are also relieved to see it finally occupied and given a new lease of life.”

The new development is called Wynt View as it overlooks a historic stretch of cobbled road, which was formerly known as the ‘Wynts’ and dates back to the early days of the town.

It’s the first new-build development Salford-based Salix Homes has built outside of Salford, where it currently owns 8,000 properties.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said:

“The housing crisis is making it harder and harder for people to get themselves on the property ladder, both in Trafford and the rest of the UK.

“We are desperately in need of more social housing and this scheme in Partington will provide 24 new, good quality homes at an affordable rate. Trafford Council is committed to working with housing associations to provide more quality and affordable homes across the borough.”

Jon Murphy, Operations Director at Whitfield and Brown, added:

“We are delighted to have worked with Salix Homes to deliver these much-needed, high quality homes to support the local community in Partington. At Whitfield and Brown, we are always pleased to be a part of projects like this that will have a lasting impact for generations to come.”

The Wynt View development has been partially funded thanks to a £1.6million grant from Homes England.

Greater Manchester is to benefit from a collection of greener, more innovative and more efficient fire engines that are being introduced from this week.

Twelve of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) frontline fire engines are being replaced with new state-of-the-art appliances to ensure the service is fit for the future.

Following a £3.5m investment, the introduction of the new engines means that more than 75 per cent of Greater Manchester’s 50 fire engines are now under five-years-old.

GMFRS’s Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel, said:

“This is a major investment in our fleet and we are delighted to see the new fire engines being rolled out across Greater Manchester. The new models are greener, more efficient and also come with new safety measures and improved equipment on board, including innovative and award-winning digital technology. “The new engines will provide our firefighters with top of the range equipment and capabilities to enable us to continue to respond to the varying challenges of protecting the people and places of Greater Manchester and ensure that we are fit for the future.”

The new appliances have 5G connectivity on-board for the recently upgraded mobile data terminals (MDTs) that crews use to access information. This will enable greater functionality and use of the IT equipment fitted on each vehicle and will allow more accurate and real-time data and information to be provided.

The MDT replacement project, which was completed in April 2022 across all frontline fire engines, won ‘Best Use of New Technology’ at the Real Innovation Technology Awards in May. The project helps keep firefighters and the people of Greater Manchester safe by providing firefighters with detailed information to help them do their job safely, efficiently, and effectively. MDTs include vital information such as the location of hydrants for water, directions, chemical information, specialist mapping software, and information about different vehicles to help operations following road traffic collisions.

GMFRS was also one of the first fire and rescue services in England to also fit second demountable MDTs to the rear of fire engines appliances, which provides greater access and support to firefighters at incidents.

The new engines are compliant with the latest Euro Six regulation – the European standard for emissions and safety standards on commercial vehicles.

They will be rolled out at: Agecroft, Altrincham, Ashton, Bolton North, Bury, Cheadle, Hollins, Leigh, Marple, Offerton, Stalybridge and Withington Community Fire Stations.

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire, said:

“This is a significant investment into our fire and rescue service, which helps to ensure we provide a modern, flexible and resilient service for the people of Greater Manchester. This large-scale replacement programme shows our commitment to providing our dedicated staff with the best possible equipment to do their job safely and effectively.”

Two further frontline fire engines will be arriving at Atherton and Mossley Community Fire Stations next year.

Fire engines that are replaced with new vehicles are cascaded down into the wider fleet to be used as reserves and at the Bury Training and Safety Centre to provide realistic training situations for firefighters.

Theft from vehicles across Greater Manchester has dropped over the past 12 months, while arrests and charges are up. 

There were 12,365 crimes recorded in the past year compared to 13,387 in the previous 12 months – a fall of 7.6%. 

In the same period there were 208 arrests with 105 people charged – previous figures were 170 arrests and 77 charged. 

Superintendent Ian Jones, force vehicle crime lead for Greater Manchester Police, said:

"We use a range of tactics to combat vehicle crime and those methods are now being shared with other forces across the UK. 

"Tactics include high-visibility patrols, targeted arrest warrants and offender management to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. 

"Operation Acquire is an ongoing operation that uses all of GMP's resources and that of our partners to fight all areas of neighbourhood crime including vehicle crime - we anticipate this will continue to reduce offences while making more arrests. 

"Acquire is GMP's forcewide initiative that sees intensified action across a month with extra resources deployed across the force to target and arrest criminals suspected of committing neighbourhood offences. 

"We also promote the use of partners and volunteer groups, such as Neighbourhood Watch, to provide the information and intelligence to allow us to bring those who are damaging our communities to justice." 

In the early hours of the morning, Operation Vulcan worked alongside Cheetham Hill Neighbourhood Policing Team to carry out a joint warrant at a property on Knowsley Street.

On entering the premises, officers uncovered five rooms storing counterfeit items, a badging factory and a large quantity of cannabis - worth £2,500 - packed into 30 bags. The remnants of a former cannabis farm were also found during the search.

The seized counterfeit items were worth an estimated £800,000 to the criminals.

This is the latest badging factory to be busted by Op Vulcan in Cheetham Hill. Badging factories are used by criminals to try and avoid detection by law enforcement. They import 'blank' items and affix counterfeit designer logos, badges, and tags onto the unbranded items. Dismantling such operations is a great result however as it cuts off the supply line right at the source.

Later in the day, further activity was seen as Operation Vulcan and Manchester Trading Standards carried out a joint visit at a Vape shop on Harris Street. This led to a significant seizure of vapes worth an estimated £25,000. Quality checks found the vapes did not comply with regulations making them potentially harmful.

Chief Inspector Andy Torkington of Operation Vulcan said:

"Operation Vulcan supports the work of Cheetham Hill Neighbourhood Policing Team and we will be working together closely with wider partners to police this area and ensure the counterfeit goods trade and associated criminality cannot creep back in. 

"Joint activity such as this is a show of strength and a reminder to the criminals of our continued presence here. We also want to reassure the local community that the move to Piccadilly Gardens is not about replacing one operation for the other.

"Our message is clear: Operation Vulcan will remain in the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways area for as long as it is needed and will continue to take positive action that frustrates criminals and supports the people who live here."

People across Greater Manchester are being asked to have their final say on the plan to bring thousands of new homes to the region over the next two decades. 

Consultation on Places for Everyone, the plan to deliver 175,000 new homes, jobs, and sustainable growth has been launched today (October 11). The nine GM councils involved have approved the modifications made to the plan following an eight month examination process conducted by the government. 

Stockport is the one borough not part of the plan due to concerns over green belt impact.

The plan is a joint development plan of the nine districts which will determine the kind of development that takes place in their boroughs, maximising the use of brownfield land and urban spaces while protecting green belt land from the risk of unplanned development. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) added it will also ensure all new developments are sustainably integrated into Greater Manchester’s transport network or supported by new infrastructure.

