North Manchester is set to become home to a huge new public green space within the next couple of years.
Forming part of Manchester City Council and Far East Consortium’s (FEC) ‘Northern Gateway’ masterplan – recently rebranded as ‘Victoria North’ – to regenerate and rejuvenate over 390-acres of land into new communities over the next two decades, the proposed City River Park will boast 113 acres of landscaped green space.
Set to be completed by 2024 in the north eastern area of the city, City River Park is expected to incorporate part of St Catherine’s Wood and the River Irk.
Much of this land is currently disused and has sadly become somewhat of a fly-tipping hotspot.
City River Park has been described as “a park for the people”.
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A description of the proposed plans for the park on the Victoria North website reads: “At the heart of the regeneration is the City River Park, which covers 113 acres of new and improved parkland and will become one of Manchester’s largest city centre green spaces.
“The park will vary in character providing a diverse and active new recreational corridor for the community including parks and smaller amenity spaces.
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“City River Park will enhance existing habitats and create new habitats for wildlife, and be guided by climate positive design to create results which as carbon neutral as possible. Connectivity and accessibility are also key ensuring high quality pedestrian and cycle movement within luscious green spaces for active lifestyles and wellbeing”.
The £4 billion ‘Victoria North’ project will aim to create around 15,000 homes north of Manchester Victoria train station over the next 20 years, and is made up of seven neighbourhoods.
These neighbourhoods are: Collyhurst Village – which Manchester City Council and FEC submitted first phase regeneration plans for last month – Collyhurst South, New Cross, New Town, Red Bank, Vauxhall Gardens, and Smedley Dip and Eggington Street.
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Speaking on the decision to rebrand as ‘Victoria North’, Gavin Taylor – Regional General Manager at FEC in Manchester – said: “The Northern Gateway has served us well as a name as we shaped plans for the area’s regeneration, but as we begin to bring forward development this year, it’s the right time to start creating a sense of place for what will be a significant new district in Manchester, as well as an identity that people can engage with”.
Introducing the North of England’s biggest urban regeneration project!
He continued: “When taken together, Victoria North’s seven neighbourhoods are greater than the sum of their parts and we want there to be a sense of cohesion between them.
“Each area will have its own unique characteristics, meaning we can celebrate the rich identities of existing communities that we’re passionate about preserving, alongside new ones that we’re excited to be creating.”
Sir Richard Leese – Leader of Manchester City Council – added: “We are at the beginning of an incredibly exciting phase of history for this part of Manchester and with some eagerness to see how this potential unfolds”.
You can find more information about the Victoria North project here.
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A third of Brits want police to immediately ban drink drivers at the roadside
Emily Sergeant
A third of Brits support giving police powers to immediately ban drink drivers at the roadside, a new survey has revealed.
Ahead of the festive travel season, where a record number of people are expected to hit the road and make journeys all across the UK over the next couple of days, the RAC has asked more than 2,500 drivers to give their thoughts on the state of the roads for 2024’s edition of the Report on Motoring, and found that tougher sentences were the most popular solution among motorists for tackling the problem of drink-driving.
With instances of drink-driving said to be responsible for the deaths of some 300 people in 2022 – which is when the latest data on this was collected – four in 10 motorists (38%) believe harsher sentences are the answer.
A third of drivers (33%) also support giving the police new powers to immediately disqualify drink-drivers at the roadside once they’ve been stopped.
A third of Brits want police to immediately ban drink drivers at the roadside / Credit – Vladimir Proskurovskiy (via Unsplash)
The idea that convicted drink-drivers should have alcohol interlocks, also known as ‘alcolocks’, fitted to their vehicles to prevent them driving if they have any alcohol in their system, was favoured by 32% of those questioned by the RAC.
A similar number of drivers (31%) also want to see roadside breathalyser testing increased.
When it comes to drug drivers, results from the RAC’s survey are a similar story, only higher – with almost two-thirds of all drivers (64%) supporting tougher sentencing for drug-drivers, and 56% saying they would like to see increased levels of roadside testing.
Just under half (49%) of motorists questioned want the police to be able to immediately disqualify drug-drivers at the roadside.
Speaking on the findings from the RAC’s survey, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, commented: “In policing, we see the damaging impact of drink and drug driving all too often, and every fatality or serious injury which happens as a consequence of this is completely avoidable.
“Driving under the influence of drink or drugs puts everyone at risk – individuals, families, businesses and whole communities.
“Together we must do everything we can to put a stop to this irresponsible and incredibly dangerous behaviour.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
The Manc -
18th March 2021 
