Next year’s event is scheduled to take place on the 16th April at St Clement’s Church and to help the festival into its third year,the organisers are looking for people to volunteer to help organise it.

The organisers are keen to  hear from people who can help coordinate various key areas, including: stage management, fundraising, health and safety, press and PR, website development, food and drink, arts and crafts, wellbeing, volunteer coordination, schools and community engagement, fashion show, cycling events and evaluation.

The Festival puts environmental issues centre stage with a vibrant and varied programme of live entertainment, activities and workshops, and festival-goers are encouraged to get involved with swapshops, a bike parade and a huge ceilidh. There’s also plenty of tasty, responsibly sourced food and drink to boost those green energy levels and plug the “growing locally” theme!

The AGM takes place at 7.30pm at St Clement’s church.

Now into its third year,the festival saw over 6,000 people attend the event this year.

For more information,you can contact the organisers

Clare Conlan at sarahclareconlan@gmail.com

Odette O’Reilly at Odettegreenfest@googlemail.com or

Richard Frost at FrostyRichard@gmail.com

The safety alert points out that limiting the closing forces of gates alone will not provide sufficient protection to meet the relevant standards, and installers must fit additional safeguards to gates in public areas.

HSE’s Director of Field Operations, David Ashton, said:

“Electric or automatic gates are designed to stop if someone gets in the way, and installers and those maintaining these gates have a real duty to ensure this happens.

“They must take their responsibilities seriously to make sure that anti-crushing, shearing and trapping safety protection devices are correctly set and maintained.”

In June,six year old Semelia Campbell died when she was crushed by electric gates in Manchester. A few days later on 3 July, Karolina Golabek, 5, was also crushed to death by electric gates in Bridgend, South Wales.

While the police and HSE investigations continue into both deaths, HSE does want to make it clear to installers that they must take action to prevent pedestrians from becoming trapped in electric gates.

The Airport Group of stock transfer housing associations owns homes across the city regions of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.

The Home Office plans a short period of consultation this month, so the Group has issued a preliminary response to the speech.

Ian Munro, Group Chief Executive of New Charter Housing Trust in Ashton-under-Lyne  said: “Unfortunately, we are not simply dealing with over-exuberant youths or neighbours who have had a disagreement over the hedge.” adding that

“Some offenders are well-known to police forces for multiple criminality, including use of violence. As landlords actively tackling these problems, we find reluctance of neighbours to intervene or give evidence because they are frightened of reprisals.

The danger of this short period to gather views is that our communities’ voices will not be heard,” said Sheila Doran, Chief Executive of Eastlands Partnerships in Manchester.

“I doubt there is the appetite of decent residents to tackle the serious and often complex problems of anti-social behaviour, but let’s not fall into the trap of thinking we know best,” she added.

East Manchester resident Angela Howard, a member of Gorton All Together and Friends of Whitsbury Avenue in Gorton, shared one of her experiences where a family made residents’ lives a misery with aggressive behaviour, late night parties and fights.

She said: “People are reluctant to tackle these issues without clear intervention and leadership from police, landlords and councils. Now, we can rely on our landlord to intervene and bring this type of behaviour to a close.

“The idea that the majority of decent residents will stand up against unacceptable behaviour of the few just won’t happen without access to real sanctions. The Home Secretary can’t expect residents’ groups to take civil actions to control bad neighbours.”

Source-24dash.com

Training currently takes place at Brookway High School, Moor Road, Wythenshawe, M23 9BP on Thursdays between 7pm and 8.30pm.

Anyone interested should email Steve.Smith@mclfc.com, or call 07841 538659.

“Manchester what’s our future?” is a free event at the Nexus Art Café on Dale Street on 23 September from 7.30 to 9.30pm.

Representatives of many of the organisations that helped write Manchester’s climate change plan, such as MERCi, Friends of the Earth, Action for Sustainable Living, the Kindling Trust, Call to Real Action, Manchester Environmental Education Network, Corridor Manchester, Emerge, Creative Concern, BDP, Gaby Porter Associates and Pannone as well as representatives from Manchester City Council will all be there.

There will also be space to have your say on how we should shape the city’s future as well as films, fun and food.

The event is open to all and there is a Facebook page for those wanting more information or to get involved.

Writing on her blog she tells her constituents that:

“Labour came out of a bad election defeat surprisingly united, up for the fight, in good heart. That’s because we share a vision, and we know the scale of the threat. In the weeks and months ahead, our job is to re-convince the voters of our competence, our integrity, our radicalism, and our commitment to a better future for all.”

Kate attacks the coalition for its deficit reducing agenda which she says will hurt the poorest the most.

She adds that the cuts will be bad for individual, bad for the economy, wasteful for society as a whole.

“The Government’s other argument, that there’s no alternative, public spending must be cut, owes more to ideology than to proper stewardship of the economy or to fairness. And here is where the battle for hearts and minds must take place. We know that the pain that’s coming from swingeing cuts to public spending, frontline jobs and services will be highly damaging, and lasting in its effect. The long-term damage as young people struggle to get into higher education or onto the employment ladder, the risk to families under increasing pressure as financial support is cut, the harm that is done by reducing investment in the crucial early years – health in pregnancy grants, Sure Start, Playbuilder and Building Schools for the Future – all this sets back a whole generation of children and young people, damages their wellbeing, their future potential and lifechances.”

This year is the seventh anniversary of the Cheetham Festival and the tour is one of a series of completely free, family-friendly events, taking place from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 September, celebrating the unique character of this North Manchester ward.

Led by Blue Badge Guide and editor of Manchester Confidential website Jonathan Schofield, the tour takes place on Sunday 12 September  at 12 noon meeting  at Victoria Station (opposite the taxi rank) and takes in Chetham’s School of Music, a Sikh temple, a synagogue, a mosque and an Eritrean Orthodox ceremony in St John’s Church.

Free food and refreshments will be served during the tour. The coach will then return to Victoria Station at about 3.30pm

Anyone wishing to join will need to call 0161 655 7850 in advance to book a place.

The theme of this year’s festival is new beginnings, commemorating the historic role Cheetham has enjoyed as somewhere people from all over the world have put down roots.

The Rev Daniel Burton, priest in charge at St John’s Church and festival committee chairman, said: “Cheetham Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of the Cheetham Hill area. We are very lucky to live in an area which so many faiths and ethnic groups have chosen to make their home and this is a unique opportunity to learn about our neighbours.”

Other highlights include:
Festival Feast – Friday, 10 September 7.30pm-9.30pm: A feast of Irish food, music and dance to start the festival in style at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Queens Road.

Carried away – Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September 10am-4.30pm: Catch a free heritage bus to the Museum of Transport in Boyle Street and take in its huge range of historic vehicles.

Soul food – Saturday 11 September 7.30pm: Prayer, gospel music plus African and Caribbean food on offer at the New Testament Church of God in Tamerton Drive off Heywood Street.

Open Day – Sunday 12 September 2pm-5pm: Enjoy free food from around the world and celebrate Eid with the local community at Al Khizra Mosque on Cheetham Hill Road.

In the Red – Sunday 12 September 10.30am-5pm: Visitors to Manchester Jewish Museum in Cheetham Hill Road can taste Jewish food, learn more about the history of Manchester Jewry and visit an exhibition about the Red Bank area where many immigrants first lived.

This festival is organised by the Cheetham Festival Group in partnership with Manchester City Council and English Heritage as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days celebration..

For more information visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Coalition cuts have meant that plans to update facilities in Hulme’s Barracks Park are now in real danger of being shelved say the party.

Hulme Green activist, Gayle O’Donovan in an interview with BBC Radio Manchester, condemned the cuts saying that ” playbuilder schemes are being cancelled all over the country. Many were designed by local children and parents, often working with the voluntary sector. This decision doesn’t say much for the government’s big society agenda.”

Christine Shelmerdine, Hulme local activist and member of Friends of Hulme Parks, also added “Local children are devastated about these plans to axe their playbuilder scheme. This money needs to be re-instated so that we can fulfil our promises to the children of Hulme”.

Gayle O’Donovan called upon the council to provide alternative funding to ensure the Barrack’s Park scheme goes ahead.

“Our Labour leadership in Manchester City Council recently voted down a chance to reclaim £421,000 overpaid to a PR firm, this at a time when local services are being cut and community projects, such as improving Barracks Park, are really struggling to find funding, We feel this decision is unfair.”

Forty years ago the voice of the “Baron” hit the airwaves as a brand new radio station covering Greater Manchester was launched.

The “Baron” was something of a mystery, who hosted a late night show “for the city’s groovers”. Now, as BBC Radio Manchester celebrates its 40th anniversary, it is looking for people who might remember the cult presenter as well as those pioneering days when it was the biggest local radio station in the country.

Radio Manchester began broadcasting on September 10 1970 at 6am and the station is looking for someone, somewhere in Greater Manchester who might remember that very first day. The first actual voice on air was Alan Sykes, who now lives in Spain, and the 10am news was read by Sandra Chalmers, sister of the TV presenter Judith.

Archive uncovered by the station on that day also gives a unique insight into how broadcasting has changed over the past four decades as well as how people’s attitudes now differ and what issues are important to them.

Features from that first day include an interview with the Lord Mayor of Manchester, UK and the Lord Mayor of Manchester, USA; one of the first songs played was a medley of I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts and I do like to be beside the sea; there was a feature with “Mr and Mrs Peniston” from Middleton about a ghost and an interview with the 50,000th RAF recruit.