Following a rigorous and independent examination process, the Inspectors have recommended that a series of ‘Main Modifications’ are necessary to make the plan sound and legally compliant, and have requested that these should be subject to consultation. Whilst there are many proposed Main Modifications, including amending the plan period from 2020 to 2037 to 2022 to 2039, the vision and ambition from across the nine Districts remains the same.

The main modifications include the boundary changes to housing developments and the removal of the North of Irlam Station site – reducing the loss of green belt land. The Salford-based site would have provided around 800 dwellings but the impact on green field land was deemed too severe to keep. 

To better protect green belt land, the sites of Timperley Wedge for 1,700 homes and Elton Reservoir for 3,500 homes had their boundaries altered. The proposed modifications have been approved for consultation by each of the nine councils.

Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford City Council and GMCA Portfolio lead for Places for Everyone said:

“This is a key milestone in a meticulous and detailed process which has been carried out with care and precision. I’m exceptionally proud of the journey we’ve been on to reach this final consultation. 

“Voices of our residents and partners across Greater Manchester have helped to shape the future we’re working towards. As we move into this next phase, we can set our sights on the end goal which is our vision to tackle inequalities across our region.

“I want to continue to thank the Inspectors and everyone involved in this process since we began in August 2014 with a vision to ensure we work towards meeting housing needs and making sure residents and families in Greater Manchester have a place to call home.”

The consultation launched on October 11 and runs for eight weeks, closing at 11:59pm on December 6.

To make a response visit: https://www.gmconsult.org/pfe/mainmods2023/

Commuters heading over the Rixton and Warburton Toll Bridge from Salford are soon going to be paying far more than the current 12p it costs to traverse the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, after it was announced the applicant Peel Ports who own the bridge, were successful in their bid to change the cost of the crossing toll.

Proposals were accepted by the secretary of state for the toll to be increased an incredible 733.33% or in layman's terms, an increase from 12p each way to £1 each way.

The fee will be capped at £2 per day for drivers which is still a staggering eight fold increase on the current price.

The move has sparked anger from local communities who rely on the crossing to travel to and from work.

The inspector acknowledged the increased fee would impact and cause considerable financial pressure to those who most relied on the bridge, however, he still chose to pass the proposals. 

An original attempt to change the toll fee was blocked by a cross party motion objecting to the increases which was approved, however Peel challenged the decision and despite strong local opposition from residents and Warrington Council, has now won it's case.

Peel have long argued that the current toll fee is not enough to maintain the bridge and roads which lead up to it and that an increase of the toll was the only way to feasibly accomplish maintenance.

The company operate several other crossing which span the Ship Canal, thankfully without tolls, one of which is the aging Barton Road Bridge which is in some serious need of TLC.

Maybe some of the funding raised from the new toll could be put towards repairs and refurbishment of other bridges?

It is unclear as to when the new pricing will come into effect as it has been  agreed that the new charges will come in once work has been completed on upgrades to the bridge, but we can assume it will be as soon as it is possible.

Photo: Wikipedia

A programme is being rolled out in Greater Manchester to help 1,500 people with physical or mental health disabilities find long-term work

Employment Specialists from The Growth Company will work with NHS Primary Care teams to offer wraparound support

People who are in employment but struggling with their health conditions can also get help

Thousands of people with health conditions will receive new help to find work in Greater Manchester.

The scheme known as the Working Well Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (WW:IPSPC) programme, supports adults who have a physical or mental health disability to move into employment.

In-work support is also available to people who are working but need help to maintain their job.

The Growth Company, alongside subcontractor Groundwork, are delivering the programme which will see 40 Employment Specialists working closely with NHS Primary Care clinical teams to offer wraparound support.

A phased roll-out is underway with teams now in place in Salford, Rochdale, and Manchester, with Bolton, Bury, Tameside, Oldham, Stockport, Trafford, and Wigan to follow over the coming months.

Commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the programme aims to help 1,500 adults across the region between now and March 2025.

WW:IPSPC will be delivered as part of GMCA’s wider Working Well portfolio which has a suite of different programmes to meet needs around health and employment.

It aims to help people move into work quickly with personalised employment support and advice integrated with their normal health treatment.

Participants receive ‘place and train’ employment support, and they are referred onto the scheme by healthcare professionals such as GPs, or can put themselves forward.

Employment Specialists will offer flexible one-to-one tailored support including rapid job search, liaising with employers, help with benefits, and bespoke careers advice based on skills and abilities.

Rochelle Seddon, Operations Manager at The Growth Company, said:

"What really sets WW:IPSPC apart is its holistic approach. Our team of dedicated employment experts will be integrated into NHS teams, to ensure that physical and mental health needs are considered every step of the way.

“This means that when, for instance, a GP refers an individual to an NHS clinician for mental health support, our specialists will work closely with the healthcare professional to provide tailored employment assistance.

“And the support doesn’t just stop when someone finds a job – we will give ongoing assistance once individuals are in work to ensure employers are best supporting their needs. This really will make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing health-related employment challenges, ensuring they have the tools and support needed to succeed in the workforce.

“We are excited about the positive impact this programme will have on the lives of individuals and the Greater Manchester community as a whole. It will really help to build a more inclusive workforce where everyone has the opportunity to contribute their skills and talents.”

The launch of IPSPC in the region comes as a recent report from The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that the number of workers taking sick leave has hit a 10-year high, with the average employee taking 7.8 days of sick leave during the past year - the most sick leave in more than a decade.

Michelle Leeson, Managing Director of GC Employment, said: 

“The launch of this service couldn't come at a more critical juncture, with the recent report highlighting the increasing need for such a programme. What’s unique about WW:IPSPC is that support is also available to those who are off work sick and also those in work who are struggling with their health.

“We know that many individuals with mental and physical health conditions want to work but need that extra bit of support and help. Through WW:IPSPC, we aim to empower adults in Greater Manchester, helping them overcome barriers and find meaningful, long-term work opportunities.

“At a time when the challenges of health and work have never been more pronounced, this programme’s integrated approach aligns perfectly with responding to the needs of our residents. It is not just about finding jobs but also about providing the necessary support for individuals to thrive in their chosen careers while managing their health effectively.”

To find out more visit https://www.gcemployment.uk/wwipspc or contact ipspcreferrals@gcemployment.uk.

More than a third of private hire taxi drivers in Greater Manchester are licenced by a council that operates around 80 miles away in Wolverhampton.

According to a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 8,952 private hire drivers, licenced by Wolves Council reside in Greater Manchester. This makes up 35 per cent of the private hire cabs operating across the city-region.

It comes after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham condemned ‘out of town’ taxi drivers amid claims they were registering elsehwere to avoid meeting local standards.

Private hires are different to regular taxis in that they are available to pre-book only via companies like Uber. They cannot be flagged down on the street like black cabs (known as hackney carriages).

