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Here is today's Mancunian Way:
Hello,
It’s been a very sad week hasn’t it. This time last Monday we were all gripped by the news of a new Prime Minister. But just days later we were mourning the death of our longest reigning monarch.
That news will continue to dominate the headlines for some time and we will, of course, be discussing the Queen and the new King this week. But we will mainly be concentrating on the huge news stories that are still rumbling on - from the energy crisis to our transport infrastructure.
Completely unacceptable
Avanti West Coast should be stripped of its contract after breaking ‘its deed and its word', according to a group of Greater Manchester MPs. They had some harsh words for company bosses during a Commons debate last week, as Paul Britton reports.
Eight of our MPs spoke out after the company reduced its service between Manchester and London to one an hour. Among them was Blackley and Broughton MP Graham Stringer, who called Avanti a 'dreadful company' that 'should not continue with this franchise’.
He said the company should be ‘sacked’ because it is 'not only not running services to Manchester - it has cut those services by two thirds - but, when it eventually gets passengers on to its trains, drops them off at unpersoned stations in an unsafe position'.
Stockport's Labour MP Navendu Mishra blamed the situation on Avanti's management and criticised the company's business 'model' - which he said depends on drivers agreeing to work their rest days for extra pay.
While Afzal Khan, Labour's Gorton MP, said ticket costs 'keep rising' as train services are reduced and spoke of constituents who have been forced to decline job offers or visit family members because of the 'poor service'.
Transport minister Trudy Harrison accepted one train an hour from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly was 'completely unacceptable'. Avanti West Coast has apologised for ‘enormous frustration and inconvenience’ and says it is rebuilding the timetable ‘in a resilient and sustainable way’.
The current west coast franchise agreement is due to expire on October 16. A decision over the renewal of Avanti's contract has yet to be taken.
Strangeways tower
The Strangeways tower is one of the most famed buildings on Manchester’s skyline. But, as chief reporter Neal Keeling writes, the 234ft structure is said to be crumbling and posing a danger to staff.
Inspectors found the 'crumbling' brickwork of the Grade-II listed tower has become 'hazardous to all personnel' and agreeing a method of repair 'has not been easy or quick'.
"The long promised installation of security windows has still not started and the difficulties in agreeing a scheme of repair for the central tower has meant that an area of the grounds cannot be entered for safety reasons. This area has become a collecting point for litter and other debris and no doubt a breeding ground for rats and other vermin."
That’s one of a number of details contained in a new report by the Independent Monitoring Board into conditions behind bars at HMP Manchester. It found that inmates at the Victorian jail felt safer during the Covid pandemic than they do under the 'normal regime' and that self-harm has rocketed since. Meanwhile, razors have been banned, and prisoners are waiting 70 days to see a dentist and 10 days to see a GP.
A Prison Service spokesman said repair work is due to begin next year.
Weather, etc.
- Tuesday: Sunny changing to cloudy by early evening. 20C.
- Roads closed: One lane closed due to bridge maintenance work on M67 in both directions from J1 to J4 between 5am and 9pm Mondays to Sundays until September 19.
- Trams: No service on Metrolink between Eccles and MediaCityUK due to engineering works until October 21.
- Today's Manc trivia question: What era does HMP Manchester date back to?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter
Worth a read
During Manchester’s darkest hour, the Queen responded with typical humanity and compassion.
While visiting hospitalised youngsters who had been injured in the Manchester Arena terror attack, the Queen spoke to 15-year-old Millie Robson, who suffered leg injuries in the atrocity. Describing her reaction to the Queen's visit, Millie said: "She was lovely. It was mind-blowing really. You don’t really expect it."
Damon Wilkinson has been looking back on the monarch’s visit that week.
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me, the next edition of the Mancunian Way will be with you around the same time tomorrow. If you have any stories you would like us to feature or look into, please email: beth.abbit@menmedia.co.uk
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The answer to today's trivia question, what era does HMP Manchester date back to, is the Victorian era.
