Manchester City Council says it’s “on track” to installing almost 10,000 new solar panels across the city by the end of 2023.
It may sound ambitious, but Manchester is well on its way to becoming home to a whopping 9,859 new solar panels in total before the year is out, which will ultimately help the city along its way to reaching the all-important target of becoming zero-carbon by 2038.
The installation of the new solar panels is said to be “a key part” of the Council’s five-year ‘Climate Change Action Plan’.
Continuing on with the mission to reduce carbon emissions from local buildings by using renewable energy and energy efficiency measures – which the Council pledged £6 million towards back in June of last year – a total of 6,897 solar panels have been installed at Council-run sites since 2022, and an additional 2,962 have been commissioned / or are in the pipeline to be delivered, before the end of this year.
Hough End Leisure Centre, the Wythenshawe Forum, and Moss Side Leisure Centre are some of the locations where new solar panels have already been installed, while Didsbury Library, and the Manchester Aquatic Centre, are expected to have see them soon.
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Almost 10,000 new solar panels to be installed across Manchester by end of 2023 / Credit: Gustavo Fring (via Pexels)
“This work shows that tangible progress is being made as the Council works to become a zero-carbon organisation,” Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Environment and Transport, at Manchester City Council, said of the new solar panels target.
“Renewables such as solar power, even in rainy Manchester, provide a viable and unlimited source of energy for buildings across the city.”
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One of the major renewable energy projects that has already been carried out as part of the zero-carbon mission is in a bid to, what the Council has described as, “turn pedal power into solar power” down at the Nation Cycling Centre – where solar car ports that provide shelter for vehicles, all while still generating power from solar panels installed on top, have been installed.
As a Council we are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and rely more on renewable energy sources.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 26, 2023
The recently-completed £2.9m project at what is “one of the most energy-dependent buildings within the Council’s estate” has been delivered the Council in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult and the European Regional Development Fund, and is said to be “an important pillar” of the Council’s overall carbon reduction plan.
In the eight weeks since the solar panels at the Velodrome went live, they have generated more than 47MWh of electricity, according to the Council, which is saving an estimated nine tonnes of carbon.
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Roughly around 172MWh of electricity is estimated to be generated annually.
“Looking at the National Cycling Centre, we have shown that we are able to seamlessly incorporate the use of renewable energy into the existing infrastructure,” Cllr Tracey Rawlins added.
“This sets a clear example of how this approach can be replicated across the city.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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2024 Manchester Marathon raises £29 million for local economy and over £3.7m for charity
Danny Jones
Just under a fortnight on from the 2024 Manchester Marathon and the numbers are finally, with the annual race generating nearly £30 million for the local economy and raising over £3.7m for charity.
This year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon saw record numbers of runners and spectators as over 30,000 took part in the popular race, up by roughly 6,000 from 2023, and more than 125k turned up to line the streets of Greater Manchester.
As a result, these huge crowds spent upwards of £29.2 million at business around the city centre and around the 10 boroughs last weekend, serving as one of the most significant contributions to the local economy on the annual calendar.
Not only was this an approximately £8m increase on last year’s tally but, most importantly, a sizeable chunk of that went straight into both regional and national charities.
The 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon was a spectacular day for the city and its economy.
Beyond the boost to local vendors, the hospitality sector and retail businesses, over £3.7 million were allocated to charities such as Alzheimer’s Charity, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and The Christie.
Over £32,000 was also raised for the Trafford Active Fund, with £1 from every paid entry to the Adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half donated directly to the initiative that benefits local sports clubs and organisations through Trafford Council.
Better still, with City of Trees selected as the chosen ‘Green Runner’ charity, the eco-friendly drive saw roughly 7% of participants opt out of receiving either a finisher t-shirt, medal or both.
The money saved in production goes towards maintaining woodlands and wildlife across Greater Manchester.
Together you have raised over £3.7 million for charitable causes, adding even more meaning to those 26.2 miles 💕 Well done and thank you to all those who fundraised and donated! 🌟Tag us in those charity top pictures from last weekend 😍😍#ManchesterMarathonpic.twitter.com/5gsi6NtFzB
This year’s Manchester Marathon also helped produce some of the highest number of passengers on public transport in the city’s history, with a over 175,000 journeys made on Metrolink alone – the highest number of journeys ever recorded on a single day.
This was a 20% increaseon 2023’s race day (145k), spotlighting how the event continues to be more environmentally conscious as years go by.
With the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon confirmed to be taking place on Sunday, 27 April next year – and over 12,000 places already sold – the city can already look forward to reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting one of Europe’s largest, flattest, friendliest and most-loved marathons.
Featured Images — Adidas Manchester Marathon/The Manc Group
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Manchester firefighter surprises partner with proposal during new recruits parade
Danny Jones
We’re a sucker for a wholesome little video as we know you are, which is exactly why we thought of you lot when we came across this video of a newly graduated Manchester firefighter surprising his partner with a heartwarming proposal.
Just the kind of heartwarming that usually sets us off after a long week at work.
The clip shared by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) on Thursday, 25 April, shows Manc fireman James popping the question to his girlfriend sat unassumingly in the audience at a recent passing out ceremony.
Pass out ceremonies are when trainees go from recruits to fully qualified firefighters after completing their intensive operational training. It’s a long-standing tradition in the emergency services where friends and family gather to celebrate their achievements – it’s almost like it’s the perfect opportunity…
Watch as a Manc firefighter turns his passing out ceremony into a surprise proposal.
As you can see, since the graduates are usually the centre of attention, James couldn’t help but size his moment and instead of walking and lining up normally like everyone else, he decided to head straight over to his wife-to-be and get down on one knee.
You already know the rest.
Welling up immediately and barely able to remove her hands from her face, Melissa nods and says yes as the crowd cheers and the pair share a smooch.
Writing on social media, the GMFRS said: “We managed to capture a VERY special moment at our new recruits pass out parade today… Congratulations to James and Melissa!”, adding, “Certainly one way to start your new career”.
If we don’t see all the groomsmen dressed as firefighters on a random viral video sometime soon we’re going to be gutted.
All the best to the happy couple and if you’ve got any more lovely clips like this to send in so we can make ourselves cry (in a good way), you know what to do.
Emily Sergeant -
27th July 2023 
