The Mancunian Way: Going underground

Yahoo

2 days ago

Andy Burnham says he is 'deadly serious' about taking Greater Manchester's transport system subterranean.
He wants to run trains and trams under Manchester city centre.
The mayor's rather surprising announcement came at the end of an event to launch the new, 10-year Greater Manchester Strategy. And Mr Burnham said the underground policy was what he was most excited about.
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He wants it to start with a new, underground Piccadilly station. 'We will need infrastructure on a bigger scale to cope,' he told Ethan Davies.
It's not exactly a new idea. A 'Picc-Vic' subterranean tunnel was planned in the 1970s, before it was cancelled.
No timelines for the underground system have been offered but Mr Burnham wants 'detailed' costed plans by 2030. Watch this space.
While waxing lyrical last night, Mr Burnham said the next decade will be the best 'since the Victorian period'. Part of that is down to a new plan to run five new 'mayoral development corporations' (MDCs) - aimed at slashing red tape and speeding up development.
In the town of Middleton, comedian Steve Coogan will be leading the charge.
New homes and businesses, improved roads and a Metrolink stop could all be part of the regeneration.
And Mr Coogan, who hails from Alkrington, says it's an 'exciting opportunity' for him to give back to a town that helped him in his early years.
'I feel I owe the people of Middleton a debt. That's why I'm happy to be involved and talk to people in Middleton and ask them what they want and what they need.
'You can't change the world, but you can change the things in your locality if you get involved. So I'm getting involved.'
You can read more about the plans here.
This lovely image shows Heaton Park as preparations start for the huge Oasis homecoming gigs.
You can catch up with all our Oasis stories - and there are a few - right here.
Demolition work has started at the Hotspur Press building after it was gutted during a devastating fire.
A huge blaze erupted at the building - one of the city's oldest surviving cotton mills, which was later repurposed as a printing press - on the evening of June 23.
More than 100 people were evacuated from nearby blocks of flats, while trains were stopped on the line near Oxford Road station.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it would have to be partially demolished. Specialist workers are currently on site and carrying out preparation work. Chris Slater has more detail here.
Greater Manchester could see four major hospital rebuilds and new developments amid changes to frustrating rules that stopped the region from transforming crumbling buildings.
After a years-long mission to get the funding, and a Manchester Evening News campaign, up to £1.5bn was finally approved by the government for the overhaul of the Victorian-era North Manchester General Hospital.
But NHS capital spending rules have prevented three other major hospital building projects in Greater Manchester. Changes to those rules could break logjams for Stepping Hill Hospital, wythenshawe-hospital>Wythenshawe Hospital, and The Christie Hospital, says the region's NHS chief.
Health reporter Helena Vesty has all the details here.
Two years ago, Alex Spencer was performing to shoppers on Market Street.
Last night he took to the Castlefield Bowl stage in front of thousands as a support act for The Black Keys.
The 18-year-old started busking at the age of 12 and has made a name for himself releasing three EPs and showcasing tracks via BBC Introducing.
'If I never went out busking I'd never be here where I am now,' he told Adam Maidment.
'The best thing about busking is that you never know who is watching.'
Read more about Alex here.
Friday: It's another scorcher with sunshine all day and top temps of 30C.
Roads: A577 Mosley Common Road, Astley, in both directions closed due to roadworks between B5232 Bridgewater Road and A572 Chaddock Lane until July 22.
A6 Chapel Street westbound, Salford, closed due to long-term roadworks from A6041 Blackfriars Road to A34 New Bailey Street. Until January 19.
A5067 Chester Road westbound, Old Trafford, closed due to roadworks between A5014 Talbot Road and A56 Bridgewater Way. Between 9.30am and 3.30pm Mondays to Sundays until October 31.
Towering: Plans to build one of the UK's tallest skyscrapers in Salford look set to go ahead in a major development for the city. The massive tower could stand at 273m tall, in a £1bn project by Henley Investment Management (HIM) to build up to 3,300 homes across 10 buildings at Regent Retail Park. More here.
Razed: An eyesore Northern Quarter car park is to be demolished to make way for a new development. Four new public squares will be built on the site of the Church Street multi-storey. More here.
Blossoming: Castlefield Viaduct will double in size after securing £2.75m of funding, the National Trust has announced. The 'sky park' was opened to the public in 2022, initially opening for a year-long trial but it proved such a hit that the National Trust kept it open. Details here.
It was a place of outlandish pranks, love affairs, legendary drunken parties and the first home many people ever had in the city.
Sadly, all that remains are photographs and memories that generations of former students will never forget.
Now reduced to rubble, Owens Park Tower was once the gold standard in student digs.
Lee Grimsditch has been looking back at why.