SAVE SALFORD CHILDREN'S CAMP PROTEST ON CIVIC CENTRE LAWN - DESPITE SALFORD COUNCIL INTIMIDATION

"If they try to remove me I will stand my ground and be arrested" Collette

Campaigners trying to raise money to Save Salford Children's Jam Butty Camp had a brilliant protest stall on the lawn of Salford Council's Civic Centre today, in the middle of the Mayor's Spirit of Salford children's event.

Despite intimidation from Council officials, the stall - which included face painting, cakes, sweets and petitions - proved incredibly popular with people donating over £300 to the cause.

A Salford Star Exclusive

CASE AGAINST SAFFRON HUGHES DROPPED AS SOLICITORS TALK OF `SUFFERING AND EMOTIONAL TURMOIL' OF 15 YEAR OLD…

"I'm angry that I didn't have a chance to say my version in the court. I did nothing wrong on that day" Saffron

The first cases of aggravated trespass against Barton Moss protectors, due in court on Monday, have been dropped. The two cases include the charge against 15 year old Salford schoolgirl, Saffron Hughes, arrested at Barton Moss in February, which shocked and outraged the community.

Solicitor Simon Pook, of Robert Lizars, tonight told of the `suffering, bullying and emotional turmoil' Saffron endured after the arrest, while Saffron declared her `relief' tinged with `anger' that she "didn't have a chance to say my version in the court"

FOUR MORE BARTON MOSS PROTECTORS ACQUITTED AND ONE FINED £10 FOR SALFORD CIVIC CENTRE LOCK ON

Four Barton Moss anti-fracking protectors were acquitted at Manchester Magistrates Court yesterday of offences related to the lock on at Salford City Council reception last January. Another, who pleaded guilty to supergluing himself to a window at the Civic Centre, was fined just £10.

This now leaves the Barton Moss `score' at court: Protectors, via Lizars Solicitors 20 Greater Manchester Police/Crown Prosecution Service 1.

MARKET STREET HOPE MESSAGE FROM JONES AND CAMPAIGNERS

Last night, on Market Street in Manchester city centre, hundreds of people gathered to hear journalist and tv commentator, Owen Jones, deliver an anti-UKIP, anti austerity, message of hope in advance of the People's Assembly demo and festival in London on June 21st.

Joined by an array of campaigners, from Save Lower Broughton Children's Centre to UK Uncut to Salford Against Bedroom Tax, Jones said "We're going to come out with a message of defiance, that we're sick of being made to pay for a crisis we actually had nothing to do with…"

SALFORD STAR RE-BORN - WITH ATTITUDE AND LOVE XXX

The award winning Salford Star magazine is to reappear in print. The Star first appeared as a magazine in May 2006, after which eight print issues were produced, before going online in 2009.

Five years and over two thousand online articles later, the Salford Star magazine will return in the autumn, delivered free to homes, businesses and shops – all thanks to the incredible support and donations from Salford people.

GUYS AND DOLLS AT ST LUKE'S

Guy and Dolls
Monday 2nd June - Saturday 7th June 7:30pm
St Luke's Parish Hall, Derby Road £6.50/£5.50

Ace Broadway musical, Guys and Dolls, comes to Weaste next week when St Luke's Arts and Drama Society, the top am-dram troupe in Salford, stage the love and lusty gambling spectacular with a huge cast and snazzy sets.

From Weaste to Havana, via New York, this is a show not to be missed!

LABOUR AND UKIP GAIN SEATS AS BNP AND TORIES BOOTED OUT

The Salford vote at the European election was reflected throughout the North West as the Labour Party got the majority of votes, followed by UKIP and the Conservative Party, with the Green Party coming in fourth.

The new look North West Euro seats saw Labour with three (one gain), UKIP with three (two gains) and the Tories with one (one loss). The BNP saw its vote collapse and leader Nick Griffin lose his seat.

FREE FAMILY FUN DAY IN HIGHER BROUGHTON

Family Fun Day
Monday 26th May
Jump In Jacks 11am-4pm free
320 Great Cheetham St

Tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday, sees a free Family Fun Day at Jump In Jacks on Great Cheetham Street in Higher Broughton. The owners want to open the children's facility to the local community, and the day includes face painting, craft and baby clothes stalls, arts and crafts, competitions and it's just £1 to use the soft play area.

DELANEY AUTHOR AT WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY

John Harding on Shelagh Delaney
Working Class Movement Library
Wednesday 28th May 2pm free

Last month, as the Salford Mayor announced his backing for a Shelagh Delaney Day in Salford later this year, John Harding's new Delaney biography opened up the can of worms that was the iconic playwright's feisty relationship with the city's authorities.

