A cycling group in Manchester have spoken of their frustration as a number of cycle lanes across the city continue to be blocked by ‘ignorant drivers’.
Walk Ride GM, a campaign group working to make walking, cycling and other active travel modes the first choice for journeys across the region, has highlighted the ‘epidemic’ of drivers dumping their cars on bike paths and pavements around the city.
According to the group, a cycle lane running along Cornbrook Road in Stretford is one of the worst impacted, with a number of cyclists reporting it as blocked by parked cars in the last couple of weeks.
Greater Manchester Police’s Stretford division confirmed that they have had ‘a lot of complaints’ about parking in the area, while Trafford Council said the problem is ‘on their radar’.
Ticket issued for obstruction of a cycle path which we have had a lot of complaint's about recently, in Old Trafford. pic.twitter.com/3P3Dgxao2O
Despite the police and council being aware of the issue, however, Claire Stocks from the Walk Ride campaign group told the Manchester Evening News that the problem is only getting worse.
She said: “Increasingly, drivers are seeming to park in very anti-social ways, and we are seeing it up and down the country. We want the Government to introduce a pavement parking ban, but we also believe local councils can do more to introduce bans in specific areas.
“We have a problem because there are so many more cars on the roads, probably four times as many cars on the road now as when I was young. When people get behind a wheel, they often see a space and just think they can leave it there if there is no sign telling them not to do so.
“It is often because people are trying to avoid high parking costs, especially in cities, and we know built up cities are not able to deal with so much heavy traffic and there isn’t the space to park.
Honestly how bloody hard is it to give us just a shread of space to cycle 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/mMj8YpZQQu
“Many people don’t realise the impact they are having blocking a pavement or cycle lane and I think it is often not deliberate but it is ignorant. We see it with delivery drivers too, who are in a rush and park up willy-nilly wherever they can.”
A spokesperson for Trafford Council has said the issue is out of their control, saying: “We have been made aware of this issue, however, there are currently no traffic regulation orders (TRO) in place that restrict the parking of vehicles on that road.
“While we therefore can’t enforce it, local councillors have been pushing the police to take action for some time and we welcome action taken by GMP using their powers.
“We would remind drivers that they should not park where they would cause an obstruction, particularly on cycle paths.
“Cycling is a great way to travel – it is cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly – so we take a strong view against cycle paths being blocked.”
They added that the problem extends beyond Cornbrook into Gorse Hill and Trafford Park, and that they are conducting a ‘wider review of enforcement’.
“This includes looking at the creation of a TRO so, if inconsiderate parking continues, we can take action and make sure cycle paths are not blocked.”
Transport for Greater Manchester’s City Centre Transport Strategy is currently underway, with the aim for 90% of all trips to the city centre in the morning peak to be made on foot, by cycle, or on public transport before 2040.
Kendall Hoopes / Pexels & Patrick Emerson / Flickr
As the temperature has noticeably dropped and winter is well and truly here, an eerie-looking full Beaver Moon will illuminate the foggy night sky tonight.
Tonight (November 27th) will be a full Beaver Moon and this striking vision will be visible in the sky from the late afternoon as evenings are now getting dark much earlier.
This full Moon is extra special as it marks the last one before Christmas and the penultimate of 2023.
This winter full moon’s name is believed to be derived from the time of year when beavers retire to their dens in anticipation of the winter months, as they gather and store their supplies.
Sue Thompson / Flickr
It is also believed some Native American tribes as well as American colonists called the November full moon the Beaver Moon because this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.
An alternative name for November’s full moon is the Frost Moon, which was also coined by Native Americans – which makes sense as the winter frost begins to set in.
The best time to see tonight’s dazzling display will be just after the Moon rises, while it is still close to the horizon and appears to be much larger than normal.
Dr Baskill, astronomer and lecturer at the University of Sussex, told BBC Science Focus: “You have a second opportunity to admire the full Moon hugging the horizon when it rises in the north-east as the Sun sets later that same day.
Kendall Hoopes / Pexels
“Full Moons always occur when the Moon is on the opposite side of the sky to the Sun, and it is fully illuminated by sunshine – which is where the name ‘full Moon’ originates.”
As the Moon rises above the horizon it may appear larger than normal, although this is just an optical illusion.
However, Dr Baskill promised it would be an ‘impressive sight when it’s low on the horizon’.
The typical northern weather may make the full Beaver Moon less visible in the sky as cloud cover obstructs our view. However, we may still be able to catch a glimpse of this spectacular sight with the odd break here and there.
Patrick Emerson / Flickr
Stargazers across Manchester, parts of Wales and the South West may stand a good chance with clearer skies than London and the South East – as these areas have been told to prepare for wet weather.
Aside from the skies, stargazers will probably want to wrap up warm as they look out at the impressive moon, as temperatures are expected to drop to 5C.
Beaver Moons happen in November, making the next one not until around this time next year – so remember to look up and don’t miss out!
Maccies is making Christmas extra special by putting Paddington soft toys in its Happy Meals and families are delighted.