There are 36,033 private hire drivers with a Wolverhampton plate in total, FOI data has revealed, which is 13 pc of Wolverhampton’s total population (around 262,000). By comparison, 16,343 private hires have a GM licence plate.

In March it emerged that almost a third of England’s private hire taxi drivers are registered in Wolverhampton. The city has even had to take on 20 new staff to cope with demand.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester ‘In The Hotseat’ segment in August, Mr Burnham said:

“How are they allowing it, the other authorities, who are 100 or so miles away. How are they not checking up on those taxis and those drivers, but they’re taking in the money for it.

“How are they allowing that situation? They shouldn’t be doing it because they’re giving plates without being able to then monitor the performance.”

The main difference in standards relates to the age of vehicles allowed, with GM councils requiring newer vehicles to be used on the roads as well as more advanced background checks, according to Mr Burnham. There is also a concern amongst cabbies that drivers are getting in a taxi without knowing all the rules, prompting questions of safety for passengers.

Current legislation means that private hire drivers can operate anywhere in the UK outside of London, even if they are not licensed in that particular area. GM sought powers to restrict out of area operation in its Trailblazer negotiations, but did not get agreement from the Government as part of the devolution deal.

Wolverhampton Council have previously denied that it is ‘quicker and easier’ to get a private hire licence with them, claiming applicants undergo a ‘strict and rigorous’ process that includes a one day training course, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks, a medical certification and a face to face English assessment. A previous report stated that in 2021 and 2022, 55 pc of applicants failed the checks, according to the council.

Under Manchester City Council, it costs £255 to register as a new private hire driver plus costs for tests and between £222 and £342 to register a vehicle (depending on its age). Under Wolverhampton Council, the application fee for a new private hire driver is £49 for a one-year licence or £98 for a three-year licence and £95 to register a vehicle under 10 years old.

A Transport for Greater Manchester spokesperson said:

“Taxis and private hire services are a crucial part of our transport network, providing approximately 45 million trips a year. The sector provides an important service, particularly for those without access to a car, and people who don’t live or work near other parts of the public transport network.

“Current legislation means that outside of London, private hire drivers can operate anywhere in England and Wales, regardless of where they are licensed. 

“The existing system means that local councils can’t guarantee a high standard from ‘out of area’ drivers and their vehicles. A change in the law is required to make sure that anyone who drives or operates a taxi or private hire vehicle in Greater Manchester meets high safety standards and is licensed in our area.

“Greater Manchester leaders have sought powers from the government to tackle the challenges posed by ‘out-of-area’ operation of private hire services and to date these have not been devolved.”

A string of applications for huge masts across the Greater Manchester region have dominated council planning discussions this week.

With 5G coverage and better internet speeds becoming a priority for government, the latest sweep of planning applications is especially prominent in Oldham. In recent weeks there have been a total of 32 separate applications for 15m high ‘air-fibre’ poles designed to carry high speed broadband across the borough.

The developer responsible for the applications, IX Wireless, launched in 2017 with the goal of bringing ‘21st-century digital infrastructure to towns and cities across the North West and beyond’.

As expected, there are a number of applications for housing developments but there has been a lack of any major decisions made across the region. One important decision for the emergency services means Whitefield in Bury will soon see a new fire station built.

The current site on Bury New Road was built in the 1960’s and is overdue for an upgrade – which Bury Council decided was up to scratch.

Here are the various decisions made in each borough of Greater Manchester:

Bolton

Fourteen bus lane cameras to be switched on in Greater Manchester town – with drivers risking hefty fines

Motorists in Bolton are set to be hit with more fines for the unauthorised use of bus lanes when new enforcement cameras are switched on next week.

The bus lane cameras will be activated on Monday, October 9 and drivers who contravene bus lanes at 14 locations in Bolton during operating hours will receive penalty charge notices.

Bolton council said signage is now in place at all bus lanes notifying people of the operating times, which aim to deter unauthorised vehicles, reduce congestion and improve bus journeys.

Council to sell three plots of land for £2million below market value to pave way for 160 affordable homes

Three plots of land are to be sold by Bolton Council at more than £2M below market value to enable affordable homes to be built

The authority has agreed to sell land assets they own to two social housing providers, Bolton at Home and Great Places, who plan to build 160 homes.

89 new homes are set to be built on Roxalina Street in Great Lever by Great Places, with the same housing provider set to construct 27 homes at a site on

Cotton Street and Wordsworth Street in Halliwell.

Bolton at Home plan a new estate of 44 houses at Eskrick Street

Bury

Plans revealed for site of pub which suddenly collapsed

Houses are set to be built at the site of a former pub which was urgently demolished after it collapsed.

Buildings next to the former Wellington pub on Stand Lane, Radcliffe, dramatically collapsed in March, leaving debris sprawled across the street.

Stand Lane was closed due to the unsafe property with bricks and rubble strewn across the pavement and road.

A retrospective planning application has been submitted this week to justify the urgent demolition of the buildings on safety grounds which revealed the probable future for the site as housing.

‘Outdated’ fire station set to be demolished to make way for updated building

A new fire station is to be built in Whitefield – which will replace the ‘outdated’ current building, which ‘no longer meets the needs of a modern fire service.

Originally build in the mid 1960s, Whitefield Fire Station on Bury New Road, serves the town and surrounding areas.

Plans lodged with Bury Council, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service said it is essential they are able to continue operations from the site to provide an adequate level of fire and rescue cover.

Manchester

New data-centre to replace former job centre in Wythenshawe

An old job centre off Wavell Road in Manchester will be knocked down and replaced with an office and data centre.

Manchester Council have approved plans for the two-storey building submitted by Teledata, who operate from the Delta House site north of this site. Before work can start, Simon House, which has long been vacant – will need to be demolished. 

New apartment block in place of historic snooker hall rejected

A developer hoping to see their 38-home apartment block replace an old snooker hall in Chorlton has been knocked back.

The council refused Rusholme Garden Investments Ltd’s plan to knock down the historic venue off Barlow Moor Road due to objections concerned with overdevelopment. The old snooker hall sits behind a McDonalds, Super quick Shine and Tesco Express and it was deemed there would not be enough room for the new block as well as a communal garden and 39 car parking spaces.

New homes to be built near Rusholme 

A total of seven new homes will be built near Platt Fields Park in Manchester following approval from the council.

The ‘traditional’ two storey homes would be semi detached and with just one being a detached house off Claremont Road. Four of the houses will front Victory street and will have deeper front gardens and rear private gardens.

Developers  Xenon 303 Limited said each will have one parking space either to the side or to the front of the home.

Oldham

More applications for 15m high poles put forward

Three more streets in Oldham have been subjected to applications for 15m high poles as part of a new network to carry high speed broadband through the borough.

Footways off  Mardale Close in Spring Hill, Wellington Street in Failsworth and Shawside off Oldham Road in Shaw are the three new areas where these ‘air-fibre’ poles are being planned by IX Wireless. This means the IX Wireless has applied to the council for 32 of the 15m poles in total across Oldham. 

