HOUSING WAITING LIST ALMOST QUADRUPLES IN 10 YEARS

According to latest Government figures, Salford has the second highest number of households in Greater Manchester on council waiting lists for social housing.

The latest stats, to November 2009, show 13.1% of all households in the city are on the waiting list, and that figure excludes families looking to transfer houses. Since 1999 this figure has almost quadrupled.

THE HAC COMES TO LANGWORTHY

After two decades, the Hac finally made it back to its spiritual Salford homeland last night as Peter Hook and Jon Da Silva spun the tunes at the Ashley Brook pub in Langworthy. The alehouse rave, in aid of the Christie appeal and saluting Hooky's new Hacienda: How Not To Run A Club book, went down a storm as memories and moves came flooding back from the days, while those too young to have been there mopped up the vibes...

CIVIC PARADE

Soldiers returning from Afghanistan will take part in a civic parade in Salford on Tuesday December 1st.  The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers will be marching from Victoria Park at 11am to a reception at the town hall at 1pm…

SALFORD COUNCIL TO BUY BRASS HANDLES PUB !
CHEK NEVER OWNED IT SHOCK – AS CREDITORS MISS OUT!

"By us investing in the area it will only get better" Chek Whyte 2008

Salford Council is in the advanced stages of buying the Brass Handles pub in Pendleton, where two would-be assassins were shot dead three years ago. The sale has been shrouded in secrecy as the Council won't reveal who it is purchasing the pub from, how much it's costing and what it intends to do with the derelict building.

One thing is for certain – Chek Whyte's creditors are unlikely to see a penny from the sale, as the bankrupt `Secret Millionaire' never owned the former pub that, at one stage, he was going to turn into a nursery… Nor did he ever own the towerblock next door to the pub which he re-named Bronte Court…

THREE HOUSES BULLDOZED FOR EVERY ONE BUILT!

New Government figures show that for every new house built in the so-called Pathfinder areas of Salford and Manchester, three are demolished.

Meanwhile nearly 18,500 people in Salford are on the housing waiting list, and for every `social' house that's advertised each week there are over 50 bids.

Our photo shows a house in Suffolk Street in Charlestown being bulldozed this week, one of 184 properties currently being demolished in the NDC area at a cost of £350,000.

BEST SALFORD PRESENTS THIS CHRISTMAS…

   No 3: SALFORD CITY WINTER WONDERLAND

Never mind stuffing the stockings of the money men at Man United and City, Salford's biggest footy club has a whole range of cheaper, more meaningful  merchandise – and you know that every penny you spend will go towards helping our local club get higher up the leagues.

There's everything from Rhodri Giggs key rings (£2) to a full kid's Salford City strip (£35), to loads of special Ammies Christmas cards (£1.20) and rosettes (£3.50). Pressies that won't break the bank and will support a great soccer cause…

COMMENT: Stephen Kingston

Salford Star editor, Stephen Kingston, responds to a column by a local newspaper editor who argued that the Guardian's George Monbiot was out of order when he wrote that the Salford Star was one of only two local publications in the country worth saving…

SALFORD STAR - BEST SALFORD PRESENTS THIS CHRISTMAS…

No 2: ADOPT A SALFORD TOILET

Yep, for the ladies and gents who have everything, now is the chance to adopt for your loved one a toilet, tap or sink at the Star Inn, the Salford pub that's just been taken over by the Broughton community.

This coming Friday, 27th November there's going to be a Bog Aid benefit at St Boniface Social Club on Lower Broughton Road to raise money for a disabled people's toilet and an indoor ladies' loo at the Star.

Coronation Street's Julie Hesmondhalgh is going along to support the event and Peter Hook has sent a signed copy of his new Hacienda book. The highlight, though, is going to be the auction to adopt toilets, sinks and taps, and have a named plaque in the bogs at the Star Inn. Christmas presents don't come any better…

MONDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2009
PATHWAYS – Community Films From Salford 
From 6pm Salford Arts Theatre

LAST MINUTE HEARTACHE FOR SALFORD

FA Trophy
King's Lynn 1 Salford City 0

Norfolk club, a full league above Salford, squeezes through to next round of the non league FA Cup in the final minutes of a match that the Ammies never deserved to lose.

MARY BURNS

£140,000 TO SORT SALFORD'S SCHOOLS OUT!

The Council can't close St George's and don't seem to be able to add up when it comes to the other Salford schools, so what does it do now? Yep, chuck around £140,000 at the problem by employing outside consultants to clear up the cack…

MARY BURNS

£140,000 TO SORT SALFORD'S SCHOOLS OUT!