Now John Harding comes to the Working Class Movement Library this Wednesday afternoon to launch the book in Salford. Don't miss!

GREAT AFTERNOON TEA FOR PUBLIC AND QUALIFICATION FOR VOLUNTEERS

Afternoon Tea
Every Thursday 3pm-4pm £2.50
Chimney Pots Café, Langworthy Cornerstone

The Langworthy Cornerstone's Chimney Pots Café is now serving afternoon tea for the public every Thursday between 3pm and 4pm, with cakes, finger sandwiches, scones and drinks - and food hygiene qualifications for anyone who volunteers to help prepare and serve the delights on offer!

OWEN JONES JOINS STREET PROTEST AGAINST AUSTERITY

Street Protest
Wednesday 5:30pm-7:30pm Market Street, Manchester
The Wheel of Misfortune: 7pm-9pm Methodist Hall, Oldham Street

Political journalist and commentator Owen Jones will join campaign groups, performance artists and trade unions for a People's Assembly anti-cuts street protest this Wednesday, starting at 5:30pm on Market Street, Manchester. It's followed by The Wheel of Misfortune at the Methodist Hall on Oldham Street, when Jones will be speaking on subjects dictated by the spin of a wheel.

NO UKIP SURGE IN SALFORD AS LABOUR HOLDS ALL SEATS

The Labour Party confirmed its iron grip of Salford in today's local election count, holding onto all its seats in yet another low turnout of 29.58%. While UKIP came second in many of the seats it contested, in most it was well behind Labour. The Tories held all three seats they defended.

Meanwhile, the Green Party came second in Ordsall, TUSC came second in Little Hulton and the Reality Party almost came second in Irlam.

SALFORD IS TOP EVICTION RISK HOUSING HOTSPOT

"People are hearing that the economy is recovering, but we're seeing the reality…" Shelter 

A new report by housing charity Shelter shows Salford to be the eviction and repossession risk capital of the north, with a one in sixty risk of households being threatened with losing their home.

The figures for both private and social rented homes, based on possession claims issued in county courts, put Salford as the worst place in the north for risk and third worst in England, outside London.

THE SALFORD STAR ALTERNATIVE GUIDE TO THE EURO ELECTIONS 2014

What the hell is the Euro Elections? Eight seats, one vote, twenty zillion candidates – and then you never see any of the elected MEPS ever again. Confused? You will be. So join the Salford Star for an attitudinal, alternative guide to the Euros.

Here you'll find the Pirate Party UK, the No2eu party, the Green Party and the Hope Not Hate campaign, plus more. It's not all about Nigel Farage and his BBC PR machine!

SALFORD MAYOR FACES MORE TOWN HALL PROTESTS AND PETITIONS

Months ago, Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart launched a petition to demand that Prime Minister David Cameron meets an all party delegation from the city to discuss the impact of the cuts. The petition attracted 761 signatures, and yesterday the delegation met the ConDem Government's Under Secretary in the Department of Local Government and Communities.

Meanwhile, in Salford, thousands of people have signed petitions against the Mayor's choices for the cuts, including Children's Centres, transport for disabled people and the Children's `Jam Butty' Camp, while there's more protests on the Civic Centre lawns.

SALFORD QUAYS CRANES PORTRAYED IN STUNNING ARTWORK

`This is about the beauty and energy of the cranes' 

The iconic blue Salford Quays Cranes, disgracefully demolished last October by Salford Council, have been remembered in a stunning new artwork by creator Mary Lorraine Mchugh.

The piece is to be displayed at the Victoria and Albert Hotel for a week beginning this Wednesday, and Mary is hoping to sell it with all proceeds to benefit Ordsall community groups.

`LOW' AND `DISGUSTING' COUNCIL SLATED AS BEZ SAYS REVOLUTION STARTED IN SALFORD

Over three hundred people enjoyed the Rally On The Lawn yesterday, despite what anti-cuts campaigners called the `low' and `disgusting' Salford Council which used every dirty trick in the book to try and stop people from attending.

The Rally drew those directly affected by Council cuts including disabled people, children, people who work with the vulnerable and lots of families. 12 year old Keelan McNally wowed everyone with his stunning self penned acapella song Which Side Are You On?, while Bez told the crowd to remember that `the revolution started in Salford!'

`I WAS KIDNAPPED AND FALSELY IMPRISONED FOR A DAY!'

Barton Moss protector, Colin Gong, has absolutely slated Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service after his charge of obstructing the highway on the Salford anti-fracking protests was dropped this week.

Colin's was one of 17 charges against Barton Moss protectors that have either been dropped, dismissed or lost in Manchester courts over the last two weeks, with not one protector being found guilty. Now Colin has written an open letter to GMP and the CPS accusing them of an "outrageous and shocking waste of public funds".

