Clonezone, an adult store in Manchester’s Gay Village, has been broken in to for a third time in six weeks.
The shocking spate of vandalism against the local business, which has been part of the city for almost 40 years, last night saw its windows smashed with a crowbar.
The vandals reportedly sped off from the scene on a moped.
Canal Street Media shared photos of the shop, which was the UK & EU’s first Gay superstore, on Instagram, writing: “We’re sad to report that for a 3rd time in 6 weeks @czmanchester has had their windows smashed in.
“It’s evident that @gtrmanchesterpolice and @manchestercitycouncil need to act now to protect #lgbt spaces.”
Jeremy Hoad, chair of Friends of Manchester’s Gay Village Committee, posted on Facebook: “Clonezone has been attacked for a third time with both windows smashed with crowbars.
“FOMGV Chair Jeremy Hoad spoke to staff this evening to check they were OK and offer support against this violence.
“Coincidentally, Jeremy and FOMGV Deputy Chair John Cotterill attended a meeting only hours before this latest attack to discuss policing in the Gay Village alongside others from our community.
Clonezone Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
“GMP are already investigating the first two attacks and providing an additional presence in the Gay Village.
“We stand together against any and all violence targeted at individuals or businesses in the Gay Village.”
Glitterbeam Radio posted on Twitter: “We are shocked to see that Clonezone Manchester has been vandalised AGAIN. It’s the 3rd time in 6 weeks. @AndyBurnhamGM @gmpolice we hope in your intervention with a matter of emergency.”
Another person said: “Yet again it looks like CloneZone, a queer business that is located right in the heart of the Gay Village of Manchester, has been targeted and vandalised in clearly targeted hate and harassment. This has got to stop.”
Someone else posted: “My thoughts with the team at @czmanchester who are putting up with endless hate at the moment. I hope all the queer community rally behind them and give them support as they have been putting up with endless targeted hate. We must defend our community.”
My thoughts with the team at @czmanchester who are putting up with endless hate at the moment. I hope all the queer community rally behind them and give them support as they have been putting up with endless targeted hate. We must defend our community pic.twitter.com/qA13ZObrD0
Less than two weeks ago, Clonezone reported another incident of targeted vandalism.
They wrote at the time: “It saddens me to, again, be writing this but would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of well wishes and support we have received after the second incident of targeted vandalism against Clonezone Manchester.
“All the staff are safe and well. And Clonezone Manchester is open for business as usual.
“We are working with the police and other village businesses to try and find the culprits and bring them to justice.
“If anyone does have any information or witnessed two grown male-presenting people on a motorbike driving along Sackville Street on Thursday 13th April, at around 9:40pm, please get in touch. You will be kept anonymous, should you wish.
“Once again a huge thankyou from the team at Clonezone Manchester for all the support and kind words. We will not be beaten by this.”
Greater Manchester Mayors deliver update on Salford Red Devils situation
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham revealed details from the minutes of his meeting with the Rugby Football League (RFL) over the August bank holiday, sharing key updates from the crucial sit-down in hopes of securing the future of Salford Red Devils.
The Mayor and his Salford counterpart, Paul Dennett, met with chief executive Tony Sutton and other key RFL figures to discuss the ongoing crisis at Salford Red Devils, who remain on the brink of collapse.
Supporters marched on the streets of 0161’s second city in the immediate aftermath, expressing their dismay at the continuing struggles both behind the scenes and off the pitch, and Burnham was quick to call a meeting with the RFL as a result. The fans have remained in full voice throughout.
Posting a joint statement on social media, the pair wrote: “We would like to take the opportunity to thank the RFL and clubs across the Super League for their ongoing commitment to assist Salford Red Devils in fulfilling all other fixtures and get the club to the end of the season.
“Following that meeting, we have requested a meeting this Friday with the Jacobsen Management Group, the current owners, to discuss our serious concerns over the future of the club.
“The impending HMRC court hearing, the failure to meet tax obligations, the delay in payment of wages, and the lack of financial investment have resulted in a complete loss of confidence in the ownership among fans and the wider Salford and rugby community.”
Stating that “Salford Red Devils [still] face an uncertain future”, leading fan group The 1873 confessed that while it has been seen as a “welcome step”, it nevertheless “felt short of reassurance and commitment we’d hoped for.”
In short, they said: “We will no longer sit back while the club we love is reduced to a shell by those who do not speak to us, do not listen, and do not understand what Salford means.” They also called out the somewhat one foot in, one foot out ownership group and so-called current ‘stewards’ of the club directly.
You can read their response in full down below.
Yesterday’s statement from Andy Burnham & Paul Dennett is a welcome step, but not the one Salford fans wanted.
It felt short of reassurance and commitment we’d hoped for.
The future of the club and community deserves more.
Furthermore, Burnham and Dennett went on to add: “Following discussions between the parties involved, there is clear agreement that Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Salford City Council and the Rugby Football League are resolute in their commitment to safeguard the club.
“We are committed to working together to secure the long-term future of the club, to implement a city-wide rugby strategy, and to honour the generations of players, supporters, and communities who have carried its spirit through more than 150 years of rugby league.”
What about you, Salford Red Devils fans – what did you make of both statements, and how hopeful are you that the storm will clear around the club?
Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network progress after £6m funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Plans for new tram and train connections across Greater Manchester have taken a big step forward after a £6m funding boost.
Last month, Mayor Andy Burnham and local council leaders pledged for 90% of people in Greater Manchester to be within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram that comes at least every 30 minutes by 2030 – and now, plans to deliver this strategy are one step closer to becoming reality thanks to significant investment.
Transport leaders have now confirmed a pipeline of ‘rapid transit’ schemes for the future.
£6 million of funding was signed-off by the Bee Network Committee earlier last week, following plans being discussed by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
The work is all part of a wider plan, known as the Greater Manchester Strategy, to link every borough in Greater Manchester up the Metrolink network – with a long-term plan for major expansion of the Bee Network.
Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network have progressed after a £6m funding boost / Credit: TfGM
Some of the major projects this £6m funding will pay for advancing planning towards include finalising strategies for extending the Metrolink to Stockport from East Didsbury this autumn, with construction to begin in 2030, and beginning strategy work on the completion of the Metrolink Airport Line ‘Western Leg’ – which would serve a number of ‘key growth areas’ at the Airport, Wythenshawe Hospital, and Davenport Green.
Another important project the funding will go towards is the preparation of the Strategic Outline Case for expanding Metrolink connections to Salford Crescent and Salford Quays, and out to the north west of the region – including potential options for links to Leigh, Wigan, and Bolton.
Work will also continue on plans for an Oldham-Rochdale-Heywood-Bury tram-train route too – with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says its leaders are aiming for construction on the scheme to begin in 2028.
Mayor Andy Burnham says the funding with help connect all 10 boroughs to the Metrolink / Credit: TfGM
“This latest funding means we can develop the case for a pipeline of both tram and tram-train new lines and extensions – and ultimately underground infrastructure in the city centre – to make sure we get a public transport system befitting the global city region we are.”
Daisy Jackson -
25th April 2023 