They say this will facilitate the creation of a ‘gigabit capable electronic communications network’ which can deliver broadband speeds of up to 300Mb – compared to Oldham’s current average download speed of 58.57 Mbps.

Rochdale

‘Giant monstrosity’ broadband pole installed next to 76-year-old’s house

A 76-year-old woman in Rochdale has complained that a broadband mast from IX Wireless was put up directly outside her home without warning.

 June Eastwood, of Clarendon Street, said the company had not contacted her before starting work despite it causing the whole house to shake during the installation. Neighbour Alan Chadwick, who lives across the street and can see the pole from his window, said it was put up on Monday, August 18.

Salford 

Mansion in the middle of Greater Manchester park to become stunning new wedding venue

A former mining museum is to be converted into a stunning new wedding venue.

Salford councillors have approved plans which will enable the restoration of Buile Hill Mansion in Eccles, a building which has been vacant since 2000 when The Mining Museum closed. Plans approved by the city council’s planning and transportation regulatory panel, also gave the green light to the demolition of outbuildings in the adjacent Buile Hill depot to create a car park.

However, campaigners in a group bidding to get one of the outbuildings, the Buile Hill Park greenhouse, preserved and also restored at a cost of up to £1.75million, wanted the glass structure excluded from the demolition plan. They are now in talks with landowners, the city council, over a way to preserve the building which dates back to 1930. 

Chair of Buile Hill Greenhouse Association, Doug Provos, said the building was ‘savable’ in an address to the committee.

A 20m high 5G tower approved given the go ahead

The land at Go Church in Weaste will become home to a 20m high lattice tower to provide 5G coverage for the area.

The applicant, Cornerstone, advised that there is “a specific requirement for a new radio base station at this location to provide improved 2G, 3G and 4G coverage and capacity in and around Weaste”. This tower, to be constructed in Dallas Court, would provide increased service demand whilst also providing the latest 5G service provision to the local area, the developer said.

Stockport

Historic pub to be demolished for drive-thru Greggs despite objections

A historic Greater Manchester pub is set to be demolished to make way for a drive-thru Greggs despite receiving 64 objections from residents. The planning application from Greene King to knock down the vacant Farmers Arms on Stockport Road in Cheadle Heath, Stockport, was approved at Stockport’s planning group despite opposition from some councillors sitting on the committee.

Tameside

New HMO given green light despite local objections

A large three storey, six-bedroom semi-detached Victorian villa in Stalybridge will become a house of multiple occupation (HMO) once it has an extension built.

Tameside Council approved the plan to demolish the current outbuilding and extension at the Stamford Street building and replace it with a single storey extension to the side and rear of the property. Local objections cited parking issues from too many HMOs as a big concern for the site situated close to West Hill School and Stamford Park.

Despite these local concerns, the plan was approved as it met regulation requirements and was not deemed to have a big enough impact on the character of the area to be refused.

Fabrics factory in Hyde to build a new silo for industrial use

A big fabrics manufacturer based in Hyde has been given permission to build a new 12m high silo.

The new silo for industrial use at Louverlite, known for making luxury window blind fabrics, will sit alongside another identical silo off Mill Street that was installed back in 2021.The silo will be used to supply two extruder machines with raw plastic pellet type material.

The council deemed this to be continued investment in the borough at a long-established industrial site, supporting economic growth.

Trafford

Chill Factor E withdraws plans for electric charging points

The ski centre next to the Trafford Centre has withdrawn plans to add more electric charging points to its car park.

Chill Factor E had submitted plans to install 18 electric vehicle charging points, 24 parking bays for electric vehicles and 21 new parking bays with feeder pillar and 3 three power banks. These plans have now been withdrawn.

Wigan

Former site of local newspaper to be transformed into offices

The basement of the former newspaper office in the centre of Wigan will be transformed into offices.

The Observer building, located in Rowbottom Square, will see its basement turned into four office units after it was previously used as cycle storage for the apartments above. The mid-19th century three floor building was previously occupied by the Wigan Observer newspaper before they moved in the 1970’s.

The developer, Neil Pike Architects, is hoping this will bring more job opportunities to the area.

Hospital car park expansion to ease pressure for parking

Plans to extend Leigh Infirmary’s car park by 60 spaces have been approved.

Currently, across the whole hospital site there are a series of other car parks with a current total of 645 spaces – 39 being disabled spaces. Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust states that the increased number of existing parking bays is required to ease car parking pressures caused by a lack of parking bays at the site.

Officers from GMP's Economic Crime Unit have arrested 3 men this morning (Wednesday 4 October 2023) as part of Operation Notes, an operation tailored to target those suspected to be involved in the production and circulation of counterfeit currency in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

The operation - spearheaded by detectives from our Economic Crime Unit - saw a total of 20 officers from specialist teams within the unit, The National Crime Agency,  Metropolitan Police Service and Thames Valley Police, embark to London in the Stains and High Whickham area to conduct the arrests.  

A total of three men, between 18 and 26, were arrested and taken into custody to be questioned on suspicion of Passing Counterfeit Currency and Fraud by False Representation.

Detectives began investigating the suspected counterfeit currency production and circulation in Greater Manchester and Cheshire earlier this year as information began to suggest that purchases were being made in high value stores across the North West.

Counterfeit Currency was being used to buy expensive designer goods and Detectives have shown a significant link between these offences across the country.  

Detective Inspector James Coles of our Economic Crime Unit, said: 

"We've taken a big step forward today in our investigation into what we believe to be a largescale counterfeit currency circle.

"Using, distributing and creating fake bank notes is illegal and it directly funds more serious and organised crime, by conducting these arrests with the help of our colleagues in the NCA and the Metropolitan Police, we are a step closer to making our streets a safer place."

Anyone with concerns or information about suspicious financial activity, should report to police online, if able, at www.gmp.police.uk or via 101. 

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

For fraud prevention advice and to keep up to date with the Economic Crime Unit's latest news - follow @gmpfraud on Twitter.

The dream of a high speed rail link between Manchester and London is over as the Prime Minster ended days of speculation by wielding the axe on the ill-fated project before it had barely had time to get off the ground.

During his speech at the Conservative Party Conference held in Manchester, Rishi Sunak told the packed conference hall:

“I say to those who backed the project in the first place, that the facts have changed and the right thing to do when the facts change is to have the courage to change direction.

“So I am ending this long-running saga. I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project and in its place, we will reinvest every single penny, £36 billion in hundreds of new transport projects in the north and the midlands, across the country.

“This means £36 billion of investment in the project that will make a real difference across our nation.”

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, said:

"This is not a coherent plan.

"We were entitled to better than what we have had.

"This city region was entitled to more respect than it was given."

