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Hello
In the space of a year, Manchester Council received more than £5.5m in revenue from penalty notices handed to drivers caught using bus lanes in the city centre.
In the last financial year, between April 2022 and April this year, Manchester council issued 216,800 fines to unauthorised vehicles entering bus lanes.
Drivers are typically handed £60 fines for the action, which is reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, reports the M.E.N's James Holt.
Drivers have also been caught using a new 24-hour bus gate in Deansgate that means that only buses, taxis and cycles can travel south between the junctions for Blackfriars to King Street West. Bus lane cameras have also been keeping watch of drivers at another recently implemented bus gate on Bridge Street.
A spokesperson for Manchester Council said of the figures: "In line with the Council's long-term transport strategy it is important to find ways in which public transport can be made quicker and more efficient, as well as encouraging residents to consider public transport their first choice when travelling.”
The total figures for the 12 month period stand at £5,532,617.89. In the previous financial year, that figure is understood to have been around £6.1m.
In today's Mancunian Way, we'll be looking at a new smoking rule, this weekend's train strikes and a Kersal photographer.
Smoked out
One of Manchester’s newest parks is to become a smoke-free zone with people asked not to use cigarettes, cigars and vape in the public space.
Bosses at Mayfield say they want to protect residents and visitors from life-threatening illnesses caused by smoking whilst also protecting the space and the wildlife that call it home.
The rules will come into effect at the six-and-a-half acre park, which opened last September, from June 26, reports the M.E.N’s Ethan Davies. Park users who smoke will be asked to extinguish their cigarettes or cigars, and if they refuse to do so, will be asked to leave.
However, as the rule is not a change in law, it cannot be enforced by public officials and no fines will be issued to those who refuse to abide by the request. Laura Percy, Development Director, for LandsecU+I, which is leading the regeneration of Mayfield on behalf of the Mayfield Partnership, said she hopes people will respect the move.
"The park offers a beautiful space in the heart of the city for people to enjoy with many benefits to their health and wellbeing," Ms Percy explained.
"Becoming a smoke-free park is a natural step that will only create a more enjoyable experience for many of our visitors and staff, as well as protect the park’s wildlife, waterways, and biodiversity.”
'Soul-destroying'
Families have been left distressed after vandals trashed and ‘burned’ gravestones at a cemetery in Trafford.
More than 30 headstones at Stretford Cemetery have been targeted in recent weeks, whilst sculptures and ornaments have also been ripped from gravesites.
Speaking to M.E.N reporter Tom George, one man said two graves belonging to his loved ones had suffered fire damage after being 'burned'. One of the graves, which belonged to a young family member, was also 'smashed into tiny little pieces'.
"It's disgusting," said the man. "It's horrible to think someone would do that, especially to target a child's grave. What would go through someone's mind to do this? It's almost sadistic. This is a place where people go to pay their respects."
Another person, Vicki O'Sullivan, said an angel sculpture from her mother's headstone had been smashed and destroyed. "It's soul-destroying," she said.
"There's no words that can explain what families are going through and the sense of devastation we have seen. Some of these items are years old and can't be replaced.”
A weekend of chaos
Concerts from Elton John, the Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay in Manchester this weekend are set to cause travel chaos whilst train strikes take place.
Both the RMT and Aslef unions will be taking separate strike action, which is expected to lead to several cancelled services across multiple train networks.
20,000 railway workers in catering, train managers and station staff represented by the RMT union will strike on Friday in a dispute over pay and ‘unacceptable’ working conditions.
On Saturday, train drivers at 15 rail operators represented by Aslef will strike. The union says members have been in a dispute for almost a year over a ‘fair deal on pay’. They say that many drivers have not had a pay increase since 2019.
Saturday’s strike action will also lead to disruption for those travelling from Manchester to Wembley stadium for the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United.
The strikes will follow similar action from Aslef on Wednesday. The M.E.N’s Tom George spoke to passengers at Piccadilly station who faced delays and rearranged services following the strikes.
Christine Rist, who travelled from Liverpool to Manchester to see Ricky Gervais, said she was forced to catch a coach instead of her originally-planned train. Ms Rist said she sympathised with the striking rail workers but said it was time the government came to ‘some kind of agreement’ with the unions.
