News

Fire crews currently battling huge blaze at Bury landfill site for second time this year

People living and working nearby should keep windows and doors closed as firefighters battle the 500 sq ft blaze.

The Manc The Manc - 14th October 2021

Dozens of firefighters from across Greater Manchester are currently tackling a major blaze at a landfill site in Bury this morning.

Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that crews were called to a fire involving domestic waste at the Pilsworth Road site just after midnight, and urged people living and working nearby to keep windows and doors closed as firefighters battle the blaze.

The fire service took to Twitter to say that the situation is still “ongoing”, and there will be “disruption to the local area until it is resolved”.

Area Manager Ben Levy said that he was “very proud” of the work by firefighters at the scene as they “sustained efforts through the early hours of this morning have significantly reduced the impact of this fire.”

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https://twitter.com/benlevyfire/status/1448518533378449410?s=20

“Just after midnight this morning, firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service responded to a 999 call reporting a fire on a landfill site on Pilsworth Road,” GMFRS explained in a statement released just at 7am this morning.

“The first crew on scene immediately assessed the situation and escalated the scale of the response.

“We now have 12 fire engines, plus off-road vehicles and the Scorpion special appliance from Salford fire station at the scene [and] the GMFRS drone unit is also in attendance supporting the operation by providing live aerial images to the incident commander and those in the Command Unit.

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“The fire is approximately fifty metres by fifty metres and involves domestic waste.

“There’s a large amount of smoke in the area so please keep your windows and doors closed if you’re nearby.”

This incident is the second fire at the site this year.

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The scene at the first major blaze at Viridor Recycling Centre back in April 2021 / Credit: GMFRS

Local residents may remember that back in April, firefighters declared a major incident after crews were called to a blaze at the Viridor Recycling Centre.

Dramatic drone footage of that fire showed it was “the size of a football pitch”.

Pilsworth Road in Bury is currently closed from junction three of the M66, to Moss Hall Road as crews work to extinguish the blaze.

A GMFRS spokesman said the blaze was “understandably causing disruption to the surrounding roads and will do so until the fire is extinguished”.

“Please avoid the area, keep your doors and windows closed if you’re nearby, and stay safe.”

Featured Image – GMFRS (April 2021)

News

‘Warm Banks’ set up in Greater Manchester to help people who ‘cannot afford to put the heating on’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

A council in Greater Manchester has confirmed plans to open ‘Warm Banks’, to help people keep warm this winter as energy bills skyrocket.

Oldham Council will be creating welcoming, heated, sheltered spaces for those who ‘cannot afford to put the heating on’.

The move will see places like libraries turned into Warm Banks as part of the council’s £3m plans to tackle the cost of living crisis.

In a statement, Cllr Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said that schemes such as Warm Banks ‘should not be necessary in 2022’.

It’s hoped that the plans will particularly help vulnerable residents, such as the elderly and families with young children, through the colder months.

Oldham is setting up Warm Banks to help those who ‘can’t afford to put the heating on’. Credit: Unsplash

She said: “As part of our £3m commitment to tackle the cost of living, we’re setting up Warm Banks so that Oldham residents who are cold and cannot afford to put the heating on have a place where they can get warm.

“These should not be necessary in 2022, but the reality for many people is that the cost of energy is unaffordable and without support, they will be cold in their own homes. This is particularly worrisome for our vulnerable residents such as the elderly or families with young children.

“Our Warm Banks are places already open to the public, such as our libraries. We’ll be investing into these spaces over the coming weeks to make sure they’re as welcoming as they can be. We’ll also be working with our partners to identify places in the community that can be used as Warm Banks to ensure none of our residents are forced to be cold.

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“As we approach the winter months and face another rise in our energy costs tomorrow with the October price cap increase, this situation is going to get worse for residents. But they’re not alone and as a council, we can help.

“Our team are on hand to help anyone who is already struggling with their energy costs. Through our Warm Homes Scheme, residents can access a range of support including claiming for Warm Homes Discount, help to switch energy suppliers or tariffs as well as ways to maximise your income to help make the basics more affordable.

“If you’re struggling, we can help. Please contact our emergency helpline on 0161 770 7777 and our staff will do everything they can to make things a little easier for you.”

Featured image: Oldham Council

News

Kwasi Kwarteng U-turns on plan to axe 45p tax rate for higher earners

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Kwasi Kwarteng has U-turned on plans to scrap the 45p rate of income tax for the UK’s highest earners.

The sudden change of heart comes just 10 days after the Chancellor unveiled his mini Budget, which has led to 10 days of market turmoil and fierce pressure from within the Conservative party.

Just yesterday, Prime Minister Liz Truss insisted that the tax cut, which would benefit Brits earning more than £150,000, would go ahead.

Mr Kwarteng said that the proposals had ‘become a distraction’ in a statement released this morning.

Given that his Growth Plan has been labelled a ‘Kami-Kwase Budget’, that would seem to be an understatement.

“We get it, and we have listened,” he wrote.

His statement says: “From supporting British business to lowering the tax burden for the lowest paid, our Growth Plan sets out a new approach to build a more prosperous economy.

“However, it is clear that the abolition of the 45p tax rate has become a distraction from our overriding mission to tackle the challenges facing our country.

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“As a result, I’m announcing we are not proceeding with the abolition of the 45p tax rate. We get it, and we have listened.

“This will allow us to focus on delivering the major parts of our growth package.

“First, our Energy Price Guarantee, which will support households and businesses with their energy bills.
Second, cutting taxes to put money back in the pockets of 30 million hard-working people and grow our economy.

“Third, driving supply side reforms – including accelerating major infrastructure projects – to get Britain moving.”

Mr Kwarteng’s U-turn on the 45p tax cut policy has been described as ‘humiliating’ and comes on the second day of the Tory party conference in Birmingham.

Former Transport Secretary Grant Schapps said: “Strongly welcome today’s 45p tax reversal. Sensible & pragmatic.

“Conservatives want lower tax, but let’s show our energy price cap + other policies are on side of consumers rather than borrowing to cut high earner taxes first.”

Piers Morgan said: “Tories to U-turn on 45p tax rate cut. Humongous humiliation for @trussliz @KwasiKwarteng and worse possible start to their conference. She’ll have to sack him, surely?”

Featured image: ParliamentTV

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