The Revised Greater Manchester Spatial Framework has been published – and is already meeting huge opposition, particularly in Irlam where 1,600 dwellings are being proposed on Green Belt land north of Irlam Station, with only around 150 designated for social rent. “Utterly shameful…We are going to be surrounded by development – Port Salford one side, […]
Is Burnham’s A Bed Every Night scheme enough?
On the first day in his role as mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Andy Burnham pledged 15% of his £110,00 salary (£16,500) to his newly created Mayor’s homelessness fund. He had soared to victory in the election with 63% of the vote on the back of a pledge to end rough sleeping in Greater […]
Trafford council spends £38m on investment properties: are they ‘gambling’ with public money?
An investigation into speculative property deals by local government, show the practice is increasing rapidly across England, as cash strapped councils try to survive austerity cuts. Vince Cable, leader of the Liberal democrats described these types of investments as “gambling” and that there was “a very high risk of bankrupting their local authorities”. Amongst the […]
Show your face and go home: asylum seekers and migrants forced to travel from Stoke to Salford for two-minute appointments
People living in Stoke-on-Trent with pending asylum and immigration claims have been told by the Home Office that they have to report at Dallas Court in Salford – an 80 to 90-mile round trip. Over 80,000 people per year have to report at their local Home Office reporting centre or a police station. In the […]
The million pound Salford Star treasure auction on Salford Precinct
The ailing Salford Star is to hold a £1million treasure auction with a huge event in a pop-up unit at Salford Shopping Centre between 29th November and 9th December. Lots will include brilliant artwork from Salford’s top artists, once-in-a-lifetime memorabilia from the city’s recent past, unique photos from the Salford Star archive, incredible celebrity one-offs…and […]
Cabaret activist urges Mancunians to oppose latest NHS privatisation ruse
A novel cabaret approach to political education around our health service, urged the audience to get involved and oppose the incremental privatisation of our NHS. With songs and anecdotes recalling his past few years of “accidental activism”, Steven Carne entertained and informed the crowd at the Anthony Burgess Foundation, last Friday. He set the show […]
Man given eight-month sanction for missing an appointment. Can we please stop sanctioning people?
Guest article from, anti-poverty activist and journalist, Charlotte Hughes: As you may have heard Esther Mcvey has resigned from her role as the DWP minister because she doesn’t agree with the deal put forward by Theresa May, she actually stated that she wouldn’t be able to look her constituents in the eye. I found this […]
99% rise in stop and searches by GM Police this August, compared to same month last year
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) carried out almost twice as many stop and searches this August as they did in August 2017. The police conducted 345 stop and searches in August 2018, compared to the 173 recorded in August 2017, according to their published open data on stop and search. There was also an increase in […]
Bolton NHS hospital workers celebrate huge pay victory
Guest article from The Salford Star: Bolton Royal Hospital workers are celebrating a massive victory after taking two days of strike action over pay parity in the NHS earlier this month, supported by Salford UNISON and many other trade unionists. The workers, who include cleaners, catering staff, porters and security staff, are employed by Bolton […]
Caoilfhionn Rose: Awaken album review
The perfect companion for a stroll in the park, Awaken celebrates our ties to the natural world. Greatly inspired by one of Manchester’s many green spaces, Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury, the album explores themes such as humanity, our relationship with the natural world, and how this can impact upon our mental well being. Awaken […]