Latest news with #MossSide
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The exciting 'carnival on bikes' that is coming to Manchester this summer
A huge bike ride celebrating unity in the Black community is coming to Manchester. The Black Unity Bike Ride, the UK's carnival on bikes, has announced its expansion to the city. The move comes after a new five-year partnership with London Marathon Events (LME) that will see the event held in two new UK cities – Manchester in 2025 and a third ride will be coming to a major UK city in 2026. Manchester's first ever Black Unity Bike Ride will take place on Sunday 17 August (Marcus Garvey's birthday). It will start and finish in Alexander Park in Moss Side and feature a 12-mile ride through the city. You can sign up to ride here. READ MORE: Take a look inside Tyldesley's new smokehouse bar READ MORE: The seaside towns near Greater Manchester named among 'best in the UK' Founded as a community-led movement in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd in the USA, the Black Unity Bike Ride (BUBR) attracts more than 1,800 participants annually in a ride across London that is suitable for all and celebrates Black joy, empowerment and unity. LME has lent its event organisation expertise to BUBR since 2021, working in partnership to help inspire thousands of people onto the bike. Now a new five-year agreement has strengthened this partnership further and helped BUBR plan to create a national movement by expanding into two new cities. The ride in Manchester will come two weeks after the sixth edition of London's Black Unity Bike Ride, on Saturday 2 August. The 17-mile route will again start in Leyton Sports Ground and finish in Dulwich Park. There will be music throughout, pit stops on route and the BUBR Fest will greet riders at the Finish, with more than 13 food vendors, offering a range of different cuisines, as well as an entertainment and a recovery zone for participants. Entry to BUBR Fest is free. BUBR founder Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa, said: 'What began as a bold idea on London's streets has grown into a national movement. We are very excited to bring the event to Manchester, it has been an aspiration for a few years so we can't wait until Sunday 17th August. "BUBR has valued London Marathon Events support since 2021 and we are very proud to extend this relationship with a new five-year commitment. The partnership is a true statement of intent when it comes to community, inclusion and inspiring active lives.' The BUBR welcomes people of all abilities and ages to take part. In 2024, 47% of participants were first-timers, and more than 70% of those ranked themselves as either beginner or intermediate level riders. In addition, 48% of participants were inspired to join a cycling club after riding in 2024, with 77% cycling more as a result. LME's partnership with BUBR will include support from across the business including marketing, communications, logistics, finance, data and operational support. LME's mission is to inspire activity for all with a focus on supporting and providing access to participation for people in underserved communities. At last year's London Black Unity Bike Ride, 71% of participants identified as being a beginner or intermediate cyclist while 41% of riders were female. Hamid Vaghefian, LME's Communities and DEI Director, said: 'We are delighted to have formalised our partnership with the Black Unity Bike Ride. "We have proudly supported this incredible, empowering event since 2021 and seen the impact it has made in getting more people from the Black community cycling and enjoying activity. "It is an exciting prospect to be able to support this movement further and to help bring what really is a carnival on bikes to other cities in the UK, starting with Manchester on Sunday 17 August.' For more information, visit the Black Unity Bike Ride website.


BBC News
21-06-2025
- BBC News
New details released in Moss Side double shooting investigation
Detectives investigating a double killing have released new details of a person they want to speak to on the fifth anniversary of the Ajose, 36, and Cheriff Tall, 21, were shot dead at a lockdown party in the Moss Side area of Manchester in the early hours of 21 June a fresh appeal, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) urged witnesses who may have seen someone wearing a black Icon cap with a white logo, and a white Nike Air T-shirt with a small black logo over the left side of the chest portion to come force said it was "not too late to do the right thing". Mr Ajose and Mr Tall, who did not know each other, were both shot in the head in a car park off Caythorne Street shortly before 01:00 BST and later died in has ever been charged over the killings. It was estimated that 300-400 people were present in the car park that night, police believe some of those present would be able to provide crucial eyewitness accounts to help track down the killer. Det Ch Insp Neil Higginson said: "We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key information."I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened but there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe."Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. "It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so."I'd just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don't have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance." 'Awful circumstances' He said the person believed to be responsible for the killings was from Birmingham."He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected," said the senior investigating officer. "Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a 'grass' for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in awful circumstances."A £50,000 reward remains available for key information that leads to the conviction of the killer. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.


The Independent
20-06-2025
- The Independent
Police issue appeal five years after double murder at lockdown party
Murder squad detectives have made a fresh appeal for information on the fifth anniversary of a double killing at a lockdown party. Cheriff Tall, 21, and father of three Abayomi 'Junior' Ajose, 36, were shot dead at a 'spontaneous' party attended by 400 people in Moss Side, Manchester, in the early hours of June 21 2020. The event, with a DJ and PA system, took place in a car park in the middle of a block of flats hours after a Black Lives Matter protest. Detectives are appealing for information if witnesses know or saw someone there who was wearing a black Icon cap with a white logo and a white Nike Air T-shirt with a small black logo over the left side of the chest. A £50,000 reward remains available for key information that leads to the discovery and conviction of the killer, who police believe is from Birmingham. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, from Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Major Incident Team, said: 'This year marks five years since Cheriff and Junior went out to a party but sadly never returned home to their loved ones. Their families have been left devastated by their loss, and they deserve justice. 'We will never be able to bring back their beloved Cheriff and Junior, but we can see that their killer is brought to justice. We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key information. 'There were hundreds of people in the car park that night and we are sure that there are people who saw the incident, even if it was just part of it. 'However, there has been a reluctance for witnesses to come forward with information. 'I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened, but there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe. 'Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so. 'I'd just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don't have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance. 'The person responsible for these murders we believe is from Birmingham. He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected. 'Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a 'grass' for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in awful circumstances. No one deserves that. 'When we have worked together in the past, we have achieved great results and if we work together again, we can get justice for Cheriff and Junior. It's not too late to do the right thing.' Anyone with information, however small or insignificant, should contact GMP in confidence on 0161 856 2035, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20. Alternatively, reports can be made in confidence to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Information, including pictures and videos, can be uploaded anonymously to the Major Incident Public Portal for Operation Tarnbrook at
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police issue appeal five years after double murder at lockdown party
Murder squad detectives have made a fresh appeal for information on the fifth anniversary of a double killing at a lockdown party. Cheriff Tall, 21, and father of three Abayomi 'Junior' Ajose, 36, were shot dead at a 'spontaneous' party attended by 400 people in Moss Side, Manchester, in the early hours of June 21 2020. The event, with a DJ and PA system, took place in a car park in the middle of a block of flats hours after a Black Lives Matter protest. Detectives are appealing for information if witnesses know or saw someone there who was wearing a black Icon cap with a white logo and a white Nike Air T-shirt with a small black logo over the left side of the chest. A £50,000 reward remains available for key information that leads to the discovery and conviction of the killer, who police believe is from Birmingham. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, from Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Major Incident Team, said: 'This year marks five years since Cheriff and Junior went out to a party but sadly never returned home to their loved ones. Their families have been left devastated by their loss, and they deserve justice. 'We will never be able to bring back their beloved Cheriff and Junior, but we can see that their killer is brought to justice. We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key information. 'There were hundreds of people in the car park that night and we are sure that there are people who saw the incident, even if it was just part of it. 'However, there has been a reluctance for witnesses to come forward with information. 'I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened, but there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe. 'Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so. 'I'd just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don't have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance. 'The person responsible for these murders we believe is from Birmingham. He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected. 'Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a 'grass' for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in awful circumstances. No one deserves that. 'When we have worked together in the past, we have achieved great results and if we work together again, we can get justice for Cheriff and Junior. It's not too late to do the right thing.' Anyone with information, however small or insignificant, should contact GMP in confidence on 0161 856 2035, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20. Alternatively, reports can be made in confidence to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Information, including pictures and videos, can be uploaded anonymously to the Major Incident Public Portal for Operation Tarnbrook at


BBC News
31-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Leyland housing estate plan rejected over road safety fears
Plans to build a new housing estate have been rejected by councillors amid concerns it could pose a danger to children walking to and from a application for a 23-home development on land off Cocker Lane in Moss Side, Leyland, was rejected by South Ribble Borough Council's planning Friends of Cocker Lane group said they were "relieved" by the decision but were prepared to "fight on" in the event of an Betteridge, acting on behalf of the applicants, said the development came with "a number of improvements to Cocker Lane…which will enhance [it] and provide a safer route for all users – not just those of the proposed development". He said it would be particularly beneficial for the schoolchildren who currently have "no choice but to walk in the road", the Local Democracy Reporting Service committee was told that up to 150 children used Cocker Lane to get to and from school at any one time, usually walking in the road, due to the lack of a footpath between the junction with Birchwood and the proposed development Adrian Dean said a proposed 1.8m-wide pavement was not enough to "safely accommodate the hundreds of school children that walk the lane every school day".Mother-of-two Abigail Saunders quoted a comment from Moss Side Primary headteacher Andrew Wright, in which he said the estate created a scenario "where an accident is near-certain to occur involving children, either outside our school or on the roads close by".Addressing committee members, Ms Saunders said: "Are you happy to roll the dice…with my child's life?"A plan submitted on behalf of applicant BW SIPP Trustees Ltd proposed the creation of a continuous pavement on the south side of Cocker Lane, to replace the narrow grass verge that currently exists, along with the removal of the equivalent strip of greenery on the north side to allow the road to be slightly Lane resident Michael Johnson told members that if a grass verge was removed as part of the plans then residents would need to stand in the road to trim their Johnson described it as "a plan that might seem to fit on a piece of paper, but is hazardous in practice".The proposal was refused on the grounds it would have a "detrimental" impact on the character of the immediate area, after councillors were advised it would be difficult to defend a rejection on road safety grounds as highways bosses at Lancashire County Council were satisfied with the the meeting heard it had taken seven reworkings of the blueprint to persuade the county council that the largely pavement-free route could be made safe for both construction traffic and the increase in vehicles generated by the new Devenish, a consultant from SCP acting on behalf of the applicant, told the committee that the repeated rethinks surrounding the road layout were a positive and it was normal for several revisions of a scheme to be submitted. 'Inappropriate application' Moss Side ward councillor Michael Green said this was "probably the most inappropriate application" he had ever seen in nearly 20 years representing the said the design "effectively shoehorns the scheme into the locality as tightly as you could possibly imagine".Councillor Phil Smith said his concerns about the plans had only been strengthened by a site visit after members deferred a decision at the last committee Elaine Stringfellow said she had seen children wearing headphones and looking down at their phones while walking in the road which left her thinking "how much better it would be if there was a pathway there…that was continuous". Permission was refused by six votes to two on character and visual appearance grounds. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.