Salford Star - with attitude & love xxx

SALFORD RESIDENTS FURY AS PEEL HOLDINGS LOBBIES PLANNING COUNCILLORS

added 31 August 2016

Star date: 30th August 2016

SCANDAL AFOOT AS PEEL LOBBIES PLANNING COUNCILLORS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

"Will Salford residents ever get a fair hearing with respect to Peel planning applications?" resident

Residents who are objecting to Peel Holdings' plan to build 132 houses on greenfield land in Boothstown are furious after the company was found to have been lobbying planning councillors behind closed doors at a `pre-panel briefing' in June.

Over one hundred residents expressed formal concern at Peel's plans during an official consultation but then the company went into overdrive soliciting support. Is it an abuse of the system? Salford Council's Monitoring Officer is on leave until after the planning meeting.

SWINTON COUPLE CROWD-FUND TO TEACH ENGLISH TO ASYLUM SEEKERS

added 30 August 2016

view full size

Star date: 29th August 2016

YOU TUBE VIDEO AND CROWD-FUNDING TO URGE PEOPLE TO HELP NEW ASYLUM SEEKERS

Swinton ESL teacher, Max Sumner, has put himself in front of the camera, making a YouTube video explaining why people should donate to his crowd-funding campaign to raise money to teach English free of charge to asylum seekers who have just arrived in the area.

Max and partner, Holly, are volunteering their time but need funds to pay for things like for transport, venue costs, teaching materials and stationery. So far, people have been incredibly generous.

SALFORD HOSTS RADICAL WOMEN CONFERENCE AND COURSE

added 29 August 2016

Star date: 28th August 2016

RADICAL WOMEN CONFERENCE AND COURSE AT THE WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY

Radical Women 1880-1914 Conference
Saturday 17th September
Radical Women 1790-1918 Course
Starts Tuesday 27th September

Salford's Working Class Movement Library is to host two radical women happenings in September. On the 17th there's a one day conference starring the legendary Professor Sheila Rowbotham. And beginning on the 27th there's a ten week course, led by top local historian, Michael Herbert.

EVIDENTLY MORE THAN MERE SPOKEN WORD FOR SALFORD

added 28 August 2016

Star date: 28th August 2016

Evidently: Spoken Word Poetry
2nd Monday of every month 7:30pm
The Eagle Inn £3

POETRY IN COMMUNITY MOTION

Writers, performers, poets and, of course, the audience, converge on the Eagle Inn on the second Monday of every month for a night of spoken word, including open mics. The next night is on 12th September and stars Steve Pottinger and Steph Pike. But it's more than a mere `gig' as Ian Leslie reports..

WOMB CANCER SUPPORT AWARENESS DAY

added 28 August 2016

Star date: 28th August 2016

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CANCERS – THAT FEW HAVE HEARD OF

Womb Cancer Support Awareness Day
Saturday 17th September 10am-4pm
Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester

This year around 12,000 women will be diagnosed with womb cancer. It's the fourth most common cancer in women and the most common gynaecological cancer....

"Every lady will tell you it's one of the most common cancers that no one knows about" says Salford's Noreen Bailey, who is joining the Womb Cancer Support Awareness Day in Piccadilly Gardens on 17th September.

WONDERLAND ECCLES COMMUNITY FLOAT MAGIC FOR MANCHESTER PRIDE

added 28 August 2016

Star date: 27th August 2016

NEVER MIND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS HERE'S THE ECCLES CAKES!

Giant `Eat Me!' Eccles Cakes provided a brilliant twist on the Alice in Wonderland themed Eccles Community Float which joined the Manchester Pride procession today.

Before handing out free Eccles Cakes to the crowds, Theresa Parker, of Eccles Community Float, told the Salford Star "Eccles' community is diverse, is more welcoming than any other place and the community spirit is alive..."

BLEEDING WITH MOTHER AT THE KINGS ARMS SALFORD

added 27 August 2016

Star date: 27th August 2016

FUNERAL FARCE AT THE KINGS ARMS

Bleeding With Mother
Saturday 10th September
Kings Arms £7/£5

On 10th September, the Kings Arms plays host to a farce about death, featuring a family mourning their mum whilst at the same time trying to get their hands on her inheritance, which is stashed directly under the floorboards where her coffin is lying in state.

