Commuters can expect some significant disruption to a major rail link this summer, as no trains are set to pass through Stockport train station for the best part of a month due to fairly sizeable maintenance worksnearby.
As a result, those catching the trains in and around the North West will have to make do with alternative services, diversions and rail replacement buses for at least three weeks.
With the Stockport station ‘Masterplan‘ officially announced in 2024, the key Greater Manchester connection is set for a major overhaul in the coming years, with the aim of turning it into a “modern facility” fitting of the town’s ongoing resurgence.
First up, it seems, is the long overdue replacement of the Greek Street roundabout bridge, which was built back in 1958 and has been in need of updating for some time.
⏳10 weeks to go❗️
From 2-23 August, trains won't run through Stockport while we rebuild the Greek Street railway bridge as part of a £20m investment in safer, stronger journeys
🚧Rail replacement buses will be in place and more information to come
— Manchester Piccadilly (@NetworkRailMAN) May 30, 2025
More details surrounding specific travel arrangements are set to be distributed to the public in the coming weeks, but Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have confirmed they will be accepting train tickets on Bee Network buses in the meantime.
While the ticket office and underpass between Edgeley and the recently regenerated Stockport Exchange will remain open, the station itself will be virtually out of operation for three weeks in August.
At present, the works are scheduled to last from Saturday, 2-23 August, so many of those travelling through the town during this time may need to make alternative arrangements.
Issuing an update late last month, Network Rail’s project manager William Brandon said: “The work to strengthen Stockport is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make train journeys on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line safer and more reliable.
“I understand that closing the railway through Stockport for 21 days will be inconvenient to our passengers, and I am sorry about this […] I’d advise passengers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time for their journey.”
The area in question. (Credit: Network Rail)
Network Rail clarified that while the Greek Street bridge is being demolished and the new one (which is set to last all the way up until 2145) is reinstalled, engineers have already been working closely with utility companies in the locale to safely divert gas, water, electricity and so on.
As for Avanti West Coast themselves, Stockport Station Manager, Lisa Magee, went on to add: “While there’ll be no trains to or from Stockport for 21 days […] Avanti West Coast teams will be on hand to support those making journeys via rail replacement bus.
“Together with Network Rail and other train operators, we’re finalising the timetable and will share more details in the coming weeks, so customers can plan their journeys in advance.”
“We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding, and as always, we strongly encourage them to check the National Rail website, as well as with their train operators, for the latest updates.”
This isn’t the only major travel update for SK announced as of late, either – something much bigger is coming to the borough as part of the Bee Network expansion.
Britain’s top five neighbour ‘red flags’ revealed in an eye-opening new survey
Emily Sergeant
The top five ‘red flags’ of neighbours have been revealed, according to an eye-opening new survey of hundreds of Brits.
In an ideal world, we’d all be friendly with those on our street – but despite everyone’s best intentions, it doesn’t always work out that way, as the dream can begin to unravel once you find out the neighbours aren’t quite what you hoped for.
It’s no secret that who lives next door can shape your day-to-day life, regardless of whether you own or rent your home.
Unlike a dodgy paint colour or a bathroom that’s is need of some modernisation, neighbours aren’t really that easy to change.
Britain’s top five neighbour ‘red flags’ have been revealed in a hilarious new survey / Credit: James Feaver (via Unsplash)
But what exactly is it that really gets under Brits’ skin when it comes to their neighbours? In a bid to find out, Rightmove conducted a new survey and asked members of its research panel, Living Room, to share the neighbourly habits that raise the biggest ‘red flags’ in their books.
The number one neighbour red flag was discovered to be those who ask to borrow your WiFi password if theirs isn’t working or is yet to be installed, with 87% of survey respondents calling it a ‘no-go’, saying it’s not just cheeky, but can also slow down your connection too, meaning you’re left buffering when you don’t need to be.
So-called ‘bin offenders’ take the second spot. You know, those with overflowing bins spilling onto the street? Seven in 10 Brits say it’s a major red flag.
‘Parking pinchers’ take the third spot, with more than half of people (51%) said they’d be unhappy if a neighbour took their parking spot, 71% saying they are irritated by people parking outside their homes, and 70% disliking it when non-residents use their street.
70% of Brits say nosy neighbours are a ‘real issue’, meaning so-called curtain twitching is a red flag, and then 38% say knocking on or inviting round for a surprise cuppa is a ‘boundary-crossing’ move, as peace and quiet matters and unexpected visits can ‘throw off your home’s calm’.
Rightmove also found that 59% of Brits considering a moving to an area will drive by the property at different times of the day and week to check the ‘vibe’, and 43% will check local community groups for neighbour disputes that may apply.
58% say they are open to new areas if it means better neighbours.
Featured Image – Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
News
Private tutor with ‘sordid sexual agenda’ jailed after sexually assaulting five young girls
Emily Sergeant
A private tutor with a ‘sordid sexual agenda’ has been jailed after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a number of young girls.
Umair Iqbal, from the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, served as a private Quran and maths tutor in the Greater Manchester area, but over a 10-year period between 2010 and 2020, he would regularly attended the homes of the young women and girls to conduct his scheduled lessons and proceed to sexually assault several of them.
Primary inquiries into the 37-year-old began in October 2020 when the first account of sexual abuse was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) by a victim – who was just 15 years old at the time.
After years of believing the abuse was a fault of her own, the victim found the courage to inform her family and then the police, and a subsequent investigation into Mr Iqbal’s actions was launched by Rochdale’s multi-agency safeguarding team, known then as the sunrise team.
The investigation soon revealed the extent of Mr Iqbal’s abusive behaviour, and went on to unearth a further four victims – including a victim who had been abused from the age of eight years old.
#JAILED | Private tutor sentenced to 14 years for sexual assault of five women and girls
Umair Iqbal (28/11/1987), of Lecester Road, Cheetham Hill, was found guilty of 29 out of 30 counts of sexual assault against five children and adults aged eight-18 years of age. pic.twitter.com/VEwP2OYquk
“All five victims were young Muslim girls from good families, abused by a person in a position of trust and silenced through fear of getting in trouble or being blamed for the abuse,” explained Rochdale’s Detective Constable Alex Dodd, who lead the case said.
“Iqbal befriended families and used the good reputation of a community to hide behind his sordid sexual agenda.”
Following a four-week trial, Mr Iqbal was found guilty of 29 out of 30 counts of sexual assault against five children and adults, between the ages of eight and 18.
He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday last week (7 August 2025), where he was subsequently sentenced to 14 years – 11 of those being in prison, of which he must serve two-thirds, with a further three on extended license.
He is also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining orders for all victims and their families.
“I would like to recognise and thank all five victims and their families for their determination during the lengthy investigation and four-week trial, which was a distressing process for them,” DC Alex Dodd concluded.
GMP encourages anyone who feels they may have been subjected to Mr Iqbal’s behaviour to come forward and report it on 101, quoting ‘Operation Ganister.’
Danny Jones -
9th June 2025 
