Welcome to Salford Now’s Live Blog!

James Delaney is curating our live feed today and will be updating you throughout the day on news relating to the forthcoming budget and how it might affect Salford, plus the government’s handling of the Covid crisis as the NHS faces a difficult winter.

Plus developments for the city’s sports teams, weather and live updates from the emergency services.

5:45 PM

“Although we manage it, it belongs to the local community” – The Swinton community garden centre that has big growing plans for the future

Image Credit: Tom Parker

A community garden centre in Swinton is aiming to become a community resource to support people’s health and well-being.

Ian Bocock, who runs Cleavley Community Forest Garden, said he wants people to be able to access the site to support their mental health and well being.

Bocock also wishes to take the community garden to the next level by introducing solar power to make the garden as eco-friendly as possible.

More on the story can be found here.

5:30 PM

Weather Update

The current temperature at Media City stand at 13 degrees celcius with moderate winds.

There are some rays of sunshine however, for the most part there are very grey skies.

Rain is expected to fall during the early hours of tomorrow with temperatures rising from 13 to 15 degrees celcius.

Very fitting for the Halloween week!

5:15 PM

“It’s all about what we can do in the middle ground”- Lib Dem candidate for Blackfriars and Trinity by-election sets out plans to ‘Clean Up Blackfriars’

Image Credit: Joseph Ross Allen

With the Blackfriars and Trinity by-election on November 4 approaching, Liberal Democrat candidate Joseph Ross Allen plans to bring clean, green and community friendly areas to Blackfriars.

Mr Allen’s interest in politics began only three months ago, after having concerns over a seven-story car park being built outside his window.

Allen began to notice the difference between the Blackfriars and Trinity areas in terms of community due to the ongoing apartment developments which spurred him on to enter the election bid.

Votes for the Blackfriars & Trinity by-election will open from 7am to 10pm on November 4 with ward residents being able to attend the polling stations located at the Stay Inn on Blackfriars Road, the Youth Offending Service on St Simon Street or the Sacred Trinity Church on Chapel Street.

You can find out more about Joseph Ross Allen’s election journey and his on going fight for the residents of Blackfriars and Trinity here.

5:00 PM

“Cadishead, very much, is not a forgotten-about community” – Lordy Park gains a remarkable £100,000 transformation

Lordy Park before the reconstruction, Image Credit: Craig Havern
The new and revamped Lordy Park, Image Credit: Craig Havern

Lordy Park in Cadishead has reopened after a five-week reconstruction of the playground has taken place.

The reconstruction cost £100,000 with upgrades to the park’s equipment as well as introducing a disability friendly roundabout and swing set.

The mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, visited the park for its reopening earlier this month to get across his message that “parks are at the hearts of our communities”.

The Friends of Lordy park are now also looking ahead with the next two phases of their plan, which includes plans for a new zip line as well as an outdoor classroom for children to learn.

These phases however need fundraising, with another £80,000 needed for their next stage.

To find out more click here.

4:45 PM

“I think the swimming just gives her that extra bit” – Why a Salford assistant dog is always eager to go swimming

Emma and Tinto, Image Credit: Katie Parry

An assistant dog has visited the same animal clinic in Irlam for the last five years to do hydrotherapy.

Emma Jane Cox Harris, 47, has had her assistant dog, Tinto, for six years. They were partnered when Tinto, now eight, was 18 months old.

Since the therapy Tinto has learned to swim in the opposite direction which has strengthened her weaker leg. Allowing her to help Emma with daily tasks such as turning the lights on and retrieving items.

More on this story can be found here.

4:30 PM

“It feels like these black figures are invisible” – Salford’s lack of BAME blue plaques

Image credit: Nick Harrison via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

A Salford Now investigation has found that none of Salford’s 48 blue plaques commemorate any black figures from history.

Salford’s BAME community accounts for 15.6% (36,488) of the population, with figures set to rise to 31.7% (90,000), according to the 2011 census.

This highlights the isolation of such a large community in Salford which Guy Bochar of New Step for the African Community (NESTAC) hopes to change, he said:

“It feels like these black figures are invisible. People don’t know how to be visible, there is not a strong enough community and it can lead black people to feel isolated. It’s very frustrating.”

Nominations for the Blue Plaque initiative can be made via the Salford Council website.

To find out more about the story here.

4:15 PM

Andy Burnham’s New ‘Bee Bikes’ Are Coming to Manchester!

Andy Burnham’s new initiative to reduce CO2 emissions in Greater Manchester will see him introduce ‘Bee Bikes’ to Salford in November.

However, reports have shown that Boris Bikes have not improved health, reduced CO2 emissions, or reduce congestion on the roads.

Visit the Salford Now Twitter page to have your say on the topic!

4:00 PM

Salford City Youngster Extends His Loan at AFC Telford United

Full back, Kevin Berkoe, has extended his loan move at AFC Telford United for a further month.

