It’s been 5 weeks of campaigning, door knocking, television interviews and debate but Andy Burnham has fought all of that off to become the newly elected MP for Makerfield.

Andy Burnham will return to Westminster after 9 years of being the Mayor of Greater Manchester and it is widely expected that he will enter a leadership race to become the next Labour Leader and Prime Minister.

What was once predicted to be a close battle, ended in a seismic victory for Labour, claiming just under 55% of the overall vote share.

It was a tough night for Reform, who expected to be polling much closer to Labour claimed 35% of the vote share.

Andy Burnham will use this as an argument to say that people think he is the right person to take the fight to Reform nationally over Keir Starmer.

Although not everyone is convinced over his election victory.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, Richard Tice said that tactical voting has taken place and people have voted for Labour to try and get Starmer out and he claimed that reform voters said they’d vote Labour to make sure this happens.

The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also spoken out this morning saying that “voters chose Labour’s campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate”.

There has got to be something in the back of Keir Starmer’s mind that his job could be at risk - because it very well could be.

Andy Burnham is a big target and popular among Labour members to be the next Prime Minister and it is being retorted that he already has the required 81 MPs to launch that campaign.

In the early hours of the morning, Andy Burnham gave his victory speech at the count where he said that “this could be the turning point for change”.

He added that “I do say to my own party: this is a final chance to change.

“This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on.

“We must hear it, we must act upon it and we must get it right. There will be no second chance.”

These aren’t typical lines at a by-election.

Andy Burnham focused this speech on change but on a bigger scale, and spoke out not only to the people of Makerfield, but his own MPs. It is clear Andy Burnham is ready to take the bigger fight on a bigger scale.

Only time will tell how this will go, especially with a mayoral election for Greater Manchester now lurking on the horizon.

But one thing is for sure, Keir Starmer will need to be ready to take the fight against his own party.

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When thinking of big political shifts on the horizon, you wouldn’t expert that from a constituency in Greater Manchester the majority of the country wouldn't have heard of.

The Makerfield by-election really could change everything.

Sir Kier Starmer has faced a lot of political turmoil in recent weeks, after a number of senior ministers have resigned and a series of local election results that were almost terminal for the Labour Party and this current government.

Andy Burnham first expressed his desire to return to Westminster back in February when he wanted to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Burnham was blocked by Labour NEC from running with them saying he needed to remain in post as Mayor as that was the job he was elected to do, and avoid any upheaval and risking the Mayoral seat to Reform.

"Although the party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour's control of Greater Manchester at any risk”.

This election was subsequently won by Hannah Spencer for the Green Party.

Now, the Mayor of Greater Manchester has a second chance to become an MP.

Following the losses at the local elections, Josh Simons has stepped down as an MP to give Andy Burnham a chance to run as MP. The NEC decided to allow him to run, and is Labours official candidate for this election.

This is significant because Andy Burnham has made it clear that he intends to stand in a leadership contest to be the next Labour Leader and Prime Minister, replacing Keir Starmer.

This is why a by-election in Makerfield, somewhere that has been a Labour stronghold and never really on the political map, can change everything - in the matter of weeks.

If Andy Burnham wins on Thursday, we could see a new Prime Minister over the summer. It is closer than we think - and Keir Starmer knows full well his job is on the line.

Keir Starmer has already hinted that he would want to give Andy Burnham a big role in government, however Andy Burnham swiftly took this offer off the table. Again, indicating that he wants to challenge for the top job.

Recent polls are in Labours favour - but not as much as they’d hope.

In the 2024 General Election, Labour won the seat in Makerfield with plenty of margin. Now, although they will still win - it is much closer than they’d like. All of this bearing in mind, is with a Reform candidate that isn’t exactly squeaky clean.

All of the prediction polls that have been released show that Andy Burnham would win the seat, however the margins are close. Also, nothing is certain until polling day.

Rob Kenyon is the Reform UK candidate for Makerfield, and is realistically the only one who poses a real threat to Andy Burnham.

The background for Rob Kenyon isn’t simple. In the past, some of his comments including “I’m sexist. Sorry but I am” have been branded misogynistic and sexist by his critics and despite them being said years ago, they won’t let him forget it.

