The Mancunian Way: Smash it up

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Described as ‘the coolest party of the year’[2], Danny Boyle’s hip-hop dance interpretation of The Matrix premiered at Aviva Studios last night.

The show - created with dance company Boy Blue, designer Es Devlin and writer Sabrina Mahfouz - makes the most of the £240m new Manchester venue[3] by making use of the vast space across two stages.

As What’s On writer Dianne Bourne explains[4], the creatives at the centre of the show wanted to use as much of the space-age building as they could to showcase its infinite possibilities for artists.

A dramatic scene from Free Your Mind at Aviva Studios

The results were spectacular with Dianne describing the two-and-a-half hour performance as ‘truly extraordinary, and unlike anything I've ever seen on stage before in the UK - let alone in Manchester’.

“The 50-strong dance team writhe and twitch and slide across the two vast stages at the studios to bring to life elements of the film that you thought were probably only possible via CGI. Their dance creation of ‘bullet time’ is breathtaking, while computer coding fizzes to life on giant video screen technology,” she writes.

The venue is said to be the largest national cultural project since Tate Modern opened in 2000. Sceptics have already aired concerns - not least over costs as the venue is expected to go more than £130m over its original budget. But the proof will be in the pudding. Manchester Council insists it will pay for itself over time by creating jobs and attracting visitors and international artists to the city.

Meanwhile Radcliffe-born Boyle says the building ‘has the ability to smash things up and reset the agenda’. “The next generation, and the ones after that, should feel like they can march in here, totally shape it and they pass through whatever stands in their way,” he said.

What do we earn?

Households in Didsbury Village earn more than anywhere else in Greater Manchester. Hardly a shock to anyone who has visited the leafy suburb, but it's always interesting to see the data on these things.

The average household in the neighbourhood earned £67,100 in the financial year ending 2020, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. That's compared to the national average of £32,000 per household.

Meanwhile, Central Bolton had the lowest household income in our region at an average of £26,400 a year.

Graphic by Ben Ashurst

Data journalist David Dubas-Fisher has been looking at the figures and has created this interactive map[5] which you can use to see how much households in your area earn.

Nationally, Clapham Common has the highest household income of any neighbourhood in England and Wales with an average of £108,100 a year. Meanwhile Grimsby East Marsh and Port has the lowest average household income of any neighbourhood in the country with an average £22,200 earned each year.

The 10 highest earning neighbourhoods in our region

  • Didsbury Village: £67,100
  • Hale: £65600
  • Bramhall West: £60,800
  • Timperley North: £60,100
  • Hale Barns: £58,800
  • Marple Bridge & Mellor: £58,400
  • Heaton Moor: £58,100
  • Bramhall South & Woodford: £57,900
  • Chorlton South: £57,400
  • Bramhall North West: £57,000

The 10 lowest earning neighbourhoods in our region

  • Central Bolton: £26,400
  • Pendleton: £27,900
  • Oldham Town North: £27,900
  • Lever Edge: £29,200
  • Moss Side West: £29,300
  • Central Rochdale & Mandale Park: £29,400
  • Harpurhey South & Monsall: £29,500
  • Clayton Vale: £29,600
  • Halliwell & Brownlow Fold: £29,800
  • Laithwaite & Marsh Green: £29,800

Less trains, better service?

The Nova 3 trains operated by TransPennine Express are to be withdrawn

Less trains to improve services - it sounds like an oxymoron. Nevertheless, that’s the plan TransPennine Express will roll out this winter in a bid to improve services between Manchester and Leeds.

From December, the number of trains between the two cities will be cut from four an hour to three during off-peak times, as Joseph Timan explains.[6] In total, TransPennine will run 300 services a day, down from 320, across the whole network. Services to Liverpool will also be affected with some trains terminating at Manchester instead.

A fleet of 13 Nova 3 trains will also be taken out of service[7] as the now nationalised rail operator tackles a massive backlog in training for its drivers. TPE say it takes four times longer to train drivers on this type of train than more conventional fleets.