The Mayor said that the current proposal does not deliver 'Powerhouse Rail' to Leeds which is a problem considering the biggest hurdle to transport in the North West is the bottlenecked Transpennine route.

Responding to the government's decision today to scrap HS2 to the North, Lord McLoughlin, Chair of Transport for the North, said:

"The cancelling of the northern leg of HS2 is naturally disappointing. It's undeniable that this will be seen by many as a missed opportunity for the region, and the country as a whole. Only last week, northern business and political leaders came together at our TfN Board to speak with 'one voice' to reaffirm our position that HS2 and NPR in full are vital to truly transform the North.

"The announcement of investment in the region is obviously welcome. And we will look to work with government to fully understand the implications for the North of the proposals set out today in the Prime Minister's speech, and consult with our Board on the best way forward in light of this new change of policy. There are still quite a few areas that require further clarification from the Department for Transport, which we will be seeking from them."

University of Salford Business School’s Dr Zeeshan Syed, Lecturer in Finance, shares his thoughts on PM’s decision to scrap the northern leg of Britain's High Speed 2 (HS2) high-speed rail project.

"In decision-making, timely action is preferable to delay. Politicians, like Rishi Sunak with his decision on HS2, would benefit from proactive decisions rather than facing repercussions later.

"The ongoing debate around HS2 highlights differing perspectives on the prioritisation of megaprojects. Some question the project's utility, given changing work and transport trends:

•        With emerging remote work trends, will the majority choose to work from home or at an office in the future?

•        When considering leisure travel, will there be a preference for public transport or private vehicles?

"Why might one endorse a project that may not align with primary preferences? It's suggested that political considerations might influence such decisions. As observers, it's essential to rationally assess the merits and drawbacks.

"Regarding megaprojects like HS2, let's evaluate the underlying arguments.

"Their Economics is not right: Initially estimated at £37.5 bn (2009 prices), the project's cost rose to £78.4 bn by 2015 (as reviewed by Allan Cook) and is estimated at £110bn in 2019 (as reviewed by Lord Berkeley). These figures have not been adjusted for inflation, implying the increases result from cost overruns and operational inefficiencies. Notably, there were projections for HS2 to realise efficiency gains between 2015 and 2017. Given the current inflation rates and expectations of prolonged high interest rates, the financial implications warrant thorough examination. 

"A reassessment of the prevailing concept of connectivity is warranted. Contemporary infrastructure could be envisioned as 'corridors' that incorporate enhanced train systems, augmented frequency and the integration of digital infrastructure, aligning with the reduced necessity for work-related travel.

"Furthermore, as highlighted by Lord Berkeley, regional transport predominantly relies on public conveyance. The established cross-country network, exemplified by the roughly 2-hour train journey between Manchester and London, underscores the system's efficiency. In light of this, the decision to forego the northern extension of HS2 appears justified, and a reconsideration of HS2 phase 1 might also be apt. However, transparent communication is essential, outlining alternative strategies such as the 'levelling up corridor' which emphasises digital infrastructure, enhanced railway lines, and punctual, modern trains."

Rohail Jillani was jailed today for 8 years and 8 months for the crash in January 2022

A driver who filmed himself driving at almost 100mph moments before a fatal crash has been jailed.

Nadia Yusuf, 17, died after the Mercedes Rohail Jillani had been driving crashed into a railway bridge on the Mancunian Way, Manchester, in January 2022. 

A second passenger - a male aged 18 at the time - received significant life-changing injuries.

Jillani (05/08/1998), of Campbell Road, Manchester, was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison at Manchester Crown Court today (Wednesday 4 October 2023) after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. 

He was further disqualified from driving for nine years and ten weeks. 

Greater Manchester Police were called to the collision on Monday 10 January 2022 at around 11:45pm. 

Jillani had been driving his Mercedes A180 along Mancunian Way with Nadia in the front seat and another rear-seat passenger. 

Witnesses described Jillani using nitrous oxide 'balloons' and recording the journey on Snapchat as he sped along the carriageway, undertaking other slower moving vehicles and reaching speeds of 98mph.  

Mancunian_Way,_Manchester_-_SK_1_.MP4

As Jillani approached a nearside bend, he lost control of the vehicle, colliding with the offside safety barrier before spinning and striking the railway bridge at the junction of Temperance Street. 

Nadia was taken to hospital but sadly later died from her injuries. 

Detective Constable Oliver Batty, of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said:

"Jillani's actions were reckless and dangerous and have ultimately resulted in a young woman losing her life. 

"Today's sentence reflects the utter disregard that Jillani had for his passengers and the rules of the road that we, as the public, have to adhere to, day in and day out, to keep each other safe.

"Jillani chose, through his own volition, to use nitrous oxide, drive at excessive speeds and film himself in the moments that preceded this fatal collision and I hope the sentence today brings some closure to Nadia's family."

'Reckless actions have taken Nadia from us'

Speaking after the sentence, Nadia's family released a tribute:

"Our family is here today to honour Nadia, her life and her legacy.

"Nadia was the oldest child and a big sister to her five siblings. She was an amazing student and community member, and had a passion for helping people.

"She was studying Health and Social Care and was working to become a paediatrician.

"With her passion and determination, there was no doubt she was well on her way to achieve any goal that she put her mind to.

"Unfortunately, at the age of 17, she was taken from us by Jillani's reckless actions that could have been prevented and that have left a hole in our family which can never be repaired.

"Although no amount of time behind bars will bring Nadia back or be enough, we have hope that the justice system will prevail and kickstart our healing process. We will miss beautiful Nadia forever ."

Greater Manchester’s councils have spent more than £123m on social care staff from agencies since 2020.

Social care is a vital sector – providing services to families, young people, the elderly and people living with disabilities – and problems in the system have a knock-on effect for the NHS.

But councils are battling to fill hundreds of vacancies for adult and children social worker roles, and to recruit and retain carers.

A Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) found out exactly how much each council in Greater Manchester has spent in three years to maintain their staffing levels in the social care sector – totalling £123,242,762. In their responses, detailed below, each council has described the steps they are taking to build a permanent workforce.

It’s difficult to quantify exactly how much more it costs to recruit social workers and carers from agencies than it would to employ people in-house.

But Greater Manchester’s town halls say they are keen to reduce their dependence on agency staff, with Oldham’s children services lead describing their use as ‘expensive’, and describing how a single agency social worker can cost ‘£20,000 in fees alone’.

Oldham, which is using innovative measures like £2,000 loyalty payments for staff who stay for two years – is calling on the government to ‘address the lack of funding that has contributed to this issue over a sustained period of time.”

Meanwhile, Bury Council told us that the recruitment and retention of both social workers and social care staff was a problem across the country – and that they were looking to South Africa for social workers. However Salford Council, which has its own Social Work Academy, says it has a ‘lower turnover rate’ than peers, and is converting agency staff into permanent staff.

