A new missive from the Electoral Reform Society warns that ‘Local one-party fiefdoms plague local government in England – with growing powers often wielded with shrinking oversight. It is a potential gift for lobbyists and shady contractors.’
The Salford Star, reporting with ‘attitude & love’ for 15 years, is closing
‘I can think of only two local newspapers that consistently hold power to account: the West Highland Free Press and the Salford Star’ said journalist and author George Monbiot. The Salford Star is to close after the elections in May. Judith Suckling talks to Stephen Kingston, the journalism powerhouse behind the Star, on its rise and fall.
New bike park in Little Hulton crowdfunding to provide vital access for people with disabilities
Crowdfunder launched to provide support for disabled young people’s cycle lessons at the new bike and skate park in Little Hulton, Salford.
Salford City Council attempts to defer Police HQ court case for six months
A court case set for March between Salford Council and Stama Developments, surrounding planning refusal for the old Police HQ on the Crescent, looks set to be postponed, after a decision published by the Council states that it is “Applying to vacate a High Court hearing for a period of 6 months” for “further discussions and negotiations”.
Manchester’s New Ruins, Ten Years On
Ten years after publishing A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain, author Owen Hatherley reflects on the past decade of neoliberal development in Manchester and its impact on the city. Last weekend, a few items down on the headlines, below the pandemic and the protests and curfews in the US, was a story […]
Salford’s Islington Mill gets huge lottery heritage grant
Islington Mill gets £746,000 grant to safeguard future. Mill director says award will enable the building to “host creativity for the next 200 years”. Guest article from the Salford Star. The Grade II listed acclaimed arts hub, Islington Mill, has been awarded a huge £746,000 National Lottery Heritage grant to safeguard its future. The funding […]
Salford Council wins ‘we might be bulldozing Swinton but we’re not telling you’ award
Salford City Council triumphs again, at the Salford Star’s 13th annual Mary Burns Awards. Guest article from the Salford Star. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 13th annual Salford Star Mary Burns Awards, which are given out to honour the most deserving individuals and organisations in the city for their stupid statements, dodgy dealings and […]
GM Mayor Andy Burnham to cut another fire engine from Salford
Details released on latest fire service cuts show Salford will lose its second fire engine. Gorton and Central Manchester will also lose a fire engine each. Guest article from the Salford Star Following news in October that Eccles was to have its second fire engine cut from service, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has rubber […]
Disabled people’s fury at Conservative party conference
“You are responsible for mass suffering and mass deaths and we will not let you forget it”. Said a speaker at the Disabled People Against Cuts protest outside the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, with each speaker telling personal stories of suffering and neglect by the system. Also protesting this on an array of issues […]
Mike Leigh hopes small independent media can ‘grow and be heard’ to counter failings in modern media landscape
To round up a host of events to commemorate the bicentenary of Peterloo over the weekend, acclaimed film director Mike Leigh attended a screening of his film Peterloo, at HOME Manchester, and answered the audiences questions on it’s relevance for life in the UK today. Film director Mike Leigh invited us all to join him […]