News
Piccadilly Gardens anti-lockdown protest organiser set to contest £10,000 fine
He says the event was not illegal.
The organiser of the Piccadilly Gardens anti-lockdown protest has said he will contest the £10,000 fine police handed him.
Fitness trainer and ‘ex-military veteran’ from Trafford, Paul Boys who organised the protest insists it was not illegal.
The ‘Rise Up Manchester’ rally was attended by as many as 600 people in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens on Sunday afternoon.
GMP fined the 40-year-old man £10,000. 25 £200 fixed penalty notices were also handed out.
Speaking to the MEN, he claimed he had been given the go-ahead by a police liaison office, filled out risk assessment forms and that the event was ‘legitimate’ and not illegal.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “Images in the press of heavy police presence and reports of fines, arrests and injured officers all took place after the event had finished and organisers had left, and therefore we do not accept any responsibility for this incidences.”
Under the latest lockdown legislation, no more than two people can meet at a time.
Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Mabs Hussain, said: “Ahead of Sunday, officers attempted to engage with the person organising this gathering – warning him of the likely consequences and advising, for his and everyone else’s sake, to abandon his plans.
“However, he decided to ignore this advice and pressed ahead with a reckless and completely irresponsible course of action. He has been left with a significant financial penalty as a result.”
In a YouTube video, Mr Boys said the event was ‘arranged to be a Remembrance parade as well’.
He added that they were told by police the ‘state of the art sound system’ would be seized and £10,000 fines issued.
He then said they ‘adapted’ and used a megaphone to speak from different sites in Manchester instead.
He added: “I said to the police, anything that happens – arrested [sic], fines – I will accept responsibility as organiser,”
“I told the police I would tell everyone that’s turned up… that the rally has been cancelled… therefore it’s over and people can do as they wish.
“I expressed to everybody that I am going for a walk, which is within my legal rights, to be able to go for a walk, on my own.
“If anyone decides to follow me, that’s their own decision. So we went for a walk.
“I was then given a megaphone, which is also within my rights as an individual, who is not part of any group or part of any organised rally. I just decided to go for a walk and speak at different sites.”
Mr Boys explained that people ‘turned up in their own bubbles’ and that he asked them to ‘adhere to social distancing rules’.
He went onto explain that the arrests were made at ‘small gatherings’ which were not affiliated with him.
ACC Hussain said: “Work is ongoing to identify others who were in attendance at the gathering and blatantly breaching Government restrictions.
“Gatherings such as this increase demand on our officers, who are already working tirelessly in difficult circumstances to help protect our communities.
“Government restrictions on social distancing are in place to control the spread of Covid-19.
“We recognise that these are difficult times, but I would implore everyone to think of their loved ones and do your bit to fight the virus, as well as protecting our NHS, by complying with current restrictions during lockdown.”
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.”
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