Youths in Manchester walked out of school and joined thousands of others across the UK, on 15 February, to demand action against the climate crisis. Hundreds of children gathered in St Peter’s Square in Manchester joined by parents, University students and seasoned climate campaigners, all critical of the government’s record in reducing CO2 emissions and […]
School climate strike to hit Manchester – backed by 12 local academics
A school climate strike, a call to action against the climate crisis started by one young Swedish girl, is set to hit Manchester tomorrow as well as more than 50 other towns and cities in the UK. The action has received the backing of 224 academics, 12 of whom are from the University of Manchester, […]
10 reasons why the bus companies’ partnership proposals will not ‘revolutionise’ our buses: we need regulation
Why do passengers and staff want a regulated network when £100 million has been offered for the alternative – partnerships? The fact that bus companies are suddenly offering a £100 million partnership package as an alternative to regulation shows just how great re-regulation of our buses is, and how much bus companies will do to […]
Greater Manchester plan for jobs, homes…and the environment?
After several delays the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has published the new draft of its Spatial Framework. The previous version, published in late 2016 met considerable criticism, especially from groups campaigning on green space but also from other quarters, including our own critique of its assumptions of accelerated “economic growth”. On the other side the […]
76% in favour of re-regulating bus services in Greater Manchester poll results show
As the Greater Manchester mayoral office deliberates on how best to organise bus services across the region a poll has shown that 76% of those questioned would prefer bus services to be re-regulated, on a model similar to London’s. The poll also showed that 82% agreed that local authorities “should have more control over bus […]
Better Buses call public meeting to get regulation in Greater Manchester
Campaign group Better Buses for Greater Manchester has organised a public meeting for next week, calling for GM Mayor Andy Burnham to choose a London-style system of publicly controlled regulated buses. The meeting is on Wednesday 6 February, 6:30pm-8:30pm, at the Manchester Art Gallery. Last week, Salford councillor Roger Jones estimated that, even if Greater […]
Greater Manchester Spatial Framework sees Salford green belt destruction
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, […]
Bus franchising: a route to cleaner air for Greater Manchester
“Levels of air pollution in Greater Manchester(GM) are lethal and illegal”, states a new analysis by King’s College London, estimating that 1.6 million life years will be lost in GM in the next century due to poisonous air. The equivalent is reducing the life expectancy of all current residents by six months. A recent World […]
‘We are facing extinction, unless we take action’, Extinction Rebellion hits Manchester
Citizens tired of the predictable and repeated failures of government to take action to reduce climate change, and protect the environment, took to the streets of Manchester on Saturday in an attempt to force the governments hand. Extinction Rebellion campaigners marched through the streets of Manchester, calling for “climate justice”, with placards and flags bearing […]
Better Buses for Greater Manchester campaign launched with a bus ride
A bus surrounded by people with protest placards asking for more “affordable”, “reliable” and “accessible” buses was parked on Store Street in Manchester last Thursday, before transporting the campaigners to the city centre for tea and cake at the Greenfish Centre. The bus ride was organised by the Better Buses for Greater Manchester, a campaign […]