The Mancunian Way: Hiya Ken!

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Here's the Mancunian Way for today:

Hello,

Like all sentient beings, you won’t have escaped the hype around the new Barbie film. The ads for the picture are fun and frivolous.

But I must say this two-second long clip[2] featuring a Coronation Street legend tickled me more than any of the real marketing. Enjoy!

In today’s newsletter we’ll be discussing why Andy Burnham has joined forces with other mayors to threaten rail companies with legal action.

And we’ll be delving into the murky world of drug dealing on Bury New Road and the potentially life-threatening drug that has become ‘part and parcel’ of the area. Let’s begin.

'A campaign we must win'

Closing railway station ticket offices will ‘erode what remains of public trust in travelling by train’ and hasten Britain towards ‘a faceless, soulless society’.

That’s according to Andy Burnham, who has joined forces with other Northern mayors to launch a legal action over the widespread closures planned[3] by rail operators. They say a 21-day period of public consultation is 'inappropriate for changes of this scale' and closures would greatly impact the disabled and older people.

"For the good of the country, it's a campaign we must win,” the Greater Manchester mayor says, in an op-ed for the Manchester Evening News.[4]

He says the action by TransPennine Express, Northern Trains Ltd, LNER, EMR, Thameslink, Greater Anglia and Avanti West Coast is being supported by the Government which is ‘standing behind them and handing over the axe’.

The Rail Delivery Group announced plans affecting some 1,007 ticket offices across the country earlier this month - giving the public 21 days to have their say. The mayors want that period suspended and are calling for talks with ministers to 'discuss how reform of our railways can be undertaken to the benefit, and not detriment, of passengers'.

Under the announced closure plans, Manchester Piccadilly would lose its ticket office, though the one at Manchester Victoria would remain open[5]. Northern also hopes to close manned offices at 45 stations across Greater Manchester. Avanti West Coast confirmed the consultation applies to 16 stations it manages - including Stockport and Wigan North Western. Piccadilly would remain open short-term for customers who have complicated ticket queries.

The mayors are due to send out pre-action protocol letters, in which they will state their collective concerns, set out their legal case and call for the consultation to be suspended, as Paul Britton reports.[6] They said that if no action was taken by the operators, they would pursue a legal action.

Mr Burnham says the justification by rail bosses who say 88 per cent of tickets are sold online implies the other 12 per cent - largely disabled people - ‘don’t matter’. And he says staff do far more than just sell tickets.

“Here in the North we are used to daily chaos on our railways, with trains cancelled at short notice,” he writes. “There's been many a time when I’ve found myself in a crowded ticket office as staff try to help desperate passengers with alternative plans.

“When I look at how our railways are run, it seems to me that those in charge are on a mission to run them down and turn passengers away so they can just focus on the most profitable parts.”

'It's not just going to go away'

The police crackdown around Strangeways has driven drug dealers ‘underground’ - but a lethal drug craze that took off during lockdown is still rife. That’s according to experts who say the prescription drug Pregabalin[7] is now 'part and parcel' of Manchester's drug scene.

Reporter Damon Wilkinson visited Bury New Road last year posing as a drug user[8] and was offered ‘pregabs’ within moments. Since then a massive police crackdown[9] on drug dealers and counterfeit shops has seen the area become ‘dead’.

A practically deserted Bury New Road, Strangeways

But experts say there’s still a huge black market for prescription drugs in the city with one former user claiming genuine pills prescribed by doctors are being sold for around £3 each, while counterfeit tablets are available for around £1.

Damon now reports that[10] Pregabalin - which has been linked to hundreds of deaths over the last few years - is still being widely used across the city, primarily among homeless people and drug addicts. They are often taken with heroin or crack to bolster the effects of the drugs, or to combat withdrawal symptoms.

Heroin now appears to have largely returned to its pre-pandemic levels of purity, the annual Greater Manchester Testing and Research on Emergent and New Drugs report[11] found. But many users continue to take pregabalin alongside heroin and experts say that hugely increases the risk of overdose.

Report author Prof Rob Ralphs says: "A lot of people moved to using pregabs and benzos during covid because the quality of heroin had gone down. Now it's just become part and parcel of their drug use. They like the effect, the buzz it gives, and it's cheap and readily available. But the risk is of overdose is increased because the heroin now is purer."

Prof Ralphs, a lecturer in criminology and social policy at Manchester Metropolitan University, likened the craze to the use of Spice in Greater Manchester. And while the use of that synthetic cannabinoid appears to be falling across the region, he says the dealing of pregabalin is being ‘displaced’. “Already we are hearing about shops in Bury and Bolton selling them. It's not just going to go away - the levels of people using them are too high,” he says.