The temporary timetable reduction, which is expected to be in place for no longer than a year, means that more drivers will be able to complete the training required. Currently, only 64 per cent of drivers have all the training they need for all routes and trains run by TransPennine Express, leaving a backlog of 3,000 training days.

Earlier this year, FirstGroup lost the TransPennine contract following complaints of poor service and cancelled trains. Since then, the number of cancellations has fallen by more than 40 per cent thanks to a deal with trade unions allowing drivers to work more.

TransPennine Express's new managing director Chris Jackson says TPE has already improved since May, when it was brought under government control. “While I accept that it is a small step back in the timetable, I'm confident that this short term impact will fix us and allow us to bounce back even more strongly in the long term. I'm really confident about that with our plan,” he said.

Coroner grills Joshua Molnar

Joshua Molnar outside Stockport Coroners Court

A new inquest into the 2019 death of teenager Yousef Makki has been hearing evidence from witnesses this week. Among them was Joshua Molnar, who killed the Manchester Grammar School pupil.

Now 21 but 17 at the time, Mr Molnar says he acted in self-defence when he stabbed Yousef through the heart on Gorse Bank Road, in Hale Barns. Yousef, a bright student from a humble background in Burnage, died later in hospital.

Crime reporter John Scheerhout has been listening to the evidence at Stockport Coroners' Court and has this report from the third day of the inquest.[8]

He reports that Mr Molnar was grilled about what his actions were on the day of Yousef's death and his statements to police, the 2019 trial in which he was acquitted of murder and manslaughter, and the first inquest into the death last year. At one point, Mr Molnar became tearful and admitted that his actions after the fatal stabbing were 'pretty disgusting'.

You can read the full report here.[9]

Labour leadership meet with councils

The Labour leadership is understood to have held a meeting with councillors after a number of resignations over the party’s messaging on the conflict in the Middle East.

Amna Abdullatif, a councillor in Ardwick,[10] quit the party on Monday after Sir Keir Starmer made what she described as ‘horrifying comments about Israel having the right to withhold fuel, water, food and electricity from the 2.2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza, effectively endorsing a war crime’. Two councillors in Oxford also resigned from Labour for similar reasons.

ITV News reports that Sir Keir’s chief of staff, Sue Gray, and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy held urgent talks with council leaders on Monday night. When asked,[11] Manchester council leader Bev Craig would not confirm whether she attended the meeting.

A source in the Labour leader’s office said the meeting was one of a series with elected representatives.

Paying their respects to a City legend

The coffin of Francis Lee is taken from Manchester Cathedral following his funeral service The coffin of Francis Lee is taken from Manchester Cathedral following his funeral service

A celebration of the life of Manchester City legend Francis Lee was held at Manchester Cathedral today.

Teammates, colleagues, friends and fans paid their respects[12] and City reporter Joe Bray was there to hear the moving tributes.

"He was a top man. They don't come any better," said former teammate Tony Book as he arrived at the cathedral.[13] "I met him in my Bath City days when we drawn against Bolton in the FA Cup. I had the job of trying to mark Francis. Some player. And a good lad as well.

"We were a good side [at City], you know. We took some beating. The Bell-Lee-Summerbee thing was magic. If you had them three in your side you knew you were going places."

It’s that time again

Manchester Christmas Markets are under construction at Piccadilly Gardens

It’s the most wonderful time of the year - yes, it’s Halloween soon. But hot on its heels will be the countdown to Christmas. And the beginnings of Manchester’s celebrations can currently be seen in Piccadilly Gardens.

The area will once again become the main hub of Manchester Christmas Markets[14] in three weeks time, with the wooden huts now under construction.

As Dianne Bourne reports[15], Manchester council had said after last year's event that Piccadilly Gardens would NOT be reused in 2023 - due to the muddy quagmire left in the markets' wake across the public gardens. But bosses have backtracked[16] after failing to find another public square in the city able to host the main hub of the festive extravaganza.