Rob’s defence for this is that he is a different person now and that everyone makes mistakes. He also says he wasn't in politics back then and that now he is a different person who only wants the best for Makerfield.

Speaking on BBC Question time, he said “I’ve got nothing but respect for women… I’ve said things years ago that I wouldn’t say now”.

If Rob Kenyon did win in Makerfield, it would stop Andy Burnham in his tracks in getting anywhere near Downing Street. However, this doesn't mean that a leadership challenge won’t be triggered. Wes Streeting is still demanding for the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his resignation and has not ruled out ever launching a leadership bid.

When canvassing around Makerfield, it does seem like a 2 legged race between Labour and Reform however you can’t discount anyone else who is standing in this election.

We also need to consider the likes of the Green Party, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives who have also been campaigning.

It is worth pointing out that even though I didn’t walk past every house in Makerfield, I didn't see any other political signs - emphasising how much of a 2 legged race this is set to be.

A full list of candidates can be found here.

Whatever happens tomorrow, this will always be a historic by-election. A Labour MP who steps down in an attempt to give the job to their friend is something we will always remember.

If Andy Burnham does win, it is likely he will challenge Westminster both with policy, and potential leadership.

One thing is for certain though, this really will be the by-election that changes everything.

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I grew up with limited features on social media. Not because they had restrictions, because they weren’t invented.

As social media has become more popular and technology has advanced, so has the features we use every day on our phones.

Short form content has taken over; Instagram is now no longer a photo sharing app. In fact, if you just share photos your account doesn’t get anywhere near as much reach as those who post reels. And why? Because tech companies want to keep you on their app, they want to keep you addicted and the best way to do that, is to keep you entertained by showing you hours worth of short form content with just a simple swipe or infinite scroll.

Keir Starmer has said he wants the social media ban to “give children back their childhoods”.

Playing sports, getting exercise outside, reading, doing homework and face to face interactions with friends are all fundamental to a childs development and we need to do more to encourage this. I don’t think banning social media will instantly mean children will go and play outside - it would require some encouragement. So why can’t we give this same encouragement and teach children to avoid the distraction of social media, rather than taking it away?

Sometimes I sit and think that my generation was the last one that actually liked to play outside. I remember spending my summer evenings after school playing with my friends either on the street or at the local park. We had our phones in case anything went wrong - and off we went until it got dark.

This is all well and good, until it hits winter, gets dark at 4pm and is constantly raining.

I remember when I downloaded my first social media platform. It was Instagram and the sole purpose of that was for me to talk to my friends and share pictures on a safe space. I wasn’t thinking about public engagement or reach, I was thinking “this is a nice photo - let me share that!”

Life was simple and the app was simple.

I remember when I first got my Xbox. Again, the sole purpose was to play games and enjoy them with my friends. Long before servers, and long before it was easy to contact strangers online.

I’m not saying social media and gaming should be the only hobbies for children under 16, there is so much more they could be doing. But that also doesn’t mean that social media and online interaction with friends shouldn’t exist at all.

If used in the right way, social media can be a good thing for children. But like anything else, where there is a good thing, there will always be exploits.

But like the Prime Minister said, just because some will get around it, that’s not a good enough reason not to be a ban.

So why, just because some people will get around it, do we need a ban on social media?

If we can have this good tool, where is the harm in instructing these big tech companies to make their platforms appropriate for children?

Now I’m not saying that social media is purely a good place - it isn’t. I do think there should be restrictions in place. Strangers should not be able to contact children, the same way children should not be able to contact strangers. There should be limits to what can be posted online. Nobody, especially children should be seeing inappropriate content online, and that should be regulated. If you want to see it, there are places for that and are restricted under the Online Safety Act, but it should not be shown in the algorithms.

We should also be seeing the end of the infinite scroll feature. It isn’t necessary and purely a tool to keep us hooked. This is not what social media should be about, but what it has become because companies are following trends and monitoring peoples behaviour on their platforms.

If 16 year olds are still going to be exposed to this, are we really fixing the problem?