The Council can't close St George's and don't seem to be able to add up when it comes to the other Salford schools, so what does it do now? Yep, chuck around £140,000 at the problem by employing outside consultants to clear up the cack…

THE GREAT SALFORD STAR POLL
WHO SHOULD TAKE ON HAZEL BLEARS?

The Hazel Must Go! campaign has now opened nominations for people to stand against Hazel Blears in next year's General Election. So we thought we'd do a poll to see who the most popular candidate might be…

You can nominate yourself, someone you know or a local celebrity and we'll announce the winner in a few weeks time.

25 YEARS SINCE THE MINERS' STRIKE
Saturday 21st November 2:30pm
Plus 11am-2pm LIVING LIBRARY
Working Class Movement Library
51 Crescent, Salford M5 4WX

This Saturday, Salford's Working Class Movement Library hosts a 25th anniversary meeting to decipher the personal, economic and political legacy of the bitter miners' strike which began in 1984. Guest speakers include ex-Agecroft miner Paul Kelly and Granville Williams, editor of Shafted: the Media, the Miners' Strike and the Aftermath.

Before this event starts, between 11am and 4pm, there's also a chance to catch UNISON's Living Library, where you can just drop in and listen to a range of stories by trade unionists telling their real life experiences.

HACIENDA COMES TO THE ASHLEY BROOK PUB IN LANGWORTHY

Special Salford Night For Hooky's New Book!

"The Hacienda's coming to Salford at last!" says Peter Hook, who together with friends in Langworthy has arranged a special night at the Ashley Brook pub on Liverpool Street as a benefit for the new Christie radiotherapy centre at Salford Royal Hospital.

"I'll be DJing with another Hacienda DJ and signing books" says Hooky "We did a signing in Manchester and my friend Twinny said we should do a Hacienda night in Salford which we're well overdue."

The Hacienda Comes To Salford Night will be at the Ashley Brook pub, 28th November, entrance by donation to Christies.

SALFORD STAR - BEST SALFORD PRESENTS THIS CHRISTMAS…

No 1. THE HACIENDA: How Not To Run A Club
          By Peter Hook (Simon and Schuster £18.99)

This book has got to be the best Chrissy present anyone in Salford could hope for because, not only is its off-its-head gosh factor subject matter enough to keep you riveted to its pages but also because it's written in proper Salford prose by the only person who could have written it from the heart, club co-owner and New Order legend Peter Hook.

How Not To Run A Club is one of those can't-put-down books where every chapter leaves you gasping for breath as car crash management, car crash finances and car crash car crashes collide head on in an extended re-mix of nineties drugs, guns, dance, rave, whizzing cops and `the Salford lot'…

THE HACIENDA AND HOOKY

Tom Bloxham? "He was very antagonistic towards Salford and it did make me wonder that when he built those fucking monstrosities he was getting his own back on our fair city."

New Order's Peter Hook talks to the Salford Star about the city's pubs, clubs and gangs that inspired The Hacienda: How Not To Run A Club, one of the best pop culture books in years.

SHADES OF SANDBOX

Fresh out of Salford, the female fronted four piece, Sandbox, launch their new single, Shades of Grey, this week.

"We're writing and playing music that we love, and we hope other people love" says the band's Andy Gilmore "We're not going to change our sound in an attempt to fit in.  I think that's a bit of a problem in Manchester, you have to be seen as `cool'.  But Salford is different…More accepting."

We like Sandbox already!

EXHIBITION SHOWS CHANGING FACE OF SALFORD

Last night saw the opening of the annual Salford Art Club Exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery. The show features work by local artists in a wild array of subjects and styles, and most of the pictures are on sale. 

This ace of picture of Fitzwarren Court by Josh Young is selling for just a fiver, and there's loads for around £50, although prices go right up to £600 at the top end.  

LIFTING THE LIDS OFF SALFORD

Salford Stories
Performed by Blueberry Youth Theatre
Saturday 14th November 7:00pm Free
Salford Arts Theatre, off Liverpool St, M54BS

SALFORD RECONNECTS TO ITS HERITAGE

Salford – where the TUC was founded way back in 1848, and where unemployment movements mushroomed in the huge recession of the 1930s – has reconnected to its past with the launch of the country's first 21st Century Unemployed Union.

Standing up for the rights of unemployed people, helping them to receive benefits to which they're entitled, and campaigning for better conditions to stimulate employment, the Union already has branches throughout the country…

A Salford Star Exclusive

HEAD OF SALFORD'S SCHOOLS PROGRAMME RETIRES! 