The council says it has invested in more ground protection across Piccadilly Gardens to 'mitigate' the impact of the markets. Bosses say there will be 'speedy reinstatement' of the grassy areas as soon as the markets are gone come January.

The markets officially open across the city from Friday, November 10 and will run until Thursday, December 21.

Sign up to The Mancunian Way

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Weather etc

Friday: Amber and yellow weather warnings of rain. 14C.

Road closures: A5145 Kingsway, Stretford, eastbound closed for roadworks between A5181 Barton Rd and A56 Chester Rd. Until Aug 2024.

Manchester headlines

  • RAAC: More than 100 public buildings in Bolton are to be checked for dangerous RAAC concrete as part of a near £12m package which will also include making safe the roofs of the town hall and library. An update on the £11.59m backlog maintenance programme will be presented and discussed at a council meeting tonight.[18]

  • Restrictions: Drivers in Stockport could face new waiting restrictions on some roads next year under plans to improve safety. A number of roads around the borough are being looked at by the council's area committees this week with a view to introduce new Traffic Regulation Orders. The roads in focus are in areas where there are concerns over parked vehicles hindering visibility and access for other road users. More here.[19]

  • Grub: A company behind Manchester street food market Grub owed more than £200,000[20] as it entered liquidation. Grub MCR at Mayfield Limited racked up debts of £231,600 in total to creditors such as NatWest and HMRC. Newly-filed documents with Companies House[21] show that advisory firm Cowgills was appointed to oversee the liquidation process after a winding-up petition was served by HMRC. The Manchester Evening News understands Grub will continue to operate as its parent company, Grub MCR Limited, is not affected by the liquidation.

  • Market: Manchester food and drink hub DIECAST will host a huge winter night market[22] featuring a karaoke corner shop, candle-lit dining and a Brooklyn-inspired beer hall. The Ducie Street venue will receive a full ‘Christmassification’ with Winterhood, which will turn its 50,000 square foot beer hall and warehouse kitchen into a festive wonderland from November 1.

Worth a read

The latest addition to Greater Manchester's skyline - a glass-clad 50-storey block at Colliers Yard in Greengate - sits at the former medieval heart of Salford.

It’s the first of three to be developed by Renaker, which was granted permission to build on the proviso that the historic Collier Street baths would also be restored. But as Neal Keeling writes[23], it's not yet known when this will happen.

The Grade-II listed baths were where Salford hero, Mark Addy - the Victorian publican who rescued more than 50 people from drowning in the River Irwell over the course of his life - learned to swim. When the building opened in August 1856 at a cost of £9,913, it was considered one of the finest pools in the country.

In this piece[24], Neal explains the significance of the historic site, the work already ongoing and the hopes for one of the country's most at-risk buildings.

Collier Street Baths, Salford, March 1989

That's all for today

Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email [email protected][25].

If you have enjoyed this newsletter today, why not tell a friend how to sign up[26]?

References

  1. ^ right here (mancunianway.co.uk)
  2. ^ ‘the coolest party of the year’ (www.theguardian.com)
  3. ^ the £240m new Manchester venue (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  4. ^ As What’s On writer Dianne Bourne explains (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  5. ^ this interactive map (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  6. ^ as Joseph Timan explains. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  7. ^ will also be taken out of service (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  8. ^ this report from the third day of the inquest. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  9. ^ You can read the full report here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  10. ^ Amna Abdullatif, a councillor in Ardwick, (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  11. ^ When asked, (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  12. ^ paid their respects (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  13. ^ said former teammate Tony Book as he arrived at the cathedral. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  14. ^ Manchester Christmas Markets (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  15. ^ As Dianne Bourne reports (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  16. ^ backtracked (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  17. ^ clicking on this link (data.reachplc.com)
  18. ^ discussed at a council meeting tonight. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  19. ^ More here. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  20. ^ owed more than £200,000 (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  21. ^ Companies House (find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk)
  22. ^ a huge winter night market (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  23. ^ But as Neal Keeling writes (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  24. ^ In this piece (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  25. ^ [email protected] (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  26. ^ sign up (mancunianway.co.uk)

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