Written by Salford University worker, Sarah Cassidy, Bleeding With Mother is about real people facing real life situations with easily recognisable characters.

SALFORD HELP OUR OWN CHARITY EVENT

added 27 August 2016

Star date: 27th August 2016

SOUNDS OF SALFORD CHARITY NIGHT

Help Our Own
Saturday September 10th 6pm onwards
Dog and Partridge, Eccles

The Sounds of Salford Radio is hosting a night at the Dog and Partridge with live music from Cinnamon Dinner, Bethany Mcroy and Chris Flynn, plus poetry by Jimmy Twamley and lots of other happenings. It's to benefit four charities – CDH UK, Salford Red Devils Foundation, St Ann's Hospice and Shelter 4 Forces.

ETHICAL CO-OP THREATENS MANCHESTER HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH EVICTION

added 27 August 2016

Star date: 25th August 2016

HOMELESS THREATENED WITH EVICTION FROM DUCIE BRIDGE PUB IN MIDST OF £800MILLION NOMA REGENERATION SCHEME

"It's a regeneration scheme for the wealthy...whilst their people are rotting in the doorways..." Danny

The so-called `ethical' Co-op is threatening around two dozen young homeless people with eviction from the Ducie Bridge pub next to its swanky new HQ in Manchester.

The Co-op is a partner in the £800million NOMA regeneration scheme which owns the pub, and a notice posted on the door states `unless you vacate immediately, court action will be taken against you...'

NEW MEDIACITYUK PLANS SEE MORE SALFORD STERILISATION AND NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING

added 25 August 2016

Star date: 24th August 2016

OVER 1,000 FLATS, 31 STOREY BLOCKS – NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NO SECTION 106 AND MORE PRIVATISED SPACES

Peel Holdings and its new partner, Legal and General Capital, will see plans for Phase 2 of MediaCityUK go to Salford City Council planning panel next week.

The plans include 1,395 flats with no affordable housing, huge office blocks up to thirty one storeys high, more private spaces and no Section 106 payments to the city. Peel calls it a `vibrant architectural environment' but it looks like more Salford Quays sterilisation.

SALFORD WOMEN LESS LIKELY TO BE PROMOTED AND GET EQUAL WAGES

added 24 August 2016

Star date: 23rd August 2016

WOMEN'S WAGES 18% LOWER THAN MEN AND LESS LIKELY TO GET PROMOTED

Two studies out today show that women's wages and opportunities are still way behind those of men in the workplace.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies research shows that the hourly wages of female employees are currently about 18% lower than men's on average. Meanwhile, the Chartered Management Institute research shows that men are 40% more likely than women to be promoted in management roles and are paid on average £7,948 more than women.

SALFORD FLOOD ALERT DISGRACE

added 23 August 2016

Star date: 22nd August 2016

NO FLOOD DEFENCES, NO FLOOD REPORT, NO-ONE CAME NEAR

As the Environment Agency issued a flood alert for Salford this morning, residents in Lower Broughton panicked, moving furniture and goods into higher places. Even though the flood didn't happen, the situation showed that since Boxing Day almost nothing has changed in the area.

"I think it's wrong that there's been no actual work done to protect the residents" said Mike Duddy of the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust. Meanwhile the report into the last flood still hasn't been published.

LOWER BROUGHTON FLOOD VICTIMS WIN KEY 103 HAPPY STREET PARTY

added 22 August 2016

Star date: 21st August 2016

GORDON STREET THROWS A PARTY AS CASH FOR KIDS WINNERS

Despite bearing the brunt of the Boxing Day Flood, the incredible residents of Gordon Street in Lower Broughton raised over £3,000 for charity, winning the Key 103 Cash for Kids Happy Street competition. Today a huge party was thrown at River View Primary School fields to celebrate.

"I wanted to win it for Lower Broughton and Salford for the things that we've been through over the last eight months with the floods..." said local mum Keri Muldoon.

