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Council insists Bury Market is ‘still open for business’ despite shock temporary closure

49 traders at the world-famous markets have been ordered to shut up shop for the time being.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th October 2023

Bury Council has insisted that Bury Market is “still open for business” despite a number of shock temporary stall closures.

It comes after the news broke this morning (27 October) that a total of 49 traders based in the indoor section of the Greater Manchester town’s world-famous Market had been ordered, with immediate effect, to shut up shop for the time being.

The multi award-winning Market – which has been voted the nation’s favourite market on two occasions recently – dates all the way back to 1440, and has operated from several town centre sites over the centuries, but it moved to its current home in the early 1970s after the previous market hall burned down in 1968.

Closures are while necessary safety investigations on the Market’s roof and building are conducted.

In a statement addressing the shock partial closure of the Market today, Bury Council said the safety investigations required to be carried out will determine whether any repairs to the roof and building are required.

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This is because some RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) was used in the original construction of the building.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, who is the cabinet member for Culture and the Economy at Bury Council, said the safety of traders and customers is the Council’s “top priority”.

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“As a precaution, we have taken the decision to close the market hall while we carry out further investigatory work,” Cllr Morris explained.

“These measures only affect the indoor stalls, so our large outdoor market, and the fish and meat hall, will remain open for business [and] we are working with the 49 traders affected to find nearby alternative premises for them while this safety work is carried out.

“Once the site investigations have been carried out, we will be able to announce what remedial work needs to be done, and what the timescale for that will be.

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Council insists Bury Market is ‘still open for business’ despite shock temporary closure / Credit: Bury Market (via Facebook)

“But in the meantime, please show your support for our brilliant market traders and come along and snap up the usual range of bargains in our unique market atmosphere.”

Bury Council has apologised to all the affected traders, and to the Market’s many customers for the “inconvenience” the temporary closures will cause.

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No reopening dates have been confirmed, as of yet.

Featured Image – Bury Market (via Facebook)

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Manchester United reinstate season ticket of fan with dementia after fury over cancellation

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man United fan with dementia has season ticket reinstated after being mistakenly cancelled

Manchester United have quickly reinstated the season ticket of a lifelong fan suffering from dementia after it was cancelled following confusion over his attendance.

The Premier League was met with huge backlash this week after a fan account on social media posted a message from a fellow supporter explaining how their grandfather had been stripped of his season ticket for supposedly failing to attend the last five games – only that wasn’t the case at all.

As detailed in the lengthy text shared countless times on X, the elderly fan who not only struggles with the neurological condition but also doesn’t own a mobile phone, has been using a paper ticket with a QR code printed on it ever since the majority of stadiums transitioned to largely digital ticketing systems.

Not only were many quick to point out that e-ticketing can be excluding for fans of a certain age and/or accessibility needs but the result in this instance could have been avoided had they taken into account an issue no doubt many other supporters face week in and week out.

As the message goes on to explain, the QR code itself “hasn’t worked all season” and the stewards have simply been making an exception and letting him in on good faith and discretion, along with the presumption that there may have just been an error during the printing of the ticket.

However, since had and could not be scanned on each of these occasions, there was no real record of his entry on their database whatsoever, meaning that he unknowingly hit the limit of games supporters are allowed to miss before a season ticket can be removed.

As a result, not only was his season ticket of more than 45 years cancelled but his seat was immediately relisted for the ballot and quickly sold to someone else ahead of the Brighton game on Sunday, 21 January – at a now inflated price, no less.

Understandably, United supporters and various other clubs were left shocked by the error of the club, damning the decision as “shameful” and disgusting”, with many claiming that they are once again turning their back on so-called ‘legacy fans’.

One person replied: “Man United failing in their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act / Equality Act 2010, with regard to reasonable adjustments, and the club is now vulnerable to legal action […] Scandalous that clubs cannot just do the right thing anymore and only see fans as cash cows to exploit and (effectively) abuse as they see fit.”

What’s even more alarming is the worry that this has already or will happen again to other fans in similar situations, as a fellow Red responding to a response from the club reinforced the same concerns, claiming that they were unwilling to make reasonable adjustments for a family member with Alzheimer’s.

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Thankfully, as per multiple outlets, the club has now at the very least rectified this particular mistake and although the club’s Director of Supporter Services had been “unhelpful” up until that point, the right steps have finally been taken.

On the other hand, as the original poster wrote following the update, “Good to hear this has now been resolved, but it should never have happened in the first place.”

He quite rightly added, “Well done to everyone who reached out and played their part. Football is nothing without fans.”

Moreover, it’s clear that better measures and safeguarding practices need to be put into place when it comes to contingencies like this because although the Premier League has stated a full switch to digital e-tickets must be complete by the end of 2027 at the latest, there will always need to be exceptions.

As for ticket prices themselves, another banner up at Old Trafford after the club adjusted ticket prices and removed concessions across all categories for the remainder of the season – it read: £66 of your debt, not ours”. It’s not the first time fans have already protested since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s tenure began.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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North Manchester General Hospital to be rebuilt and replaced with new ‘world-class facility’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

North Manchester General Hospital is set to be rebuilt following new commitment by the Government, it has been announced.

After a review of the New Hospital Programme was carried out, and found that the previous Government’s commitment to deliver ’40 new hospitals by 2030′ was behind-schedule, unfunded, and therefore, undeliverable, the Department of Health and Social Care has today confirmed funding and a realistic timetable to deliver all of its hospital projects.

This credible timeline for delivery, according to the Government, will ensure that staff and patients have access to the facilities they desperately need around the country “as soon as possible”.

Buildings and equipment across the UK that had been left to crumble, disrupting patient care and hindering staff, had been inherited by the new Government, which is why ministers said they are now “committed” to rebuilding the NHS.

North Manchester General Hospital will be replaced with a new ‘world-class facility’ / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The new plan – which the Government say is “affordable and honest” – will be backed with £15 billion of new investment over consecutive five-year waves, averaging £3 billion a year.

Hospitals in Wave 1 of the Programme, which includes North Manchester General Hospital, are expected to begin construction anytime between 2025 and 2030 – with these schemes including hospitals constructed primarily using RAAC, and have been prioritised due to patient and staff safety being paramount.

“We wholeheartedly welcome the Government’s certainty and commitment around the future of North Manchester General Hospital and its plans for a full rebuild,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council.

“Working together with our communities, we will ensure that the new North Manchester General Hospital does not just provide excellent healthcare but also improves the health and quality of life for the communities which it serves.

“This rebuild is the lynchpin of that vision, and we are ready now to make it a reality.”

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The Government says its plan for implementation of the New Hospital Programme sets out a clear pipeline of schemes to be delivered over the next decade and beyond. 

Featured Image – Flickr

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