It is not known how many carer vacancies there are currently in Greater Manchester, with many on zero hours contracts. According to the most recent data from Skills for Care from 2021/2022 there are estimated to be 6,300 vacancies for care workers alone across GM. Nationally, the number of unfilled care worker posts is as high as 165,000 in the same time period.

In Greater Manchester specifically, the lowest paid care workers, as of April 2023, secured a 14.7 per cent pay to a minimum of £10.90 an hour.

But Unison, the union which represents thousands of people in the sector, argues that the ‘profit motive’ of agencies continues to suppress wages in the sector, leading to a high turnover of agency staff and affecting the quality of care.

In our Freedom of Information request, all ten of Greater Manchester’s authorities were asked how many adult and children’s social worker vacancies they currently had and how much they were spending on agency staff in both adult and children’s social care since 2020.

The answers from each council varied depending on population, staffing infrastructure and the age demographics. All councils spent significantly more on the children’s social care sector than adults – the data suggests. The total sum is likely to be higher than the headline figure as Bury council was not able to provide data for the full three year period.

At the time of responding, a total of 745 social worker vacancies were active in the region. All councils explained how they were trying their best to create systems and structures in order to get more permanent staff in and be able to keep them.

Back in November 2022, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced that all local authorities could raise council tax by five per cent – two per cent of which would go towards funding social care services. Most GM councils raised council tax by 4.99 per cent come the Spring budget, except for Bolton, Oldham and Stockport who decided on a 3.99 per cent rise.

All these councils capitalised on the two per cent to help better finance social care.

How much each council has paid out to care agencies on staffing since 2020 and their responses:

Bolton

Adult Social Care agency spend: £465,141
Children’s Social Care agency spend: £5,466,374
Number of social worker vacancies: 61

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Our social workers provide an essential service to adults and children in our community, and like the majority of other councils we do use agencies in order to maintain the required level of staffing. Recruitment is a significant challenge facing the whole social care sector at a national level.

“We have a number of initiatives in place to boost recruitment and reduce our use of agencies. These include campaigns which highlight how rewarding and fulfilling a career in social work is, with opportunities to learn new skills and develop.”

Bury

Adult Social Care agency spend: £1,366,300
Children’s Social Care agency spend: £2,781,400
Number of social worker vacancies: 47

(Incomplete data – figures date between June 1, 2022 and May 31, 2023)

A spokesman for Bury Council said: “Bury, in common with districts across the country, has faced real challenges in recruiting and retaining social care staff and social workers. We have been taking a number of measures to address this, offering a range of incentives to come and work and live here.

“Another method we are using is overseas recruitment. This has already succeeded in our children’s services department, which has recently recruited a number of social workers from South Africa.

“In social care – we are playing the lead role in Greater Manchester in developing an international recruitment programme. Working closely with NHS GM ICB, each of the ten GM local authorities has signed up to access DHSC funding to boost recruitment of overseas workers into the social care sector.

“The GM delivery model, co-designed with local authority commissioners, workforce leads, and with independent sector providers, will include a GM-wide offer of manager training, employee guidance and pastoral support as well as access to training.

“A key component of the programme will be small grants for which care providers can apply, to support their own international recruitment efforts, and the programme team is working with safeguarding leads from across Greater Manchester to ensure ethical approaches to recruitment are promoted and maintained.”

Manchester

Adult and Children’s Social Care combined agency spend: £11,974,748.8
Number of social worker vacancies: 203

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “High levels of vacancies in the social care sector across both adult and children’s services are a concern for local authorities nationally and one that we’re working hard to address and avoid locally. Key to this is understanding the needs of staff whilst responding to and meeting both the increased demand for services and the growing complexity of needs.

“The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis also undoubtedly had a negative impact on staffing levels in the social care sector, and saw many social workers make lifestyle changes, leaving behind permanent roles and moving into better paid agency social work.

“In Manchester we’ve tried to be responsive and adapt to these changes and the needs of staff, reviewing our strategies and support offered to achieve consistency of pay across the sector locally, a better work-life balance, and manageable workloads – and through this to secure a stable, talented and confident workforce. We’re seeing some positive benefits from this and the situation has now stabilised.

“We’re determined to be an employer of choice and regularly review our recruitment strategies and retention packages to make sure they reach the widest audience of potential new recruits, and also that they are competitive in terms of what they offer. As a result, social care staff working for the council can expect high levels of support, training and skills’ development, and excellent career pathways, as well as a salary that compares favourably with market rates.

“We’d love to hear from anyone who is interested in a career in social care and would encourage them to go online and find out more at manchester.gov.uk/jobs ”

Oldham

Adult Social Care agency spend: £1,570,000
Children’s Social Care agency spend: £20,770,000
Number of social worker vacancies: 137.

Coun Shaid Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “Pressure on our social care services is rising. More people need support as a result of enduring poor health and other factors such as the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

“To provide the essential services our most vulnerable people need and rely on, we – like other councils – have had to use expensive agency staff. But we are doing all we can to recruit and retain more permanent social workers, and have put significant investment into this.

“We’ve benchmarked the starting salaries of new social workers; introduced a new loyalty payment of £2k for those social workers who work in Oldham for at least the next two years; launched a high-profile “Choose Oldham” recruitment campaign, and also ensure that our social workers have the very best opportunities for professional training and career progression.

“Last December we passed a motion at Full Council calling for either a ban or a quota on agency social workers. This is because in some cases a single agency worker can cost us £20,000 in agency fees alone.

“We would of course much rather this money went towards helping Oldhamers. Ultimately, the social care crisis is a national problem, and what is needed is a national response from the Government to address the lack of funding that has contributed to this issue over a sustained period of time.”

Rochdale

Adult Social Care agency spend: £1,710,000
Children’s Social Care agency spend: £10,304,000
Number of social worker vacancies: 64.5

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: “Social workers play a crucial role in our Council, especially in safeguarding and protecting our children. Like many areas, we’re facing challenges due to the national shortage of social workers, and to address this, we’ve employed agency workers to fill the gaps.

“However, we’re actively striving to attract more social workers to join us, and we’ve seen increasing success in our efforts while ensuring we retain our existing colleagues. For our newly qualified social workers, we provide a bespoke training and support offer, enabling them to develop their skills and knowledge.

“At the same time, we greatly value the dedication and commitment of our experienced social workers, which is why we’ve implemented a new retention scheme to recognise their contributions. In our Council, we foster a supportive workplace where good social work practice can flourish.

“We understand the vital role social workers play in our community’s safety and wellbeing, particularly for our children, and we are committed to providing them with the resources and support they need to make a positive impact on the lives of those they serve.”

Salford

Adult Social Care agency spend: £1,633,583
Children’s Social Care agency spend: £6,941,545
Number of social worker vacancies: 35

A spokesperson from Salford City Council said: “In light of the national shortage of experienced social workers, we are taking urgent action as a Greater Manchester group to find local solutions. We are also collaborating closely with the Department for Education (DFE) to develop a comprehensive national response. Our commitment to tackling this issue is unwavering, ensuring that vulnerable individuals and communities receive the support they need.

