Salford Star - with attitude & love xxx

BOLTON AGAINST BEDROOM TAX MARCH 4TH OCTOBER

added 28 September 2014

Star date: 28th September 2014

AS MANSION TAX HITS HEADLINES BEDROOM TAX STILL BEING FOUGHT

Say No Bedroom Tax March
Saturday October 4th 11am
Bolton Town Hall Square

With Prime Minster David Cameron opposing any notion of a Mansion Tax on homes worth more than £2million, people are still suffering from the hated Bedroom Tax. Next Saturday Salford campaigners will be joining people from Bolton and all over the North West marching to Say No To Bedroom Tax and `No Evictions'.

SALFORD ZIP WIRE DEVILS SOUGHT FOR AJ BELL STADIUM

added 28 September 2014

Star date: 28th September 2014

STROKE ASSOCIATION SEEKS ZIP WIRE DAREDEVILS

The Stroke Association is looking for Salford people to take part in a wild zip slide across the AJ Bell Stadium to raise funds for the charity which offers help to stroke survivors and their families.

The slide is to take place on 8th and 9th November and anyone interested is urged to register as soon as possible.

SALFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014 WEEKEND LINE UP

added 28 September 2014

Star date: 27th September 2014

GIGS, PARTIES, POETS AND MORE

This weekend the Salford Music Festival goes again, all over Salford, with The Fall playing Lower Kersal Social Club, backed today by ace Little Hulton poet, JB Barrington, aka Words Escape Me, plus Salford band Trojan Horse. Meanwhile, Kossoma play the Blue Bell in Monton, singer songwriter Mark Daynes plays the Wagon and Horses...and there's the VIP Dance Party at Pacifica Cantonese.

Full listings here...

added 27 September 2014

SALFORD TELLS FRACKERS TO FRACK OFF FROM THE LOWRY

Star date: 27th September 2014

BAD FRACKING NEWS FOR THE LABOUR PARTY AS PROTESTERS TELL FRACKERS `WE DON'T WANT YOU IN SALFORD'

Yesterday's Fracking North Conference at The Lowry was picketed by anti-fracking campaigners telling the frackers to `Frack off out of Salford'. The conference, mainly attended by those with an interest in the shale gas industry, heard how Labour Party supporters, particularly women, are against fracking, despite the views of its front bench.

Full story here...

added 27 September 2014

SALFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014 FRIDAY NIGHT LINE UP

Star date: 26th September 2014

KICKIN' TONIGHT – 16 VENUES, 50 BANDS AND DJS – ALL FREE!

The Salford Music Festival gets into its second night tonight with a massive line up of fifty bands playing 16 venues all over Salford. And every single gig is free.

From Pearl Divers, Zammit, Matt Hartless and The Matchstick Ghosts at the Ashley Brook in Langworthy, to Blue Zen, Franks Wild Years, Sky Valley Mistress and Deaf FM at Wangies in Eccles, the city's going to be rocking tonight and all weekend.

Full Friday Night Line Up Here...

added 26 September 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL EMPTY BUSES MADNESS AS VULNERABLE FORCED TO FIND OWN WAY TO DAY CENTRES

Star date: 26th September 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL BUSES ALMOST EMPTY WHILE PARENTS OF VULNERABLE ADULTS `RUN RAGGED'

"It's a nightmare – our lives are bad enough without having to take them to the day centre" Gail, mother of twin boys who are blind, autistic and have learning difficulties

Salford Council's specially adapted buses used for transporting vulnerable and severely disabled adults are driving around the city almost empty while parents and carers are `run ragged' trying to get their sons and daughters to day centres and respite centres.

Last night a meeting took place as parents told their horror stories to solicitors taking Salford Council to the High Court for a judicial review on its decision to axe the transport service.

