News
Leaked government plans reveal tough new ‘level three’ lockdown which would close pubs
Just in…
A new three-tier system with tougher restrictions could be imposed in England if cases aren’t brought under control.
The Mirror has reported that pubs could be closed and social contact outside of household groups could be restricted nationally or locally due to soaring infection rates.
According to the Guardian, the new ‘Covid-19 Proposed Social Distancing Framework’ is designed to simplify existing localised restrictions.
The leaked government plans are yet to be finalised by Downing Street officials.
The tiering system could work like this:
Red Alert – Level 3
- No social contact with anyone outside of your household
- Hospitality and leisure businesses closed
- Hobbies and amateur sports banned
Amber Alert – Level 2
- No social contact in private homes or gardens outside of household
- Avoid visiting care homes
- Make only essential journeys
Green Alert – Level 1
- Rule of six for social gatherings
- Face masks in shops, pubs and transport
- 10pm curfew on hospitality
- 15 people at weddings and 30 people at funerals
There are currently 50 different areas in England with overlapping restrictions with some legal and some guidance. The prime minister was unable to explain the different rules last week.
The BBC explained that Level 1 would be for areas with fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people. Level 2 would be for areas with more than 100 cases per 100,00 people, and it is believed no areas would be immediately put into Level 3.
Level 3 would be for areas where Level 2 did not work in containing the virus, it will exclude schools, supermarkets and places of worship.
It has also been suggested that the government provides additional financial support, including £1 per head of population in Level 2 and £2ph in Level 3.
Pexels
This comes after the news that Manchester currently has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the whole of England.
On Friday, Public Health England revealed that 16,000 coronavirus cases were not added to official figures or to their contacts for the Test and Trace due to a ‘computer glitch’.
With the addition of these missed cases, figures from Public Health England show the rate of infection over the past seven days for the week ending October 1st in Manchester reached 495.6 cases per 100,000.
Andy Burnham has explained that ‘time is running out’ for the government to get things right ahead of the ‘most difficult winter we have ever experienced’.
He said the new approach ‘could improve public understanding of the restrictions in different areas’.
He said the new system should be based upon five key conditions:
- Clear thresholds for entry/exit from the different tiers
- The ability for local areas in tiers 2 and 3 to request local control of the Test and Trace system, with resources transferring from the national system
- Agreed levels of extra financial support for councils in tiers 2 and 3
- A package of support for local businesses affected by local restrictions
- A local furlough scheme where businesses are required to close
Jonathan Ashworth, Shadow health secretary, explained that ‘clear criteria to apply when an area goes into lockdown and how it escapes’ has long been called for by Labour.
Adding that: “In recent days, Boris Johnson got himself into an utter muddle over these rules, confirming that the ad hoc way in which decisions are made causes confusion.”
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
Find something to do in Manchester
Powered by 
The VR gaming experience at airport where you can escape reality
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Simmons Bar opens first Northern site in Manchester with free drinks at launch party
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year
