The Local Democracy Reporting Service has revealed that an agreement was reached at around 10am today (16th October), which will see the whole county move into the ‘very high’ alert level.
The move was announced by the Department of Health and Social Care today.
Pubs and bars which do not sell “substantial meals” have been ordered to close, along with casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, bookmakers and soft play centres, but in a move different to the Liverpool City Region – which up until now has been the only area in England under Tier 3 measures – gyms, leisure centres, hair salons and barber shops will be permitted to remain open.
The new measures which will come into place from 00.01 on Saturday 17th October are:
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People must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events.
People must not socialise in a group of more than six in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue.
All pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals.
People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘very high’ alert level or entering a ‘very high’ alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities or to travel through as part of a longer journey.
Residents should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in the ‘very high’ alert area.
In addition, from Monday 19th October:
The adult gaming industry, casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers and betting shops, and soft play areas must close.
Car boot sales will not be permitted.
The county has secured £42 million out of the £58.2 million it was seeking as a package of financial support for businesses, the care sector and schools.
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Initially, only £12 million was said to be on the table from central government.
At present, Greater Manchester still remains under Tier 2 restrictions, with no formal indication as to when a decision is to be brought about.
It comes after after an announcement to place the region into the Tier 3 ‘very high’ risk alert level was delayed yesterday. The delayed decision is the result of a stalemate between the Department of Health and local leaders after the Treasury reportedly refused the request for more funding at a tense crunch meeting.
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Speaking in the House of Commons regarding Greater Manchester yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “No further decisions have yet been made, but we need to make rapid progress”.
He added that decisions are still “ongoing”.
This was then followed by a later statement delivered by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, the Leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese and Deputy Mayor Baroness Beverley Hughes.
Local leaders remain resolute in their unanimous opposition to Greater Manchester’s proposed shift upwards in the government’s flagship tier system – demanding a superior financial package to the one that’s on the table – but they know the decision is ultimately out of their hands.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab weighed in live on BBC Breakfast this morning as the row between Greater Manchester and the government continues, and accused Andy Burnham and the region of “pulling up the drawbridge”.
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Andy Burnham has a few moments ago also released a joint statement together with the Metro Mayors of Liverpool and North Tyne – Steve Rotherham and Liam Driscoll.
They claimed that the north “is not divided” and that they are all together in a “fight for what’s right”.
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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
The Manc -
16th October 2020 