DOCTOR WHO MEETS BOND AT STARBURST FILM FESTIVAL WITH AN ECCLES TWINGE

added 21 August 2016

Star date: 21st August 2016

KATY MANNING, MAD MAX, STAR WARS AND ECCLES COLLIDE AT CULT FILM FEST

Starburst International Film Festival
Friday 26th-Sunday 28th August
Manchester Metropolitan University

Doctor Who assistant Katy Manning, James Bond director, John Glen, and loads of luminaries from cult movies like Mad Max and Star Wars, come together this week at the Starburst International Film Festival at Manchester Met Student Union.

One of the organisers is Eccles based Star Wars fan Martin Unsworth who says "it is the communal spirit of the gathering that I am anticipating most..." With classics for kids and horror for freaks the Festival should be wild and weird.

MS DANCE FRIDAY IN SALFORD AT THE SPORTS VILLAGE

added 21 August 2016

Star date: 21st August 2016

SEATED DANCE PARTY FOR ANYONE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Dance Friday
Friday 26th August (and every last Friday of the month)
Salford Sports Village 11am-12noon free

Dance Friday is a new seated dance class and party suitable for anyone with MS and their family, which takes place on the last Friday of every month at the Sports Village on Littleton Road in Lower Kersal... "Why not put on your dancing shoes and give it a try?" says Jeremy Harris from the MS Society.

PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT BRING SUBSTANCE HOME

added 21 August 2016

Star date: 20th August 2016

HOOKY PERFORMS TOP JOY DIVISION AND NEW ORDER TRACKS LIVE

Peter Hook and The Light Perform Substance
Friday 16th September
O2 Apollo, Manchester £26

Salford legend Peter Hook and The Light are to perform the first live concerts of the legendary Joy Division and New Order compilation albums Substance, arriving at the Apollo on 16th September. The concert pre-dates the publication of Hooky's long awaited book Substance: Inside New Order, to be published in early October.

THE KINGS ARMS FESTIVAL 2016 SALFORD

added 20 August 2016

Star date: 20th August 2016

THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGS ARMS FESTIVAL

The Kings Arms Festival
Friday 16th-Sunday 18th September
Kings Arms £15

All the Kings Arms people will say about their upcoming Festival is that "We have lots of surprises up our sleeves this year". And that's it, although previous festivals at the Salford pub have included top music, comedy and DJs, as Ian Leslie reports...

SALFORD RED DEVILS FANS FURIOUS AS HULL KR GET QUALIFIER WIN

added 20 August 2016

Star date: 20th August 2016

SALFORD DIDN'T TURN UP SAY FANS

"If I performed at work like that I would be sacked" Salford fan

As Salford Red Devils were stuffed 29-12 by Hull KR last night, fans were furious that the team just didn't turn up as the loss puts their Super 8 Qualifiers on a knife edge.

"They lacked passion and had no pride in the shirt and that for me is just not good enough" states Simon Williams in his match report...

Full match report here...

added 20 August 2016

SALFORD MPS SIGN LETTER CALLING ON MANCHESTER CITY FC OWNERS TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS

Star date: 19th August 2016

MAN CITY OWNERS CONNECTED TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE SCANDAL

"It is...ironic that one of Manchester's great football clubs should be associated with a regime that is basically oppressive" Human Rights Watch

Two Salford MPs, Rebecca Long Bailey and Graham Stringer, have signed an open letter to Manchester City owner Crown Prince Mansour appealing for the release from prison of human rights activist Mohammed al-Roken in the United Arab Emirates.

Campaigners used the Peterloo Massacre commemoration last week to launch the letter, as Nigel Pivaro reports.

ALMOST £7,000 OF SALFORD FLOOD FUNDS STILL NOT REACHED VICTIMS

added 19 August 2016

Star date: 18th August 2016

LOWER BROUGHTON FLOOD BENEFIT PROCEEDS AND DONATIONS NOT DISTRIBUTED

Almost £7,000 of money collected from various benefits, donations and Government match funding aimed at supporting Lower Broughton residents hit by the Boxing Day Flood has still not been distributed.

"I think we all feel bad it has taken so long to sort, but rest assured we will ensure the money gets to the people it is intended to benefit and ensure that it is all well publicised so donors know where their money went" says Alison Page, Chief Executive of Salford Community and Voluntary Services, which is holding the bulk of the money.

