Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham's message to rogue landlords is clear - 'change is coming'.
07.06.2023 - 20:55 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Pulling plans to build two new platforms at Piccadilly station is a 'decade lost for the North of England', Andy Burnham has said as he pushed back against the move at a meeting of mayors, council leaders and rail chiefs today (June 7). Building platforms 15 and 16 has been seen as key to unclogging congestion on railways across the region – but the proposal was withdrawn last month.
Questioning the move, Lord Patrick McLoughlin, who signed off the initial plans in 2014 when he was transport secretary, said an 'inordinate amount of time and effort' was spent on the scheme. It comes as Transport for the North (TfN) - the body set up by the government which Lord McLoughlin is now the chairman of - looks at a 'new approach' to regional rail infrastructure upgrades.
But the Rail North Committee has refused to endorse a letter to the transport secretary which removes recommendations for the additional platforms at Manchester Piccadilly until their concerns are addressed. Mr Burnham, who was appointed chair of the committee, said the new statutory advice set to be issued by the public body would be 'less specific' in what it is recommending.
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The new approach would 'avoid specifying outputs', such as calling for two new platforms at Piccadilly, and instead focus on 'outcomes'. TfN would still recommend that the busy Castlefield corridor should carry no less than 16 trains per hour each way, but it would not say how this should be achieved.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service ahead of the meeting, former TfN boss Jim Bamford said he agreed with the target. But referring to a 2019 Network Rail report which is not in the public domain, he
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham's message to rogue landlords is clear - 'change is coming'.
When Taylor Swift took to the stage at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Saturday night, she continued her tradition of surprising fans with unexpected song choices.
For those fleeing war, escaping persecution or simply seeking a better life, Greater Manchester has long been a place of sanctuary for people all over the world. The latest census recently revealed that one in three residents living in Manchester were born outside the UK, with 94 languages spoken in the city.
Benefits have spoken to NME about making their Glastonbury Festival debut tonight (Friday June 23).The Teesside noise punks will be performing under the invitation of Billy Bragg on his legendary Left Field stage this evening, shortly after the mysterious set from The Churnups – widely believed to be Foo Fighters, or least something featuring Dave Grohl, after he was spotted on site earlier today.Still, Benefits frontman Kingsley Hall isn’t worried about pulling a big crowd shortly after. “We’re not up against them,” replied Hall. “As soon as they finish, we start. There’s no crossover.
Bus and tram tickets are to be launched cutting the cost of travel in Greater Manchester for many users by 20 per cent from September. The Bee Network starts on September 24, when the city-region becomes the first to bring bus services under local control since 1986.
Plans for a new Greggs drive-thru on the site on a rundown pub have been branded ‘a recipe for a nightmare’. The popular fast-food bakery wants to demolish the former Farmer’s Arms, in Cheadle Heath, and set up shop on the site of the old landmark boozer.
Kylie Minogue and Adam Lambert are ready to have some fun in the Bravo Clubhouse!
Andy Burnham has hit back at the government after criticism of his education plans which were branded as 'unequal' and 'narrow'. The Greater Manchester mayor wants to create a 'clear path' at school for young people who do not go to university and has proposed using a new devolution deal to make it happen.
It may look like a ‘scruffy, overgrown piece of land’ but locals say Stockport County’s plans to turn it into a car park would destroy a ‘haven’ for wildlife left undisturbed for decades. The resurgent club - which narrowly missed out on promotion to the third tier of English football last season - has a seven-year plan to redevelop its Edgeley Park home, as it eyes a return to the game’s big time.It comes after The Hatters secured a 250-year lease from the council for the ground, part of which was occupied by the old Sykes Bleach Works. The proposals include using land behind the ‘pop side’ of the ground as a 60-space car park for staff, players and officials - albeit with a ‘considerable area’ set aside for landscaping and ecology.A planning appliction is expected later this year - but local nature lovers are urging the club to think again. They say the football pitch-sized plot is the only area suitable for wildlife in the whole of Edgeley - bar two pieces of land at the sewage works - hosting a variety of potentially vital flora and fauna.