ANTI CUTS CAMPAIGNERS? BANNED! BNP? WELCOMED!

Despite pleas from Salford City UNISON and anti racist and fascist organisations, Salford Council gave permission for the British National Party to hold a meeting at the Civic Centre in Swinton last night – while maintaining its ban on an anti cuts rally and fun day outside the Civic on Saturday.

Last night anti-BNP demonstrators arrived to protest, but the BNP never showed up, and by 7:30pm had cancelled the meeting.

COUNCIL CUTS TO MOST VULNERABLE KICKED INTO LONG GRASS UNTIL AFTER ELECTION – THEN TRIES TO BAN PROTEST RALLY ON THE LAWN

Announcement of definite cuts to Salford Council's services for thousands of the most vulnerable people in the city have been delayed until after the local elections being held on May 22nd. Cuts to transport, Care On Call, support for deaf and blind people, and more, have been lumped into a consultation ending on May 26th.

Meanwhile, the Council has tried to ban the community's efforts to draw attention to the proposed cuts with a Protest and Fun Day this Saturday on the Civic Centre lawn - although the event, starring Happy Mondays' Bez, will go ahead as planned.

FANIS EXPOSE IRLAM STATION COCK UP

Residents who originally instigated the refurbishment of the formerly derelict Irlam Station House are now vehemently opposed to plans to turn the Victorian building into, what they call, a commercial `pub'.

With the plans being discussed by Salford Council's planning panel tomorrow the residents have formed themselves into Friends and Neighbours of Irlam Station, or FANIS, insisting that the project has been `hijacked'.

A Salford Star Exclusive

ANTI CUTS RALLY AND FUN DAY WITH PROCEEDS FOR CHARITY GOES AHEAD DESPITE SALFORD COUNCIL BAN

Rally On The Lawn with Bez, Hanky Park's James Davenport, Michael Burns and Keelan McNally
Saturday 17th May noon, Salford Civic Centre

A charity Family Fun Day and Anti Cuts Protest starring Happy Monday's Bez is to go ahead on Saturday despite Salford Council trying to ban it. The event, organised by Salford people at the sharp end of the cuts, is to have live music, dance and stalls selling home made cakes with proceeds to Salford City Boys Club and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Salford Council last week issued a statement saying the event didn't have permission because of `local election rules' but this has been rubbished by the organisers who say "The Council's stance smacks of Stalinism and a wilful restriction on the right to protest".

SIXTEEN BARTON MOSS CASES LOST OR DROPPED FROM SALFORD ANTI-FRACKING PROTESTS

After another Barton Moss protector was found not guilty in court today, the Crown Prosecution Service has decided not to proceed with another five cases tomorrow – a decision that Barton Moss Camp solicitor, Simon Pook of Robert Lizars, says is "welcome and correct".

The failure of the prosecutions against Barton Moss protectors so far led Pook to add: "Our clients fundamental rights to peaceful protest was unlawfully interfered with in a disproportionate manner…"

ALL POLITICIANS MUST TAKE BLAME FOR CUTTING CHILDREN'S SERVICES SAY MUMS

`Our children and their parents will suffer…' mum

Parents fighting the proposed closure of St Paul's Sure Start Centre in Walkden are blaming both the ConDem Government and Salford Council for cutting their children's services, and targeting the city's most vulnerable people.

Almost two thousand people have signed a petition against the closure of St Paul's, while local Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley has called the proposals `disgusting'.

BARTON MOSS AND MORE AT LIVERPOOL VIOLENCE CONFERENCE

How Violent Is Britain?
Friday 16th May 9:30am-5:30pm
University of Liverpool

The policing at Barton Moss anti-fracking protests will be amongst many subjects discussed at a one day How Violent Is Britain? conference next Friday at the University of Liverpool.

Speakers on Barton Moss include the Salford Star's Steven Speed, while Salford's Hilda Palmer will speak on behalf of Families Against Corporate Killing. Other speakers include justice campaigner, Carol Duggan, and Sheila Coleman from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign.

STREET HEALTH CHARITY NEEDS HELP

MASH, or Manchester Action on Street Health, is a charity that supports women who sex work, on the streets or in massage parlours, from across Greater Manchester, including Salford. Last year it helped over six hundred vulnerable women.

In June MASH is taking over ASDA in Hulme to pack bags for customers in return for donations to help towards its work, and is looking for volunteers from Salford to help out.

ELECTRIC STARS AND MAN UNITED YOUTH CHOIR RE-RELEASE BELFAST BOY

Local band The Electric Stars, with backing from the Manchester United Foundation Youth Choir, tomorrow re-release a new wazzed up version of the classic George Best anthem Belfast Boy, aiming to hit Number One in time for what would have been the legend's 68th birthday on 22nd May.