SALFORD CITY COUNCIL £41MILLION CUTS TO HEAP MORE MISERY ON RESIDENTS

added 18 August 2016

Star date: 17th August 2016

£41.7MILLION CUTS EXPECTED OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

To follow Salford City Council's £21.8million cuts this year, there's another £41.7million expected to follow over the next three years – which will see even more services closed, privatised or slashed.

The Tory Government has kindly offered Salford Council this definitive `funding settlement', to 2019-20, and it has until 10th October to respond.

ANDY BURNHAM SLATES GREATER MANCHESTER £300MILLION LUXURY HOUSING FUND

added 17 August 2016

Star date: 16th August 2016

£300MILLION PUBLIC FUNDING FOR LUXURY APARTMENTS CRITICISED BY GM MAYOR CANDIDATE

Andy Burnham MP, who is the Labour Party candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor, has slated the £300million Greater Manchester Housing Fund – public money which has been used to shore up luxury apartment schemes, including Fred Done's blocks of unaffordable flats in Salford.

"I will renegotiate the aims of this fund" states Burnham, writing for Inside Housing today, "so that we can fully focus it on the long-term goal of an affordable home for all..."

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS CONFIRM SALFORD COULD BE FRACKED BY 2021

added 16 August 2016

Star date: 15th August 2016

BARTON MOSS ON IGAS FRACKING SCHEDULE FOR 2021

"The people of Salford said `No' to this industry. We meant `No!'..." Frack Free Greater Manchester

According to documents submitted to the Government, IGas, and its new partner INEOS, is intending to submit a planning application to drill a fracking well and to frack by 2021, as part of its licence which includes Barton Moss and Salford.

Today, campaigners called on Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, to back the Greater Manchester anti-fracking campaign in his role as both Mayor of Salford and Environment lead for Greater Manchester.

SALFORD MARCHERS JOIN MAXINE PEAKE AT PETERLOO MASSACRE MEMORIAL

added 15 August 2016

SALFORD PETERLOO VICTIMS REMEMBERED

Today, marchers from Salford and Eccles joined dozens of others from around Greater Manchester re-creating the routes of the original campaigners who met at St Peter's Field in 1819, only to be attacked by the cavalry, leaving 15 people dead, in what later became known as the Peterloo Massacre.

Outside Manchester Central Convention Complex, Maxine Peake read out the names of those who died, and later people added their own memorials to a giant canvas inside Friends Meeting House.

FROM THE ART OF SALFORD AT THE CORNERSTONE

added 14 August 2016

FAB AFFORDABLE SALFORD ART EXHIBITION

From The Art of Salford
Until the end of August
Langworthy Cornerstone

Almost twenty Salford artists are currently exhibiting at the Langworthy Cornerstone in the first of a series of shows titled From The Art of Salford, which features everything from portraits to landscapes, and animals to abstracts at ridiculously cheap prices, ranging from £20 to £50.

Full details here…

added 14 August 2016

FUNDRAISER FOR 150 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SALFORD TRADES UNION COUNCIL

BLANEY HEADLINES SALFORD TRADE UNION FUNDRAISER

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Fundraiser
Saturday 20th August 6pm-11pm free or donation
Islington Mill

In October, it will be the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salford Trades Union Council, which directly led to the creation of the TUC and is a major piece of working class history.

Later in the year Salford will host a whole week of community events to celebrate the anniversary but next Saturday, 20th August, there's a fundraiser at Islington Mill to help finance the festivities, starring Blaney, Walk Like Fool Does and Rubaiyat.

SALFORD GETS SCARY WITH BLAINE MANOR AT THE KINGS ARMS

added 14 August 2016

GOTHIC HORROR AT THE KINGS ARMS - `THE SCARIEST PLAY IN THE NORTH WEST'

The Haunting of Blaine Manor
Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th August 8pm
The Kings Arms

Joe O'Byrne, of Paradise Heights fame, brings his new play, The Haunting of Blaine Manor, to The Kings Arms this week. It brings gothic horror to a pub environment and Joe says "It's the scariest play in the North West and unlike anything else", as Ian Leslie reports.

