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Calls from parliament to change the social distancing 2m rule

MPs are asking the government to reduce the 2m social distancing guidelines in order to help businesses survive.

The Manc The Manc - 11th June 2020
Dean Calma / IAEA

MPs in the House of Commons are prompting the government to review 2m social distancing – arguing that the rule makes operating impossible for certain businesses.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest official recommendations state that people should stay 1m apart wherever possible.

This has already been incorporated in other European countries such as France and Denmark.

Germany is instructing its citizens to stay 1.5m apart, as is Australia.

During questioning on the matter, cabinet ministers have continually repeated that the social distancing guidelines in Britain are under “constant review.”

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However, the dire economic outlook for the UK – with forecasts suggesting Britain could be the worst-hit developed country financially – has led to backbenchers campaigning for immediate change.

Michael Piesbergen / Pixabay

The argument for 1m restrictions is that retail and restaurants would be able to trade more effectively and welcome back more customers – subsequently giving the economy a much-needed boost.

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According to The Guardian, distancing could be relaxed if other precautions are taken instead – such as making face masks mandatory and seating customers/staff back-to-back.

Health ministers have repeatedly emphasised that at least some form of social distancing will need to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Fresh advice is set to be published shortly for pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, barbers and salons to help them trade safely in the post-lockdown climate.

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Transport for Greater Manchester issues travel advice ahead of Man City and Co-op Live gig clash

Danny Jones Danny Jones TfGM issues travel advice ahead of Manchester City Co-op Live gig clash

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has issued a travel warning ahead of Tuesday night ahead of a huge night of sport and music over at the Etihad Campus.

As well as tomorrow night’s football action, with Manchester City‘s next Champions League match kicking off at 8pm, a big gig is taking place at Co-op Live just next door.

While Man City are taking on Dutch side Feyenoord in what is now an even more important fixture following Pep Guardiola having now lost five in a row for the first time in his career, over the road one of the hottest bands in the rock world right now.

Set to headline Manchester’s state-of-the-art music venue for the first time, alternative metal group Sleep Token‘s landmark Northern show will be going on simultaneously, with doors to the venue due to open from 7pm. With that in mind, TfGM has urged those attending both to plan ahead.

With both events overlapping and fans of both the band and the Blues descending upon the Etihad Stadium and the arena, respectively, the local transport authority has shared details of how to best plan journeys, be they on the tram, by car or otherwise, as well as how to avoid the crowds before and after.

It’s estimated that around 2,000 Feyenoord fans will do the usual walk up to the Etihad from Shambles Square, which will obviously cause significant disruption in the city centre, not to mention congestion when it comes to roads, buses and the Metrolink.

As per an official update from TfGM, they stated: “Those making their way home or elsewhere should re-route their journeys away from the area, consider leaving earlier to avoid the traffic or work from home on the day if it is an option for them.  

“The transport network will be busiest between 4pm and 5:30pm on Saturday and between 5:30pm and 8pm on Tuesday.  Tram travel will be the best option for most City fans and concertgoers”

Double the amount of services are set to run throughout the day along the Eccles and Ashton-under-Lyne lines and the Altrincham and Piccadilly routes will also be extended operations to serve the added footfall heading towards the Etihad Campus.  

You can expect a tram approximately every six minutes from the city centre but they will obviously be very busy, so they have also suggested people consider the recently redeveloped walking route to the Etihad Campus, which is well-lit, stewarded and takes around 25 minutes from Piccadilly.  

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Manchester City matchday bus service will also be operating as usual, with 15 different routes operating across Greater Manchester and beyond, covering a total of 64 stops, not to mention other bus companies and the wider Bee Network.

Driving is being warned against due to the increased traffic flow but for those who must, park and ride is recommended, though Ashton Moss and Ashton West Park and Ride are expected to be the busiest, so gig-goers may want to try Hollinwood, Radcliffe or Whitefield.  

So, whether you’re heading to the concert or the game and however you choose to get there, be safe, look after each other and, most of all, have a great time.

You can read the full update for more details HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — G-13114 (via Wikimedia Commons)/The Manc Group

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Drink spiking set to be made a criminal offence in the UK to ‘protect women and girls’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Drink spiking is set to be made a criminal offence in the UK in a bid to help “protect women and girls”, it has been confirmed.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is personally committing to halving violence women and girls by urging all police chiefs, industry executives, and transport bosses nationwide to “work together” to keep everyone safe.

The Government says this new measure will “send a clear signal that this is a crime”.

“Perpetrators should feel the full force of the law,” the Prime Minister said, adding that he believes the new law will empower victims to report offences and give them the confidence that the justice system will support them.

Drink spiking is set to be made illegal in the UK / Credit: Moses Malik Roldan (via Unsplash)

The new offence is said to be only one of part of the solution, however, as Starmer will also demand “coordinated action” to “stamp out this cowardly act” and “take back our streets”.

This will include the training of thousands of staff working in the nighttime economy on how to spot and tackle spiking, equipping them with the skills they need to prevent incidents and support victims, as well as help police to collect evidence.

With the pilot starting from next month, the aim is for this to be rolled out to up to 10,000 bar staff across the country by spring next year.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called spiking a “disturbing and serious crime”

She continued: “That’s why we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and crack down on perpetrators by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking, and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide.

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“People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out.

“These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever this appalling crimes take place.”

Featured Image – John Arano (via Unsplash)

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