Keep up to date with all the big stories from across Greater Manchester in the daily Mancunian Way newsletter. You can receive the newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by signing up right here.
Here's the latest edition of The Mancunian Way:
Hello,
We are just days away from the start of a new year and it’s safe to say that 2022 has been a pretty eventful year on all accounts.
In the last twelve months, we’ve had Storm Dudley, Eunice and Franklin all bringing force winds and heavy rain to the region, flight chaos at Manchester Airport, a historic Euros win for the Lioness’ and the death of the Queen. If you’ve got as much of a goldfish memory as I do, you can remind yourself of some of 2022’s biggest stories in the city-region here.
The NHS has not been out of the news in the past year either which is where we’re going to start today’s edition of the Mancunian Way. We’ll also be looking at town hall renovations, the controversial prison release of a man once dubbed ‘Britain's most wanted’, bus rides and a disappointing lack of fireworks.
'Beyond anything experienced before'
NHS bosses are warning that Greater Manchester's health service is struggling under soaring pressure, with one chief nurse describing the situation as 'really intense'.
It comes as 98% of hospital beds across the city-region are currently occupied and ambulances are being met with long queues to get patients seen.
Yesterday, the Northern Care Alliance - which runs four hospitals and community services within Salford, Oldham, Bury and Rochdale - raised a 'Business Continuity Incident' due to the pressure being faced. In addition, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership said the current situation was 'beyond anything experienced before'.
Mandy Philbin, chief nurse for NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, urged people to avoid A&E unless they are faced with a life-threatening condition and to consider ‘self care’ - such as using the 111 service or trying over the counter medicine - where possible.
Speaking to the M.E.N, Ms Philibin said: "If you need services - particularly ambulance and A&E - the services are still there in Greater Manchester, so please don't think that they're not.
"What we're asking is, please only consider using these services if it's life-threatening and you really, really need it. If we're talking about a toothache, or a backache, or a mild chest infection - please use other resources that are available to us."
Official NHS data found that 539 patients were admitted to hospitals in Greater Manchester on Boxing Day alone, with the figures illustrating patients were coming in faster than they could be discharged. With the New Year notoriously known for a huge spike in hospital admissions, bosses are expecting to see similar, if not larger, numbers. Sources told the M.E.N that some services were already starting the New Year 'from a really challenging position'.
In addition, one person visiting a sick relative at Tameside Hospital's A&E department earlier this week said : “People say the NHS is on its knees, but I think it's just mis-used. If people used a pharmacy for basic first aid, and could actually see their GP easily, the A&E department wouldn't be so concerned about the safety and high number of people trying to be seen.
"The staff are so hard working but I feel the public, and a lack of using the proper channels, are the ones making their jobs harder."
You can read more about some of the current struggles facing the NHS at the moment right here .
'A perversion of justice'
The decision to release Greater Manchester's worst rapist, who was given 13 life sentences, has been slammed by politicians and the public.
Andrew Barlow, formerly Andrew Longmire, was given multiple life sentences in October 1988 after being convicted of 11 rapes, three attempted rapes, indecent assault, and using a firearm to resist arrest. In the decades that followed, he has also been linked to a number of other offences.
Barlow, who lived in Bolton and Oldham, was once branded 'Britain's most wanted man' and also earned the nickname of ‘The Coronation Street rapist' as most of his victims were attacked in their own homes.
Despite this, the Parole Board is now preparing for his release next month. A summary of the reasons why he is being granted his freedom after 34 years in custody revealed that he has already had a taste of freedom by undertaking ‘periods of temporary release’.
Graham Stringer, Labour MP for Blackley and Broughton, said he was surprised by the Parole Board’s decision. “Any sensible person would think that he (Barlow) would be a risk,” Stringer told the M.E.N’s Neal Keeling .
“When you look at the number and nature of the offences he has committed, this decision by the Parole Board to release him is a perversion of justice."
Conservative Bury Councillor, Russell Bernstein, a member of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel, added: "I am astonished that such a serial, ruthless and premeditated criminal is being allowed back into the community. I am very interested to understand better what the background was to this criminal being returned to closed conditions earlier this year.
"I call on the Parole Board in the public interest to make this clearer as such reasons I believe are fundamental in the public assessing the risks associated in this matter."
You can read the full story on Barlow’s forthcoming release here .
Forgotten Farnworth?
With a top grammar school, a so-called ‘superclub’, a renown market and links to top Olympians and World Cup winners, there’s a lot going for Farnworth. But, as reporter Tom Molloy notes, there is a strong sense within residents that the area has been left behind and forgotten.
But, with ambitious £50m redevelopment plans afoot, there is hope on the horizon that Farnworth may once again take a pride part of Bolton.
‘Farnworth Green’, situated on the former stretch of retail units, will be completely transformed by 2024 with 97 design-led homes, shops, cafe bars and a green public square. Those behind the ambitious project remain optimistic that it will help bring Farnworth back to the limelight.
“Not only will these new homes and shops transform the high street but they'll also have a positive social impact and we see that on other sites,” development director Scott Mallinson said. “Creating a new neighbourhood with a vibrant public square creates a sense of space and wellbeing and our aim is to encourage people and families to live in town centres again."
There are also plans to create a 'community hub', which will provide a space for people to meet up. An events pavilion will host outdoor community events, such as live music performances and makers markets.