In the same week that Salford City Council lost in its bid to close St George's School in Little Hulton as part of the massive `Building Schools for the Future' (BSF) project, we can reveal that Stephen Bradbury, the head of the city's Building Schools for the Future programme has retired.

This comes on top of Jill Baker, the Director of Children's Services being suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing at the end of this month.

A Salford Star Exclusive

SALFORD COUNCIL LEADER LEAKS CONFIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT E-MAILS TO PRESS

John Merry Outraged Over `Outrage' Outrage…

Council Leader demands apology off Salford Star and leaks e-mails to prove his point...

BBC LONDON STAFF ON HIGHER WAGES THAN SALFORD PEOPLE

Next Saturday, 14th November 10am -2pm, there’s a table top sale featuring all sorts of goods that you can buy.  And if you want to sell some stuff, for a tenner you can have your own table – just ring Joan Dickinson on 212 8615.

Table Top Sale: 14th November 10am-2pm
School Hall, Oasis Academy, Eccles Old Rd, Salford

Salford City 1 Clitheroe 1

No repeat of the eight goal thriller last week in the FA Trophy, as Salford and Clitheroe slug out a one-all draw in the Unibond 1st Division North…

ST GEORGE'S SLAYS THE DRAGON -

AT LAST – JUSTICE4GEORGES!!!

"All our campaigning work has paid off. This is a victory for common sense. What we have said for years is that it doesn't make sense to close successful schools"
Joe Nixon, 14, justkids4georges

"Proud" … "Emotional" … "Amazing" – staff, pupils, parents and the community celebrate the success of the campaign to save St George's School…

"I cannot describe how disappointed I am" says Salford Council Leader John Merry, adding that the Council may seek legal advice to challenge the decision.

VICTORY FOR ST GEORGE'S!!!!

ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL SAVED FROM CLOSURE!!!!

St George's School has won its long term battle with Salford Council to stay open.

Just after lunchtime today the Schools Adjudicator issued the announcement which began...

"My reasons for not approving the closure of SG are several.  The Council's proposals include the closure of a successful and over-subscribed school (SG), which is unusual and surprising..."

HOW MUCH TO DO UP A TERRACE?

Following the ongoing battle between residents of Higher Broughton and Salford Council over the cost of refurbishing empty houses, another scheme in the city has cast doubts on Salford Council/Urban Vision pricing mechanisms…

So what is the price - £130,000, £55,000? Nope, City West Housing can do it in Irlam for just over £37,000

NO TURN UNSTONED
The Racecourse Hotel
Littleton Road, Lower Kersal
Saturday 7th November from 7:30pm Free entry

A new night is springing up in Salford featuring tall tales, poetry, comedy and folk music in a rainbow of live entertainment.

No Turn Unstoned has its debut night at The Racecourse Hotel this Saturday and entry is free…

A Salford Star Exclusive

Higher Broughton Special Part 3

LET SALFORD PEOPLE JUDGE

Salford Council has dramatically pulled out of a High Court hearing due to take place today.

Three residents in the Top Streets of Higher Broughton slapped an injunction on Salford Council to stop it demolishing their homes and the case was to be put before a High Court judge this morning. But the Council, at the last minute, has pulled out, proposing a six week `consultation' and negotiation period, in a bid to ward off, what we believe, would have been an inevitable defeat.

Last Saturday, Clifton went wild and weird as witches and spooks of all descriptions headed to the Livia beauty spot for a creepy lantern lit walk through the forest. There, teens from Clifton Youth Centre acted out scary scenes and told stories, before enjoying a host of Halloween inspired activities at Clifton Amphitheatre…

More here…

SUKAI SUPPORT GROWS IN SALFORD

Tonight, during the early evening rush hour, supporters of Gambian refugee Sukai Jack gathered on Langworthy Road to stage a candle lit demo in support of her bid to stay in Salford.

ACCOUNTABILITY IN SALFORD DOESN'T EXIST!

Did you know that Salford Council is about to spend £131,509 and 93p doing up the ground floor of the Civic Centre in Swinton?  Almost a month ago the Salford Star asked innocently what this was for. We're still waiting for an answer.

In fact, we're still waiting on answers to around twenty questions dating back over a month on seven different subjects ranging from Salix Homes to the future of Athole Street to the future of Higher Broughton. Plus there's two Freedom of Information requests outstanding. And not one of our questions has been answered yet…

SALFORD HOUSE OF LORDS

Lord Morris of Manchester, former Alf Morris MP for Wythenshawe, is currently under media investigation for arguing that his small main home is in Salford, while claiming £100,000 in allowances for a second home in London.