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Marcus Rashford calls for guarantee free school meals will continue over summer holidays

Well done Marcus!

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Кирилл Венедиктов / Wikimedia

Marcus Rashford is calling for a guarantee that the free school meal scheme will continue over the upcoming summer holidays.

The Manchester United star forced the government to U-turn on the issue last year, and is once again calling on ministers to keep the support going over the holidays.

Rashford relied on free school meals when he was growing up, saying that if his family had received help in the summer it would have made a ‘massive, massive difference’.

Marcus Rashford / Twitter

During the lockdown school closures last year vouchers were offered, but the government had resisted calls to continue the coupons – worth £15 a week – over the summer until Rashford got involved and piled pressure on ministers.

The striker didn’t stop there, also shaming the government into supporting families in need over the holidays in November via a Covid winter grant scheme.

As it stands, since the first lockdown more than 300,000 additional children have become eligible for free school dinners, with the total number of people able to access the scheme rising to 1.63 million in October.

No10 / Flickr

Rashford told The Mirror: “I definitely think it needs to be extended and the reason why I say that is, I’m just going back to what it was like for me in the summers.

“It’s much more difficult for my mum to keep on top of. Obviously in my household there were four children so as a single parent it was obviously tough for her.

“But when we were all in school or in high school, she can rest a little bit because she knows that we’re having a meal there, and then potentially she only has to worry about one meal, which is dinner time.”

Fairholme Primary School

He continued: “So having free school meals throughout summer holidays for me would have made a massive, massive difference.

“And I feel like what’s happened this year, like the pandemic, it’s affected everyone in different ways.

“I just don’t see there being anything wrong with extending free school meals, like it’s going to do a lot more good than bad so I definitely think that that should happen.”

The footballer isn’t the only one calling for the scheme to continue, with Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza also asking for free school meals to be extended into the summer holidays.

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Brand new Stockport interchange with rooftop garden now open

It opened this morning to welcome its first passengers

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Bee Network / Facebook

The brand new Stockport transport interchange is now open for passengers.

Passengers can now use the interchange to catch buses to and from Stockport, and make use of the Bee Network.

The stops at Heaton Lane bus station are now closed, and passengers who previously caught a bus from here can now use the new interchange.

Bee Network / Facebook

The interchange is part of an exciting £1 billion investment into the town to make it an even better place in which to live, work, play and connect.

Key design aspects of the new development include a fully accessible under cover passenger concourse with a seating area, cycle storage facilities, travel information on screens and a travel shop.

Other facilities include fully accessible toilets with baby changing and Changing Places facilities.

Bee Network / Facebook

The modern interchange holds 18 bus stands, with capacity to accommodate 164 bus departures per hour to allow for future growth in bus services.

It also holds a unique and lush green space on the roof, which is a welcomed addition for everyone to enjoy .

The rooftop park has been delivered, in collaboration with the Environmental Agency and features a ‘blue-roof’ drainage system that will capture and store rainwater to allow control run-off into drainage outfall and watercourses mitigating any flood risk.

Bee Network / Facebook

Visitors can use the eye-catching spiral cycle and walking ramp, which connects to the new park as it spans across the Mersey Frontage, Trans Pennine Trail and the River Mersey.

Stair and lift links between the new park, interchange and Trans Pennine Trail to make it accessible for all.

And on top of all that, 196 new, high-quality residential new, high-quality residential apartments off Daw Ban (126 two-bedroom, 70 one-bedroom) tower above this stunning rooftop park and Stockport’s contemporary transport hub – with views spanning across the town.

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Body found near swing bridge in search for missing man from Eccles

Sad news

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Greater Manchester Police & warhead / Flickr

A body has sadly been found near Barton Swing Bridge in the search for a man who went missing from Eccles last week, police say.

Andrew Heys, from Eccles, was last captured on Ring Cam walking along Barton Lane in the direction of Barton Road at 3.43am on Tuesday, March 12th.

Andrew had been described as ‘vulnerable’ and requiring regular medication.

Greater Manchester Police

The body was recovered from the Barton Bridge area of Salford, following a search of the surrounding areas on Saturday, March 16th.

Although a formal identification is yet to take place, Andrew’s family have been informed of the update and are currently being supported by specialist officers through this distressing time.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is currently being prepared for the coroner.

Greater Manchester Police

Detective Inspector Mike Sharples, from GMP Salford, said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences remain with Andrew’s family and friends at this time.

“Officers and specialist resources have been working around the clock and through the night to find Andrew since he was first reported missing to us, and I would like to thank members of the public who shared our appeals and assisted with our investigation.

“Our priority now is to make sure we can do everything possible to support the family and get the necessary answers for his loved ones, but I would ask that the family are given privacy during this time.”

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New shipping container street food village to open in Wigan

Great news for Wigan!

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STACK & @stacknewcastle / Instagram

Container street food village brand STACK has confirmed its expansion with a brand new opening coming to Wigan.

The group will take over the former Debenhams unit in the town centre’s Grand Arcade.

The proposed development will see the site capable of holding up to 2,000 people and offering a wide range of music and entertainment as well as bars and street food vendors.

STACK

Plans will see a new frontage created on Concert Square, with STACK making a welcome addition to the leisure venues at the Grands Arcade – also home to games and activity centre Gamer X – and boosting Wigan’s night time economy.

Announcing the expansion, Neill Winch, STACK Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing STACK to Wigan.

“The Grand Arcade is a stunning location with a rich history, and we believe that STACK will be a perfect fit for its vibrant atmosphere and growing community.

@stacknewcastle / Instagram

“We are committed to creating a space that not only entertains but also fosters a sense of belonging and community, and we can’t wait to welcome Wigan residents and visitors through our doors.”

STACK first opened in Newcastle in August 2018 and was a huge success attracting over 3 million visitors in its first four years. It currently also operates sites in Seaburn, Sunderland.

STACK is also set to open sites in Manchester, Lincoln, Northampton, Durham, Carlisle, and Bishop Auckland, with two more planned in Newcastle.

The opening date for STACK Wigan will be confirmed once planning permission is secured.

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