News
Stockport and Trafford removed from current local lockdown restrictions in Greater Manchester
JUST IN…
Announcements regarding the local lockdown restrictions in place in Greater Manchester are being made today.
Greater Manchester now has the lowest number of coronavirus cases (788 positive tests) since the end of July, according to the latest infection rates.
The infection rate is also continuing to fall in seven of the region’s boroughs including in Oldham, Rochdale, Salford and Bolton.
The local lockdown in Greater Manchester restricts people from socialising with people who aren’t in your household or support bubble. This means you cannot socialise with people you do not live with in indoor public venues, or visit friends and families homes or care homes.
Labour has said the government will be releasing Trafford from local lockdown restrictions, despite local leaders wanting to keep measures in place.
A statement from Trafford Labour reads: “We all want to see restrictions lifted as soon as possible, guided by the data and when it is safe to do so.
“Households being unable to mix in their own homes and gardens is of course extremely frustrating and difficult, and we are grateful to those who have followed the guidance and made sacrifices over the past month since local restrictions were introduced.
“This has contributed to a decrease in the number of cases per 100,000 people in Trafford, so thank you.
“It is imperative that when restrictions are lifted we can be confident we will not need to return to them a few weeks later because of a resultant spike in cases. That would be devastating for families, and hit our local economy hard.
“Whilst we accept that there will be a range of views from residents on this – and that we all want to see restrictions lifted safely as soon as possible – in line with the advice of our Director of Public Health, Trafford Council did not this week request the lifting of local lockdown restrictions. Instead we asked for another week or two of local restrictions in the interests of public safety.”
This means people in Trafford will be able to meet other households indoors and in their gardens once more, so long as social distancing can be maintained.
Local leaders of Trafford said this is a ‘delicate time’ to ease restrictions with schools going back next week. The borough’s infection rate has been increasing in the last few days and is almost twice the national average.
As well as Trafford, Stockport is also having restrictions lifted, with Hazel Grove MP William Wragg confirming it to the Manchester Evening News.
This means people in Stockport will no longer have to follow the stricter regulations which have applied this past month – however, the government hasn’t confirmed when the changes will officially come into effect.
Mike Pennington / Geograph
Mr Wragg told the MEN: “I welcome this development. I think it was the right decision. I was pleased to work with the leader of the council.
“Even though we are different political parties, we have cooperated, and data has been shared, and this decision reflects the data which shows much reduced rates of infection in Stockport.
“I want to pay tribute to everyone working to bring that reduction about, and to the residents of Stockport for following the guidance. We can go back to a greater degree of freedom, while keeping the guidance in mind.”
It’s thought Bolton will be removed from the restrictions as well, as the borough also has a low rate of infection, but it is yet to be confirmed.
Additionally, the restrictions in Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire will be lifted from next Wednesday with the rules matching the rest of England.
Elsewhere in Lancashire, Preston and parts of Pendle will remain under the current lockdown restrictions, while other parts of Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen still have to follow the tougher rules that were implemented recently.
According to the latest data from the ONS, around 2,200 people per day in private households in England are estimated to be newly infected with Covid-19 between August 14th and 20th.
This a decrease from 2,400 the week prior. 
A new payment scheme has also been announced by Mr Hancock that will benefit those on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit that are required to self-isolate or unable to work from home.
There is a trail starting in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Oldham. This sees eligible people who test positive for the virus receiving £120 for their 10-day period of self-isolation.
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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