The cute Christmas collectables are available at McDonald’s restaurants now and are included in Happy Meals to give children a wonderful festive surprise.
Paddington teddies come in a range of 10 different Christmas outfits, while still keeping the bear’s signature blue coat and red hat.
McDonald’s
The collection includes the iconic bear wearing a Christmas elf hat, a Christmas jumper, reindeer ears, a Santa hat, wearing a Christmas tree and more.
Each soft toy comes with Paddington’s message, ‘Please look after this bear. Thank you’.
Guess you’ll just have to keep eating Happy Meals to make sure you collect all the festive Paddington bears! Fans can even hang the tiny toys on their Christmas tree as they come with a small hanging loop.
McDonald’s
There’s also two different Paddington books to be found inside the playful cardboard box meals – First Snow and The Christmas Wish.
And children can find Paddington puzzles and colouring pictures inside their box meals to keep them entertained.
The mini plush Paddington toys and books are now in all Happy Meals until January 3rd, 2024.
McDonald’s
Families are already absolutely in love with the new range and many flocked to a post of the bears in a Facebook group, where they shared their delight in the comments.
The post has already raked in hundreds of likes and thousands of comments.
One shopper said: “Perfect excuse to get a McDonald’s.” Another agreed: “As if I need an excuse for a McDonald’s.” As others fans simply said, ‘need them all’.
Paddington released a range of bears for McDonald’s Happy Meals last summer which included him as a dancer, a magician, an astronaut and more. They proved a huge hit with the kids and it looks like the Christmas range is spreading just as much excitement, if not more!
Viewers watching the latest series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! are feeling confused after Nella Rose chose to ‘agree to disagree’ with Nigel Farage but ‘fell out’ with Fred Sirieix.
YouTuber Nella Rose was at the centre of another heated argument in the camp on Wednesday evening (November 22nd), but this time it was with Nigel Farage.
In the previous episode, the 26-year-old had a ‘falling out’ with First Dates’ Fred Sirieix after he pointed out their age difference and commented that he ‘could be her dad’.
Rose took offence to the comment as her dad passed away four years ago. Since the misunderstanding, Rose had refused to eat food Sirieix cooked for the camp.
ITV
In last night’s episode, Rose confronted Farage about his stance on immigration – as they stood around the bath – and after an intense debate, they ‘agreed to disagree’, leaving viewers completely puzzled.
Rose said to Farage that she ‘wanted to get everything out in the open’, asking: “Apparently you’re anti-immigrants?” Farage responded by saying ‘Who told you that?’ to which Rose replied: “The internet.”
The pair went on to have a discussion about why certain ethnicities may not like him, with Farage telling Rose that she’d be ‘surprised’ by the amount of people that actually do like him.
Then Rose asked: “So everyone hates you for no reason? Not that everyone hates you, that was so bad. Sorry.”
ITV
Farage said: “You can disagree with somebody, but to chuck around accusations the way they’ve been chucked around is grossly unfair. Anti-immigrant, right?
“No, no, all I’ve said is we cannot go on with the numbers coming to Britain that are coming.”
The pair had a debate about Britain’s rising population and its increasing number of immigrants, with Nigel remarking that growing numbers were a ‘good thing, unless you want a GP appointment’.
Rose pointed out the underfunding of the NHS, as she responded: “You’re not getting an appointment because the NHS is lacking funding.”
ITV
The social media personality also pointed out how many immigrants go on to work for the NHS, saying: “I bet you anything if every single immigrant or from immigrant descent was to leave the UK, all your doctors, go… most of your doctors are Asian right? Most of your nurses are African women, right?”
She continued: “You want us gone, that’s all I understood.” Farage interrupted to say: “Stop it. Stop it. That’s not… Nella, you’re not listening to a single word I’m saying. You’re not.”
Then Rose cooled down the heated argument by saying: “It’s okay for us to disagree on this.”
Farage said: “We can agree to disagree, if you listen.” To which Rose added: “I am listening.”
ITV
Viewers were left baffled as to how Rose could ‘agree to disagree’ with Farage but still hold a grudge against Sireieix.
However, she dismissed talk of a divide and denied there was ‘a situation’ between the pair, saying: “I don’t feel any kind of way. He’s over there, I’m over here. Everyone just does their own thing.”
I’m A Celeb fans took to the internet to voice their confusion, as one asked: “After yesterdays episode I just cannot watch or listen to Nella anymore… how can she be so vile to Fred over nothing but she’s ‘cool’ with Nigel after that debate that she wouldn’t even listen to #ImACeleb.”
ITV
Another said: “”Hang on… Nella has a go at Fred for saying his age, but Nigel can argue about immigrants at her and she will agree to disagree?”
Meanwhile, a third commented: “Nella can agree to disagree with NIGEL FARAGE BUT NOT FRED??”
And a fourth agreed: “Oh stuff off Nella if you can talk to Nigel Farage, you can talk to Fred ffs #ImACeleb”.