SALFORD JOB CENTRE SANCTIONS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED SHOCK

added 26 September 2014

Star date: 25th September 2014

IF YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED AND LIVE IN SALFORD THERE'S MORE CHANCE OF BEING SANCTIONED BY THE JOB CENTRE THAN ELSEWHERE IN GREAT BRITAIN

Shocking figures released in a new report on unemployment benefits reveal that if you live in Salford or Greater Manchester, you are more likely to receive sanctions from Job Centres than if you live elsewhere in Great Britain.

The report by New Economy shows Browncross Street Job Centre in Baskerville House issuing over 3,000 sanctions for Salford people last year, which "may flatter the unemployment data".

SALFORD CITY COUNCIL £20,000 PAYMENT TO MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS GROUP

added 25 September 2014

Star date: 24th September 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL PAYS OVER £20,000 TO EVENING NEWS GROUP IN ONE MONTH – EDITOR DENIES ANY COMPROMISE

Cash strapped Salford City Council made payments of over £20,000 in just one month to Trinity Mirror Publishing Ltd which owns the Manchester Evening News.

When questioned by the Salford Star into whether the payments might pressure editorial judgement, Manchester Evening News Editor-in-Chief Rob Irvine said: "Such arrangements do not in any way compromise the independent, thorough, fair and balanced reporting of Salford Council by MEN Media."

SALFORD CITY RADIO TO CHARGE VOLUNTEERS WORKING AT THE STATION

added 24 September 2014

Star date: 24th September 2014

AS SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS £15,000 FROM SALFORD CITY RADIO VOLUNTEERS WILL PAY TO WORK

Volunteers at Salford City Radio will have to pay to work at the Swinton based station after Salford City Council cut its grant by £15,000. The charge of around £26, or 50p per week, will be implemented in January 2015.

"We regret this of course and will need to deal with the cuts as best we can" says Station Manager Paul Barber.

SALFORD HOSTAGE AUDIO MESSAGE TO FAMILY AND THE WEST

added 24 September 2014

Star date: 24th September 2014

ALAN HENNING MESSAGE RECEIVED AS WIFE SENDS A STATEMENT TO ISLAMIC STATE

The family of Eccles taxi driver, Alan Henning, held hostage by Islamic State, has received an audio file of him "pleading for his life". At present there are no other details.

This follows a recent statement from Alan's wife, released through the Foreign Office, stating he was working with vulnerable Muslims, and adding "has been to a Sharia court and found innocent of being a spy and declared to be no threat. I implore Islamic State to abide by the decisions of their own justice system."

BARTON MOSS PICNIC LOCK ON PROTECTORS GET ABSOLUTE DISCHARGES

added 24 September 2014

Star date: 23rd September 2014

BARTON MOSS PROTECTORS CLAIM ANOTHER VICTORY

Four protectors who staged a picnic lock-on while Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett was visiting the Barton Moss anti-fracking camp, were today given absolute discharges at Manchester Magistrates Court, even though found guilty of `obstruction'. Another protector arrested that day but not involved in the lock-on was found not guilty.

One of the defendants, Tammy, later wrote "Guilty in law but morally innocent according to today's judge".

Full details here...

added 23 September 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS LEAVE HUNDREDS OF ILL AND ELDERLY PEOPLE IN DANGER

Star date: 23rd September 2014

CARE ON CALL CUTS COULD KILL AFTER HUNDREDS CANCEL SERVICE

"If I wouldn't have had the service, one of two things would have happened – I could have got to my phone or died, basically" Care On Call client

The Salford Star understands that around five hundred ill and elderly people reliant on the city's Care On Call have cancelled the vital support emergency alarm service after Salford Council introduced charges recently as part of its cuts programme.

As speakers at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester today laid out plans to protect the vulnerable, in Salford, Labour Party Mayor, Ian Stewart, has implemented cuts that could kill.