SALFORD RED DEVILS 26 LEIGH CENTURIANS 32

added 14 August 2016

Salford Reds went to Leigh to play game two of the Qualifiers, hoping to take the form they shown against Huddersfield into the game. But, with a few video refereeing calls going against them the team came up short in this game, losing by a six point margin, as Simon Williams reports.

REDS QUALIFIER SLIP

Match report here...

added 14 August 2016

SALFORD FUN DAYS FOR KIDS AT SAYF

Star date: 13th August 2016

FROM OLYMPICS TO BEACH FUN FOR SALFORD YOUNGSTERS

SAYF Family Fun sessions 1pm-3pm £1
Tuesdays and Thursdays until 1st September
Cholmondeley Road M6 8PU

SAYF, which runs Family Fun sessions all the year round, is having some special summer themed days on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of the holidays for babies and children up to nine years old.

Next week sees a Rio Olympics theme complete with samba soundtrack and craft sessions. Holidays are the theme for the following week, and the Great British Beach provides the setting for the final sessions on 30th August and 1st September.

SALFORD LADS CLUB AND FUTURE ARTISTS HOST MORRISSEY HAPPENINGS

added 13 August 2016

Star date: 13th August 2016

EVERYTHING MORRISSEY ON OFFER IN SALFORD

As Morrissey return to Manchester Arena next week to play a home town gig, there's two Mozza happenings in Salford for fans.

Salford Lads Club is hosting an official Mpourium with t-shirts, vinyl and books on offer, while Future Artists is holding 'a pop up gallery of convenience' at the Home of Honest Coffee on Chapel Street featuring photos of Morrissey and The Smiths by Lawrence Watson, as Ian Leslie reports.

Full details here...

added 13 August 2016

SALFORD CHARLESTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL SET TO RE-OPEN

Star date: 12th August 2016

CHARLESTOWN PRIMARY TO RE-OPEN IN SEPTEMBER – BUT NOT FOR LOCAL KIDS

Charlestown Primary School, shut down by Salford City Council in 2009, is set to re-open in September as River 2 Primary School, linked to River View Primary in Broughton – but not for local kids... "It will be for any new families moving into the Langworthy, Weaste and Seedley areas" states Head Teacher, Mr D Gauld.

Incredibly, Salford Council bulldozed three primary schools in those areas, despite being told there would be a shortage of spaces for pupils.

GREATER MANCHESTER LAW CENTRE OPENS FOR FREE LEGAL ADVICE

added 12 August 2016

Star date: 12th August 2016

SALFORD RESIDENTS CAN NOW GET FREE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION

This month, Greater Manchester Law Centre, backed by Andy Burnham, Maxine Peake and others, finally opens to provide free and independent legal advice for the community. Although based on Princess Road in Moss Side, the community law centre is there for all those in need, after devastating legal aid cuts by the Government.

"We don't just want to provide any old legal advice, we want to provide high quality legal advice" says GM Law Centre Chair, John Nicholson.

PETITION TO MOVE PARLIAMENT TO SALFORD GETS JUST 22 SIGNATURES

added 12 August 2016

Star date: 11th August 2016

NO CHANCE OF PARLIAMENT MOVING TO SALFORD QUAYS!

An official petition to the Government to bulldoze Parliament in London and re-build it in Salford Quays closed last week after six months – and garnered a massive 22 signatures.

The petitioners wanted the Government to can the £7billion cost of refurbishing `a crumbling antiquated Parliament' to build `a modern functional Parliament on Salford Quays' – but less than two dozen people agreed!

SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS ORDSALL COMMUNITY ARTS FUNDING

added 11 August 2016

Star date: 10th August 2016

SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS LAST REMAINING COMMUNITY ARTS COMPANY

Salford City Council is to slash its last remaining proper community arts company, with a fifty per cent cut in its grant this year and next, before the full axe in 2018.

Ordsall Community Arts, or OCA, will be forty years old in 2019, has been funded by the Council for twenty years but is being decimated "due to current austerity measures" – despite the Council allowing Ordsall's developers to avoid paying over £4million in planning fees for schemes in the shadow of OCA's headquarters.