It also appears black market pregabalin tablets are getting stronger. A Manchester-based homeless charity worker told the report: "Some of the lads are taking these and dropping. The packets may contain less than the overall amount they are supposed to, but each tablet will vary in strength.”

You can read Damon’s full report here.[12]

Giggs cleared

Ryan Giggs arrives at Manchester Crown Court with his legal team Ryan Giggs arrives at Manchester Crown Court with his legal team

Ryan Giggs has been cleared of headbutting his ex-girlfriend and subjecting her to controlling and coercive behaviour.

Charges have been dropped against the former Manchester United star, 49, after Kate Greville withdrew her cooperation from the case ahead of a scheduled re-trial. He was also facing an allegation of common assault of Ms Greville’s sister, Emma Greville.

Court reporter Andrew Bardsley was at Manchester Crown Court this morning to follow proceedings and reports that prosecutors said[13] it was 'no longer in the public interest' to pursue Mr Giggs to trial.

Kate Greville had 'indicated an unwillingness to give evidence again' at the re-trial, the court heard. Prosecutor Peter Wright KC said the 'process' had taken its toll on them (the complainants), but in particular on Kate Greville'. Mr Giggs was not in court when Judge Hilary Manley ordered not guilty verdicts to be entered.

Mr Giggs’ barrister Chris Daw KC said the former United manager was 'deeply relieved that the prosecution has finally come to an end'. "The position is that he has always been innocent of these charges," Mr Daw said. "There have been very many lies told about him during the course of this investigation and prosecution."

Thousands waiting more than a year from NHS care

Patient waiting lists are one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS currently. And new figures from the Reach data unit show one area of Greater Manchester is the worst affected.

David Dubas-Fisher has found that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has seen the largest increase in people waiting over 52 weeks of any hospital trust in England. There were 28,828 people who had been on the waiting list for over 52 weeks as of May 2023. That’s up from 15,580 12 months earlier - an increase of 13,248 patients, or 85 per cent.

Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust had the next largest increase in our region with a 95 per cent rise in the number of patients waiting a year or more - 3,406.

The Department of Health and Social Care say the government is working to cut waiting times and has ‘virtually eliminated 18-month waits’.

But Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem health and social care spokeswoman, says the figures reveal a ‘stark postcode lottery’ for patients. “The Government’s failure to get to grips with soaring NHS waiting times is causing untold suffering and damaging our economy by leaving people too sick to return to work,” she said.

Fresh claims from uni rent strikers

Students who are part of the University of Manchester rent strike group[14] say they will continue their efforts despite several facing disciplinary action.

As Adam Maidment reports[15], nine UoM students have been found guilty of breaches of health and safety regulations through their use of barricades during a week-long occupation of the John Owens Building in February[16]. All nine are expected to appeal and say uni bosses have told them future participation in protests will likely be treated as serious misconduct.

They claim they have been asked to make written promises not to engage in future misconduct and engage in 40 hours of unpaid work at the university.

A total of 650 students on rent strike have been refusing to pay accommodation fees since January. They want a 30 per cent reduction in fees and a guarantee of no further increases for three years. They are also demanding a one-time £1,500 cost of living payment, no disciplinary action for protesters, a 30 per cent refund of last October's rent payment, and to make 40 per cent of student halls affordable.

One student claimed their accommodation at Oak House featured ‘blood stained’ curtains One student claimed their accommodation at Oak House featured ‘blood stained’ curtains

One of the strikers claims accommodation at Oak House had ‘blood stained’ curtains, while a roof had collapsed at Woolton Hall in January and February. The university says it always responds to problems raised but can’t guarantee complaints made via social media are picked up.

The students also claim that more than £150,000 has been spent by the university on legal fees, bailiffs, staff overtime and other costs relating to tackling the student occupations.

The university says decisions about disciplinary cases followed a ‘fair and thorough investigation and hearing process’. They say the cases did not relate to the withholding of rent.

Iconic pub on the market

The Crown & Kettle pub

The building which houses Manchester’s iconic Crown & Kettle pub is up for sale with a £1.4m price tag.[17]

The building, on the corner of Great Ancoats Street, dates back to 1734. It was once a courthouse before becoming a pub in the early 19th century.

Offers in the region of £1.4m are being sought for the grade II-listed building. The pub's management said that the sale of the building would not affect trade, with a long-term lease already in place.