SALFORD CITY FC CLASS OF 92 SELL OUT

added 23 September 2014

Star date: 22nd September 2014

CLASS OF '92 TO SELL 50% STAKE OF SALFORD CITY FC TO SINGAPOREAN BILLIONAIRE

Only six months after taking over Salford City FC the Class of '92 are about to sell off fifty per cent of the club to Singaporean stockbroker Peter Lim, who almost bought Liverpool FC for £320million a few years ago.

After droning on about the `grass roots' of football, Giggs, Scholes, Butt, Beckham and the Nevilles have already sold their `vision' to a billionaire who is also about to buy Valencia. Very strange. What on earth is going on?

FRACKING NORTH CONFERENCE TO FACE PROTESTS AT THE LOWRY SALFORD

added 22 September 2014

Star date: 22nd September 2014

AS SALFORD MP OPPOSES FRACKING, DEMO AT LOWRY CONFERENCE

At last night's Fracking's Not The Future fringe Labour Party Conference event organized by Friends of the Earth, Barbara Keeley, Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles South, made it clear that she will oppose fracking in Salford, despite the Party coming out in favour of the controversial energy source.

This Friday, from 8am anti-fracking campaigners will be protesting outside the £350 a-head Fracking North Conference at The Lowry, being attended by fracking company IGas.

Full details here…

added 22 September 2014

MAXINE PEAKE DOES HAMLET AT ROYAL EXCHANGE

Star date: 22nd September 2014

THE SLINGS AND ARROWS OF MAXINE PEAKE

Salford-based Maxine Peake doesn't just do ace stuff with Wigan Diggers and the left. She's doing Hamlet at the Royal Exchange, showing again she's one of the country's best actresses. Bernadette Hyland went to see a performance and dodges the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune...

Review here...

added 22 September 2014

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE MANCHESTER MEETINGS AND LOBBIES

DELEGATES TO GET LOBBIED, SIEGED WITH FRINGE MEETINGS AND UNCUT

Delegates attending the Labour Party Conference in Manchester this week are to get lobbied by all kinds of campaign groups, from the Fast Food Rights group to action by UK UNCUT.

Meanwhile, Manchester and Salford NUJ have organised a `Making The Media an Election Issue' meeting and, as Salford Council is set for its hopelessly biased sell off of its houses to Salix Homes there's a Defend Council Housing fringe meeting too, starring Labour Party members opposed to the privatisation.

OVER TWO THOUSAND ON PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH TO LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE

added 21 September 2014

GREATER MANCHESTER JOINS THE WORLD IN DEMANDING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Over two thousand people marched to the Labour Party Conference in Manchester today to demand that its leaders, and political leaders around the world, do something about the threat of climate change.

Attacking local councils, including Salford, Martin Porter from Frack Free Greater Manchester said that "Here in the North West of England the key battle against climate change is fracking" yet ordinary people had been excluded from the political debate on the issue.

Full details and more photos here...

added 21 September 2014

SALFORD JAM BUTTY CHILDRENS CAMP GETS MAKEOVER

VOLUNTEERS SET TO WORK ON JAM BUTTY CAMP

Following this year's successful campaign to keep Salford Children's `Jam Butty' Camp open for future generations of Salfordians, this week a gang of volunteers began the clean-up of the Prestatyn complex.

Despite Salford Council withdrawing £50,000 from the Camp, local people are ensuring its going to be better than ever...

Full details and photos here...

added 21 September 2014

HEALTHIER TOGETHER QUESTION TIME HITS SALFORD

SALFORD ROYAL SUPER HOSPITAL DEBATE

Healthier Together Question Time
Wednesday 24th September 7pm-8:30pm
The Hexagon Room, The Lowry

The debate about the most controversial hospital reorganisation in a generation comes to The Lowry this Wednesday with a panel of `experts' putting themselves up for questioning about the proposals.

Salford Royal to be a `super hospital', with other local hospitals downgraded? "There will be no winners" say campaigners.

