Police have uncovered a massive cannabis farm with thousands of plants estimated to be worth around £5 million in Stockport.
Neighbourhood officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Stockport district were alerted by the electricity board to the possible growing of cannabis on Lower Hillgate, located in the centre of the Greater Manchester town, at around 10am last Thursday (13 June).
When police attended the premises, they discovered a huge cannabis farm inside the large unoccupied building.
A whopping 3,325 plants were recovered, with an estimated street value of £5 million.
Following the seizing of the huge haul of cannabis plants, GMP says the area was subsequently assessed and made safe by professionals, before the dismantling and removal of the plants took place over the course of last Friday and Saturday (14 and 15 June).
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A police investigation has been opened, but at this time, no arrests have been made, and enquiries are “ongoing”, according to GMP.
Inspector Amreek Singh, from GMP’s Stockport district, said the uncovering of this cannabis farm is “a great find” for the neighbourhood team, and is appealing to the public to come forward with any information they may have that could assist enquiries.
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Lowe Hillgate in Stockport town centre, near to where the cannabis farm was uncovered / Credit: Google Maps
“Our neighbourhood team are committed to tackling the supply and distribution of illegal products throughout the town,” Inspector Singh explained.
“Cannabis farms on this scale can be linked to serious and organised crime gangs, and the drugs they sell have a significant adverse impact on our communities. It drives violence, and can lead to vulnerable people being exploited, as well as leading to numerous problems such as addiction and health issues.
“Our work has ensured that thousands of cannabis plants will not be hitting the streets.”
Anyone with any information about drugs supply in their area is asked to get in touch with their local GMP officers, and contact police either on 101, via the Live Chat function on gmp.police.uk, or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man killed in a light aircraft crash in Rochdale have paid tribute to a ‘deeply loving father and devoted husband’.
36-year-old Arian Abbasi was one of two men killed when an aircraft crashed into farmland in Littleborough in Rochdale last week, after travelling from Birmingham.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 11am on Tuesday 3 February, but sadly pronounced both men dead at the scene.
It’s believed there was no one else on board the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries on the ground.
Now, Arian’s family have issued a moving tribute to him. He was a pilot from Harrow in Greater London.
They described him as being a ‘deeply loving’ family man, whose passion was flying.
He was about to embark on a new chapter with a commercial airline in just a few weeks’ time.
His family said: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.
“Flying was his passion, and he was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on 23 February; a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination.”
GMP investigations are now focused on finding part of the parachute system which contains propellant and hasn’t yet been located.
Finding the device has been ‘very difficult’ due to the nature of the terrain and the wide area over which it may have travelled.
It measures approximately 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long and has a red anodised finish. It weighs less than 2 kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end.
GMP said: “Please do not handle the device if you see it. If discovered, contact the police immediately via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.”
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school
Emily Sergeant
Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.
In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.
TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.
While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free school bus travel / Credit: TfGM
So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.
The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.
“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.
Of course, the long-term solution is no kids in TA and we’re working with our councils to achieve this in the next few years.
We can do it because GM will soon hit the point where we are building more council and social homes every year than we’re losing through right-to-buy. 👍🏻
“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.
“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”
Emily Sergeant -
18th June 2024 
