News

House fronts begin collapsing in Abbey Hey as sinkhole situation worsens

The collapse of the properties comes after a car was seen partially swallowed up by the same sinkhole yesterday evening.

The Manc The Manc - 21st January 2021
Twitter – @CllrJulieReid

The front of a number of terraced houses have begun falling into the street this afternoon after a sewer collapsed in Abbey Hey.

Two properties are currently said to be affected, with concerns for other adjoining homes.

The collapse of the properties comes as a result of a large sinkhole that had opened up on a residential street in the Gorton area yesterday evening, with dramatic eyewitness photos emerging on social media from the scene showing the road surface having buckled and left a large crater of about four square metres, with a car being partially swallowed up by the hole.

The crater was confirmed to have appeared on Walmer Street in Abbey Hey.

A large emergency services operation is in place at the scene of the collapse, with a United Utilities spokesperson confirming that: “United Utilities are dealing with a collapsed sewer on Walmer Street in Abbey Hey.

“This has caused the road to partially collapse causing significant damage to some homes in close proximity.

“Thankfully everyone is safe and nobody has been injured.

“A decision was made to relocate residents of four properties and they have been found alternative accommodation.”

The opening of the sinkhole and subsequent collapse of the properties comes as after an extraordinary and dramatic evening where Greater Manchester experienced weather on all ends of the spectrum over the past 24 hours.

Most areas of the wider region were covered in a blanket of snow yesterday, following a day of torrential rain from Storm Christoph.

An amber weather warning issued by the Met Office – which has now been lifted – saw heavy rain and snow continue to fall across Greater Manchester throughout the night, and forced the residents of 2,000 homes in East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden to temporarily leave their properties as a means of protection.

Emergency services have been helping those affected across the region this morning, while Environment Agency teams have deployed temporary flood defences and close flood barriers.

Severe flooding alerts – which mean ‘danger to life’ – remain in place in two local areas: Little Bollington and Heatley.

A further 14 flood warnings and 11 flood alerts are also still in place across the region.

You can continue to check flood alerts for your area by visiting the Flood Warning Information Service website.

Updates are also available via:

News

Greater Manchester Mayors deliver update on Salford Red Devils situation

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mayor Andy Burnham statement update after Salford Red Devils RFL meeting

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.

For context, amid growing financial pressures and having to loan players from other clubs to stay afloat, the club had to reassure fans that their most recent fixture this past weekend would even go ahead following the late cancellation of the previous round against Wakefield Trinity.

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.

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?

The latest on Salford Red Devils’ financial situation as ‘winding-up’ petition is adjourned

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Hullian111 (via Wikimedia Commons)/Scottish Government (via Flickr)

News

Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network progress after £6m funding boost

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant A Metrolink tram in Manchester city centre

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.

This funding boost comes after it was confirmed in early June that trams would finally be making their way to Stockport after long-time rumours.

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

Even more importantly, early development work on plans for the recently-proposed new underground system can start thanks to the funding boost.

“Every part of our region needs to feel the benefits of Greater Manchester’s growth,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.

“To make sure that happens, we’ve pledged to connect our people and communities to new opportunities better than ever before.

“We’re planning to connect all 10 boroughs to the ever-popular Metrolink network as part of a long-term, sustained expansion of the Bee Network.

Read more:

“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.”

Featured Image – Janus Boye

More News

Man City fan groups call for voices to be heard statement on season ticket changes

News

Manchester City supporters groups call on club and fellow fans to ‘make their voices heard’

City Centre

Manchester’s newest bowling venue Wynwood Lanes is giving away 100 FREE sessions on opening week

Manchester Pride Mardi Gras stage times 2025

Art & Culture

Manchester Mardi Gras lineup and stage times in full – the ultimate guide to Pride 2025’s new event

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches