Latest news with #Prestwich
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Labour should make a swift U-turn on bricks that provide nesting places
As a Labour councillor who has campaigned for over a decade to get developers to fit 'swift bricks' to new buildings, I found the decision by my party's government to block this very upsetting (Labour blocks proposal for 'swift bricks' in all new homes, 23 May). As cabinet member for the environment and climate change, I was instrumental in the decision of Bury council last year to mandate that all new buildings be fitted with swift bricks. This year I've only seen four swifts over where I live in Prestwich. I used to see dozens, and was delighted to hear their screams as they flew over my garden. What is my party so afraid of? The £35 charge on each new house from the building lobby? Being seen as 'woke'? Myopic decisions like this one make a mockery of Labour's pledges on the environment. For thousands of years swifts have migrated from Africa to spend their summers with us, but gradually their traditional nesting places in the nooks and crannies of old buildings have gone. Their numbers have declined by more than 60% in the last few decades. The government should reverse this shortsighted decision as soon as possible to prevent further embarrassment and losing voters to the Greens and Liberal QuinnPrestwich, Greater Manchester Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Man arrested after Prestwich antisemitic graffiti found
A man has been arrested in connection with antisemitic graffiti found on buildings in Manchester. The 57-year-old was held on suspicion of causing racially aggravated criminal damage, Greater Manchester Police comes after offensive messages were found scrawled on buildings, including outside a kosher restaurant, in the area of Kings Road and Bury Old Road in Prestwich at the weekend. Extra patrols were being deployed in the area, police added in a Facebook post. 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.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Restaurateur 'fighting antisemitic hate with love'
The owner of a kosher restaurant which has twice been subjected to antisemitic graffiti said he wanted to "fight the hate with love". Nissen Lewis, co-owner of Benny's Bistro in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, said he was "hurt" after finding antisemitic slurs written on the wall outside his business on Old Bury Road, first in late April and then at the weekend. Mr Lewis, who reported both incidents to police, said members of the local community had made signs of support to add to the wall. "People were turning up - young kids, not even customers - [to stick] something on the wall," he said. The restaurateur added: "It was very heart-warming to see people reacting in a positive way. "Yes, someone's done this. It's not nice [but] our response is 'we love the community, we love Jews - Jews, Christians and Muslims should live side by side'." Mr Lewis said he had been overwhelmed after details of the attacks were posted on social media. He said he had even received a postcard a former Prestwich resident who now lives on Orkney. He said: "I don't who it is. She doesn't know me. That's beautiful... that really put a smile on my face." Greater Manchester Police said it was treating the attacks, as well as another report of antisemitic graffiti on nearby Kings Road, as "racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage". Police urged anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to contact them. The force also said extra officers had been deployed to the area. The 38-year-old businessman, who has spent most of his life in Prestwich, said he had "never experienced antisemitism like this" before. "I've got a mosque across the road. I've got a synagogue literally out the other window. And there's a church 100 yards behind me," he said. "We provide food to the community. I get non-Jews coming in here, I get Muslims coming in here. "We want to fight hate with love." He urged police to take the attacks seriously, both to send a strong message that bigotry would not be tolerated, and also to avoid any potential escalation. He said: "If you think: 'Oh, I can get away with that, maybe I can then pick on a younger kid who can't look after themselves?'" 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. Police investigate reports of antisemitic graffiti Greater Manchester Police
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Prestwich: 'We're fighting antisemitic graffiti with love'
The owner of a kosher restaurant which has twice been subjected to antisemitic graffiti said he wanted to "fight the hate with love".Nissen Lewis, co-owner of Benny's Bistro in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, said he was "hurt" after finding antisemitic slurs written on the wall outside his business on Old Bury Road, first in late April and then at the weekend. Mr Lewis, who reported both incidents to police, said members of the local community had made signs of support to add to the wall."People were turning up - young kids, not even customers - [to stick] something on the wall," he said. The restaurateur added: "It was very heart-warming to see people reacting in a positive way."Yes, someone's done this. It's not nice [but] our response is 'we love the community, we love Jews - Jews, Christians and Muslims should live side by side'." Mr Lewis said he had been overwhelmed after details of the attacks were posted on social said he had even received a postcard a former Prestwich resident who now lives on Orkney. He said: "I don't who it is. She doesn't know me. That's beautiful... that really put a smile on my face."Greater Manchester Police said it was treating the attacks, as well as another report of antisemitic graffiti on nearby Kings Road, as "racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage". Police urged anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to contact force also said extra officers had been deployed to the area. The 38-year-old businessman, who has spent most of his life in Prestwich, said he had "never experienced antisemitism like this" before."I've got a mosque across the road. I've got a synagogue literally out the other window. And there's a church 100 yards behind me," he said. "We provide food to the community. I get non-Jews coming in here, I get Muslims coming in here. "We want to fight hate with love."He urged police to take the attacks seriously, both to send a strong message that bigotry would not be tolerated, and also to avoid any potential escalation. He said: "If you think: 'Oh, I can get away with that, maybe I can then pick on a younger kid who can't look after themselves?'" 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.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Prestwich: Police investigate reports of antisemitic graffiti
Reports of antisemitic attacks on Jewish-owned businesses and a synagogue in north Manchester are being investigated, police have buildings in the Kings Road and Bury Old Road area of Prestwich were daubed with "racially or religiously aggravated" graffiti on Sunday, said Greater Manchester Police (GMP).The force said it was following several lines of inquiry and added that additional officers had been deployed to the area to support said officers were keen to speak to anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area. 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.