ANDY BURNHAM SELECTED AS LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATE FOR GM MAYOR

added 10 August 2016

Star date: 9th August 2016

BURNHAM GETS LABOUR PARTY SELECTION FOR GREATER MANCHESTER MAYOR

Andy Burnham, MP for Leigh, has won the contest to become Labour Party candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor in 2017. He got 3,792 votes to beat off current interim GM Mayor Tony Lloyd (2,163 votes) and Ivan Lewis (1,472 votes).

On getting the nomination, Burnham said fighting inequality within Greater Manchester was the "defining mission of our times".

BBC NEWSNIGHT POURS SCORN ON SALFORD COUNCIL 100% TROUBLED FAMILIES SUCCESS

added 09 August 2016

Star date: 9th August 2016

`IT ACHIEVED APPROXIMATELY NOTHING'

Last night, BBC Newsnight ran an exclusive story on how the Government's Troubled Families Programme, which was supposed to `solve' multiple problems for families involved in crime, truancy and unemployment, achieved "approximately nothing".

Salford City Council was singled out for claiming 100% success rate in the programme for `turning around' 835 families, for which it received an £800 bonus per family... "It's nonsense" said presenter Evan Davis.

£50,000 SCANDAL OF SALFORD COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT FUND

added 09 August 2016

Star date: 8th August 2016

A Salford Star Exclusive

NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON PAID FROM £50,000 POVERTY HARDSHIP FUND

Over the last year, not one single person was paid a penny from Salford City Council's £50,000 Council Tax Support Fund, which exists to help those in dire poverty pay their Council Tax.

A Freedom of Information request by the Salford Star reveals that 55 people applied to Salford Council for Council Tax support during 2015-16 - but none received any payments.

ANTI FRACKING CAMPAIGNERS SLATE THERESA MAY CASH BRIBE

added 08 August 2016

NO FRACKING BRIBES FOR SALFORD COMMUNITY SAY CAMPAIGNERS

Following the news from Prime Minister Theresa May that households affected by fracking in Salford and elsewhere could receive cash bribes to accept shale gas production, campaigners have been quick to denounce the scheme, which is about to undergo a consultation.

"The UK government is trying anything it can to enforce fracking on communities across UK - this will not work any better than all of their previous failed PR initiatives" says anti-fracking campaigner, Tina Rothery, who was at the Barton Moss protests "We are not driven by greed - we are driven to defend our young."

SALFORD DEATH CAFE TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER

added 07 August 2016

BLUE LOTUS DEATH CAFE OPENS AT THE ANGEL

The first `death cafe' for Manchester and Salford opens on September 2nd at the Angel Centre off Chapel Street.

The Blue Lotus Death Cafe is not for those who have been bereaved but "for people who have been given the dreadful news of having a terminal illness" says founder Mandi Weston "It's for the people who have to deal with the news and maybe want, or need to speak about it".

Full details here....

added 07 August 2016

SALFORD JOINS PETERLOO COMMEMORATIVE TAPESTRY EVENT

MAXINE PEAKE AMONGST THOSE CONTRIBUTING TO PETERLOO MEMORIAL

Peterloo Memorial Campaign
Sunday 14th August, Friends Meeting House, Mcr 1:30pm
Tuesday 16th August, Windmill Street, Mcr, 1pm

Next Sunday, marchers will be coming from Eccles, Irlam and all over to commemorate the Peterloo Massacre, arriving at Windmill Street, Manchester, at 1pm, before heading to Friends Meeting House where they will join Maxine Peake and others in creating a massive artwork.

Everyone is invited to attach an object that reflects the spirit of Peterloo to a huge blank tapestry which will be displayed later in the day, and again on the 16th at the Peterloo Remembrance ceremony on Windmill Street.

ECCLES COUNCILLORS URGE RESIDENTS TO JOIN FOOD BANK GIVING DAY

added 07 August 2016

Next Saturday, August 13th, the three Eccles councillors and their helpers will be out collecting donations for local food banks, and they are asking people to get in touch in the run up this week so they can arrange to pick them up.

