Yesterday Manchester City Council’s planning committee approved a proposal to build five offices on New Islington Green in Ancoats, despite 94% of those responding to the consultation objecting to the plans and 5,000 signing a petition against development.
Rail workers strike in Longsight over Alstom Christmas pay-freeze
Maintenance staff at Manchester’s Longsight train depot have walked out and are set for multiple 24 hour strikes across December over an international pay freeze imposed by train manufacturer Alstom.
Pressure grows on Andy Burnham to scrap plans for school-based police officers
Deputy metro mayor Beverley Hughes insists SBPOs will create “positive relationships between young people and the police”. Campaigners say police presence in schools causes “harm”, urging the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to “divest from penal approaches”.
Greater Manchester to proceed with franchising bus network
Bringing buses under public control is ‘better value for money’ for the city region in spite of ‘severe’ impact of Covid-19 on bus patronage and revenues, Greater Manchester leaders hear at a meeting this week.
Manchester’s Planning Committee approves luxury hotel and defers controversial Deansgate office block
Manchester City Council’s Planning Committee agreed plans to build a £27m luxury hotel in Piccadilly, while also ruling on a site visit to a controversial proposed 17-storey Deansgate office block.
Housing campaigners call university’s treatment of students ‘abhorrent’ and state solidarity with occupying students
Open letter criticises the University of Manchester for its treatment of students involved in an occupation of student residences and a rent strike.
An offer to meet some of the students demands by the university have been rejected by the student activists, who have vowed to continue the protest until demands are met.
Manchester’s teachers and Co-op Academies Trust clash over school safety
Workers at Co-op Academy Manchester write to headteacher and the Co-op Academies Trust calling for school closures and better working conditions, while Andy Burnham lends support for partial closures under a “tier system” during the winter.
Students’ Union staff condemn controversial furlough deal leaving them with minimal pay and an uncertain future
Student staff of the Students’ Union at the University of Manchester have spoken out about a lack of support after management decided to furlough zero-hours workers with conditions that severely limited their pay and left many unable to cover their rent and living costs.
42nd Street is helping children with poor mental health through the Covid crisis
42nd St have been promoting good mental health in children for forty years. The Covid crisis and its toll on mental health means they have increasing commitments at a time when their funding is uncertain.
Protestors blast Manchester Metropolitan University for attempting to fence off Ryebank Fields
Manchester Metropolitan University workmen attempted to put up permanent fencing around Ryebank Fields yesterday morning allegedly because of the presence of “potentially hazardous material”. Protestors argue hazardous material is buried deep underground, and that MMU’s planned development and resulting disturbance of the land is the real cause for concern.