But there is a difference between implementing restrictions, and imposing a ban.

This is about harnessing what we have. It’s about protecting these safe spaces that can be created online. It’s about keeping a sense of community.

When I was 14, I started to post my photography work on Instagram. It was right in the middle of Covid-19 and I was looking for things to do to keep me entertained and communicating with people that wasn’t just my household.

By posting my work, I found myself in a community of likeminded photographers who I was able to talk to about our passions and ideas for shoots we had. I never met these people, but they were there in a time where we all needed somebody to speak to.

If there was a ban on social media, I would not have had this community and it would have made my time in lockdown extremely lonelier.

Platforms such as WhatsApp and something called Signal (which I must admit, I didn’t know this app existed until yesterday) are not under the ban, so it still gives children that chance to communicate. However some communities can’t be built on platforms like this and it would make it much harder.

Gaming services are also taking a hit and while we don’t know what that will look like yet, I can only hope it brings some authenticity back to console gaming, the same we had when I first got my Xbox.

Of course people are going to have different opinions on this. This is just my opinion and one which you may not share - and that’s okay. With new regulations like this, it’s important we all have our say, whether it’s going to affect us or not, so we can give the new generation the best possible chances.

Because the reality is: social media and technology are ever changing and they are not going away any time soon. We need to learn about these platforms, about peoples behaviour on them and then use this data for good, not shut children out the first chance we get. Children are curious, and we should be opening them up to things like social media and technology. It’s better to know what children are doing on these platforms, rather than allowing them to sneak onto them, and find out themselves the kind of content they could be exposed to without intervention from tech companies.

If these platforms are run right, a lot of parents worries will be accounted for. Let’s hand some accountability back to the tech companies and allow them to make changes to their platforms.

We need to reinvent social media to be a platform for good, because it can be, and not let big tech bosses get away with not actioning things that are completely in their control.

Because let’s be honest, children aren’t hiding from social media forever.

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My focus initially started in Swinton, where I found that one of the biggest issues in my town was the lack of affordable housing. I decided to investigate this as an issue across Greater Manchester and see how bad it was in other areas.

I looked at some of the development areas in which houses were either already being built, or the proposed land that was being considered for developments.

While exploring these sites, I realised just how unsuitable some of these were, despite having strong planning backing.

“Built on Promises” will take a closer look at these developments, and look at their impact on the communities they will be built in.

The housing crisis may be the focus when these new developments come to light, but are local councils creating more problems in the process?

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Sir Keir Starmer held a press conference this morning where he confirmed that he would ban social media for all under-16s.

Speaking to a room full of journalists and campaigners in what Sir Keir called a “big moment for the country”, Starmer said it was clear a “full ban is the right choice” for the country.

Outlining the plans for the enforcement of these new regulations, the Prime Minister said that he would aim to get the legislation passed by Christmas and have it fully implemented by Spring 2027.

“I will not compromise on the safety and happiness of our children”, said Sir Keir in his statement this morning, adding that not all children will adhere to the ban and find ways around it. He compared this to other laws such as underaged drinking where he said that just because some like to find ways around it doesn't mean it shouldn’t be enforced.

What platforms are currently under the ban?

The government has confirmed which apps will currently be under the ban. It prioritises apps that are ran by algorithms and not direct messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. Platforms like these are set to be banned:

• Snapchat

• TikTok

• YouTube

• Instagram

• Facebook

• X (Formerly Twitter)

A government spokesperson said “The government plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia. This would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material”.

So-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users are also going to be under this ban and restricted for 18+.

Starmer has also confirmed the ban will extend to gaming platforms however it is not yet clear what those restrictions might look like.

16-18 year olds

Sir Keir was questioned a lot about sanctions for 16-18 year olds to avoid a slam dunk back into the online world after the ban.

Restrictions on live streaming and stranger communication will be on by default.

The government is also looking at overnight curfews and banning features such as infinite scrolling for this age group. More details will be set out in July.

So, what happens now?

There will be no immediate changes in the circumstances for online usage for under-16s as the legislation still needs to pass through parliament.