SALFORD SPECIAL TRANSPORT CUTS PUBLIC MEETING

added 21 September 2014

Star date: 20th September 2014

PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS ADULTS SOUGHT BY SOLICITORS

Transport Cuts Public Meeting
Thursday 25th September 7pm
Swinton Royal British Legion

Parents affected by Salford Council cuts to transport for adults with special needs are being urged to attend a public meeting at Swinton Legion this Thursday. In attendance will be solicitors from Irwin Mitchell law firm which is representing families at a judicial review into the cuts at the High Court on October 15th.

Meanwhile, Salford Against The Cuts has written to every councillor urging them to reinstate the transport before the case and save the Council's reputation.

SALFORD RED DEVILS FACING BAILIFFS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF KIT BILL

added 20 September 2014

Star date: 18th September 2014

SALFORD RUGBY CLUB GETS CCJ FROM SHIRT SUPPLIERS KOOGA

The Salford Star understands that yesterday, as Salford Mayor Ian Stewart was praising Salford Red Devils' owner Marwan Koukash in the Council chamber, a County Court Judgement (CCJ) was served on the rugby club by shirt suppliers Kooga over non-payment of a bill amounting to thousands of pounds.

"Those people who pay attention to these things know that the current owner of Salford Red Devils has invested over £1.5million of his own money into players and he intends to invest more, stabilising the club" said Stewart at the Council meeting.

SALFORD MAYOR REVEALS SALFORDS REDS £164,000 WAS TAKEN FROM FRONT LINE SERVICES

added 18 September 2014

view full size

Star date: 17th September 2014

COUNCIL STREET CLEANING AND REFUSE SERVICES DIVERTED TO SALFORD RED DEVILS

Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart got himself in a right mess today trying to justify the handing of up to £164,000 towards Salford Red Devils' match day costs. First he told the full meeting of Salford Council that the money wasn't taken from the revenue budget which pays for services. Then he said it was.

The Salford Star can reveal that up to five staff from the Council's environment services have been directed to cleaning up after Salford Red Devils home matches, while street cleansing services around the city have been decimated.

SALFORD MAYOR GETS CHAUFFEURED BY DISABILITY TRANSPORT CUTS DRIVER

added 17 September 2014

Star date: 16th September 2014

AS PARENTS FUME OVER TRANSPORT CUTS THEIR DRIVER CHAUFFEURS THE CEREMONIAL MAYOR

"I am totally disgusted...this is just another slap in the face" parent

While parents and carers of people with disabilities struggle with having their transport removed as part of brutal cuts to services, the Salford Star understands that one of the drivers of the specially adapted buses has been seconded to chauffeur the Ceremonial Mayor around the city for the week.

Today a High Court date of 15th October has been set for a judicial review into the cuts – but while Salford Council agreed to provide an interim transport service until the hearing, parents and carers are saying that this simply isn't happening.

WHIT LANE SALFORD REGENERATION FAILURE SURVEY

added 16 September 2014

Star date: 16th September 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL – A `MENACE BOGGED DOWN IN FAILURE AND INCOMPETENCE'

The author of a research paper which absolutely blasted Salford City Council and co for the shocking failure of the regeneration of Whit Lane estate in East Salford is back, asking residents to speak out about their experiences in the `Forgotten Estate'.

Dr Andrew Wallace, a senior lecturer at the University of Lincoln, wrote how residents of Charlestown and Lower Kersal faced a "legacy of injustice ...through inaction and failure", leaving a "decimated landscape" and a "casual disregard for residents and the limbo they have been forced to endure". Now he seeks those residents' views.

SALFORD AID WORKER ALAN HENNING HORROR

added 16 September 2014

Star date: 15th September 2014

ECCLES AID WORKER IN UNISLAMIC STATE HORROR

People from Salford and throughout the world were horrified at the weekend when news showed the brutal execution of aid worker David Haines, followed by the parading of Alan Henning, an ex-cabbie and aid worker from Eccles, as the next potential victim of (Un)Islamic State.

