News

Chill Factore to ‘remain closed’ temporarily after damage sustained during Storm Barra

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 8th December 2021

The Chill Factore has confirmed that it will “remain closed” temporarily in updated statement issued this morning.

The huge indoor snow centre and ski facility – which is home to the largest ski slope in the UK – had to close with immediate effect yesterday after the roof of the iconic ‘Beyond Building’ was damaged during “severe winds” brought by Storm Barra.

Eyewitnesses took to Twitter to share pictures of the damaged roof.

After evidence emerged that the effects of Storm Barra had caused damage to the roof, the Chill Factore said it has made the “difficult decision to close our building and surrounding car parks” with immediate effect, with all activities for the remainder of the day also cancelled.

The temporary closure was said to have been made “to protect the health and safety of our guests and team.”

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Now, as Storm Barra continues to bring wind and rain to the region, the Chill Factore has taken to Twitter to confirm it will remain closed.

The statement, which was posted to its website, reads: “Futher to our previous message and the damage that the Beyond building has sustained in the winds, Chill Factore will remain closed on Wednesday 8th December [as] we are awaiting Structural Engineers to assess the situation tomorrow morning and advise us accordingly.

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“All activities for Wednesday 8th December have been cancelled, and we are in the process of contacting guests with bookings.”

Read more: ‘Roof has gone’ – Chill Factore forced to close after Storm Barra winds damage building

Bosses at the snow centre asked for the public to “please bear with us.”

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They confirmed that the next update will be at 2pm on Wednesday 8th December, and will be about bookings for Thursday 9th December onwards. 

Featured Image – Twitter (@Chill_Factore)

News

Met Office issues snow warnings for large parts of northern England from this evening

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Greater Manchester could be waking up to a winter wonderland as weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued across northern England.

Expected to arrive anywhere from 6pm this evening (18 November) and last until around 10am tomorrow morning (19 November), the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice for large parts of northern England – indicating that “snow may bring disruption to a central swathe of the UK during Monday night and Tuesday morning”.

Weather forecasters say that although most snow is likely to accumulate on higher ground, with five-10 cm on ground over 200 metres, and possibly 15-20 cm over 300 metres, there is a chance that snow may settle at lower levels “within the warning area”.

The Met Office also said that this possible five-10 cm at lower levels is likely to be “more disruptive”, particularly if travelling and if the snow coincides with rush hour, but the likelihood for that is still “uncertain” at this stage.

Greater Manchester could see snow from this evening as the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning / Credit: Geograph | Pexels

As the rain, sleet, and snow begin to clear on tomorrow morning, ice may form on surfaces that are untreated.

“We have issued yellow warnings for snow and ice as cold weather moves in from the north,” explained Andy Page, who is a Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office.

“This brings snow showers and some ice to parts of Scotland on Sunday night, and then the potential for a spell of snow to lead to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning.”

He further added that “gusty winds” in the east also remain a “potential hazard”.

“Updates to the warnings for wintry hazards are likely, so it is important to stay up to date with the latest forecast,” he concluded.

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In addition to the severe weather warnings, a Cold Health Alert has also been issued by the UKHSA, and it covers the north of England and the Midlands right through until Thursday.

Featured Image – Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)

News

Murder investigation launched after two fatal stabbings in Moss Side

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A murder investigation has now been launched following two fatal stabbings in Moss Side this past weekend.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers were called to reports that two people that had suffered stab wounds on Great Southern Street, in the Moss Side area of Manchester, at around 5am yesterday morning (17 November), and when they arrived at the scene, two men were treated for their injuries.

Despite the best efforts of all emergency services involved, the two men were sadly both pronounced dead at the scene.

Since the shocking incident, a man who was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene earlier yesterday has now been detained under the Mental Health Act after being assessed by medical professionals, GMP has confirmed.

Initial inquires are currently ongoing, and police say they believe that the suspect and one of the victims were known to each other.

GMP say they are treating this as an isolated incident with “no threat to the wider public”.

“We have launched a murder investigation, and detectives from our Major Incident Team continue to work diligently conducting CCTV trawls and speaking to witnesses to find out what has happened to the victims,” explained Chief Superintendent David Meeney, who is the District Commander for the City of Manchester division.

“We swiftly made an arrest and we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this.

“We understand the shockwaves that this devastating news will have caused in the local community and further afield across Greater Manchester.

“We have placed a number of local neighbourhood officers in the area to conduct visible patrols to reassure the community. If you have any concerns, please speak to them, they are there to lend a listening ear.

“I’d like to thank the local community who have all really pulled together and cooperated with our enquiries.”

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Chief Superintendent Meeney asked that anyone who has information that may be able to assist enquiries to get in touch police, adding: “Please don’t assume that we know already, any small piece of information may be vital for our Major Incident Team detectives to find out what happened.”

Anyone with any information should contact GMP on 101 quoting 553 of 17/11/24.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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