Adults will most likely not need to verify their age as their account will be verified in other ways such as through email, the account being open for 16 years or they have already verified their age through the Online Safety Act.

For those that will need to verify their age, it could be a simple facial recognition check however more details will be set out about this in due course.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said “Today we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations.”

She went onto say that “My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver.”

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It’s hard to put into words how I felt after watching Steve McQueen’s new short film, Grenfell.

This short film is not what you expect, it isn’t your traditional documentary. It is a powerful showcase of the aftermath of Grenfell, filmed straight from a helicopter.

This film is 2 separate clips and was recorded during the hours of 1:30pm and 6pm to avoid the morning congestion, memorial services and to avoid disruption to residents.

72 people died as a result of this fire back in June 2017. This film was shot in December 2017, just months after the fire.

Steve McQueen has taken an artistic approach to this film, rather than your traditional journalistic approach, something which makes this work even more powerful.

The aim of this work was nothing more than creating a lasting memorial to the tragedy. There isn’t any narrative, characters or dramatisation - just the aftermath of Grenfell before it was covered up.

There are no stats. There isn’t any information provided. The video speaks for itself.

From an Ariel panning shot across London, in the background hearing the sounds of daily commuters, emergency vehicles, trains and even the wind, to approaching the Grenfell tower block with the noise fading out. Silence.

The entire time we are shown the aftermath of Grenfell, there isn’t a single sound. It offers moments of reflection for the viewer, and mourning for all of those lives lost.

The camera angles offer something you wouldn’t expect to see - closeup shots of the burnt out windows, allowing you to peek inside the damaged flats. You can see bagged up rubble, complete destruction and then the scaffolding poles in place to keep everything secured. This is a completely new closeup look of the true aftermath of this fire, one that shows how there was no escape.

Watching this film really makes you think about this tragedy. It makes you think about the lives lost, and it makes you think that still to this day, no accountability has been claimed.

There is an ongoing criminal investigation and one of the potential charges could be corporate manslaughter. No trials are expected to take place until 2028 at the earliest, 11 years after this tragedy.

The Grenfell fire was a complete tragedy - one that should never happen again. However, the shocking reality is, that something similar could happen again as the resulting recommendations from the inquiry launched by the government at the time are yet to be implemented.

Steve McQueen has made sure at every opportunity to honour the lives lost. After the viewing of the film, you are lead round to a reading room which offers books relating too Grenfell and the UK housing crisis, as well as a wall with the name of each person who lost their life in the fire.

Small booklets are also offered with information about this film, where it is going to be shown and again, a list of names who lost their life to this tragedy.

‘Grenfell’ was first shown in 2023 in London, after a series of private viewings for the bereaved families and survivors. Following this, the work was placed in the care of Tate London and the London Museum’s collections.

It is clear that lessons are still to be learned from this tragedy. This film has the ability to raise awareness to these lessons, and show the true effects of Grenfell. Hopefully things can change so this doesn't happen again - nobody deserves that.

‘Grenfell’ is currently being shown at The Bluecoat in Liverpool until 21st June 2026. Details of other viewings can be found here.

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Swinton has seen many new housing developments pop up in recent months but one that has slipped under the radar, is this one on Station Road.

This abandoned site has been used as a carpark however recently has been blocked with concrete slabs to prevent any kind of access.

The development plans, which were first submitted in 2024, shows the proposal to demolish 12 and 14 Station Road, and build on there a 4 storey building containing 32 apartments.

A bike shelter and 6 car parking spaces have also been proposed.

Currently, there are 5 objections and 1 person in favour of this development.

This development became more apparent since the local election campaign where it was stated on campaigning labour councillor Liz McCoy’s leaflet that this ‘exciting’ development would be taking place.

There is still no indication on the council website that this planning application has been approved - with the last update being 28th August last year.

There are new amended documents which suggests that the initial plans got rejected and amendments had to be made so this development could get the green light.

For more information on this development, you can visit the Salford City Council planning portal and quote the reference: PA/2024/0076

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Since opening in 2013, The Longfield Centre in Prestwich Village has been a significant part of the community in which many rely on for food shopping, leisure and somewhere to grab a nice cup of coffee.

The £100m works will breathe a new life into Prestwich, one that the community will be able to take full advantage of.

It will see around 200 new homes, retail and leisure spaces, an expanded village square and a new library that will be more than double the size of the previous one.

The project is being led by Prestwich LPP, which is joined with Muse and Bury Council.

The developers say plans are designed to build on what makes Prestwich special, while creating a modern, welcoming centre that reflects the needs of today and tomorrow.

Demolition works are beginning to take place imminently, with all of the shopping units being vacated, as well as the library.

Lifts across the library, Longfield Suite and Iceland have also been decommissioned.

“With everything closed down, it’s miserable”, local resident Rodger tells me.

When walking around, there is a sense of isolation, a sense of absence. People walk past these closed down shops, not giving them a second thought.

Hugh Taylor, Senior Project Manager at Muse said: “These enabling works mark the exciting beginning of the Longfield Centre transformation – an important milestone in delivering this once-in-a-generation investment for Prestwich.

However, some residents don’t believe this is the case.

The curious locals who pass by stopped to speak to me, however they didn't want to be named.

“We are losing a shopping precinct and going to be left with nothing but flats”, one woman told me, clearly unhappy with the new developments.

Rodger told me that he wished to see some more live entertainment in Prestwich.

“The Holy Weavers and groups like that [is what we need] singing at Christmas…bring back the entertainment and that will bring back the community.”

The current plans don’t specifically say anything about live entertainment however that doesn’t mean it won’t be a possibility, it will depend on what companies hire out the retail/leisure spaces.

Before the closure of The Longfield Centre, the community spirit was quite good. It is only hoped that this can be brought back, especially with the new high street culture once the work has been completed.

Residents are also hoping that more small businesses will be able to come back to the high street. These could include bakeries, cafes or independent shops - it is hoped this will bring back the dearly missed community spirit and high street culture back to Prestwich.

Rob Summerfield, Director of Regeneration and Project Delivery at Bury Council, said: "The Longfield Centre is dated, deteriorating and no longer fit for what Prestwich needs as a village centre. Its demolition marks the point where long-promised change becomes visible, as we begin to deliver a new modern village centre that the community deserves.”

For more information on this development, you can visit the ‘Your Prestwich’ website for all of the details.

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After years of back and forth, a new housing development has been approved on a plot of land in Kearsley.

The site in question is along Springfield Road, already known to be quite a heavy residential area which ends with a school and industrial site.

It is a former railway cutting, accessed from the south by Springfield Road.

The plans were submitted back in 2022 by developers W. Maher and Sons where they have since had planning permission declined and had to change the submitted documents so they wouldn’t breach planning regulations.

The amended plans are for 36 houses along a strip of land between some existing houses and Kearsley Academy.

They will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom houses.

There will be 4 one bed houses, 12 two bed houses and 20 three bed houses being built. None of these will be over 2 storeys high.

The houses will be in a singular line, going from the edge of the road, all the way back to just after the academy.

Each house will come with 2 parking spots. One which will be on the driveway, and one on-street parking spot. This offers the potential for 72 extra cars accessing this site once fully built.

When speaking to a local resident, who doesn't wish to be named, she told me how work has recently been completed underneath the bridge to strengthen it for the existing school traffic and lorries that pass through. She is concerned that the addition of all these extra cars could make the area much more congested for the morning commuters, and not as pleasurable to live in what should be a quiet residential area.

As it stands, the site currently lies empty, boggy and full of fly tipped waste that would need to be cleared.

More than 50,000 cubic metres of clean fill material would be needed to level out the site before any buildings works could commence - a very expensive first task.

The land is currently for sale on Rightmove where the emphasis on the advertisement is that planning permission has been granted for 36 homes and it being an ‘ideal development opportunity’.

To find out more about this development, you can visit the Bolton planning register and quote the reference: 13910/22

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Millions are set to cast their ballot today in a series of local elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales.

In England, this means that voters will be picking 5014 councillors for 136 different local authorities.

Six Mayors are also being selected today, all around London. These are: Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford.

Scotland and Wales are holding elections for their respected parliaments.

No elections are being held in Northern Ireland today, their next elections are scheduled for May 2027.

By law, parliament elections happen every 5 years. Scotland and Wales last held their elections in May 2021, meaning the 5 year mark is today. Northern Ireland last held their elections in 2022, meaning theirs falls in May 2027.

What to expect on Polling Day

Voter ID & Polling Card

You would have received your polling card in the post with your name, address, the ward you are voting for and your polling number.

You do not need to bring this with you to the polls.

You will however, need photographic ID to vote in England. This includes a Drivers Licence or Passport.

A full list of acceptable Voter ID’s can be found here.

Can you take your own pen/pencil?

While a pencil will be provided in the voting booth, you can take your own if you wish.

Can you take children?

Yes. Taking children is encouraged so they can learn about democracy. They will not be allowed to make your ballot paper.

Can you take a pet?

We’ve all seen the classic photos on polling day of dogs outside the ‘Polling Station’ sign, however they aren’t allowed inside with you. This is apart from assistance dogs of course.

Can you take a selfie?

The Electoral Commission, who oversees UK elections, says that taking selfies risks the secrecy of the ballot meaning photos inside the polling station aren’t allowed.

You are more than welcome to take photos outside.

Can you vote at any Polling Station?

You can only vote at your local polling station. Details of this can be found on your polling card.

Polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 10pm tonight. The first elections results are expected overnight.

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The Tour de Manc has returned to the streets of Manchester for its 2026 event, and once again has certainly not disappointed with its turnout.

The annual event is an opportunity for cyclists of any background or ability to come together and ride around the streets of Manchester with the chance to raise money for their chosen charities.

This year, The Tour de Manc hosted 4 different rides. These ranged from: The Mad Manc, The Classic Manc, The Manc Challenge and The Northern Quarter ride. All of these come with their own challenges which can differ in length or climbs.

The Tour de Manc was initially founded in 2014 by Danny Franks. Danny rode an 80 mile Tour de Manc route solo to fundraise for Forever Manchester raising over £1000. In 2016, he joined forces with an old friend, Tony Rubins where together they created the all for charity, non-profit organisation The Tour de Manc Ltd.

According to the website, the Tour de Manc idea was simple. It was “to run epic cycling events which could also be used to raise significant funds for registered charities, as well as supporting cycling inclusivity for all.”

Full image galleries will be available for everyone to view up to 10 days after the event.

More information about The Tour de Manc, can be found on their website here.

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The Local Highway Authority (LHA) have issued their response to the proposed HMO plans at the bottom of Moss Lane in Swinton.

Currently occupying Moss Lane, sits a collection of commercial shops from a chippy, cafe, barbers, bookmakers and a tanning salon - all of these, minus the bookmakers who are owned by William Hill, are independently owned.

The street is already known to be quite congested with cars parking all throughout the day, and while the plans submitted allow for parking on-site, it potentially won’t be enough for all of the residents as only 4 parking spaces are being proposed. This will leave the rest to park on the road if extra spaces are required.

In a new document released by the Local Highway Authority, they have stated that due too the restrictions when entering the side of the property, which include a brick pillar against an already narrow entrance way, it would make it difficult for 4 cars to be parked there as they would have trouble passing each other and likely have to reverse out onto the road when leaving the site. This is against the Highway Code and deemed unacceptable by the LHA.

It has been said that only 1 parking space would be acceptable on site at the property to allow the safe manoeuvre from the property carpark onto the road without the need to reverse out.

The LHA have said that there could potentially be 7 vehicles that would be seeking on street parking from this development.

The LHA have considered that “parking availability is limited” on the street and that because the area fronting the shops is unrestricted parking, it could have negative impacts on the commercial sector at the bottom of Moss Lane “by preventing customer parking”.

While short stay parking could be introduced, the LHA have said that it could “push the demand up Moss Lane where it becomes residential in nature.”

Concluding their report, “the LHA do not support this proposal”. Major safety concerns have been raised due to the location being on a busy junction with congested parking all throughout the day.

