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Here's today's Mancunian Way:
By Damon Wilkinson, Wednesday June 29
It's a key part of the Britain's most expensive ever rail project. But Manchester's multi-million pound HS2 station will be 'reliant on a bloke from Stoke running the length of a train', one critic has claimed.
That's one of the issues we'll be discussing in today's Mancunian Way. We'll also hear from a junior barrister earning less than the minimum wage on why she's decided to go on strike.
And, as the first batch of data from the 2021 Census is released, we'll take a look at some of the fascinating ways the region has changed over the last 10 years - including how Salford is one of the few places in the country where men outnumber women.
The Piccadilly Dash
Regulars at Piccadilly Station are used to the sight of passengers legging it to catch a train. But if the Government's plans for a cut-price HS2 hub in Manchester get the go-ahead drivers might be hot-footing it too.
At least that's according to one critic of the proposals, who told transport reporter Charlotte Cox : "This is a 21st century high-tech train service reliant on a bloke from Stoke running the length of a train."
The bizarre situation could come about because the proposed above-ground terminus, next to the existing station, will have no platforms running through, meaning trains will have to turn around to depart.
Industry experts say the ‘short-sighted’ design means time and space will be so tight that drivers will have to ‘dash’ 200m - the equivalent of half an Olympic track - to the other end of the train to get passengers away on time.
It's one of several reasons why local leaders in Manchester are pushing to get original plans for an underground through station back on the table.
The Department of Transport say the designs are still 'at an early stage', with 'several options for the turnaround of trains' being considered. Looks like this one's going to run and run - let's just hope train drivers don't have to do the same.
Trying to make census it all
The first batch of data from the 2021 Census has been released, and it's thrown up some fascinating insights into how Greater Manchester has changed over the last decade.
All 10 boroughs have seen a population increase since 2011, with Salford - up 15.4 per cent to 269,000 people - the 10th fastest growing place in England and Wales.But interestingly the city is also one of only 13 areas where men outnumber women.
Manchester has also seen a significant spike in its population, up almost 10 per cent to 552,000 people. And the city is getting younger with a striking 57 per cent of people under 35, second only to Tower Hamlets in London.
It might be one of the reasons why, despite such rapid development over the last decade, demand for flats in the city centre is rocketing, as we discussed in yesterday's newsletter.
Wigan's population has grown the least in the last decade, but it's still up by 3.6%. And with 329,300 people it's the second largest area in the region behind Manchester.
Barristers on the breadline
At the top of the tree there's no doubt the law is a well-paid profession. A judge can earn up to £267,000 a year, while around two per cent of barristers take home more £1m.
But for those at the other end of the scale it's a vastly different story. Junior barrister Rosalind Burgin was on picket line outside Manchester Crown Court this week, as lawyers went on strike in a row over pay and legal aid cuts.
Ms Burgin, from Levenshulme, says she earns less than minimum wage while working as a criminal barrister for cases funded by legal aid. "We didn't create the crisis, we're striking because we need change," she told Andrew Bardsley.
The danger, Ms Burgin says, is that if we don't pay barristers properly the law becomes the sole preserve of the rich, of those who can afford to graft for years without earning a decent wage.
"It's impossible to stay unless you are independently wealthy," she added. "The crisis is deepening, that's why we have to take action today."
Barristers are set to walk out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week, from Monday to Thursday the week after and from Monday to Friday the week after that.
Weather, etc
Thursday: Cloudy with sunny intervals. 19C.
Pollen count: High
Roadworks: Snake Pass will be closed in both directions for resurfacing works between Ladybower reservoir and Hurst Road from 9.30am to 3.30pm tomorrow
Today's Manc trivia question: Manchester Museum is currently closed while it undergoes a much-anticipated £13.5m refurb, but what's the nickname of the museum's star attraction T-Rex skeleton?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter
Mancunian Square Garden?
You can't knock the ambition of those behind Manchester's new £365m Co-op Live arena. When it opens in December the 23,500 capacity venue will be, according to boss Tim Leiweke, no less than 'the greatest music arena ever built'.
From day one, it will be among the busiest and 'most important' music venues in the world, he said, putting it alongside Madison Square Garden in New York, the Forum in LA and London's O2.
You can read Chris Slater's exclusive interview with Mr Leiweke - and get a bonus Harry Styles teaser - here.
Ouch...
The cost-of-living crisis has led to many of us trying to save a few quid on the weekly shop. Toni Jones was looking to make cutbacks when she recently swapped her usual brand of toilet roll for a Morrisons own brand 'Eco' version.
In an hilarious, but winceworthy Facebook review the mum described the experience as like wiping with pressed 'holly bush leaves to the point you possibly require an ice lolly or ice cubes to help soothe the sharp paper texture'. More here
A week's a long time in politics
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has come in for praise from an unlikely source - leading Tory Michael Gove. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up applauded Mr Burnham's 'strong local leadership', 'vision' and 'risk taking' during a speech at the Local Government Association's annual conference in Harrogate yesterday.
"Andy knows that his period in office will be judged on results – and that is at the heart of the devolution," Mr Gove said.
But it's a bit of a change of heart for Mr Gove. Less than a fortnight ago he was getting stuck into the Labour Mayor as he called for him to face greater scrutiny. “Whatever one thinks of any policy or proposition Andy Burnham has put forward, it’s definitely the case that there has been a scrutiny and accountability gap,” he told the Yorkshire Conservatives conference.
Manchester headlines
Garage blaze: Five fire engines were sent to tackle a blaze at a garage in Oldham last night. Crews were called to the fire on Beever Street, near to the town centre, at about 11.45pm. More here.
Fatal fall: A pensioner from Bury has died after falling from a cliff on the Great Orme in North Wales. Ralph Davenport, 76, was airlifted to hospital after being found unresponsive by walkers at the Llandudno landmark.
Fine: A surgeon at Manchester Royal Infirmary left hospital after completing a ‘life-saving’ procedure to find he'd got a £70 fine for ‘parking on the wrong level’ of the hospital car park. Read more.
The way we were
Jess Molyneux recalls shopping trips of days gone by in this nostalgia piece looking back at some of the big name and much-loved stores Manchester city centre has lost over the years.
Worth a read
Parents writer Emma Gill argues schools shouldn't have to pick up the pieces when the welfare state fails, in this opinion piece. It comes after Emma reported on some of the measures schools across Manchester are being forced to take to help desperate families pushed to the brink by the cost-of-living crisis.
That's all for today
Thanks again for joining me. Keep an eye on your in-box around the same time tomorrow for the next edition of the Mancunian Way. If you have any stories you would like us to feature or look into, please contact me at damon.wilkinson@menmedia.co.uk
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The answer to today’s trivia question, The Manchester Museum T-Rex is fondly known as Stan. You can visit him again when the museum reopens in February
