Greater Manchester Police has recorded its busiest period for lockdown breaches since the pandemic began last weekend.
A spokesperson for the constabulary stated that 85 fines were handed out between last Friday and Sunday, with breaches ranging from wedding receptions to birthday parties.
This is confirmed to have brought the total number of fines issued in the region to 400.
Flouters of the rules included a birthday party in Bolton with 30 people in attendance – where eight fines were handed out – and officers also attended a wedding reception in Heaton Moor, Stockport where around 60 people were in attendance and one fine was issued.
One person in Bolton now also has four penalties, with an accompanying fine totalling £800.
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It comes after officers were called to a large gathering at the same property on four separate occasions, and the latest being at 2am on Sunday.
Nick Bailey – Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police – said: “While the vast majority of people in Greater Manchester continue to abide by government legislation, there are some who continue to flout the law.
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“I would appeal to this small minority to think of the safety of their nearest and dearest before making decisions that literally risk people’s lives. Should that not be reason enough, I would also remind people of the very stark financial penalties now in place for failing to follow lockdown guidance – with fines doubling for each further breach.
“I’d like to thank our officers for the dedication and patience during what was a very busy weekend,
“I’d also like to thank the majority of people in Greater Manchester for helping to keep themselves and others safe by continuing to follow government guidance.”
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It only takes two seconds to put on a mask, and it helps save lives.
The busy weekend comes as the rate of infection across all parts of Greater Manchester continues to rise.
Manchester city region has now also been declared the country’s coronavirus (COVID-19) hotspot.
The latest data shows that it has the highest infection rate of any area in England and figures released by Public Health England show that the seven-day rate in Manchester has reached 495.6 cases per 100,000 population for the week ending on 1st October.
Bolton however recorded almost 240 cases per 100,000 people on 2nd October, which is down from 261 cases per 100,000 seven days earlier.
This makes it the only one of Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs to have seen a reduction in the past week.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
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All students in England to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE
Emily Sergeant
All students in England are soon to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE.
Said to be part of the UK’s ‘enduring support’ for the Ukrainian community and continued commitment to stand with Ukraine and its people, young people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to study for a new Ukrainian GCSE, the Government has announced.
While the qualification will be open to all students, it marks a ‘particularly significant’ milestone for Ukrainian children and young people living in the UK.
It’s hoped that the introduction of the new GCSE will help Ukrainians to preserve a vital connection to their language, culture, and identity.
It’s also hoped that it’ll open pathways to future education and employment for all pupils.
In line with the other modern foreign language GCSEs that are currently on offer, the qualification will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also recognising the cultural and historical contexts that shape the Ukrainian language.
Examination board AQA will now begin the next phase of development, bringing together language and subject experts to design what will be a ‘high-quality’ qualification reflecting the richness of Ukrainian language and culture.
Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, commented: “As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.
“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.
“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”
The Ukrainian GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching from September 2028 – with first assessments taking place in 2029.
The Manc -
6th October 2020 
