The Mancunian Way: X-wing over Gmex

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Hello,

Planespotters hoping to see Rishi Sunak’s private jet swooping into Manchester this weekend will be disappointed. The Prime Minister says he’ll ‘probably’ be driving to Manchester for the Conservative Party Conference.

Then again, he also told BBC Three Counties Radio[2] he would ‘love’ to have a go in Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon, or at the controls of an X-wing, admitting piloting those Star Wars spaceships would make him ‘a very happy man’. So look out for X-wings flying over Gmex on Sunday. Last week it was Beeman[3], this week it's a geeky PM reaching for the Mancunian skies.

Star Wars fan Rishi Sunak is shown a 3D printed model of a transport walker from Star Wars, made by apprentices, during a visit to the UK Atomic Energy Authority

Of course the reason Mr Sunak will be forced to travel here by car is because train drivers union Aslef are on strike from Saturday until Wednesday[4] meaning services including those between Manchester and London will be cancelled. The PM told BBC Radio Manchester[5] it’s ‘very disappointing’ and he ‘would be catching the train’ were it not for the strikes. And for those of us who don’t have a direct line to the Transport Secretary or access to a private jet or helicopter? Looks like it’s the Megabus again.

During a round of radio interviews, Mr Sunak also denied that people feel betrayed by his wavering over the future of HS2. However he did nothing to quell fears he is preparing to either scrap or delay the rail project’s Birmingham to Manchester leg over soaring costs. He told BBC Manchester the government is ‘always making sure that we get value for money out of everything we do’.

Meanwhile, Manchester Airport’s new boss has called for the government to get 'serious' and build HS2 in full[6] as promised. Incoming Manchester Airports Group (MAG) CEO Ken O'Toole said the North has been 'held back for too long by the lack of an integrated transport network'.

And business leaders have laid bare the staggering impact[7] axing the northern leg of the high speed rail line would have on the city-region's economy.

'I'm just here trying to make a living'

Shoplifting in the UK is an 'epidemic'[8] according to John Lewis boss Dame Sharon White, who recently told BBC's Today programme the retailer had seen offences double over the past 12 months.

Meanwhile Co-op said it had recorded its highest-ever levels of shoplifting and antisocial behaviour in the six months to June, with almost 1,000 incidents each day. And according to the British Retail Consortium shop thefts have more than doubled in the past three years, reaching 8m in 2022 and costing retailers £953m.

The worrying trend comes amid a cost-of-living crisis which shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

The Walk in Rochdale

Reporter Damon Wilkinson visited Rochdale town centre[9] to talk to traders who say things are just as bad here in Greater Manchester. One newsagent told Damon he was assaulted as he tried to stop two shoplifters stealing vapes from behind the counter. "They just came in and grabbed what they could," he said. "One of them pushed me in the shoulder. It's been hurting ever since.”

The man and the woman made off with around £100 worth of e-cigs. They came back, a short while later, took a drink from the fridge and a bar of chocolate from the shelf and walked out again without paying. "I just leave them to it. What would happen if I tried to stop them and one of them pulled a knife? I'm just here trying to make a living. I have a family, a mortgage. I have everything to lose and they have nothing to lose," the shopkeeper said.

Joe Shanks, who works at E-cigs and Gadgets, on Yorkshire Street, says it's no surprise shoplifting is on the rise. "People are skint," he said. "So if someone comes up to you and asks if you want to buy some cheap stuff you're more likely to say yes or you're going to put in an order. You know full well it's just been stolen, but that's the way it's always been.

"It's just happening more and more nowadays."

You can read the full piece here.[10]

The police station where you can actually talk to officers

Saddleworth police station has opened its doors to the public for the first time in a decade. And as chief reporter Neal Keeling explains[11], it means members of the community can speak with neighbourhood cops and PCSOs face-to-face.

Dozens of stations have closed across Greater Manchester in recent years and many people are reliant on the yellow phones attached to walls outside stations to contact officers.

But the Saddleworth station, on High Street, in Uppermill, is bucking the trend by holding surgeries with Sergeant Connor Brook.

“One of the primary concerns for our residents is the accessibility and visibility of police in their area and as such, we have launched new ways to open lines of communication with our community,” he said. “It is imperative we find out what issues are impacting on them and build key community intelligence to make us more efficient at fighting and reducing crime."

'Essential' work to Royal Exchange roof needed

The Royal Exchange buildings

‘Essential’ works to preserve the grade-II listed Royal Exchange building are due to take place.

Bosses say a section of the roof has been ‘condemned’ and will be replaced. They’ve applied to the council to carry out the works, as Ethan Davies reports.[12]

“Following the examination of the existing roof systems, it is apparent that the present waterproofing has completely broken down and water has completely saturated the system,” a report presented to the council reads. “The insulation has completely broken down leading to the asphalt slumping especially around the perimeters, I would label this roof section as condemned.

“The reason for the failure is simply down to the age of the roof, over time UV exposure has deteriorated the asphalt leading to slumping and blisters which in turn create weak spots in the system.”

Sorry for 'Bumpy' start to Bee Network, says mayor

The Bee Network[13] as had a ‘bumpy’ start, but Andy Burnham says things will get better.[14] The mayor apologised to passengers who have experienced disruption to services since buses were taken under public control in Bolton and Wigan on Sunday.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester he said he understands the frustration felt, but things are already improving. He said: "It's day five for the Bee Network and, my goodness, they've been five big days. So what would I say? Sunday, Monday, definitely quite bumpy. No getting away from it. And I would just want to say sorry to anybody who experienced any disruption to the services over those two days.