“In Children’s Social Care Services we have developed a recruitment and retention strategy, and a recently formed Workforce Board working with partners across the Council to maximise our permanent workforce.

“Our turnover rate is lower than many comparator authorities. We have pathways to recruit and retain staff through having a Social Work Academy, using apprenticeships, Step up to Social Work and having some agency workers convert to permanent members of staff.”

Stockport

Adult and Children’s Social Care combined agency spend: £8,919,569.05
Number of social worker vacancies: 72

Councillor Wendy Meikle, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education at Stockport Council, said: “We are incredibly proud of the fantastic work our Children’s and Adult Social Care social work colleagues do every day providing our residents with an essential service. There is a national workforce crisis in the recruitment of qualified social workers and care staff in Children’s Services and Adult Social Care.

“This has been acknowledged by the government who have made proposals to address this in their national strategy for children’s social care reforms ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’.

“Regional and local work is taking place to ensure that there is a strong strategy to address these workforce challenges including plans to adopt rules and agreements to reduce the movement of permanent staff to agency and salary costs in line with the government’s strategy.”

Councillor Keith Holloway, Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care at Stockport Council, said: “We strive to ensure that Stockport is an employer of choice to both increase successful recruitment and retain the skilled workforce we have. Where we have vacancies we use agency workers to ensure we have the required staff to deliver statutory services.

“We continuously work hard to recruit and retain our social workers at all levels, from newly qualified staff to those with several years of experience, highlighting the rewarding and satisfying career they can have with the opportunities for continued professional development to maintain and upgrade their skills.”

Tameside

Adult Social Care agency spend: £1,744,500
Children’s Social Care agency spend: £12,186,956
Number of social worker vacancies: 50

A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “Our social workers provide an essential service to adults and children across Tameside. Like the majority of councils throughout the country, we use agencies in order to maintain the required level of staffing.

“We have several initiatives in place to reduce agency spend, including a successful and innovative recruitment campaign, jobs roadshows where we have hired staff on the day and a children’s workforce recruitment and retention strategy.

“The shortage of social workers is a national issue with demand for services increasing while funding is decreasing. We are working collaboratively with other authorities to further reduce agency dependency levels and with the central government to address this issue nationally.”

Trafford

Adult and Children’s Social Care combined agency spend: £15,023,495.8
Number of social worker vacancies: 23

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “There is a national shortage of social workers, highlighted in the Care Review, resulting in the government’s Made with Care campaign.

“As a Council, we’ve set up initiatives such as Trafford Learning Academy to grow and retain our social care workforce. This includes working with secondary schools to inspire young people to choose a career in social care. We also work with Trafford College and Manchester Metropolitan University to offer social work degrees for our current staff.

“Our social work colleagues are invaluable for their work with vulnerable people and communities. We therefore offer an attractive package to our social workers. This includes a competitive salary, flexible working and opportunities for career development. We also pay an additional market force supplement for social workers at bands eight and nine.

“The interim social workers we use are fully qualified and help us provide an essential service.

However, we are also awaiting the government’s response to the implementation of the children’s social care review to see how that can help us grow our workforce and reduce our need to use agency staff.”

Wigan

Adult Social Care agency spend: £728,531
Children’s Social Care agency spend: £19,656,618
Number of social worker vacancies: 52.5

Colette Dutton, director of children’s services at Wigan Council said: “Our Social workers provide a vital service, keeping children, vulnerable adults and families safe. It’s no secret that there is a national shortage of social workers which has led to an increase in agencies and fees.

“To ensure we offer value for money to our residents while attracting new talent and retaining staff, we developed our Care to Join us recruitment and retention campaign. The campaign has attracted a significant number of new social workers and our proactive approach received national recognition when it won last year’s Local Government Chronicle award for Innovation.”

The Unison union is urging is welcoming councils trying to take the work back ‘in-house’.

Unison North West social care lead Dan Smith said: “Unison’s Greater Manchester Care Workers campaign led to higher pay for thousands by compelling the ten GM authorities to make the real living wage the minimum starting salary for commissioned social care services. This saw a substantial pay rise for thousands of care workers in Greater Manchester.

“While this is welcome, so long as our care services remain in the hands of private companies, care workers’ wages will be held down to maximise profits for these firms. There are too many examples of unscrupulous employers exploiting the good will of care workers to make money on their investment.

“This means that care companies struggle to recruit and retain their employees, seriously impacting the quality of care for service users. Local authorities should look beyond the current model and develop in-house alternatives for the public delivery of social care.

“They must remove the profit motive and ensure that the needs of service users and carers are at the heart of the sector.”

A man whose pack of dogs savaged a six-year-old girl in Trafford has been jailed for more than four years.

Bernard Valentine (29/06/1987), of Ackers Lane, Carrington, was imprisoned for 49 months at Minshull Street Crown Court today (22 September 2023) for the attack involving his Pocket Bulldogs.

Valentine also banned from owning dogs for life and has a 10-year restraining order after pleading guilty to eight charges of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and possession of Class B drugs.

The court heard how the attack took place on Sunday 26 March 2023 as the youngster walked to her friend's house on Ackers Lane.

As she walked past the address Valentine was staying at in his camper van outside, she was set upon by a pack of six dogs that were being kept in the back garden and in the defendant's camper van.

The girl's older sister bravely tried to wrestle the dogs off her as she was being attacked on the pavement. It was only when the child's mother picked her up that the dogs ran off.

The victim sustained serious injuries to her face, scalp, hand, abdomen, arms, legs, back and shoulder, for which she has since had surgery.

Valentine was arrested on Tuesday 28 March 2023 when his van was traced to Fallowfield in south Manchester and the dogs were seized.

He was also arrested in connection with another incident on Ackers Lane on Tuesday 20 December 2022 when a man was walking his Dalmatian with both injured after being set upon by the dogs and a member of the public having to intervene.

DC Goodhand, of Trafford CID, said: "Firstly we would like to thank the victims for supporting this prosecution and whilst nothing can take these experiences away from them, we hope that today's sentence goes some way to allowing them to heal and move on.

We would urge anyone with information in respect of dangerous animals to report this to the police so that approiriate action can be taken by police and our partner agencies 

"This can be reported to police, via 101 or anonymously through the independent charity - Crimestoppers - on 0800 555 111."

A high-risk missing person has been found safe and well by Operation Vulcan officers, on their first official day in Piccadilly Gardens.

The elderly man was reported missing by his family last week and officers have been retracing his known steps ever since. After finding CCTV of him in Huddersfield Train Station, the team launched a national appeal – also brining other police forces and partner agencies on board to assist.