It is likely this will have a huge impact on the decision process from the council, which is expected to be made by the 15th April 2026.

For more information on this planning application, you can visit the planning portal here and search the reference number: PA/2026/0062.

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It was early 2025 when the Royal British Legion in Swinton closed its doors for the final time. Now, a year later, the building is still standing without purpose. A building which brought the local community together is now just a distant memory in the local community.

Planning permission has been submitted to turn the former club into a new housing development containing 15 apartments.

As it stands, the Legion Club building is 2-storeys high and has an integrated 3-bedroom apartment.

The application, which was submitted by Creative Property People, is requesting to knock down the existing building and completely build the new apartments from scratch.

It would see: 4 one-bedroom apartments, 8 two-bedroom apartments and 3 three-bedroom apartments across 2 floors.

One of the biggest issues that is being raised by locals is the parking situation. Comments about the planning application on Facebook are all parking related with most saying there is nowhere to park as it is without adding an extra 15 apartments.

Another issue that has been raised in the community is the impacts on local services in the area. This is relevant to this development as well as others in the area. Concerns have been raised about not having enough infrastructure for access to GP’s, Police, Social Care and Schools.

“There isn’t the infrastructure in place to support more and more people moving into the area” - Fifi, Swinton Resident.

Since April last year, the social club has gone inactive on social media. They were best known for hosting interactive entertainment and community focused events.

A decision regarding this planning application is due in the next few months.

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Since my report yesterday, the FIA has since confirmed the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix.

It follows the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the dangers that would be posed to the drivers, team officials and other personnel that make the race weekends happen.

The 24 race calendar will now be cut to 22 races as there isn’t enough time to move them to different circuits. Portimão in Portugal, Imola in Italy and Istanbul Park in Turkey were amongst considerations to replace the two Grand Prix.

Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said: “While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion.

"We cannot wait to be back with them as soon as the circumstances allow us to do so."

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The FIA will always place the safety and well-being of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.

“We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events.

“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow. My sincere thanks to the promoters, our partners, and our colleagues across the championship for the collaborative and constructive approach that has led to this decision.”

F1 is taking a huge commercial hit of more than £100m due to the cancellations because Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay two of the highest hosting fees of the season.

The decision will mean a 5 week break between the Japanese Grand Prix on the 29th March and the Miami Grand Prix on the 3rd May.

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Although a formal decision about these races being cancelled hasn’t been reached yet, there is set to be one made by the end of the weekend.

The final decision will be made by the FIA, the governing body for motorsport.

The Bahrain GP was set to be held on the 12th April and the Saudi Arabia GP the week after on the 19th.

As the races are so close, personnel and freight would need to start heading to the circuits for preparation, however this currently isn’t possible due to the current dangers in the Middle East, and no sign of either the US or Iran backing down.

The 24 race calendar will now be cut to 22 races as there isn’t enough time to move them to different circuits. Portimão in Portugal, Imola in Italy and Istanbul Park in Turkey were amongst considerations to replace the two Grand Prix.

F1 is taking a huge commercial hit of more than £100m due to the cancellations because Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay two of the highest hosting fees of the season.

The decision will mean a 5 week break between the Japanese Grand Prix on the 29th March and the Miami Grand Prix on the 3rd May.

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Opening on the 28^th March, the Artisan Street Fayre is back in Swinton for the first time this year.

The Fayre is open on the last Saturday of every month and is the ideal way for a family day out while supporting small businesses.

Whether you’re looking for unique gifts, delicious treats or something special for yourself, there will be plenty to explore.

Despite there still being a few weeks to go, there is already an impressive lineup of traders ranging from Homemade bakers, handmade jewellery, crafted gifts, 3d printed décor and much more.

There will also be an opportunity to play the charity tombola, which is raising money for the RNLI, helping to save lives at sea.

There are still some trader spaces available and those interested can book their place on their website.

The Artisan Street Fayre is open on Swinton Square on the 28^th March 2026 and will return on the last Saturday of every month.

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All traffic has been stopped on the M60 this morning after reports of a vehicle crash.