"On Tuesday things started to settle, and again yesterday. I'm not going to say it's perfect out there, but what I am going to say is that the buses are out, the services are running, maybe not all of them, but the vast majority, and things are bedding down.

He added: "We have pulled off a big thing in the last few days and I just hope people bear with us a little bit as we work through some of the issues."

Not giving up on 15 and 16

In other transport news, the mayor says he hasn’t ‘given up’ on fighting for new platforms at Manchester Piccadilly station. He said platforms 15 and 16 - which were promised around a decade ago - should not be taken off the table despite the plans to build them being pulled earlier this year when Network Rail described them as 'hugely expensive' and 'incredibly disruptive'.[15][16]

The new platforms were supposed to ease congestion on the north of England's railways by allowing more trains to run through the Castlefield corridor, Joseph Timan reports.[17] Transport for the North has now revised its formal recommendations to the government, removing any reference to the new platforms at Piccadilly.

But Mr Burnham told TfN's board yesterday that plans for two new platforms at Piccadilly should not be taken off the table. "We are in no way saying that we've given up on platforms 15 and 16,” he said.

'People don't think it's a thing anymore'

Dr Helen Wall

Covid is 'still here and still wreaking havoc' according to Greater Manchester's clinical director of population health.

Dr Helen Wall says patients with symptoms 'don't believe' they might be infected[18], but cases in hospitals had been rising since the beginning of September. Currently around 3 per cent of patients in the region’s hospitals have the virus.

"It's been really hard to convince people [that they have covid]. Maybe they don't want to admit it or don't think it's a thing anymore. People just don't want to go there. It feels like life is back to normality, but unfortunately working in health care, everyday we are faced with the fact that it's still here and wreaking havoc,” she said.

Dr Wall said increasing infections may be down to waning vaccine immunity - only 60% of people in Greater Manchester eligible for the latest booster took up the offer. "The key message is ‘have the vaccine’. We know that people with the vaccine are less likely to catch it, pass it on and be hospitalised,” she said.

Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily

If you fancy living in the heart of one of Manchester’s trendiest areas, a unique property has just gone on the market.

This narrowboat, known as 'the Hedgehog', is on the market for £35,000 and is moored at New Islington Marina. The typical cost of a narrowboat in the UK is around £57,000 according to property writer Phoebe Jobling.[19]

The narrowboat was recently renovated and updated with a full cabin rebuild including new doors, a new deck, a custom-made canopy and a brand new 350L water tank. Inside the layout consists of an open kitchen dining area with oak worktops, a new stove, gas oven, hob, washing machine, fridge and a log burner. There is a bedroom with a raised double bed with storage and a shower room. You can see more images here[20].

The boat is moored at New Islington Marina

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Weather etc

Friday: Sunny intervals changing to cloudy by nighttime. 17C.

Road closures: A667 Stoneclough Road, Kersley, in both directions closed due to roadworks between Brook Street and Quarry Road. Until October 1.

A5145 Kingsway, Stretford, eastbound closed due to long-term roadworks between A5181 Barton Road and A56 Chester Road. Until August 31, 2024.

Manchester headlines

  • Development: This is how thousands of new homes[22] and the tallest tower in the UK outside London could look if built on the site of a Salford retail park. Developer Henley Investments wants to demolish Regent Retail Park and create ten buildings, with 3,200 new homes, a community hub and a public park. New walking and cycling routes would be built alongside the city's first urban park in a generation.

  • Homes: More than 170 homes could be built on a 23-acre plot, off Marple Road, Offerton, in Stockport. Stewart Milne Homes hopes to build 172 houses on the site which is currently used for the extraction of sand and gravel. More here.[23]
  • Kicked off: A Greater Manchester council leader says he ‘kicked off’ with chiefs over what he claims is a ‘deficit in support and investment’ for some boroughs by the region’s combined authority. The comments by leader councillor Ged Cooney came as members of Tameside’s executive cabinet formally agreed to establish a Mayoral Development Zone which encompasses Ashton town centre, Ashton St Petersfield and Ashton Moss. Details here.[24]

  • Guide: Two more Greater Manchester restaurants[25] have received nods in the Michelin Guide. Higher Ground on New York Street has been name-checked in the September edition of the Michelin Inspectors' Favourite New Restaurants. Also joining the guide is Örme, a tiny Urmston restaurant which offers monthly tasting menus.

That's all for today

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

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References

  1. ^ right here (mancunianway.co.uk)
  2. ^ BBC Three Counties Radio (www.standard.co.uk)
  3. ^ it was Beeman (e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  4. ^ from Saturday until Wednesday (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  5. ^ told BBC Radio Manchester (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  6. ^ to get 'serious' and build HS2 in full (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  7. ^ laid bare the staggering impact (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  8. ^ 'epidemic' (www.bbc.co.uk)
  9. ^ Reporter Damon Wilkinson visited Rochdale town centre (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  10. ^ You can read the full piece here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  11. ^ And as chief reporter Neal Keeling explains (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  12. ^ as Ethan Davies reports. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  13. ^ Bee Network (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  14. ^ things will get better. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  15. ^ being pulled earlier this year (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  16. ^ 'hugely expensive' and 'incredibly disruptive'. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  17. ^ Joseph Timan reports. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  18. ^ Dr Helen Wall says patients with symptoms 'don't believe' they might be infected (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  19. ^ according to property writer Phoebe Jobling. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  20. ^ here (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  21. ^ clicking on this link (data.reachplc.com)
  22. ^ This is how thousands of new homes (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  23. ^ More here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  24. ^ Details here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  25. ^ Two more Greater Manchester restaurants (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  26. ^ [email protected] (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  27. ^ sign up (mancunianway.co.uk)

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