SALFORD'S 32% HOUSE PRICE COLLAPSE

Salford has been named as the most affordable city in the UK, according to new data released by Lloyds TSB.

Average house prices in the city are £102,391, reflecting a 32% fall since 2008, compared to an 18% average fall in the rest of the country. Meanwhile, new figures from Salford Council show that the lowest prices in the city are to be found in Charlestown, where houses can be picked up for under £50,000.

SAFORD COUNCIL PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNTRYSIDE PROPERTIES IS `UNVIABLE' FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Salford Council's own Planning Panel was the judge and jury that decided there was no need for affordable housing when presiding over an application for a partnership that included Salford Council.

Salford Council's own policy states that in a scheme of the size proposed, 20% of housing should be affordable. But this was waived, as were other payments, because the project would be `unviable'.

DETAILS OF HOW TO STAND FOR SALFORD MAYOR

Nominations are now being accepted by Salford City Council for anyone who wants to stand for Mayor. Candidates have been given only until noon on April 4th to get all the papers in to the Council.

Is there a credible candidate for Salford who wishes to stand? Here's your big chance…

WAITING LISTS UP! HOMELESS UP! SUPPORT TO BE CUT!

As Salford Council's housing waiting list jumps by almost 2,000 and homelessness in the city rises, Salford Council is proposing to cut its tenancy support scheme which helps some of the most vulnerable people find homes.

Meanwhile, people are now having to rely more heavily on religious charities like The Mustard Tree, which has recently opened a branch in Eccles, for food parcels, clothes, furniture and training.

UNEMPLOYMENT UP! HOMELESS UP! WAGES DOWN!

`Just seven Job Centre Plus vacancies in Kersal in January'

Despite the opening of MediaCityUK and its surrounding Quays businesses, life for the average Salford person is getting worse, and the city's middle class is getting squeezed too. New Government figures show huge annual increases in long term unemployment, youth unemployment, female unemployment – and massive rises even in suburbs like Claremont, Swinton and Boothstown.

The gloom is accompanied by a drop in wages for those still in work, council house waiting lists growing and an increase in homelessness.

SUPERMARKET TO BE BUILT ON TOP OF SWINTON BURIAL GROUND

Salford Council's Planning Panel is shortly to decide whether Asda can build a new supermarket on land where over 300 people are currently buried.

Gareth Lyons questions why Salford Council sold the land with a covenant on it to care for the site; why the Church removed the covenant for a £125,000 payment; why Swinton needs yet another supermarket; and why councillors are running shy of commenting on it all? Plus, is Private Blears, buried on the site, a relative of Hazel Blears?

WALKING FOR HOMELESS

This Sunday, 1st April, Salford's Marc Frobisher will begin a 230 mile sponsored walk from Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland to The Mustard Tree homeless charity in Manchester. Marc aims to raise money for the charity which helps the marginalised and homeless, and which has recently opened up new premises in Eccles.

Garforth Town 3 Salford City 2

REF SHOCKER ANGERS SALFORD CITY

With Salford City player, Craig Flowers, unconscious on the pitch the referee allowed play to go and Garforth continued playing to score the winning goal. Following that disgrace, an ambulance was called and the game delayed by half an hour. It should have been abandoned, says guest match critic, Gareth Lyons…

SALFORD GRAFFITI ARTISTS LEAVE ROYAL IMAGE

As the Queen and Prince Phillip are due to arrive at Salford MediaCityUK, local graffiti artists recently left a right royal image on Ordsall's infamous graffiti wall just across the road from where the visit is to take place.

HIGHER BROUGHTON RIOT FOR DARKTOWN JUBILEE VIDEO

Never mind the Queen's Jubilee, here's Darktown Jubilee…

As the Queen comes to Salford tomorrow to kick off her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a band called Darktown Jubilee has released a single called Breakdown, with a video showing riots shot in the tinned up streets of Higher Broughton.

The video stars top Salford actor, Steve Evets, of Cantona fame, but will the Queen be tuning in or popping up to Higher Broughton to see community destruction at first hand?

YOUTH FIGHT FOR JOBS AT SALFORD PRECINCT

"A millionaire will get £175,000 kickback as a result of this budget at the cost of our public services" campaigner, High Caffrey

Salford's young people were out on Salford precinct late this afternoon protesting against the ConDem Government's millionaire's budget and unfair work programmes which they say exploit the unemployed.

Companies with shops on the Precinct, like Greggs, Wilkinson and Holland and Barrett, are involved in the Government's workfare schemes which campaign group, Youth Fight For Jobs is opposing.

THERE GOES THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Of an original sixty Top Streets residents tracked by Salford Council, six have died waiting for the area to be regenerated. Over half have moved out of the neighbourhood or into rented houses, as bulldozers have flattened their previous homes.

Planning permission was approved last week for new houses on the demolition site; houses that none of the former residents could afford. Here the Salford Star tracks the assassination of a community…

A Salford Star Exclusive

SALFORD QUAYS BLUE CRANES TO BE DE-LISTED PAVING WAY FOR DEMOLITION

`What none of the Council reports on the cranes state is that there is £734,000 funding put aside and ring fenced to sort the cranes out…'

Tomorrow, 20th March, a Salford Council report to the Lead Member for Planning, Councillor Derek Antrobus, will recommend a new Local List of Heritage Assets for Salford which will exclude the formally listed blue cranes at Salford Quays.

