6 days ago
The Mancunian Way: Ding-dong in a Munich nightclub
'We are homeless' reads the sign fashioned from a scratty bit of cardboard attached to a bright blue tent in Stockport town centre.
This makeshift shelter is currently home to a family who came to the UK last year from Iraq.
Mohammed, his wife and their 18-year-old son have been sleeping rough outside the offices of social housing provider Stockport Homes.
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"We need help, it's not safe here. I've been here for ten days, my wife is sick, we can't stay like this,' Mohammed told local democracy reporter Declan Carey.
The family - and another rough sleeper in a tent next to theirs - are among a growing number of people sleeping rough in the town.
The council, grappling with major housing shortages, expects to spend up to £1m on hotel accommodation this year - up from £180,000 three years ago.
Stockport Homes say Mohammed's family was offered accommodation but turned it down because it was outside the borough - a situation that would leave them in temporary accommodation.
You can read more about the family's predicament here.
Yehudis Fletcher always felt 'comfortable' in Manchester as a child visiting from Scotland - joining her grandmother on day trips into town and to the Jewish Museum.
But when she moved to the city as a teenager to live with a Jewish scholar - and subjected to horrific abuse at his hands - she was silenced by the city's Orthodox Jewish, or charedi, community.
Now a convicted paedophile, Grynhaus sexually assaulted Yehudis repeatedly, stealing into her bedroom at night and forcing himself upon her. Young and shielded from sexual ideas and language through her religion, she didn't even have the words to describe what was happening to her.
In her new memoir Chutzpah, she explores her faith, sexuality and the community.
She has been speaking to reporter Nicole Wootton-Cane about her horrific ordeal at the hands of a man she thought she could trust.
It's a harrowing but worthwhile read.
One of Manchester's biggest developers has been accused of using 'different figures' to avoid having to build affordable housing.
Renaker, which has built many of Manchester's skyscrapers, has repeatedly successfully argued the schemes it has put forward would not make enough profit to be 'viable' if it included affordable housing as per council policy.
However, a court heard this week that the developer allegedly uses a 'different set of figures' when seeking loans with 'modest' interest rates.
It comes as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority defends itself against claims brought to the Competition Appeal Tribunal that it loaned £120m to Renaker through its Housing Investment Loan Fund with 'no lawful or proper process'.
Politics writer Joseph Timan has all the details here.
"Good luck with that," says Roger Carrington, on hearing that Warburton Toll Bridge may have to close.
For more than 160 years travellers have been paying to cross the iron and stone bridge on the south west edge of Trafford. It's now a well-used route for drivers heading to and from the M6 and M62.
But Peel Port Group say it may have to close permanently unless 'selfish and irresponsible' drivers of lorries, tractors and other HGVs stop crossing it in spite of current weight restrictions during a £6.5m upgrade.
The long-standing 12p toll has been temporarily removed.
But the threat of closure and a planned increase in the toll to £1 once work is complete hasn't gone down well with villagers in Warburton, as reporter Damon Wilkinson discovered.
American pop-rockers Haim have chosen an unusual spot for their latest photoshoot.
It appears the cover art for their new release features an area near Piccadilly Gardens, with Don Tacos and One Piccadilly Gardens quite easily recognisable in the background.
It's sent fans into a frenzy with one declaring: 'Omg not near Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester take me back to uni lmao!'
While another said: 'What the hell are you doing on Portland Street? I am beside myself.'
What's On writer Adam Maidment has been scouring the details of the shot, including a W H Smith bag and a reference to a very noughties celeb couple.
Drought: The Environment Agency has declared a drought in the north-west of England. Details here.
Move on: Stockport council's new leader has demanded action rather than words on the town's call for a Metrolink stop. Mark Roberts said plans to expand the Metrolink network to Stockport need to move forward.
Affordability: Despite efforts to build more homes, property in Salford is becoming 'less affordable', the city's mayor has said. Paul Dennett has warned that the cost of living in Salford is being pushed further out of reach for some of the city's residents as prices continue to surge.
Tickets: Oldham Athletic FC will play Southend at Wembley on Sunday - the first time the club has visited the iconic stadium in over 30 years. But there are concerns Lactics fans will miss out due to ticket allocations for the game. More here.
Friday: Light rain changing to overcast by late morning. 19C.
Roads: A572 St Helens Road southbound, Leigh, closed due to roadworks from A578 Twist Lane to Bonnywell Road. Until June 30.
A6 Chapel Street westbound, Salford, closed due to long-term roadworks from A6041 Blackfriars Road to A34 New Bailey Street. Until January 19.
A58 Park Road in both directions closed due to water main work at Westhoughton until May 30.
'The infamous Oasis 'ding-dong' in a Munich nightclub that cost Liam Gallagher €50,000 and his two front teeth'.
How's that for a headline on a story I am definitely going to read. As you can imagine, the copy is littered with Liam's usual fruity parlance, so look away if you are easily offended.
Otherwise, read on.
