CHAT MOSS PEAT EXTRACTION STOPPED - AFTER YEARS OF `UNNECESSARY VANDALISM'

Following a Public Inquiry, Communities and Local Government Minister, Eric Pickles, has backed Salford Council and Wigan Council in refusing William Sinclair Horticulture a licence for a further fifteen years of peat extraction on Peel Holdings owned land at Chat Moss.

Friends of the Earth expressed "huge relief that common sense has prevailed… digging up bogs for our gardens is unnecessary vandalism and must be stopped". The decision follows years of protest - and pathetic safeguarding of the premier league eco land by Salford Council which is now looking to restore the site.

DUTCH ENERGY PLANT EXPLODES AS INQUIRY TO APPROVE ONE IN BARTON BEGINS

Tuesday 13th November sees the opening of a Public Inquiry, as Peel Holdings appeals the decision of Trafford Council to refuse planning permission for its proposed biomass incinerator on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. Even Salford Council has opposed the plans.

Last week, a biomass energy plant blew up in Nijmegen, Holland, with residents tweeting "sounds like the end is near…"

SALFORD THE HEIGHT OF PARADISE

I'm Frank Morgan: A Tale From Paradise Heights
Thursday 15th - Saturday 17th November, 8.00pm
The Black Lion £6 adv/£8 door

I'm Frank Morgan, the first play in the ongoing wicked Paradise Heights series of dramas, comes back to its Salford birthplace this week for three nights of gangster style psyche stabbing, starring its writer Joe O'Byrne.

ANYONE NOTICED THERE'S AN ELECTION THIS WEEK?

Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Election
Thursday 15th November 7am-10pm

This Thursday sees the first ever election for a Police and Crime Commissioner for the whole of Greater Manchester, including Salford. No-one we know has had a leaflet through their door, nor could any of the candidates be arsed to send us a press release. And then they'll complain that no-one voted. A pathetic state of democracy. So why should we bother?

ANONYMOUS HACKTIVISTS JOIN BEZ AND CLINT BOON

We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists
Escape Plan C starring Clint Boon and Bez
Kino Independent Features at The Black Lion
Wednesday 14th November 7:30pm £5/£4

We Are Legion, a top documentary film about the roots and mayhem of the ace Anonymous movement is being shown as a North West preview this Wednesday at the Black Lion. Also being screened is Escape Plan C – a short film starring Clint Boon with a cameo from Swinton's Bez.

SALFORD DOWNTON ABBEY STAR ROB JAMES-COLLIER HELPS START HAVE A BALL

Start In Salford Dickie Bow and Diamond Ball
Friday 16th November, Worsley Novotel

Salford's Rob James-Collier, who stars in Downton Abbey as Thomas the footman, is supporting the first glam `Dickie Bow and Diamond Ball' to raise money for the ace Start in Salford project.

The organisers are looking for Salford businesses to donate raffle prizes – although there is one already in place which every Downton fan would crawl across freshly manured grass to get their hands on.

Harrogate Railway Athletic 2 Salford City FC 0

THOMAS TANKS TONK UNLUCKY AMMIES

Salford City lost 2-0 today at Harrogate Railway Athletic but the crossbar twice rescued the Railways as the Ammies were reduced to ten men.

WHY DID THE RIOTS HAPPEN IN SALFORD AND NOT SHEFFIELD?

An exhibition staged at Sheffield Hallam University this week aimed to analyse why last year's riots hit Salford but not Sheffield.

Featuring artwork by Salford's Joe Coffey, photos by Stephen Broadhurst, loads of quotes from local people and research by former Ordsall resident Dr Bob Jeffery, the exhibition seems to come to one conclusion…

Mental Health Hell In Salford: Part Two

THEY CAN'T BE VICTIMISING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS – CAN THEY?

Drop-in groups closed. Psychology support groups on hold. More suicide attempts. While the bottom line bureaucrats and politicians look for cuts, in the real world of people suffering with mental health issues it's getting critical.

Now campaigners against those cuts believe they are being victimised – "punishing vulnerable people and making them afraid to speak out."

UPDATE: Friday 9th November: Another campaigner barred from drop-ins

A Salford Star Exclusive

MENTAL HEALTH HELL IN SALFORD: PART 1

A Salford man with a history of mental health and self harm problems was refused help by Greater Manchester West Mental Health Trust workers at Cromwell House in Eccles. Instead, the police were called and he was arrested.

"The lack of care is evident" says his partner "What do they want? For him to successfully kill himself and then he's off their books? And one less gobby person to fight to save the drop-ins."

Why were his pleas for help ignored? Could there be a political dimension?

AFTER SIX MONTHS OF MAYOR – WE'VE SEEN ENOUGH!

The Salford Star today launches a timer, counting down the days until a new referendum can be held to get rid of the mayoral system.

While current Mayor Ian Stewart can be removed, if voters so wish, after four years in office, another referendum on the mayoral system itself can't be triggered until ten years from the last one – 26th January 2022.

MAYOR `TOO BUSY' TO TALK TO SALFORD STAR

Today it's exactly six months since Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart, had his first day in office. The Salford Star wanted to interview him to hold him to account for those first six months but he won't speak to us, citing how "extremely busy" he is.

Not too busy, we believe, to write an unchallenged article for the Manchester Evening News arguing "that we must improve how we communicate with local people". You what? We conclude that Mayor Ian Stewart is too chicken to face a proper, critical examination of his record so far…

20 YEARS OF LIGHTING THE LEGEND IN ORDSALL

Lighting The Legend: The Clock Strikes 20
Ordsall Hall
Thursday 8th November 6:30-7:30pm free

Since 1992, Lighting The Legend has been a spectacular show that's more than just fireworks. There's been lantern parades, giant sculptures, performance events and much, much more. This week, on the 20th anniversary of Lighting The Legend, expect the even more spectacular!

PROTEST AT LOWRY BATSHEVA DANCE COMPANY PERFORMANCES

Don't Dance With Israeli Apartheid campaigners held a noisy demonstration outside The Lowry on Friday and Saturday night, protesting about the Israeli state using culture to gain credibility, while it oppresses Palestinians.

KINSELLA DOUBLE SINKS GARFORTH TO MAINTAIN PLAY OFF DREAM

Salford City 3 Garforth 0

Two goals from Rob Kinsella and another from Jamie Rother added to the woes of bottom of the table Garforth. Junior players from Beechfield United FC, Salford's football partners for the day, saw the Ammies secure a comfortable 3-0 win.

HOOKY, GRAEME PARK, MARSHALL JEFFERSON, MC TUNES TO DJ HAC 30

Hacienda 30: The Christmas Party
Thursday 27th December 10pm-5am
Sankeys £15

To mark the 30th birthday of the Manc superclub created by Salford, a whole posse of names are lining up to DJ the Hacienda Christmas Party at Sankeys. These include Hooky, Marshall Jefferson and MC Tunes, with Graeme Park doing a mighty seven hour set. 

To go with the party, there's also a package of tunes being released as Hacienda 30: The Album, mixed by Graeme Park, Mike Pickering and Hooky, with tracks from Kevin Saunderson, Darlene Lewis and, of course, New Order.

NOW SALFORD SHOPPING CENTRE INTRODUCES FREE THREE HOUR PARKING FROM 15 NOVEMBER

It's all change again at Salford Precinct, with its owners introducing free three hour parking from the 15th November – while the remaining Salford Council owned car park on Hankinson Way remains at only half an hour's free parking. Confused? Hopefully this will be the final change…