Presenters can be heard getting merry on champagne and telegrams being received from Coronation Street’s Violet Carson and comedian Eric Sykes.

The station was also ahead of its time with a satirical sketch of a spoof “VIP launch” of BBC Radio Manchester at which guests get drunk, behave badly and throw a Bishop out of a window.

The station had regular features including “Down Your Pint” and a daily “Mini Manchester” programme aimed at children as well as the “Baron’s” cult late night show. There was also someone responsible for programming for blind listeners.

Managing Editor, John Ryan, says: “It may only be 40 years ago but listening to the station on that first day is a world apart from the way we sound now. Some of the content, such as an interview with a lamp lighter, is bizarre to say the least, but at the time the team was breaking new ground – there was no other local radio in Manchester.

The station will celebrate on September 10 with a range of programming including broadcasting the first two hours as they were originally broadcast from 6-8am; inviting Sandra Chalmers back to read the 10am news and recapturing memories with an interview with Alan Sykes on Beswick At Breakfast.

There will also be music from 40 different Manchester musicians and artists covering 40 different songs from over the years. Some of these will be showcased at a special BBC Introducing event at the Ruby Lounge, Manchester, on September 24 with upcoming band May68 headlining.

If you have any memories of the station’s first day or its very early broadcasts then please contact the station at radio.manchester@bbc.co.uk or on Facebook or follow on Twitter @bbcradiomanc.

Gavin Noakes

Jonathan Walsh

Gavin Noakes, 30, of National Drive, Ordsall, Salford, admitted conspiracy to rob, dangerous driving and possession of a firearm. He was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and ordered to serve a minimum of eight and a half years at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square. He was also convicted of an unrelated robbery in Leeds.

Richard Walsh

Richard Walsh, 26, of Heron Street, Oldham, admitted conspiracy to rob and handling a stolen car. He was convicted of possessing a firearm following a trial. He also admitted conspiracy to rob, handling a stolen car, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit a robbery for unrelated matters. He was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and ordered to serve a minimum of ten and a half years.

Jonathon Walsh, 22, of Dobrook Close, Newton Heath, Manchester, admitted conspiracy to rob, dangerous driving and handling a stolen car. He was convicted of possessing a firearm and jailed for a total of 14 years and will be on licence for five years upon release.

William Moore

William Moore, 28, of Phoebe Street, Ordsall, Salford, admitted conspiracy to rob and handling a stolen car. He was convicted of possessing a firearm and given an interminate sentence for public protection and ordered to serve a minimum of seven years and nine months in prison.

The operation, codenamed Operation Bingo, involved officers from GMP’s Surveillance Unit, Robbery Unit, Firearms Unit and Force Intelligence Branch and was a proactive, intelligence-led investigation.

Shortly before 1.50pm on Thursday 24 September 2009, police were called to Greenbrow Road, Baguley, following reports of men acting suspiciously. They spoke to Moore, Noakes and Richard Walsh, who were parked up in a black Audi and appeared to be monitoring a cash delivery van. The men claimed to be waiting for a friend and police let them go once the delivery van left the area.

At about 9.30pm on Thursday 24 September 2009, the gang collected two cars that had been stolen in Heald Green earlier that morning. The cars, a Mini and a BMW, both taken in a burglary, were fitted with false plates the following day.

On Friday 25 September 2009, the movements of the group were monitored – they drove to a car park on Blackburn Road, Haslingden, Lancashire in a number of stolen cars.

A decision was made to arrest the men while they were in an isolated and contained area and specially trained officers from GMP’s Tactical Firearms Unit were deployed to make the arrests shortly before 10.30pm.

Noakes was in a Mini and repeatedly drove at officers and police cars in an attempt to get away. He was shot three times by police officers during attempts to detain him. He was taken to hospital and has since made a full recovery.Both Walsh brothers were arrested but Moore fled the scene. He was arrested on 2 October 2009.

A loaded gun and silencer were found in the Mini driven by Noakes along with a sledgehammer and balaclava. All three men arrested were wearing dark coloured waterproof clothing and had balaclavas. It is believed the men were targeting cash delivery staff due to replenish cash machines at a nearby bank at around 11.30pm that evening.

Detective Sergeant Chris Mossop, from the Force Robbery Unit, said: “We take pride in being every robber’s worst nightmare. GMP is dedicated to bringing dangerous and violent criminal gangs like this one to justice. The men were preparing what would no doubt have been a violent and terrifying robbery.

“The fact we were able to stop them and present such compelling evidence against them is testament to all the hard work done before, during and after this incident by all those involved. They have rightly been given lengthy sentences and the message to other criminal gangs is crystal clear – we have dedicated teams working around the clock to find you and bring you to justice. When you are caught you will go to prison for a very long time.”