The new List was drawn up by the Heritage Working Group, chaired by the Heritage Champion, and will be put out for public consultation over the next few months. Another building, also de-listed, was the Langworthy Hotel, which is now a pile of rubble on Langworthy Road.

JOHN MERRY TO INVESTIGATE CONTAMINATED LAND CANCER LINK IN ORDSALL

Salford Council Leader, John Merry, has promised to investigate a potential link between cancer rates in Ordsall and contaminated gardens, recently paved over in the area.

After being quizzed by affected residents for Ordsall Undercover magazine, John Merry promised to come back with answers… "We need to find out and understand what's going on" he told the community magazine.

Woodley Sports 4 Salford City 0

KEEPER CRISIS ON PLASTIC KEEPS SALFORD FROM WOODLEY WIN

Yet another Salford City outfield player had to go in goal yesterday for the umpteenth time this season, as the Ammies crashed to Woodley Sports on a plastic pitch somewhere to the left of the moon…

MAGIC FEST AT THE KINGS ARMS

Magic and Mentalism Festival 2012
26th March – 1st April
The Kings Arms £5-£10

A massive magic and other worldly festival is happening at The Kings Arms, starting on 26th March which features over twenty different magical acts and loads of well weird stuff, including ghost tours of the old pub.

Star turns include Fay Presto, The Card Ninja and comedy mind readers, ESP. But there's something strange for everyone, including a seance, fortune telling, hypnotism and a `thought thief'.

SEEDLEY AND LANGWORTHY'S TOP REGENERATION – FOR PIGEONS

Seedley and Langworthy was to be Salford's first flagship regeneration of the 21st Century. Upside down terrace houses by Chimney Pot Park, new schools, a new `village' centre and a new "landmark church and community space called Emmanuel Church".

Now, the term `urban splash' has taken on a new meaning in the area as pigeons have moved into their own £5.5million penthouse in the `landmark' building, while other `landmark' sites remain derelict.

LISTED LANGWORTHY HOTEL DEMOLISHED WHILE NEW £5.5MILLION CHURCH TURNS PIGEON PENTHOUSE

Despite all the millions of pounds of public money that's been poured into Langworthy. Despite the community wanting the Langworthy Hotel to be retained. And despite the building being Grade A locally listed, the bulldozers are in the process of flattening one of Salford's last remaining community landmarks.

Meanwhile, a few yards up Langworthy Road, the new `landmark' Emmanuel Church is on hold yet again as it turns into the most expensive pigeon loft in Britain. What the hell is going on?

A Salford Star Exclusive

ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY RULES PEEL MISLED PUBLIC

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that Peel Holdings subsidiary, Peel Energy, misled the public over controversial plans for its Barton Renewable Energy Plant (incinerator) near the Manchester Ship Canal.

The ASA ruled that Peel had misled the public twice in its promotional leaflet and on its website - in one case showing the size of its plant to be the same height as a car - while an earlier ruling also forced Peel to remove false claims from its website about the monitoring of the site.

HOOKY'S HACIENDA SPONSORS ORDSALL JUNIORS FC

Ordsall Juniors FC are now the coolest footy team in the country after ex Ordsall lad, Peter Hook, sponsored the team via his FAC51 The Hacienda company.

Ordsall Juniors are currently undefeated in the under 12s City of Salford Soccer League Division 2 and now proudly wear the legendary logo on their shirts.

PHOTOS AND FILM AT THE BLACK LION PUB

Ian Tilton Q and A
Bill Cunningham New York film
The Black Lion
20th March 7pm £6/£10 (inc meal)

As part of Future Artists' Celebrate Photography season, photographer Ian Tilton - who took loads of pics of the Stone Roses, Kurt Cobain etc, plus his greatest work, Shaun Ryder for the Salford Star issue 4 cover - will be doing a Q and A session at The Black Lion on 20th March. Earlier on the same night, there's also a documentary being screened about New York's Bill Cunningham, who invented `street style' photography…

HOOKY BACK AT THE FACTORY IN MAY

Peter Hook And The Light perform Still
Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May 8pm
The Factory £20.12 (inc charity donation)

Salford's Peter Hook is set to complete a two year trilogy of Joy Division releases when he performs the band's third double album Still for the first time at The Factory in May.

Peter Hook And The Light have already toured the first two Joy Division albums, Unknown Pleasures and Closer to critical acclaim, and Still completes the set. Tickets are on sale now.

ENGELS COMES BACK TO HAUNT CONDEM GOVERNMENT

"We both re-read Engel's The Condition of the Working Class and we were like `This could have been written now!'" Deirdre O'Neil

Fred Engels, who had his family mill in Weaste, wrote the world shaking book The Condition of the Working Class in England 1842-44 way back in the day when government repressed the poor and people's living standards were shocking and, er, so what's changed?