The incident is reported to have taken place between junction 17 for Prestwich and 16 for Clifton on the anticlockwise carriageway.

Emergency services are at the scene and GMP are currently holding traffic as 3 of the 4 lanes are closed.

The delays are currently expected to last 45 minutes.

Live updates are below

[10:27] All lanes now re-opened

All lanes have now been reopened on the M60.

Delays are still expected but traffic will begin to clear.

National Highways are advising people to allow extra time for their journeys.

[9:24] Now 2 lanes closed

1 lane has now reopened on the M60 leaving just 2 closed.

Traffic is reported to have been backed up to J19.

[9:15] Three lanes closed on the M60

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Despite weeks of demolition, Walkden Town Centre has seen even more this week with the old Pembrooke Hall building being demolished as a part of the town’s re-development plans. With this gone, it will make way for the new proposed pedestrianised entrance way that is in the building plans.

Workers from City Build are currently working on flattening the ground in preparation for the next phase of the building project.

This recent development has seen the entire building taken down which stretched along the high street and into the carpark from next to McDonalds all the way to the Job Centre.

The work comes as part of the £15m scheme, which is destroying 180,000sq ft of existing retail space to make way for upgrades such as a pedestrianised entrance and new retail space, to improve the quality and footfall of the town centre.

See more below ⬇️

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It has been curated by the Amoeba Photography Network - a group of photographers from beginner to professional level.

They regularly meet in Stockroom to share and develop new work, as part of a community where anyone is welcome and can get involved.

Their latest exhibition features 20 photographers from across Greater Manchester who are in the network, including students, recent graduates and industry professionals with national or international recognition.

As Stockport evolves, this exhibition ‘tells a story of connection, creation and collective activity.’

Running until 19 April, the exhibition is free to attend and invites the community to come together, celebrate creativity, and experience the collaborative energy that makes Stockport such a great place to live.

Across the exhibition, the group made intentional decisions such as keeping all images to the same size and the same frame, to make sure every photographer has an equal platform and presence.

Speaking at the Preview night, Sandra Clare, who is an Amobea photographer said, “Every photo is a brief of somebody leaving their front door and noticing something nobody else did.”

Sandra’s work is a result of spending two and a half years walking and documenting above, below and beside the M60. “Stockport is connected to Greater Manchester but also disconnected from itself because of this big piece of tarmac (M60)”, she said.

Sandra ended up with 2000 photographs and presented the best one to the exhibition.

Each photographer has their own interpretation of what Local/Connection means to them, and it shows in their work. The brief was intentionally left open, so it could be interpreted in many ways.

Along with the exhibition, Amobea are also hosting a range of free events between now and April such as Photo walks, networking events and making your own camera strap.

‘Local/Connection’ is free to attend and open in Stockroom until the 19^th April.

Following successful trials in Manchester City Centre, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is looking to deploy vans containing LFR cameras to Stockport Town Centre.

The cameras focus on a specific area or crowd and check faces compared to a pre-prepared watchlist. An alert is issued immediately if there is a match, at which point police officers can take action.

While LFR can be used to catch wanted criminals, it can also be used to help find missing persons.

Since October 2025, when LFR was first introduced, GMP have made 40 arrests and charged 30 with various offences. 1 in 5 of these arrests were registered sex offenders.

GMP have been using 2 vans which have been supplied by the Home Office since the initial rollout, and they have been deployed 23 times.

Some notable deployments include Picadilly Gardens, Manchester Airport and The Manchester United vs City football match - which is the first time LFR has been used at a football game.

Inspector Jon Middleton said “This proactive approach allows officers to intervene more quickly before suspects can commit further offences, reducing the risk to the public.

“We will continue to deploy across Greater Manchester to support our neighbourhood policing teams.”

Greater Manchester Police watchlists are made up of vulnerable missing persons, people wanted for a crime or by the courts, or who are under certain conditions that could be breached.

Sergeant Ryan Magee, from the Sexual Offenders Management Unit, said: “The introduction of Live Facial Recognition technology has seen significant improvements in public protection and proactive policing.

He went on to say that “LFR has quickly proven to be an invaluable safeguarding asset.”