"A lot of people knew him and it's so sad and unbelievable when it's so close to home" said a Salford Star reader.

GREATER MANCHESTER PEOPLE’S CLIMATE MARCH AND LOBBY OF LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE

added 15 September 2014

Star date: 14th September 2014

GREATER MANCHESTER MOVEMENT JOINS WORLD IN DEMANDING BETTER PLANET

People's Climate March and Lobby of Labour Party Conference
Sunday 21st September
Piccadilly Gardens 11am

21st September is both the eve of the United Nations summit on Climate Change in New York and the day the Labour Party is in Manchester for its Annual Conference. A huge People's Climate Change march around Manchester is happening from Piccadilly Gardens, followed by a massive lobby of the Labour Party Conference demanding that it bans fracking and commits to create one million new `climate jobs'.

FLOW SALFORD NEW LIVE FESTIVAL FOR CITY

added 14 September 2014

Star date: 14th September 2014

THEATRE, ART, COMEDY AND A KIDS SHOW FLOW THROUGH SALFORD

Flow Salford
19th - 21st September tickets free - £10
Salford Arts Theatre, Eagle Inn, The Lowry, WCML, The King's Arms, Peel Park

A new festival called Flow Salford hits the city this week with live acts and art hitting six venues highlighting top local creative groups. Events range from dance based on video games at The King's Arms, to an `immersive journey' through the Peel Park Asylum, to a night of Evidently Salford local poetry at the Eagle Inn; plus performance for kids at Salford Arts Theatre, Salford Snippets at the Lowry, and The Quiet Bath installation at the Working Class Movement Library...

Full details here...

added 14 September 2014

SALFORD MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014

Star date: 13th September 2014

SALFORD SET TO ROCK WITH 180 BANDS IN 18 VENUES ACROSS CITY

Salford Music Festival
25th-28th September

The Salford Music Festival hits its fifth year with 180 bands from 28 different cities and towns playing 18 venues across Salford at the end of September. Headlining are The Fall playing two dates at Lower Kersal Social Club, and, from Monton Village to Langworthy, from Eccles to Greengate, there's a whole battery of bands, singers, MCs and rappers performing, 99% for free.

HANKY PARK NEW ALBUM IS THE SOUND OF SALFORD

added 13 September 2014

Star date: 13th September 2014

SHINNY'S SECRETS REVEALED

HANKy PARK
SHINNy'S SECRETs

"I'm just hoping that Salford people will get behind the album" Shinny

Top Salford band Hanky Park release Shinny's Secrets today, a new twenty track album with wall-to-wall quality tunes that feature the piano used in Bohemian Rhapsody, Salfordian opera singer Jon Christos and a cover of Johnny Cash classic, Hurt.

Steven Speed catches up with Shinny as he launches the album and prepares for a headline gig at the Salford Music Festival.

Full details here…

added 13 September 2014

CREATIVE REBELLION AT THE KINGS ARMS SALFORD

Star date: 13th September 2014

REBELLION HITS THE KINGS ARMS THIS SUNDAY!

Creative Rebellion
Sunday 14th September from 7:30pm
The King's Arms £5

Tomorrow night, ace North Manchester music and arts co-op, Creative Rebellion, is promoting a top event featuring ska, reggae, punk fusionists Jeramiah Ferrari launching their new album, people's satirist Thomas Sheridan and socially aware poet Sean Maguire. And while all this going down, the Rebellion's artist Jackie Stewart will be creating an interactive community banner. Too good to miss?

PENDLETON TOGETHER PFI PAYS RESIDENTS JUST £1 FOR LOSS OF BATH IN SALFORD

added 13 September 2014

Star date: 12th September 2014

FOLLOWING PENDLETON RESIDENTS COMPLAINTS, KEEPMOAT OFFERS £1 FOR LOSS OF BATH

Pendleton residents at Whitebeam Court have been offered just £1 per day for being left without washing facilities and £2 per day for being left without cooking facilities during the major PFI refurbishment of their homes.