Farnworth and Kearsley First councillor Paul Sanders, who chairs the steering group that has helped come up with plans, told Tom: "The regeneration of Farnworth town centre has been a key priority for our party since we were formed in 2017 with what that can bring for the people of Farnworth and Kearsley - the health benefits, the aspirational benefits, the economic benefits.
"It needed a reboot and it needed to be aspirational to what the high street needs in 2022. I believe it absolutely fits the bill."
You can read more about the plans here .
'It's one off, one on now'
I’m sure everyone from Manchester has had at least one memorable experience while on board one of the city-region’s many buses. In fact, just the other day, I was waiting 30 minutes for a bus for it to then drive right past me at the bus stop without even a glimmer of acknowledgement.
On a cold December night, the M.E.N’s George Lythgoe willingly hopped on the V1 bus, which runs from the city centre to Salford and Wigan, to see what the trip was like for passengers getting the bus at “the worst stop to get on at”.
The V1 has become an incredibly popular bus ride, and by the time it reaches Bridge Street in town, the bus is usually packed to the rafters with people as it has already made its way through most of the city centre by that point.
George was faced with a 40 minute wait at the infamous stop, which was already full of fellow passengers waiting for the V1. His experience thereafter followed a similar theme.
“I was unsurprised to see the Bridge Street stop packed with people on a busy Thursday night,” George recalled. “But on a December night when you could still feel the cold, through three layers, hat and mittens, I was hopeful there would be room for all of us.
“My hopes were raised by the glimpse of the words ‘Atherton’ and ‘V2’ coming towards me and dozens of other impatient souls, however the joy quickly vanished from what I saw inside the bus.
“Passengers were huddled around the driver like cattle. The bus did stop, but the driver proclaimed “it’s one off, one on now”.”
The V1’s recent popularity has been, in part, due to a reduction of the similar V2 service, which runs through the same Guided Busway section. Passengers have had to find alternative routes and, for many, the V1 has been their knight in shining armour.
George adds of his journey: “It's all left me mystified why there aren't more services on the route. When the V2 was cut from being a full service, running from early morning to midnight, to just peak travel times as a result of Covid reducing the number of passengers - it was never brought back. The reason given by Transport for Greater Manchester was low demand.
“This point is contested by many objectors in Atherton and local politicians in Wigan Council who are seeking to bring back the V2 to it's former run time. TfGM announced in October more buses had been added to the fleet to deal with capacity issues - but the following month they decided not to bring the V2 back to a full service.”
Read more about George’s journey here .
New year festivities
With the Town Hall still undergoing major renovation works, council bosses have announced that this year’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration will take place in Piccadilly Gardens.
It has also been revealed that the countdown event will not feature fireworks, due to budgetary reasons. The move, unsurprisingly, has upset those looking for an extravagant and lively start to the year.
Manchester Council said that there will be no fireworks because of ‘ongoing budget pressures’, and wants to use its ‘limited resources’ on free community events throughout the year instead.
Despite this, the annual event should still be good fun for those wanting to make the trip into the city centre on Saturday night. The Piccadilly Gardens spot will feature live music, family-friendly zones, food and drink stalls, alongside other entertainment.
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: "We know that New Year’s Eve is a special night - one that everyone looks forward to – and we are all disappointed that we can’t go ahead with our usual fireworks this year.
"Unfortunately, we simply cannot justify the increasing costs of putting on a big display while also worrying about funding essential Council services.”
He added: "But we couldn’t let New Year’s Eve go by without a true Mancunian countdown. So join us before midnight in Piccadilly Gardens and help us bring in 2023 in style."
Weather etc
- Temperatures: Saturday will see light rain changing to cloudy in the afternoon, 10C. Sunday will be cloudy, 9C.
- Airport: People arriving into Manchester Airport from Dec 28 to 31 should be prepared for potentially longer wait times at border control due to strike action.
- Christmas cracker: What do snowmen eat for dessert?
Manchester headlines
-
Lights: Artist Luke Jerram will unveil an interactive light display, named 'First Breath', on New Year's Day. The installation will be lit up outside Factory International every evening until Janaury 29.
-
Northern Quarter: Buses are set to return to Stephenson Square from today after being pedestrianised for two years. While buses and black cabs will be able to use one side of the lane, council bosses have said the square will remain mostly in use for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Icon: Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood passed away on Thursday at the age of 81. She was known as the godmother of punk. More here .
Worth a read
On the topic of Manchester town hall and its renovations, local democracy reporter Joseph Timan has been given exclusive access to the building as it undergoes its £325 million facelift.
The town hall, which is set to reopen in 2024, is part of the biggest heritage project currently underway in the UK. As part of the project, every aspect of the Grade I listed Victorian neo-gothic building is being ‘painstakingly’ restored.
The hall is also being made more accessible, with a number of new lifts being installed in order to reach every part of the building. Lead architect Jamie Coath said accessibility is a key objective of the project.
He explained: "They're serving every level and they're also acting as evacuation lifts in emergencies, but also to make sure that everybody can get to all the interconnecting spaces."
Have a look inside the town hall project here .
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email beth.abbit@menmedia.co.uk.
If you have enjoyed this newsletter today, why not tell a friend how to sign up?
The answer to today's trivia question is: Ice Krispies .