3:45 PM

“Our accent is a kind of fingerprint, it tells a story about where we’re from” – The Greater Manchester Voices Project want more Salfordians to take part in their survey of the region’s accents

Photo: Holly Dann, used with permission

The Greater Manchester Voices Project are looking for more Salfordians to contribute to their research, which aims to map the various accents and dialects of all the Greater Manchester boroughs.

The project, which has been running throughout lockdown, aims to capture the voices of those living across the region, and record people’s thoughts on the accents and phrases that are most associated with their area.

Dr Holly Dann is one of the post-doctoral research associates from Manchester Metropolitan University who organised the project. She has a strong view on how accents shape our identity: “Our accent is a kind of fingerprint of various aspects of our identity; it tells a story about where we’re from.”

Once the team have completed their research, the data they have collected will be used to compile maps and visual displays of the area’s various accents, which will be displayed at the Manchester Poetry Library in Spring 2022.

To find out more about the project click here.

3:15 PM

Salford fireworks set to light up the Bonfire Night skies after last year’s Covid cancellation

Image Credit: Ed Von via Flickr. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ no changes made

Salford fireworks at Buile Hill Park and Irlam are set to go ahead this year after last year’s events were cancelled due to COVID.

Buile Hill is due to welcome spectators to Eccles from 5:30pm Friday 5 November with the main display starting 7:30pm for an estimated 20 minutes.

While, Irlam invites residents and visitors to its display at Prince’s Park the night after on Saturday 6 November following the same time schedule as Friday’s display.

Salford’s firework displays are planned to go ahead this year despite neighboring Manchester’s events for the weekend being cancelled by Manchester City Council, meaning this years events could be busier than ever as people won’t have the choice of commuting to Heaton Park or other Manchester bonfires.

Find out more about the event by reading the story here.

3:00 PM

The Salford Histories Festival is back and better than ever!

Salford Histories Festival will take place this Saturday October 30th between 10;00 am and 4:00 pm at Fletcher Hall & St. Peter’s Church in Swinton.

There will be a variety of activities to partake in throughout the day including 30 local history stalls, heritage walk, tours of the church and much more.

Local Rugby team, Swinton Lions, will also be featured in the festival showing artefacts and pictures from their 155 year history.

2:45 PM

Van Gogh Alive exhibition is now open in Media City

This unique exhibition has already toured around a number of cities over the world with the most recent being shown in Kensington Gardens, London.

After a long wait it has finally landed at Media City!

The immersive experience takes visitors on a trip through the periods in Van Gogh’s life that molded him as a artist.

There are a number of images projected onto the walls, an immersive 3-D sun flower room to bring Van Gogh’s famous flowers alive and much more.

Tickets can be purchased through the link on the tweet above.

2:30 PM

“Explosive, searing, eye-opening verbatim play about young carers”  – Salford Young Carer expresses his thoughts on the final touring of ‘Who Cares’/

Who Cares Cast, Image Credit: The Other Richard

Who Cares, a verbatim play about Salford young carers will see its final showcasing at The Lowry this November.

It focuses on three teenagers trying to balance family care during austerity with their education, including input from politicians and campaigners. 

Matthew Woodhead wrote the play after weekly discussions and workshops with four Salford Young Carers.

He believes that it is still a big issue today and hopes to spread awareness and break the stigma around the topic, influencing any young carers who need help to come forward.

More on the story can be found here.

2:15 PM

“We are literally going to see people drowning” – How the Universal Credit Uplift Cut has caused ‘devastating’ effects in Salford

Image Credit: Emmie Norton

The cut of the £20 universal credit uplift has impacted a number of Salford residents who reply heavily upon the extra income.

Around 5.5 million low income families are set to lose £1,040 from their annual income and an increase in the use of foodbanks in the area has already been seen.

One resident, Andrew Willets said: “If I didn’t have my mum, I would be homeless, I wouldn’t be able to afford anything, I’m giving up my car, I can’t even think about Christmas right now, it’s honestly just so depressing.”

More about this story can be found here.

1:45 PM

Salford Lionesses have been knocked out of the Vitality Womens FA Cup by Bradford

The Lionesses run in the cup has come to an end as they suffered a 3-0 defeat on the road yesterday.

1:30 PM

Zombies in the library! Swinton cafe The Buzzy Bee gears up for Halloween event

Image Credit: Anna Dugdale

The Buzzy Bee café in Swinton is prepared for spooky season as they edge closer to their Halloween event taking place on October 30th.

They are going all out on their Halloween themed menu with new additions that include their special themed black milkshake, pancakes and finger like hotdogs.

Alongside their sweet treats there will be flash mob performing the ‘Thriller’ dance every two hours by a host of Salford dancers.

More about Buzzy Bee Cafe and their upcoming event can be found here

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