Manchester council were 'blind' to potential impact of allowing car park near primary school, court hears

direct to your inbox Pupils from a primary school in Moston have dedicated a heartwarming song to footballer Marcus Rashford after his successful free school meal campaign.

straight to your inbox every day for freeThe games are still coming thick and fast and Manchester United are back in action on Wednesday as Sheffield United visit Old Trafford.United go into the game full of confidence after beating Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday and having not lost in the Premier League in 13 matches.The players were back in training at the start of the week ahead of the Blades' visit.

direct to your inboxManchester council is urging members of the public to have their say on plans to regenerate parts of Piccadilly and create a ‘modern and welcoming’ public space.The major thoroughfare is the busiest part of the city with shops, pubs, restaurants, offices and public transport packed in and around Piccadilly Gardens.Work to rejuvenate the Gardens started last year when part of Tadao Ando’s much-maligned modernist structure - dubbed by some as ‘the Berlin Wall’ - was torn

herePhase one of the development is expected to  feature an indoor adventure sports centre, the flying theatre, arcades, laser tag, bumper cars, a virtual reality experience, an exhibition exploring theories that aliens influenced ancient civilisations and an alien-themed diner, as well as a hotel and an events square.Residential property, food and drinks outlets, another hotel and car parking is expected to follow.Blackpool Council said of the compulsory purchase plan: "To date, it has not been

direct to your inboxThe Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is to open emergency Covid beds for adults in a sign of the unprecedented pressure facing Greater Manchester’s hospitals.Sir Richard Leese, the region’s health chief, said the situation in the system was now ‘critical’ as NHS bosses have scrambled to discharge as many people as possible ahead of a sustained peak over the coming three weeks.Crisis meetings have been held to determine the ability to scale up beds, as Salford Royal and

direct to your inboxThe NHS has sadly confirmed the deaths of 29 more patients in hospitals in Greater Manchester who had tested positive for Covid-19.The region's hospital death toll now stands at 4,757.NHS bosses said on Friday a further 993 people who tested positive for the virus have died in hospitals across England.It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 65,104.In the north west, a further 94 hospital deaths were reported, the NHS said on Friday.A

direct to your inboxManchester Council has apologised for causing ‘avoidable distress’ to a mother trying to get a school place for her profoundly deaf son.The council was found at fault by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for numerous delays in signing off the child’s special education needs (SEN) assessment.This had a negative impact on the mother, referred to as Ms X, who had to go to ‘enormous lengths’ to find a school that would meet the needs of her son, Child B.The council

direct to your inboxResidents have blasted Manchester Council for backing plans for a controversial 55-storey student skyscraper - despite being warned it will face an immediate legal challenge.Hundreds of people living in the Macintosh village area off Oxford Road have been fighting the £130m proposal to build a 'landmark' student tower block with 853 rooms for several years.They have raised a long list of objections including the 'tombstone' design which would leave many facing onto a

direct to your inbox A road is closed in Oldham due to a serious crash between a car and a motorbike.

direct to your inboxThis week, the oldest and most vulnerable residents of Manchester began to turn up to a repurposed sports stadium, the Etihad Tennis Centre, to receive a vaccination.The jab, produced thanks to a global scientific effort, will protect them against a potentially deadly disease sweeping through the population.Its impact promises to be significant - especially in the most deprived areas where people are more likely to live in cramped conditions and have poor health already.The

direct to your inboxManchester council is planning cuts of nearly £50m this year - including wiping millions from homelessness spending - despite ‘better than expected’ support from the government.Council tax could rise by almost five per cent, raising £8.5m to prevent further cuts to frontline services such as adult social care.Town hall leaders had been preparing for a ‘worst case scenario’ of a £103m black hole in their finances caused by dramatic losses of income and increased Covid-related

Sign up to the M.E.N.'s Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kidsParents are being reminded not to miss the deadline for primary school applications for children starting this September.Families across Greater MAnchester have until tomorrow, Friday, January 15, to submit their application to their local authority.If parents fail to apply, their child could miss out on a school place and with families dealing with so many issues and home

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

Teesside Live reported.Prosecuting, Francis Fitzgibbon QC described the alleged murder as a 'carefully planned' attack on a man they were in a dispute with who had to be 'got rid of'.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by following the instructions hereMr Fitzgibbon said: “The prosecution say each of these defendants played a vital role with at least four other men who have evaded arrest.”Jurors were

direct to your inboxManchester council is pressing on with plans to take back control of 13,000 homes in the north of the city after winning the support of tenants and leaseholders.

direct to your inboxBosses at an Oldham primary school say “it is not safe” for pupils to return tomorrow and they will not be opening.The ‘majority’ of teaching staff at Holy Trinity C of E School, in Dobcross, are not expected to return to school on Monday morning (January 4) as advised by their union.They are said to be acting on advice from the National Education Union that “it is not safe to return to work if a school is in a Tier 4 area”.As such, Holy Trinity will be closed to all but

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham has called for the government to delay the reopening of primary schools or give the decision to local leaders to avoid 'chaos'. Greater Manchester's mayor outlined his position amid growing pressure on the government to keep schools closed tomorrow.

direct to your inboxParents are divided over plans to reopen primary schools in Greater Manchester on Monday. It's understood that primaries in Greater Manchester will open as planned on Monday - despite action being taken to keep kids at home in other Tier 4 areas.

straight to your inboxManchester City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes appears to be a doubt for Sunday's match against Chelsea and the Manchester Derby on Wednesday.Pep Guardiola 's men face Manchester United at Old Trafford during the week in a Carabao Cup semi-final clash, and they could be without their number one. Ederson has said he is self-isolating, putting him at risk of missing the clash with Manchester United in just four days' time.

direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns