‘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.
‘Lifelong fans no longer matter’ – Manchester responds to news of European Super League
All six English clubs have now withdrawn from the Super League. However, Manchester’s football fans, MPs and local economy experts believe the aborted plan underlines a desperate need to democratise the beautiful game. The Meteor presents their views of the plans.
Kindling Farm’s Community Share Offer is about ‘growing hope’ in fair and sustainable food production
Using ‘pioneering’ farming techniques the Kindling Farm initiative aims to ‘challenge the dominant industrialised’ agricultural model. The Community Share Offer aims to raise money to buy a farm, with a potential return for investors.
Burnham brings GM bus network back under public control
The metro mayor said the “deregulated” bus network had “not been driven by the needs of our communities, but by bus operators’ responsibilities to their shareholders to make a profit… We can only change that and hold the decline if we bring the buses back under the control of the public.”
Greater Manchester leaders back bringing buses under public control
“On balance, it is in the public interest to make the proposed franchising scheme,” TfGM chief executive Eamonn Boylan told GM council leaders, as they gave the green light on re-franchising the city region’s buses.
Andy Burnham will now make the final decision on introducing a London-style franchise system.
Greater Manchester, with over £1bn in stock, has largest pension fund fossil fuel investment in UK
Greater Manchester Pension Fund is the biggest investor by far in fossil fuels of any local government pension scheme in the country. Environmental groups are calling on GMPF to divest from fossil fuels, to help tackle the climate emergency.
Greater Manchester must leave green belt post-Covid and build on brownfield instead
Storm Christoph showed that Manchester is susceptible to the adverse effects of extreme weather events, which are forecast to become more regular occurrences.
Greater Manchester Labour for a Green New Deal argue that we must abandon the idea of developing on greenbelt, and instead embrace bold alternatives which reflects the urgency of the climate crisis﹣starting with sites like Carrington Moss.
Urmston couple launch Small Markets online platform for craft goods
The online marketplace built by Chris and Amy Monaghan of Urmston, Trafford, aims to provide a lifeline to the many craft artisans who are struggling to sell their goods due to lockdown restrictions.
Burnham urged to act against government’s proposed planning system changes
Open letter calls on Andy Burnham, and the leaders of the conurbation’s ten boroughs, to “intervene” in the government’s plans to change the UK planning system, which the campaigners call an “emergency for communities and local authorities across England.”
No luxury offices on former Central Retail Park in Ancoats, locals tell Manchester city council
90% of locals in survey thought the area did not need any more luxury offices, as campaign group Trees Not Cars brand Manchester city council’s public consultation on future of site of former Central Retail Park “tick box activity”