Latest news with #MDCs
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Mancunian Way: Going underground
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. READ MORE: Dean Barnes trial: Burglary victim cleared of causing death by dangerous driving as thief who rode stolen bike convicted READ MORE: Mum murdered by ex dumped outside as his sisters tried to help cover up brutal killing 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.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
LSA leaders urge Mizoram guv to dissolve current LADC
1 2 Aizawl: Lai Students' Association (LSA) leaders on Wednesday said they have submitted a letter to Mizoram governor Gen VK Singh on Tuesday, asking him to dissolve the current Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) and make arrangements for fresh elections before the scheduled election to the 25-member LADC in Nov. Talking to media persons in southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai town, LSA president K Lalhuliana said there could not be any stable administration in the 11th LADC due to repeated toppling games played by unscrupulous politicians glamouring only the top positions. He said the lack of stability in the council and repeated ouster of executive committees have harmed the development of the people within the LADC. The LSA received information that horse-trading has been going on among the members of district council (MDCs) for the formation of a new executive committee in the LADC. Sources in the Aizawl Raj Bhavan said the governor had approved the appointment of N Zangura, recently elected leader of the United Legislature Party (ULP), as chief executive member of the LADC on Wednesday. He had sent the file to CM Lalduhoma. The ULP was formed by 11 MDCs of the Mizo National Front (MNF) and one BJP MDC and is being given outside support by former CEM C Lalmuanthanga, the lone Congress MDC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo ULP MDCs led by BJP MDC N Zangura, along with 11 MNF MDCs as well as the lone Congress MDC, had met Singh on April 23and staked claim to form the next executive committee in the LADC where Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) had been in power since nearly two months. However, another ZPM MDC Tuturu Singh, who was to be officially inducted to the BJP in Aizawl along with Zangura, allegedly changed his mind after meeting ZMP leaders at Lunglei town while proceeding towards Aizawl on April 23. Zangura said with MDC BN Thangpuia, who was inducted to the BJP on April 25, the ULP led by him still has the support of 13 members to form the next executive committee of the LADC without Tuturu Singh. There has been a change of guard for four times during the 11th term of the LADC since election was held in Nov 2020.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen to step down from MDC chair roles
A mayor will stand down from chairing multiple Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs) in June. Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said he would not be seeking the MDC chair positions when they became available again at the next annual general meeting (AGM) on 27 June. It follows the publication of government advice suggesting mayors in such roles should resign "to avoid conflicts of interests".MDCs come into existence after a regional mayor designates a mayoral development area with the object of securing regeneration there. As of January 2025, there are two MDCs in London, one in Manchester and three in the Tees Valley - the latter all chaired by are the South Tees Development Corporation, the Middlesbrough Development Corporation and the Hartlepool Development government said on 3 April that oversight of MDCs "should be clearly separate from decision making to avoid conflicts of interest".The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) previously said it would "reflect carefully" on the said: "I am incredibly proud of all we've achieved and will achieve... the boards will be updated at the AGM as per the constitution."The TVCA is currently subject to a Best Value Notice, meaning it must work with the government to make sure public money is being used appropriately. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
TVCA to 'reflect' on mayoral conflict of interest guidance
A combined authority says it will "reflect carefully" on government advice stating mayors of such organisations should not chair Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs) to "avoid conflicts of interest".But Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) did not say whether elected Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen would step down from his role chairing three advice was issued on 3 April, the same day the TVCA was hit with a Best Value Notice - meaning it must work with the government to make sure public money is being used appropriately. Houchen declined to comment when approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Although the government guidance was issued for all MDCs across the country, it was created to address a recommendation from the Tees Valley Review - an independent investigation into the Teesworks come into existence after a regional mayor designates a mayoral development area with the object of securing regeneration there. Separate roles As of January 2025, there are two MDCs in London, one in Manchester and three in the Tees Valley - the latter all chaired by are the South Tees Development Corporation, the Middlesbrough Development Corporation and the Hartlepool Development government said oversight of MDCs "should be clearly separate from decision making to avoid conflicts of interest."Bearing in mind mayors of combined authorities provide oversight of MDCs, and have powers in relation to the issuing of guidance and direction to an MDC, "the mayor should not be the chair of an MDC," the guidance it was reported that within the Tees Valley Review there was discussion of "perceived conflicts of interest" and this resulted in changes at the top of the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC), however Houchen remained both chair of TVCA and of STDC. When asked in December what his reasoning was for this, he said: "The development corporation is my project, and it gives more political accountability to have the directly elected mayor as the chairman of the public body."A TVCA spokesman said MDCs had cut through bureaucracy to secure investment and added: "We will reflect carefully on the government's updated guidance and work with partners to make any necessary adjustments, while keeping our absolute focus on delivering real outcomes for local people." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
