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Here's the Mancunian Way for today:
Hello,
It’s going to be a bit of a slimmed down Christmas in Greater Manchester. We reported yesterday that the annual Manchester lights switch-on - usually a glitzy free event attended by thousands - can’t go ahead due to the lack of a suitable space.
Now it’s been announced that the Winter Wonderland Manchester, which featured elves, fairies and family rides, won't be happening either. The festive family favourite returned to EventCity, near The Trafford Centre, last year. But the venue has now closed down as it prepares to be demolished to make way for the new Therme waterpark.
Bonfire Night events have also been cancelled across Manchester’s parks - including the big one at Heaton Park - with the council citing ‘escalating costs’ and the ‘increased pressure on council budgets’.
Before we get too upset, we should remember that Manchester’s Christmas markets will go ahead, Father Christmas will appear in the city centre and the lights will still adorn the streets.
But the reduction or loss of some events is indicative of the times. Local authorities in particular are struggling to balance the books. Funding cuts have been hitting public services for years but, as Andy Burnham warned yesterday, ‘there’s nothing left to cut’ as we approach ‘austerity mark II’.
Hot water, biscuits and heat - life at a warm bank
A ‘Keep Warm Club’ is probably not one most people have thought of joining. But it’s likely to be an essential part of the community when temperatures drop this winter.
Richard Hirst has set up Levenshulme’s first ‘warm bank’ in a room of the suburb’s Old Library - and he’s been speaking to reporter Nicole Wootton-Cane about why it’s much needed.
Much like food banks, warm banks should not be necessary at all. But with energy prices sky high and the government support uncertain, they most definitely are.
As Richard says, there is a concern among some that they are ‘not poor enough’ or are ‘not struggling enough’. “To them I've been saying - that's fair enough, but we're all living through a global crisis that seems to be particularly bad in this country. And the idea of just stretching to make ends meet is not something that you should have to think about,” he says.
At the club, wooden tables and plastic chairs have been laid out alongside a flask of hot water and a tray of teabags and some biscuits. Visitors are invited to help themselves to a hot drink, WiFi, and a warm place to sit.
Currently it’s mostly used by home workers, as well as parents in the hours between school drop off and pick up. But it’s hoped hours can be extended and more will take up the offer of help.
Richard anticipates a bigger influx of people in the lead-up to Christmas. "I can always find the space for people to come," he says. "We've got the heating on, we've got the tea and coffee ready."
Read more: Can Greater Manchester afford Liz Truss? Why we need a general election
Meltdown
I know we’ve spoken about Avanti a lot in this newsletter, but it's not the only rail operator with problems. TransPennine Express, Northern and Avanti were all cited by Andy Burnham this morning in a tweet that referred to a ‘meltdown’.
“Appreciate there’s a lot going on but the meltdown in train services across the North of England needs more attention,” he wrote.
Those issues were evident to anyone travelling on the 7.48 between Liverpool and Crewe, via Manchester, this morning - not least Jess Taylor, who couldn’t even board the packed service.
Jess says a woman ‘collapsed’ on the train and emergency services were called out to Rainhill station. “It turned up delayed today and people were literally squeezed on, four or five of us waiting for the train physically couldn’t get on,” she told reporter Lyell Tweed. “It was about to pull away again but it suddenly stopped and people had to get off because a woman had collapsed. I’ve seen people faint before in the summer when it’s hot because it’s busy, but never as bad as this.”
Just one Northern commuter service runs between Manchester and Liverpool every hour, stopping at multiple stations along the way. “It’s insane that two of the biggest cities in the north west only has one train going through that stops at each stop, it’s not right,” Jess says.
Northern apologised for the worry and concern caused by the ‘crowded nature of the service’.
Iconic and a joy
Wythenshawe Hall opened to visitors again on Saturday following a major revamp.
The spectacular Tudor Hall was destroyed by an arson attack in the Spring of 2016 and it’s taken this long - and £6.7m - to get it back into shape.
Lord Mayor of the City of Manchester, Donna Ludford, was there to open the doors to the Grade-II listed building and described it as a ‘joy’. “The iconic building has been restored to its former glory so it can, once again, be open to the public,” she said.
The hall will be open monthly and you can book here if you’d like to have a look.
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Weather etc
- Wednesday: Cloudy. 14C.
- Roads closed: A57 Snake Pass in both directions closed due to roadworks between A6013 (Ladybower Reservoir) and Hurst Road (Royal Oak Inn) until October 23.
- Trams: No service on Manchester Metrolink between Eccles and MediaCityUK due to engineering works. A replacement bus service will operate for the stops affected until October 22.
- Trains: Special timetables operating on Transpennine Express and Avanti West Coast due to shortage of train crews.
- Trivia question: Wythenshawe Hall reopened after a major refurbishment this weekend - but how long was it closed for?
Manchester headlines
Golden balls: A 30ft golden statue of a naked man that 'brought Hollywood to Ince' has been removed. The statue - affectionately nicknamed 'golden balls' and 'Willy' by locals - was towed through Wigan on October 11, much to the dismay of its fans. The nude statue was part of a promotion tour of the blockbuster movie Gladiator which starred Russell Crowe back in 2000. Five years ago he was erected outside Titan Flooring Specialists in Wigan before living in the car park outside furniture store Bulldog Forge in Darlington Street East, Ince, since last year. But it has been towed following a planning permission dispute. The huge figure's owner said it's now in storage to protect it during winter. Wigan Council say they have been 'liaising with the landowner for the relevant planning permission for the statue'.
City centre: Roadworks are set to remain in a part of Manchester city centre for several days. Corporation Street was closed to northbound traffic from Victoria station to the Inner Ring Road on Sunday as a giant crane was horizontal on the road near to where building work has been taking place. Delays could remain for several more days as two-way signals will be in the area until October 20, according to Transport for Greater Manchester.
Independent: Trafford councillor Louise Dagnall is now sitting as an Independent but has remained tight-lipped over the reason for the move other than to say: "It was not my decision". Coun Dagnall, who represents Priory ward, could be seen on her Facebook page with striking members of the Communication Workers Union on their picket line at Wharf Road, Sale, with then Labour colleague Coun Fianna Hornby on August 26. The North West Labour Party said it does not comment on internal party matters.
Hans mole gang
Remember when a gang of thieves spent six-months digging a tunnel under a car park in Fallowfield in a bid to steal from a cash machine outside Blockbuster Video? And remember how they came away with just £6,000 because the ATM was almost empty when they struck?
Well Lee Grimsditch has been looking back on that completely bonkers story and has all the details here.
Worth a read
Discounted ‘yellow-stickered’ items is the only food Vince Ashton can afford to buy at the moment - but it’s making him ill.
The 50-year-old, from Ramsbottom, suffers from multiple sclerosis and needs a healthy diet to help ease his symptoms - but Vince can only afford to eat whatever he finds in the reduced section. His last shop included discounted turkey slices.
“I’m meant to have a low saturated fat diet, but the problem is that it costs a lot more money than it does to eat unhealthy food,” he told reporter Paige Oldfield. “Gradually, over this year, the prices have increased. I always try and go to the supermarkets towards the end of the day for the expired things. I end up buying the fried foods rather than eating healthy.
“I do worry about it. I’ve noticed a decline in my health, absolutely. It also makes me less active.”
You can read the full interview 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.
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The answer to today's trivia question is: Six years.