Residents of both Whitebeam Court and Spruce Court have been living for months in what is essentially a building site, with the Salford Star reporting recently that one 73 year old was left for weeks living on sandwiches after his cooker had been disconnected.

SALFORD PENDLETON PFI AT SPRUCE COURT MAKING PEOPLE ILL

added 12 September 2014

Star date: 11th September 2014

THE MAN WITH NO DAYLIGHT FOR NINE MONTHS...THE MAN WITH SHOCKING `ECO' ELECTRIC BILL...THE HOLES IN THE WALLS...PENDLETON TOGETHER APOLOGISES YET AGAIN

"I have had no daylight for nine months...I've got both generators vibrating, going through my body from morning until night...It's making me ill...sending me crazy" says Anthony Cain, living through the refurbishment of Spruce Court, courtesy of Keepmoat and the Pendleton Together PFI scheme.

Ibrahim got a shock when he got an electric bill for £100 to run his new `environmental system' for a few weeks. He now uses a kettle to shower in his refurbished flat, while pondering the holes and cracks in the walls, amongst other things. And it goes on, as Pendleton Together apologises yet again...

JUDGE GIVES GO AHEAD FOR HIGH COURT REVIEW INTO SALFORD COUNCIL DISABILITY CUTS

added 11 September 2014

Star date: 10th September 2014

JUDICIAL REVIEW INTO SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS TO DISABILITY TRANSPORT SET FOR OCTOBER

This afternoon a High Court judge granted permission for a judicial review into Salford Council's cuts to transport for people with disabilities. The case is being brought by law firm Irwin Mitchell, on behalf of Swinton's Michael Robson, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and who attends day centres in Stockport and Salford for vital support. The judicial review is due to be held in October.

Meanwhile, those who have had transport cut already are supposed to have it reinstated, on appeal, until the hearing. The Star understands that this is not happening.

Full details here...

added 10 September 2014

SHERIFF RIDES INTO SALFORD TO FORCE GMP CHIEF CONSTABLE TO STAND DOWN

Star date: 10th September 2014

SHERIFF OF NORTHWICH TO FORCE SIR PETER FAHY TO STAND DOWN

Yesterday the Sheriff of Northwich, Peter May, came to Salford to deputise Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Lloyd, who has his office at the Civic Centre in Swinton.

Lloyd was deputised with the intent that he serves a Stand Down Notice to Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy in relation to three criminal investigations, including breaches during the killing of Salford man Anthony Grainger.

See The Good, The Bad and the Fahy – click here...

added 10 September 2014

SALFORD CAMPAIGN AGAINST COUNCIL HOUSING TRANSFER BEGINS TO GROW

Star date: 10th September 2014

MEETING HEARS THAT EVEN SALIX WORKERS ARE AGAINST COUNCIL HOUSING TRANSFER

Last night, a Defend Council Housing public meeting in East Salford heard Salford City UNISON branch secretary, Steven North, tell tenants that most of his members who are involved in persuading people to vote `Yes' to the transfer of council housing to Salix Homes, would vote `No' if they had a vote themselves.

Over fifty people who attended the meeting also heard Councillor Peter Wheeler speak against the transfer, and the controversy over Ground 8 – the power to evict.

Full report on the meeting here...

added 10 September 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL HOPELESSLY BIASED HOUSING STOCK TRANSFER FILM

Star date: 9th September 2014

DISGRACEFUL PROPAGANDA IN SALIX HOMES TRANSFER VOTE FILM ON COUNCIL WEBSITE

"It's all totally one sided" Maria, Salix tenant

Salford City Council website is currently hosting a horrendously biased seven minute film about the vote to transfer council housing stock to Salix Homes. It begins with a voiceover saying "We want you to make an informed choice about voting" and then features five interviews all telling Salix tenants to vote `Yes' to the transfer, with no-one putting the opposite view.