“I understand why they are striking," she said. "Sometimes you need to but it needs to be resolved sooner rather than later.
“I don’t think the rail people will get what they want but they need to come to some kind of happy medium. It seems like every time we go to do something there’s a train strike.
"It’s not like the train services are that good in the first place. Ultimately, it’s commuters that suffer."
'Don’t make them like him any more'
A Manchester doorman who was one of the most-loved and well-respected members of staff at the doors of pubs across the city has died at the age of 78 following a major stroke.
Ian 'Strawboss' Garner was perhaps best known for his time working at the Star & Garter in Piccadilly. What’s On reporter Ben Arnold writes that he also spent time at the Bull’s Head and the Retro bar.
“It will be repeated for years to come as it has been for years and years already - the Star and Garter building owes a huge chunk of its improved condition both inside and out to Ian,” Andy Martin, the landlord of Star & Garter, said.
“It cannot ever be explained just how wonderful a human being he was and how lucky we and everyone else who ever met him was to have done so.”
Julie Hamill, founder of the Mozarmy community and annual festival, added: “Ian was a pure class, upstanding, A-list, remarkable, one-in-a-billion gent in braces. They don’t make them like him any more. I’m not sure they ever did.”
Morrissey fans Tom Chavez III and Monica Chavez, from San Antonio in Texas, said they often visited Manchester and said Ian would take them to his favourite pubs, including the Britons Protection and the Vale Cottage.
Crisp butty, anyone?
Manchester could be about to have its very own sandwich shop specialising in crisp butties.
Walkers have announced it will be opening up a number of temporary shops across the country in collaboration with independent eateries. While no locations have yet been unveiled, Manchester is hopefully going to be part of the fun.
Each shop will embrace its regional specialities with special sandwich creations using classic flavoured crisps alongside more interesting choices like Quavers and Wotsits to top the taste-buds up.
Philippa Pennington at Walkers said: “We believe that a bag of Walkers makes your lunchtime sandwich even more enjoyable, but it’s very clear to us that people feel very strongly about whether or not the crisps should be eaten in their sandwich or on the side.
“This year we’re widening the debate to showcase the wide range of crisp and sandwich combinations - from classic Walkers crisps through to Wotsits and Monster Munch!"
The pop-up shops will be open for a week from June 12. More info here.
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Weather etc
Temperatures: Sunny intervals. 20C.
Road closures: Croft Road in Sale closed in both directions due to gas main work between Norris Road and Kershaw Avenue. Until June 14.
Dickenson Road in Rusholme closed in both directions between Wilmslow Road and Hythe Close due to emergency repairs and an unsafe building. Until June 16.
Train strikes: Strike action taking place on June 2 and 3. A very limited rail service will operate with delays and cancellations expected. Plan ahead.
Trivia question: Coldplay are playing at the Etihad this week, but what is the name of their most recent album released in 2021?
Manchester headlines
Flight: A man was hauled off a flight from Palma at Manchester Airport and arrested after cabin crew noticed him smoking in the plane's toilets. More here.
Elton: Music superstar Elton John kicked off three nights in Manchester by paying tribute to the city and recalling his memories of playing at clubs like the Twisted Wheel. Read here.
Suspended: A council meeting had to be temporarily suspended four times after protestors delivered speeches about tax and the use of bailiffs. More here.
Davide: Love Island star Davide Sanclimenti will be hosting a speed dating event in Manchester to help singletons in the city-region find 'the one' before summer begins. The event will take place at the Prezzo at MediaCityUK later this month. Details here.
Worth a read
A screening of a documentary on Shirley Baker will take place at Manchester Art Gallery on Sunday afternoon.
The photographer, from Kersal in Salford, is best known for her street photography and portraits of working class Manchester in the 60s and 70s. In the 1980s, she also turned her hand to photographing punks in London’s Camden Market.
Most of her photography was made for her personal hobby but has since gone on to be exhibited around the world, as well as at the Lowry and the Photographers' Gallery in London.
You can take a look at some of her most iconic photos here.
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email adam.maidment@reachplc.com.
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The answer to today's trivia question is: Music of the Spheres.
