Anyone over the age of 18 will be able to walk into the Rates Hall in the Town Hall Extension next week and get a COVID-19 jab, Manchester City Council has confirmed.
The Grade II listed venue near St Peter’s Square is being turned into a vaccination hub from Monday 9 August – allowing people to pop in to get a jab with no booking required.
The central location has been chosen to make it easy for people to visit and get vaccinated when they’re out and about in town, as well as offering a nearby vaccination site for returning students living in the Oxford Road Corridor.
The pop-up will be running for an initial two-week period offering both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines – with the site potentially being extended into September.
A total of four vaccination pods will be set up inside the hall and staff on site will be on hand to answer any questions.
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Councillor Joanna Midgley, Executive Member for Health and Care for Manchester City Council said: “Throughout the rollout of the vaccine choosing the right location has been key. Making sure the vaccine is accessible to every resident is crucial as we work to ensure as many people as possible are protected from COVID-19.
“Over the past month we have been working hard to reach our younger residents, many of which live in the city centre or in neighbouring areas. By setting up a vaccination site in literally the heart of the city, with close links to public transport and in one of the city’s most well-known landmarks we are giving people the easiest possible opportunity to get jabbed.”
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David Regan, Director of Public Health for Manchester added: “We know that by getting the jab a person is significantly cutting their risk of becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19. Getting the second jab reduces that risk even further which is why it is so important that people do the right thing and come forward.
“As large parts of society have now opened up again we want residents, especially our younger ones, to be able to enjoy life to its fullest especially given the sacrifices made through 2020.
“This is why I’d urge anyone yet to get their first or second vaccine to take up this opportunity to grab a jab, protect themselves, and get their lives back to normal.”
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The vaccination hub operational times are as follows:
Monday: 15:00 – 19:00
Tuesday: 11.00 – 19.00
Wednesday: 15.00 – 19.00
Thursday: 11.00 – 19.00
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Friday: 15.00 – 19.00
For more information, visit the Manchester City Council website.
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Council calls on public to suggest names for new public square in Stretford
Emily Sergeant
The Greater Manchester public is being called on to help name a brand-new public square in the heart of Stretford.
Could we have another ‘Boaty McBoatface’ on our hands? As far as public naming competitions go, the comical suggestion for the name of a new RMS ship back in 2016 – which was then given to a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) instead – will probably always lead the way as the most well-known entrant.
But now, it’s Greater Manchester‘s turn to give it a go and get creative with their naming suggestions, as Trafford Council inviting the local community to name a brand-new public square that’s set to open in the heart of Stretford next year.
Connecting the newly restored King Street and Pinnington Lane, Trafford Council says the new public square will play “a key part in the transformation of the area” and be a “focal point” for the area – with lots of greenery, seating areas, and spaces to “meet, rest and play” and host events too.
Residents are being encouraged to “put their imprint on the Square” by putting forward their suggestions for its name.
All the entries will be condensed into a shortlist and the public will then vote on their favourite.
With the naming competition fully underway, Trafford residents now have the opportunity to talk to the Stretford town centre team, get creative, and post entries into the voting box that’ll be in place in Stretford Mall up until Sunday 19 May, as well as submit their ideas via the Stretford town centre website.
To come up with their names suggestions, the Council wants residents to take inspiration from these three themes:
Heritage – celebrating the fascinating history embedded into Stretford’s identity
Culture – showcasing the rich and vibrant cultural tapestry that defines the essence of the town and its residents
Community – reflecting the strong sense of unity among Stretford’s residents, making the town a welcoming place to live, work, and socialise.
After submissions are closed, the Stretford town centre forum will then decide on three entries that “best represent the area” and have made best use of the inspiration topics to go to the public vote for the final decision.
A town centre polling station will be open for residents to cast their votes in person, or they can do so online via both a Google form or a range of social media polls.
The public vote will officially close on Sunday 16 June, and the unveiling ceremony will take place at The StretFest on Saturday 6 July, where the winner and name of the new public square will be announced.
Fancy shooting a suggestion then? Find out more on the Stretford Town Centre website here.
Featured Image – STC / Bruntwood
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Manchester-born Lord of the Rings and Titanic actor Bernard Hill dies aged 79
Danny Jones
Manchester actor, best known for roles in Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Shirley Valentine and more, has sadly died at the age of 79.
Born in Blackley near the River Irk, historically part of Lancashire, the familiar British face who often popped up in Hollywood too famously played Théoden, the King of Rohan, in the original trilogy of fantasy films as well as Captain Edward Smith in Titanic.
His death was announced by his agent Lou Coulson via the BBC, who confirmed that he passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A statement from his family is expected soon and tributes are already pouring in online.
Hill studied at what is now the Manchester School of Theatre, formerly known as the Polytechnic School of Theatre and also went on to appear in the much-loved BBC drama by Alan Bleasdale, Boys from the Blackstuff, back in 1982.
Playing the character of Yosser Hughes – best-known for the line “gizza a job” – the show went on to be awarded a BAFTA for best drama series in 1983 and was ranked as the seventh best TV show ever made on a 2000 round-up by the British Film Institute
He was also due for a big return to TV screens in series two of another BBC hit, The Responder starring Martin Freeman, which begins airing at 9pm this Sunday.