Engels based his research around Salford and Manchester, and now there's going to be live performance and film based on the original book by Inside Film and Not Too Tame Theatre. They're looking for people to take part…

OLIVER'S BOXING TITLES FOUGHT FOR FOUNDATION

Oliver's Boxing Night
Sunday 25th March 12pm £15
Lower Kersal Social Club

Two new boxing titles will be up for grabs at a special event at Lower Kersal Social Club to find the first MKBO National and Youth Boxing Champions, with all money raised going towards Oliver's Gym Foundation.

Salford City 0 Clitheroe 1

HILLBILLY DAY OUT

When the final whistle went yesterday, Clitheroe celebrated like they'd just won the World Cup – or was it just 'cos they'd had a day out in the big city? Whatever. Another dodgy penalty saw Salford's play off hopes disappear like the smoke coming off Clitheroe's horse and carts as they headed back to the hills in some kind of triumph.

SUKAI JACK RELEASED AFTER NEW GAMBIAN EVIDENCE

Salford asylum seeker cause celebre, Sukai Jack, has been released after new evidence emerged in Gambia that her life would be in danger if she returned.

However, Sukai is still facing deportation so the campaign goes on…

SALFORD RIOT `THE BEST DAY OF OUR LIVES'

A packed meeting at St Seb's community centre in Charlestown last night heard how local young people had described last summer's Salford riot as `the best day of our lives'…

The panel which included Salford Council Leader, John Merry and community worker Graham Cooper, gave their views on the causes of the riot and looked at possible solutions for the future. When asked about the failure of MediaCityUK to create jobs, John Merry told the audience basically to come back in twenty years…

SALFORD RESIDENT GIVEN TWO WEEK SHERIFF STAND OFF

Today, Higher Broughton resident Guy Griffiths was due to vacate his home with the threat of the Sheriff riding in tomorrow, complete with police, ambulances and deputies, to forcibly evict him.

Now, following intervention, Mr Griffiths has been given an extra two weeks to leave his house – although he was only told of this offically a day and a half before he had to leave.

HUGE REDUNDANCY FEAR...WHILE SALFORD UNIVERSITY SPENDS THOUSANDS ON GARY DUKE LIBEL CASE… 

After endless job losses over the last few years, the University of Salford is preparing to announce another phase of its `Transformation Programme' which, according to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Adrian Graves will affect "220 people overall, of which approximately 100 will ultimately leave the University"…

Meanwhile, the Manchester Civil Justice Centre is today hearing the latest round of the University's libel action against former lecturer Dr Gary Duke, with estimated costs of over £113,000.

£3MILLION TO BBC PHILHARMONIC WHILE SALFORD MUSIC SERVICE FOR KIDS GETS CUT…

How obvious can this get? Salford's renowned Music Service, MAPAS, is to get slashed by £300,000 until 2014; while next month Salford Council writes out a cheque for £3million in sponsorship to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra…

Salford parents, kids and trade unions are sounding the cavalry charge before the Council's consultation ends on March 16th.

JOHN MERRY OUSTED AS LABOUR SELECTS STEWART

John Merry, current Labour Leader of Salford Council, received a crushing blow today when he was beaten in the race to become the Labour Party candidate for the Mayoral Election in May. Instead Labour Party members selected ex-Eccles MP, Ian Stewart, who got almost double the votes of John Merry. 

"Salford needs a new approach" Stewart said "We need maximum stability and a sensitive approach to necessary change…"

Salford City 3 Durham City 0

SUPREME SALFORD DESTROY DURHAM

Salford City are back in the play off hunt after stuffing sixth place Durham in the Evo-Stik First Division North, with goals by Cayne Hanley, Scott Metcalfe and Adam Morning.

Moor Lane has now become a fortress as the Ammies have only been beaten twice at home in the league all season.

A Salford Star Exclusive

SEVEN DAYS FOR HIGHER BROUGHTON RESIDENT TO LEAVE TOWN – OR THE SHERIFF COMES IN…

Salford Council has given a Higher Broughton resident less than seven days' notice to leave his home. He has to be out by noon next Wednesday or else the Sheriff will be riding into Higher Broughton…for the first time since, er, the last time the Sheriff evicted the same bloke…

Yes, the Sheriff is after Guy Griffiths again – six and a half years since he and his brother were forcefully evicted from their home in the Bottom Streets of Higher Broughton. Victimisation?

A Salford Star Exclusive

SALFORD CITY COUNCIL DEMOLISHES FIT 100 YEAR OLD HOUSES WHILE NEW BUILD HOUSES CRUMBLE

Salford Council is continuing to demolish every single house in the Top Streets of Higher Broughton, bar six in Devonshire Street. The houses have stood for over 100 years. Meanwhile, new properties built on Vincent Street, in New Devonshire Square and in Broughton Green have had to have extensive repair work done on them.

Our photo of a house in Cardiff Street in the Top Streets, being demolished yesterday, shows a poster of David Bowie with the ironic message `Aladdin Sane'…

A Salford Star Exclusive

NO BUSINESS RATES PAID YET BY BBC AT MEDIACITYUK

Despite making its first programme over a year ago at its new MediaCityUK Salford studios, the BBC has not paid a penny in business rates yet, the Salford Star can reveal.