All proceeds from the track will be split between the George Best Foundation and Manchester United Foundation which still works at The Cliff in Salford.

WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY ACCUSES TORY ELECTION LEAFLET OF `UNTRUTHS'

The Trustees of the Working Class Movement Library have written to the Electoral Commission to protest at a local election leaflet put out by the Salford Conservative Party which stated that despite being funded by the Council, `you cannot walk in and read any material'.

The statement has been branded "untrue" by the Library's Trustees, as the facility is open Tuesday to Friday to the public. This week the Library has a whole range of free films about mining communities.

ANOTHER THREE ANTI FRACKING CAMPAIGNERS CLEARED AS POLICE ACTED `UNLAWFULLY'

Today at Manchester Magistrates Court another three anti-fracking campaigners from Barton Moss had their cases dismissed as the judge agreed that the police had acted without lawful authority in regard to the charges that were levelled.

Now Barton Moss Camp solicitor, Simon Pook, has called for a Public Inquiry into the cost of bringing charges against campaigners which have, so far, been thrown out by the court.

WHAT ARE THE POLITICAL PARTIES' VIEWS ON FRACKING AND CLIMATE CHANGE?

Fracking and Climate Change
Saturday 10th May 11am - 4:30pm free
Manchester Mechanics Institute

Frack Free Greater Manchester is holding an all day event this Saturday where candidates from virtually all the main political parties will be open to questioning about their stance on fracking and climate change between 2:30 and 4:30pm.

The morning, from 11am until 1pm, sees an expert panel of speakers on the subjects. The event will be of major interest to Salford people in the front line of fracking at Barton Moss.

KATE MCCANN FREED ON BAIL AS ANOTHER SALFORD ANTI FRACKING PROTECTOR CLEARED BY COURT

Kate McCann, dubbed `fracking's first political prisoner', was freed from jail this afternoon as a judge lifted an oppressive six months remand in Birmingham Prison and replaced it with standard bail conditions.

In a dramatic day at Manchester Magistrates Court another protector, Mark Dent, was cleared of `threatening to kill' a lorry driver and other public order offences as Crown prosecution cases are going down like ninepins.

THREE MORE INNOCENT BARTON MOSS PROTECTORS

Today at Manchester Magistrates Court, the judge dismissed cases against three more anti fracking protectors arrested by Greater Manchester Police at Barton Moss.

The three were originally charged with obstructing the highway which was later changed to obstructing a police officer. Dismissing the charges, the judge said he found the case `astonishing'.

FURIOUS SALFORD CAMPAIGNERS ACCUSE COUNCIL OF HIJACKING ATTEMPTS TO SAVE CHILDREN'S CAMP

`The schools must feel as if they are in the middle of a war-zone'

Salford City Council was accused of `dirty, underhand tactics' over an email sent to primary schools this afternoon, aimed, they say, at `scuppering the campaign' to save the Children's `Jam Butty' Camp.  

"The Council is doing everything it can to undermine our campaign" says Nick Abbott of Save The Jam Butty Camp. John Merry, the Council's Assistant Mayor for Children and Young People, denies the allegation.

SPEAKERS URGE FIGHBACK AGAINST AUSTERITY, FRACKING, BEDROOM TAX, BNP, A LYING MEDIA AND MORE…

Over two hundred people from all over Greater Manchester attended today's May Day rally in Bexley Square and march to Cathedral Gardens in Manchester to celebrate the traditional workers' holiday.

Speakers urged people to draw on the traditions of working class movements to fight back against everything from the Bedroom Tax to zero hour contracts, fracking, austerity, privatisation – and to defeat the BNP and UKIP at the European Elections this month.

A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES

May Day March and Rally
Monday May 5th
Starts Bexley Square 12 noon

Salford's annual May Day Rally this year has become a Greater Manchester rally and march, from Bexley Square to Cathedral Gardens in Manchester, with the message `A Better Future For All Our Communities' and backed by Manchester and Salford Trades Councils.

The themes this year include opposition to cuts, the Bedroom Tax and fracking. And there's a new Bexley Square song too.

LIB DEMS COLLAPSE WHILE TUSC AND GREENS GO TO VOTE WAR

Salford Labour Party is to face a huge anti-cuts challenge at the local elections on May 22nd, with the Trade Union and Socialists Against Cuts  fielding candidates in nine of the twenty wards up for grabs, while the Green Party is fighting in eight of the wards. The Reality Party, founded by Happy Mondays' star Bez, is also standing in Irlam.

Meanwhile, the LibDems, once seen as the main opposition party in Salford, has collapsed in the city, fielding just two candidates.