Following the operation's success in Cheetham Hill, Vulcan was rolled out into Piccadilly at an official launch event earlier today. Operation Vulcan Piccadilly will see the high-visibility presence of GMP and partner agencies to create a safer community for people to live, work, and socialise.  

Earlier today (Friday 22 September 2023), a member of the public reported a sighting to an Operation Vulcan officer in Piccadilly Gardens. The officer found the man in a nearby premises and contacted the investigation team so they could make arrangements for him to return home.  

Senior Investigating Officer - Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Walker, of GMP's Oldham district, said: "This is the result we are always hoping for when we open investigations into missing persons. We are all relieved that Ronald is safe and well and that he has been reunited with his loved ones, who were understandably incredibly concerned.

"We are really thankful to the members of the public who shared our appeal, and partner agencies who assisted us with our enquiries. My particular thanks goes to Constance Dane Hullett, who has worked tirelessly since the call came in that Ronald was missing, in investigating different lines of enquiry and for dedicating long days to trying to find him.

"It is a testament to Operation Vulcan that, on their first official day in Piccadilly Gardens, they have been noticed by members of the public – enabling them to help us to bring this investigation to the best conclusion."

Passengers, rail unions and politicians have reacted to this morning’s announcement that Avanti West Coast have been awarded a long-term contract to continue to run rail services between Manchester and London Euston. Avanti will start a new rail contract on October 15 which lasts at least three years and could run for nine years, with ministers citing an improvement in services in the last six months.

The operator faced a storm of criticism last year from passengers and politicians when it drastically cut the number of trains it ran between Piccadilly and London due mainly to driver shortages. The poor service meant the government placed Avanti on two short-term six-month contracts and ordered it to develop a recovery plan and improve performance.

This morning transport secretary Mark Harper said Avanti were ‘back on track’. He said: “The routes Avanti West Coast operate provide vital connections, and passengers must feel confident that they can rely on the services to get them where they need to be at the right time. “Over the past year, short-term contracts were necessary to rebuild the timetable and reduce cancellations.

“Now Avanti are back on track, providing long-term certainty for both the operator and passengers will best ensure that improvements continue.”
The decision has sparked a furious response from unions and some Greater Manchester politicians.

The RMT union represent many train and support staff on the network and are in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions which has led to
numerous strike days. Their general secretary, Mick Lynch said: “Avanti are one of the worst rail companies on the network and it is a travesty that they have been awarded this contract.

“From supplying inappropriate uniforms to staff, mass cancellation of train services and multiple industrial disputes, Avanti have been an unmitigated disaster. “They are incapable of running an efficient rail service or treating the staff properly.

“By granting a company like Avanti with a lucrative taxpayer funded contract, the government is rewarding abject failure. “The whole network must be brought into public ownership as a matter of urgency, in the best interests of passengers and railway workers.”

Passenger Hannah Middleton, 38, lives in Levenshulme and travels regularly from Piccadilly to London for work purposes. She, said: “I travel to London around once a month for work, although it’s sometimes more frequent, up to once a week, and more often than not my trains are cancelled or delayed.

“Services are also most less frequent than under the previous franchise, so I have to set off much earlier, or sometimes even travel down the night before.
“If I don’t want to risk being late for important meetings. You just can’t rely on the service any more.

“Last week my train home was delayed by more than half an hour, with no explanation whatsoever provided by Avanti. “The fact that they’ve been awarded such a long contract is frustrating, as it gives them little incentive to improve the service.”

Reacting to the announcement on the MEN’s Facebook page, Doug Hall. said: “Unbelievable. I doubt there is a worse performing rail company in the world, yet our government will continue to throw taxpayer money at it.”

Bury North Labour MP, Christian Wakeford, said: “It’s like living in a never ending nightmare for people in Greater Manchester.” He said a future Labour government would bring back railways into public hands.

Justin Madders MP, who represents Ellesmere Port and Neston, said: “How is this possible? “Services from Chester to Euston are at about half the level Avanti inherited yet they are allowed to continue with this sub standard service.”

The contract for Avanti, owned by FirstGroup in partnership with Italian company Trenitalia, is for nine years with a minimum three-year core term.

Eleven new police constables land in Greater Manchester Police today (Monday 18th September), where they will begin working to transform communities, reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, and build public confidence in the police service as neighbourhood police officers.  

The new officers have completed seven weeks of training at Police Now's National Graduate Leadership Programme academy, developing the essential policing knowledge and skills to serve their communities.

They now officially land in force where they will continue Police Now's two-year programme, working to support victims and tackle crime across Greater Manchester. They will also work towards their Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice, in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. 

Addressing the officers on the final day of Police Now's national academy, Chief Constable Jason Hogg of Thames Valley Police said: "Policing is a fulfilling, challenging, interesting and diverse career. As a neighbourhood police officer, you will deal with a wide variety of issues at all levels of society and support vulnerable people within your communities who need you the most. You will uphold the law with honesty, integrity and compassion at all times and you will work extremely hard to support the public you serve.

"You are joining policing at a particularly challenging time, when public trust and confidence is lower than it has been for many years. Remember that every interaction you have with the public, however small, is a chance to change that. You are highly successful individuals who want to make a difference by serving others. Policing needs people just like you, who act and think differently and are prepared to challenge the status quo.

"Congratulations on everything you have achieved so far, as you come to the end of your academy training and prepare to arrive in your forces across the country. Continue to work hard and thank you in advance for everything you will do to fight crime and keep our communities safe."

Police Constable Peter Barnes, who has just completed the academy and lands in Greater Manchester Police today via the programme, said: "I have been so passionate about building community relationships and bringing people together throughout my life. When I saw Police Now's neighbourhood policing programme, I knew it was the right path for me. 

"I loved the idea of training at academy. It has been intense, fast-paced, and with long days. It has been exhausting at times, but it's been an exhilarating journey. One of the highlights of academy has been the social aspect. The bonds I have made with my Greater Manchester Police (GMP) colleagues and other officers are bonds which will last a lifetime. GMP's academy trainer, Detective Sergeant Aidan Kennedy, is the most personable and supportive person, and he has been such an incredible link between us and GMP.

"Joining GMP is such an exciting opportunity. It's a large force which is on an incredible trajectory at the moment. I believe it's a great time to join GMP. I'm ready to jump in head-first, make a difference and build ties within my community."

Police Now's programme recruits, trains and develops outstanding and diverse graduates with a commitment to exceptional community policing and public service. These new officers are among 113 graduates trained at this year's National Graduate Leadership Programme academy and among over 2,750 officers recruited nationally by Police Now across England and Wales.

Police Now is committed to building a diverse police service that is representative of the communities it serves and consistently recruits more female officers and more officers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds than the national average. Of those on this cohort of the National Graduate Leadership Programme, 51% identify as female, 24% are from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background, 19% identify as LGBT+ and there are 22 languages spoken across the cohort.

Applications for the next intake on Police Now's National Graduate Leadership Programme are currently open.