Sign up to The Mancunian Way

Has a friend forwarded you this edition of The Mancunian Way? You can sign up to receive the latest email newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by clicking on this link[18].

Weather etc

  • Wednesday: Sunny intervals changing to heavy showers by lunchtime. 20C.
  • Road closures: M67 Eastbound entry slip road closed due to long-term roadworks at J2 A57 Hyde Road (Denton). Until December 1, 2025.
  • Trivia question: Bolton actress Diane Morgan is best known for playing Philomena Cunk, but she also starred in a Netflix sitcom written by which British comedian?

Manchester headlines

Diane Morgan

  • Honour: Actor and comedian Diane Morgan[19] has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the university in her home town of Bolton. The Philomena Cunk and Motherland star delivered a heart-warming graduation speech[20] in which she revealed she got a G in Maths before declaring: “You don't need maths. You don't need maths for anything - take that Rishi Sunak." The Bafta-nominated actor, 47, also revealed that - while trying to break into acting - she'd been sacked from the Last Drop Village hotel in Bolton 'for not knowing what a cream tea is'. "I'm here to show you that anything is possible. If you've got passion and you work hard you can do absolutely anything. This is such an honour and I'm so proud," she said.

  • Nominations: Two Greater Manchester pubs have been shortlisted for gongs[21] at this year’s Great British Pub Awards. Independent favourite the Old Abbey Taphouse, in Hulme, has been put up for the Community Hero award and is up against entrants in London, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Dorset. Meanwhile, the Puss In Boots, in Offerton, Stockport, is up in the Best Pub For Families category. A handful of Cheshire pubs have also been shortlisted.

  • Arrest: A 22-year-old man has been arrested[22] after a brawl broke out beside a stage at a music festival at the Barton Aerodrome. The fight, understood to have involved weapons, happened at the Mvson World event on Saturday night[23] and left five people injured. Greater Manchester Police say the disturbance followed an attempted robbery at the festival before a group of men left via the main entrance towards Liverpool Road. A man has been arrested in connection with the incident at the airport and was due to be questioned on suspicion of assault and money laundering.

Worth a read

The new look series of University Challenge started last night with a first round match between Manchester University and Trinity College, Cambridge. Ahead of it being aired, What’s On writer Dianne Bourne watched a live recording of the quiz show in Salford, interviewed host Amol Rajan and tried her hand at some questions[24] that left her with a ‘new found respect’ for the students who take part.

“As soon as we're nestled into our seats, with our names placed in front of us on the famous University Challenge desks, it doesn't feel like that much fun. In fact it becomes painfully apparent we're going to struggle to even get past the actual starter for ten bit,” she writes.

“I finally pluck up the courage to buzz - and am thrilled to get an answer right. But as the answer is "Guy Fawkes" you can probably imagine just how easy the question was on that one. But my joy is short-lived when I realise that means my team are actually going to have to sit in painful silence for three more "bonus questions". That we don't know the answer to.”

You can read Dianne's piece here.[25]

Reporter Dianne Bourne went behind the scenes on University Challenge

That's all for today

Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email [email protected][26].

If you have enjoyed this newsletter today, why not tell a friend how to sign up[27]?

The answer to today's trivia question is: Ricky Gervais.

References

  1. ^ right here (mancunianway.co.uk)
  2. ^ this two-second long clip (twitter.com)
  3. ^ widespread closures planned (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  4. ^ in an op-ed for the Manchester Evening News. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  5. ^ at Manchester Victoria would remain open (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  6. ^ as Paul Britton reports. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  7. ^ Pregabalin (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  8. ^ visited Bury New Road last year posing as a drug user (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  9. ^ massive police crackdown (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  10. ^ Damon now reports that (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  11. ^ Greater Manchester Testing and Research on Emergent and New Drugs report (gmtrends.mmu.ac.uk)
  12. ^ You can read Damon’s full report here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  13. ^ reports that prosecutors said (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  14. ^ rent strike group (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  15. ^ As Adam Maidment reports (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  16. ^ occupation of the John Owens Building in February (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  17. ^ up for sale with a £1.4m price tag. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  18. ^ clicking on this link (data.reachplc.com)
  19. ^ Diane Morgan (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  20. ^ delivered a heart-warming graduation speech (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  21. ^ have been shortlisted for gongs (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  22. ^ has been arrested (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  23. ^ happened at the Mvson World event on Saturday night (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  24. ^ tried her hand at some questions (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  25. ^ You can read Dianne's piece here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  26. ^ [email protected] (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  27. ^ sign up (mancunianway.co.uk)

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