VOTE NO TO SALFORD HOUSING STOCK TRANSFER MEETING

added 09 September 2014

Star date: 8th September 2014

WHY YOU SHOULD SAY `NO' TO TRANSFER OF COUNCIL HOUSING TO SALIX HOMES

Public Meeting
Tuesday 9th September 7pm
St George's Community Centre
Cromwell Road

Tomorrow night there's another public meeting encouraging tenants to vote `No' in the forthcoming ballot to transfer all Salford Council housing stock to Salix Homes.

SALFORD MAYOR TO BACKDATE SALFORD RED DEVILS GIFT AS SCANDAL INQUIRY CALL LAUNCHED

added 08 September 2014

Star date: 8th September 2014

SALFORD MAYOR TO BACKDATE £164,000 RED DEVILS SUBSIDY BY A YEAR!
PETITION LAUNCHED FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO SALFORD REDS RUGBY SCANDAL...

Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart is set to backdate by a year the decision to gift Salford Red Devils £164,000 in match day costs at the AJ Bell Stadium, following the whitewash of the scandal by Salford Council's Audit Committee.

Now Salford Against The Cuts has called for an Independent Inquiry, led by Salford citizens, into all Council dealings with Salford Reds. It will be backed by a city-wide petition.

MAXINE PEAKE WINS WIGAN DIGGERS SPADE – AND SAYS IT MEANS MORE THAN AN OSCAR

added 08 September 2014

Star date: 7th September 2014

MAXINE WINS WIGAN'S OSCAR' FOR BEING `A JEWEL OF THE BRITISH LEFT'

Salford based Maxine Peake has received this year's Gerrard Winstanley Spade Award from the Wigan Diggers Festival for her "outstanding contribution to socialism". Maxine responded that "This award means more to me than any Oscar or BAFTA".

The Wigan Diggers Festival - which happens next Saturday – is a top free open air event featuring loads of stalls, children's entertainment, a beer tent and over a dozen musicians. It commemorates Wigan-born legend, Gerrard Winstanley, who led the 17th Century `Diggers' movement, described by Tony Benn as the "the first true socialists". The much coveted Spade is Wigan's `own version of an Oscar'

SALFORD WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY EXAMINES POLITICAL THEATRE

added 07 September 2014

Star date: 7th September 2014

CAN POLITICAL THEATRE BE RE-BORN?

What Happened To Political Theatre?
Wednesday 10th September 2pm free
Working Class Movement Library

In this free talk, scriptwriter and director Mike Harris gives his personal view on the demise of political theatre. Is the genre dead? Or do we need it now more than ConDem ever?

SALFORD HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2014

added 07 September 2014

Star date: 7th September 2014

FROM PUBS TO CHURCHES, ORGANS TO HALLS – SALFORD HERITAGE OPENS UP

Heritage Open Days
Thursday 11th – Sunday 14th September free

This year's annual Heritage Open Days sees another great array of normally hidden Salford places welcome people with special events and exhibitions. There's tours of Peel Green's Theatre Organ Heritage Centre, Weaste Cemetery and the Working Class Movement Library, plus a stroll around Salford's old pubs and breweries.

Meanwhile the city's stunning old churches open up their pews and carved panels, and at Ordsall Hall you can wear the garb of rich Tudors or knight's armour. Everything is free and there's a selfie photo challenge at all venues.

UNISON THREATENS LABOUR PARTY AS ONE THOUSAND MARCH AGAINST AUSTERITY IN MANCHESTER

added 07 September 2014

Star date: 6th September 2014

BIG ANTI AUSTERITY MARCH IN MANCHESTER DEMANDS CHANGE

"The union movement will not forget that it was New Labour that built the bridges that the Tories now walk over" Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary

After over one thousand people had marched through Manchester demanding an end to austerity, UNISON General secretary Dave Prentis threatened the Labour Party leadership with the "price" of its members' support... "if they want our people to vote, it won't be just because they don't like the Tories, they have got to have a vision of a better, fairer society".