ECCLES GIVING DAY 7

"It's wrong in this day and age that people have to rely on food banks to help look after their families but without their help many local people would go short" says Councillor Peter Wheeler.

SALFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016 HITS SEVENTH YEAR

added 07 August 2016

Star date: 6th August 2016

SALFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL DATES ANNOUNCED

The Salford Music Festival is back for its seventh year on the weekend of 29th September with dozens of new acts and venues lined up.

The affordable Festival, which happens in pubs and clubs, is all free entrance this year... "We cover the A-Z of musical genres so there's something for everyone" says founder Ed Blaney.

WILD FAMILY EVENTS AT CHAT MOSS SALFORD

added 06 August 2016

Star date: 6th August 2016

PEAT BOGGING ON THE MOSS

Thursday 18th August - Superhero Training 1pm-3pm
Thursday 25th August – Gruffalo event 1pm-3pm
Little Woolden Moss, Irlam free

The Wildlife Trusts' Chat Moss Project is running two Wild Family events in August based around the nature reserve at Little Woolden Moss near Irlam. They are for children with an adult and there'll be lots of exploring around the peat bogs.

OFFSHORE PFI COMPANY PROFITS FROM SALFORD KIDS’ EDUCATION

added 06 August 2016

Star date: 5th August 2016

SALFORD COUNCIL TO REFINANCE OVER £400MILLION PFI SCHOOL DEBT

Five Salford schools built under the Government's Building Schools for the Future scheme and financed by crippling PFI (Private Finance Initiative) contracts are being re-financed, although the details are being kept secret.

Salford City Council is committed to over £400million in school PFI contracts, backed in part by Government grants, at interest rates of between 8% and 10%; and is paying over £7million a year to a finance `vehicle' which is 80% owned by offshore HICL Infrastructure, as huge profits are made from Salford kids' education.

SALFORD CITY MAYOR £69,000 SALARY TO BE REVIEWED

added 05 August 2016

Star date: 4th August 2016

SALFORD MAYOR AND CABINET PAY REVIEW NEXT WEEK

When the new Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, was elected in May, he told the Council that he would be seeking to review his £69,000 allowances and those of his Cabinet, in which the Deputy Mayor, David Lancaster, pocketed almost £45,000 last year.

On August 12th an Independent Remuneration Panel is due to meet to set new allowances. Last time, this Panel recommended huge increases in pay.

SALFORD BOXING DAY FLOOD REPORT DELAYED AGAIN

added 04 August 2016

Star date: 3rd August 2016

REPORT INTO SALFORD FLOOD DELAYED UNTIL `AUTUMN'

The official Greater Manchester Section 19 investigation report, which will include the Boxing Day flood that hit Lower Broughton, has been delayed again.

The report was due out at the end of July but the Environment Agency now states that "flooding on the scale experienced takes a long time to investigate" and that it will be published "in the autumn".

CROWN THEATRE ECCLES DEMOLITION OPPOSED BY HISTORIC ENGLAND AND THE VICTORIAN SOCIETY

added 03 August 2016

Star date: 2nd August 2016

`UNJUSTIFIED' HERITAGE LOSS IF GRADE ll LISTED SALFORD THEATRE DEMOLISHED

Both The Victorian Society and Historic England have lodged formal opposition with Salford City Council to the proposed demolition of the Grade ll listed Crown Theatre in Eccles, after new plans were submitted last month by developer, Foregate.

Historic England states that the plans represent "substantial harm to this nationally designated heritage asset", while The Victorian Society, furious that it wasn't even consulted by Salford Council, adds that it would be the "total and unjustified loss of a nationally significant building..."

GREATER MANCHESTER COMBINED AUTHORITY CONSULTS ON FURTHER POWERS

added 02 August 2016

Star date: 1st August 2016

CAN GMCA IMPROVE DEVOLUTION DEMOCRACY WITH AMOST TWO MILLION PEOPLE?

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is currently consulting until 15th August on a new range of powers, including for Fire and Rescue Services, Transport and Education, Skills and Employment Support.

The GMCA's last consultation with 1.9million residents of Greater Manchester drew just 169 responses from members of the public. Can GMCA do any better this time?