This month, we sent photographer Gary Roberts to Bolton, to see if there was anything good happening there. It was a mixed picture.
Electrification of Wigan to Bolton railway announced as “game changer” for Greater Manchester
Electrification of the Wigan to Bolton line, first announced in 2013 at a cost of £37m, is predicted to cost £78m in announcement today and will be completed by 2024/25.
Wigan care home records most Covid-19 deaths in England
A care home in Wigan has recorded the most deaths due to Covid-19, over a year, of any care home in England, according to data released by the Care Quality Commission. Care homes recording the highest number of Covid deaths in each Greater Manchester borough are presented.
Burmese refugee speaks from painful experience of Myanmar military persecution
Just nine years old, Blut Htoo had to run for her life from a bombed and burning refugee camp in Thailand, attacked by pro-Myanmar government armed militia.
Now living in Salford she fears the current military coup and crackdown will see many more refugees suffering like her family did.
Bolton recruit: the story of anti-racist activist Ramila Patel
The story of Ramila Patel, Bolton raised trade union and anti-racist activist who was recruited to work undercover for the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa in the 1980s.
Greater Manchester Fire Service cuts still ‘unsafe’ says firefighters union
As GM Mayor Burnham defers some cuts to fire service, the FBU condemns ‘unsafe’, ‘depleted service’. Guest article from the Salford Star. Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has deferred some cuts to the fire service through adding an additional £6.25 increase to the Mayoral Precept within the Council Tax. But a letter to firefighters from […]
Tenant rights campaigners victorious over government plans to scrap ‘no-fault evictions’
A coalition of housing activists are celebrating a campaign victory as the government announced its plans yesterday to abolish “no-fault evictions” under Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act and introduce open-ended tenancies for private renters in England. Currently, Section 21 allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason, after a fixed term tenancy […]
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 […]
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 […]
Unite Community protests against benefit sanctions across Greater Manchester
A national day of protest against benefit sanctions saw Greater Manchester Unite Community Branch (GMUCB), and other campaigning organisations, demonstrating outside job centres across Greater Manchester (GM). Benefit sanctions are applied as a punishment to benefit claimants who have broken jobcentre rules. If someone on benefits does not apply for enough jobs, or turns up […]