Announcing a ballot of 350,000 UNISON health workers to take industrial action in October, Prentis added: "That is the start of our campaign which will run and run and run until this austerity agenda is kicked out into the gutter where it belongs..."

SALFORD APPEAL FOR 94 FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD SPECIAL TRANSPORT REMOVED

added 06 September 2014

Star date: 5th September 2014

RACE IS ON TO FIND THE SALFORD 94!

Yesterday, at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Salford Council refused to reveal the names of the 94 Salford families who are entitled to have their special needs transport reinstated while a legal challenge to its cuts is ongoing.

Now the race is on to find the 94 families, who have to appeal to the Council by next Thursday, September 11th, to receive their special transport.

VICTORY FOR SALFORD FAMILIES IN HIGH COURT OVER COUNCIL TRANSPORT CUTS

added 05 September 2014

Star date: 4th September 2014

TRANSPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SAVED FOR TIME BEING – BUT NEED THE SALFORD 94 TO COME FORWARD

At a hearing at Manchester Civil Justice Centre today, families claimed a victory as Salford Council was forced to state in open court that it will retain transport services for adults with disabilities until the hearing for a judicial review into its cuts.

Now, 94 families who were recently receiving help with transport from the Council need to come forward and appeal by next week to get their service reinstated, as Salford Council wouldn't reveal their names and contact details. Meanwhile, the Ring and Ride service that Salford Council is urging families to use as an `alternative' is also about to be cut.

AS SALFORD COUNCIL UP IN HIGH COURT UNISON LAYS INTO TRANSPORT CUTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

added 04 September 2014

Star date: 4th September 2014

SALFORD CITY UNISON SUPPORTS HIGH COURT ACTION BY SERVICE USERS

"Our old and disabled will suffer! Shame on you Ian Stewart and friends" Driver.

Today Michael Robson, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, is taking Salford Council to the High Court seeking a judicial review into the cuts for specialist transport for people with severe disabilities. And today Salford City UNISON, which represents the drivers and escorts for the service, is publicly backing the legal action outlining its own members' concerns about the lack of consultation.

URBAN SPLASH FINALLY BOOTED OUT OF SALFORD CHIMNEY POT PARK

added 04 September 2014

Star date: 3rd September 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL ENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH `DISGRACEFUL', `DISGUSTING' URBAN SPLASH

Urban Splash is finally getting booted out of Salford as the Council ends its relationship with the company that developed the upside down Chimney Pot Park housing development, which was never finished.

Over the summer local councillor John Warmisham branded the multi-award winning Urban Splash, fronted by Tom Bloxham, "disgraceful" and "disgusting", while the scheme was labelled "abysmal" and an "eyesore". The final phase of the development is now being taken over by Great Places Housing – and Salford Council will lose over £40,000 on the deal.

PENDLETON TOGETHER RESIDENTS’ HORROR AS SALFORD PFI COMPANY APOLOGISES

added 03 September 2014

Star date 1st September 2014

73 YEAR OLD LIVING ON SANDWICHES...TENANTS' FLATS LOOK LIKE `HAND GRENADE HAS GONE OFF'...EVEN HOUSING CHIEF `SHOCKED' AND `DISTURBED'...

Pendleton Together and Keepmoat, the two companies at the centre of the £650million PFI project to `make things better' today apologised to tenants stuck in horrendous conditions during the refurbishment of Whitebeam Court.

Over the weekend, residents told the Salford Star that "there's no regard for people living on this building site". One 73 year old has been living on sandwiches since his cooker was disconnected weeks ago. He had also been left without hot water for two weeks. Another resident said that workmen left his flat "like a hand grenade had gone off...it's just chaos."