UTA, which last year acquired UK agency Curtis Brown, is opening a new office in London as it eyes further international growth.
You might not believe it if you walk around town on a Friday night, but homelessness is actually falling in Manchester. Since the start of the year, the number of people sleeping on the streets has dropped and fewer families are being housed in B&Bs – with hardly any staying beyond the legal limit now.
The government has criticised Andy Burnham's plans for a new qualification aimed at the two-thirds of teenagers in Greater Manchester who don't go to university. The Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) would offer an alternative route for students who want careers in the creative and digitial sectors, as well as health, social care and construction jobs when choosing their GCSEs.
Manchester is a cycling city, so it’s no surprise that Cycling UK’s Making cycling e-asier scheme - which enables people to borrow an e-cycle for a month’s trial completely free - has been so well received.
Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard is searching for a new club after leaving Nottingham Forest.
canceling his Wonder Tour in July 2022 to focus on his mental health, so fans were excited to get a new song.The “Mercy” singer has long been vocal about the dangers of climate change, but many fans also questioned Mendes’ decision to use the devastating results of wildfires to promote the song.“Shawn Mendes turning the fire smoke pollution into single cover art is sending me into orbit,” one person wrote.“Not Shawn Mendes using a photo of the NYC fire to promote his new song,” another said.“Shawn Mendes did not just slap some words on a picture of Smokey a-s NYC and used it as cover art,” someone tweeted.“Not Shawn using the air quality in new york as promo for a new song,” a fan commented.People also made their thoughts known in the comments of his Instagram post announcing the single.“Canada burning was just Shawn Mendes promo?” one questioned.“Bro saw an opportunity and took it,” another wrote.A post shared by Shawn Mendes (@shawnmendes)“Ppl are dying in wildfires n getting sick by the poor air quality n u rlly decided to make it ur aesthetic?” a disappointed fan commented.“Did bro actually commercialize New York’s climate lmao,” one person said.“Why are you trying to profit off a natural disaster,” someone asked.Some fans speculated that the song was actually about his relationship status with Camila Cabello, 26, rather than actually about the wildfires because of some of the lyrics.“Smoke in the air/ the city’s burning down/ I want to speak/ but I don’t make a sound,” Mendes sings in the song. “Locked in my mind, you’re all I think about/ I want to save us, but I don’t know how.”“If we don’t love like we used to, if we don’t care like we used to, what the hell are we dying for?” he sings in the chorus.
Ethan Shanfeld Despite the air quality crisis in New York due to the Canada wildfires, as of Wednesday afternoon the Governors Ball festival is still set to take place this weekend in Queens. “We’re closely monitoring the air quality with weather experts and are in close contact with city officials,” a representative for the music festival said in a statement to Variety. “As always, the health and safety of New Yorkers is our top priority. At this time, the festival is continuing as planned. We are hopeful that conditions will improve in the coming days and are looking forward to a great weekend!” The three-day music fest, often referred to as Gov Ball, is scheduled for June 9-11 at Flushing Meadows with headliners Lizzo, Odesza and Kendrick Lamar. Lil Nas X, Haim, Lil Uzi Vert, Rina Sawayama, Diplo, Lil Baby, Omar Apollo, Pusha T, Aespa, Giveon and Sofi Tukker are also set to perform.
What’s left to be said? Andy Cohen predicts that Tom Sandoval is going to ruffle the feathers of every woman in the world during the final part of the Vanderpump Rules reunion.
Tram strikes have been called off days before they were due to cause chaos for punters at Parklife festival and other major events in Greater Manchester. Metrolink staff have been offered a new pay deal by operator KeolisAmey.
A plan to cut 24-hour cover at Sale Community Fire Station has come under attack from Trafford's Liberal Democrat group. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is this week launching a public consultation on proposals for a ‘day crew model’ at both Sale and Offerton in Stockport on the grounds that they are the third and second lowest risk areas respectively in the city region.
Putri Ariani wowed the “America’s Got Talent” judges — one in particular — as her audition was shown on Tuesday’s show.