Latest news with #StockportHomes
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
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. READ MORE: Driver dies after crashing into wall in Greater Manchester READ MORE: Girl, 13, 'topples into reservoir in front of her dad while taking photo' "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.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I won a gold medal for Great Britain, now I'm facing life on the streets'
A woman who won gold for Great Britain at the Paralympics has described how was on the brink of homelessness after being evicted in March. Megan Giglia MBE had to leave her rented Stockport home last month after being given a no fault eviction by her former landlord last year. It left her facing life on the streets and having to seek help from the borough's homelessness prevention services. READ MORE: Salford incident LIVE: Huge cordon with seven arrests after gun pointed at crowd and crossbow found - updates READ MORE: Moment gun is pointed at crowd on Salford street before armed police storm scene The 40-year-old won Great Britain's first medal of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio when she won gold in the 3,000m individual pursuit, and also won titles in the UCI Para-cycling World Championships the same year. Megan and her nine-year-old child are currently staying in a hotel in Altrincham, which is funded by Stockport Homes, while applying for properties on the borough's social housing register. Stockport Homes said it 'completely understands how distressing and frustrating' the situation is, and has done everything it can to support Megan and others in similar situations. From Kent, she moved to Greater Manchester for access to sports and training facilities, but has found herself in a desperate position. "I just don't know how I've ended up in this,' Megan said. 'I have good days and bad days, I try to keep it away from the kids. 'I get severe headaches from the stress of it all, it's not great, but I manage because I have to. If I didn't have my kids, I'd be suicidal." In 2013, Megan had a stroke and brain haemorrhage which left her with weakness on her right side and difficulties with balance. But she has found herself at odds with Stockport Homes over the type of social housing property she could live in. She says she would be happy with a house with stairs, but Stockport Homes say she requires a level access flat or bungalow, with a level access shower, after an assessment of her medical needs. The gold-medal winner says she is able to manage stairs and walk most days. She also worries that not having an outdoor space such as a garden could be detrimental for her child, as well as her two pet dogs who are currently with kept with her partner. "They're not allowing me a choice [of properties],' Megan said. 'The system is set up to keep people out and push you to go private, but I can't go private, so I'm in limbo." She said she has tried looking for bungalows to rent privately, but some can cost as much as £2,500 a month. She added: "I can't survive that, it's impossible." She also claimed Stockport Homes has ignored some of her messages, and believes they are 'waiting until [I'm] in the worst case situation before doing anything.' While Megan and her son are currently staying in a hotel, she worries that they might be moved to a hostel eventually. The situation has also impacted her sporting career, Megan says, claiming she had to leave a talent academy for the British shooting team where she was aiming to compete at the 'highest level." The social housing provider said it has contacted Megan to advise which additional information she needs to provide if she wants to be considered for an adapted house. It also said its registration team made numerous attempts to contact Megan to discuss her application for social housing in October. A Stockport Homes spokesperson added: 'Decisions around housing offers are never taken lightly. 'They're based on information from medical and occupational therapist assessments, often with an independent doctor reviewing this information, to ensure needs are fully understood, and to make sure people are offered/placed somewhere that meets these assessed housing needs.' The company is responsible for managing Stockport's social housing on behalf of the council. It added: 'Sadly, this challenge isn't unique to Stockport, and unfortunately there simply isn't the accommodation available in the numbers needed to meet the demand. 'Across the country, millions of people are waiting for social housing while the number of suitable homes continues to fall — particularly those that meet more complex needs. 'In England, only 7 per cent of homes meet basic accessibility criteria, and it's even more difficult to find homes that also accommodate pets or outdoor space. 'Even with the pressures we're facing, we're doing everything we can to help - reviewing all social properties that become available for letting, offering ongoing advice and support, and doing our best to increase the supply of genuinely affordable, accessible homes in Stockport.'
