Businesses in Manchester who are temporarily trading under a ‘pavement licence’ will now have to enforce a smoking ban in their outside seating areas.
In the run up to July 4, when the hospitality industry was allowed to reopen, a series of measures were rapidly put in place in Manchester to allow businesses to trade on pavements and roads ahead of the legislation formally facilitating this.
And today it has been announced that Manchester City Council now require all businesses who are temporarily operating on the city’s pavements to ensure that their designated areas are smoke free.
Manchester City Council
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods for Manchester City Council, said: “The introduction of outside seating for the hospitality sector has been a positive step over the past few weeks. We are seeing the public enjoy a degree of normality, and we are also seeing our businesses pick up following the devastating impact of the lockdown. Many have fed back that the additional provision has saved their business.
“However, we have not endured one health crisis to sleepwalk into another. We know that in Manchester there are still too many people smoking and we want to play our part to ensure that the city is a place where smoking is not a cultural norm.
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“Smoking is not only terrible for our health but is also an unpleasant thing for bystanders to endure. I am sure that after months inside the last thing people want is a face full of smoke when trying to enjoy a meal or drink.
“It should be said that progress is being made although slower than we’d like to see. Between 2017 and 2019 the number of people aged 18 and over who smoked fell from 22% to 18%. But, this is still too far off the national average of 13%. We want to get to this target, and decrease it still further.”
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In light of new Covid restrictions that were put in place across Greater Manchester on July 30, it is important to note that people are still able to go to pubs and restaurants with members of their household. For more information on the new guidelines, follow this link.
In line with the national guidance, you can continue to meet in public outdoor spaces in groups of no more than 6 people, unless the group includes only people from 2 households.
At all times, you should socially distance from people you do not live with – unless they are in your support bubble.
Please use this link for the latest Government advice on new restrictions in the North West.
News
Two teen boys arrested in connection with South Manchester machete ‘incidents’
Emily Sergeant
Two teenage boys have been arrested in connection with a series of machete ‘incidents.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, following early-morning warrants in South Manchester yesterday (Wednesday 12 March), officers successfully secured the arrests of two teenage boys in relation to incidents which involved machetes.
The two boys, who are aged 15 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of wounding, and they remain in police custody for questioning at this time.
Police conducted the warrants in the South Manchester area after investigating a number of incidents involving teenagers armed with machetes and zombie knives being involved in violent disorder across the wider borough.
Thankfully, no serious injuries have been reported in relation to these incidents, and police investigations remain ongoing.
“Our team has been investigating a series of machete incidents in South Manchester over the last four months,” Detective Inspector John Robb, of GMP’s City of Manchester South district, explained following the double arrest.
“These arrests are an excellent result, but our work does not stop there.
“We will continue our efforts to investigate these crimes and bring those responsible to justice. Extra patrols will be in place across South Manchester, so if you see any of our officers, please feel free to speak to them as they are there to help.”
Anyone with any suspicions of criminality in Greater Manchester can contact GMP on 101, or alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Extremely rare ‘dancing lemur’ that’s only the size of a tennis ball born at Chester Zoo
Emily Sergeant
An extremely rare ‘dancing lemur’ that weighs 100 grams and is only the size of a tennis ball has been born at Chester Zoo.
Primate conservationists at the UK’s largest charity zoo are celebrating the birth of the critically-endangered Coquerel’s sifaka – also known as a ‘dancing lemur’ – with the tiny baby arriving to parents Beatrice (12) and Elliot (12), and bringing an end to a five-month pregnancy.
The first images released by Chester Zoo show mum Beatrice carefully cradling her new baby, who was born with thick fuzzy white fur, as it clings to her belly.
Chester is the only zoo in the UK, and one of just three in Europe, to care for Coquerel’s sifakas.
Unlike other species of lemur, sifakas stand perfectly upright and use their powerful legs to spring side to side along the forest floor, hence them being affectionately nicknamed the ‘dancing lemur’.
ChDuke Lemur Centre in America to establish a conservation breeding programme across the continent that’s working to prevent the rare primates from becoming extinct.
The unique primates are found in only one place on Earth, the northwestern forests of Madagascar, where its wild population has declined by 80% in the last 30 years due to widespread deforestation, and as a result, the species has sadly been listed as the highest conservation priority there is – critically endangered.
Currently just nine sifaka reside in the whole of Europe, with four now found in Chester.
An extremely rare ‘dancing lemur’ that’s only the size of a tennis ball has been born at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo has worked with the Duke Lemur Centre over in America to establish a conservation breeding programme across the continent that’s working to prevent the rare primates from becoming completely extinct.
Primate experts at the zoo say the new baby will begin to branch out and explore on its own at around six months old, and it’s at this point they’ll determine whether it’s a male or female.
“Every Coquerel’s sifaka birth is a huge cause for celebration,” commented Dr Nick Davis, who is the Mammals General Manager at Chester Zoo.
“There are very few remaining globally and every addition within the European conservation breeding programme is vital to the work we’re doing to safeguard the future of this species.
“The new baby has spent the first vital few weeks of life quietly bonding with mum, Beatrice, and we’re very happy to report that they’re both doing great so far. We’re seeing positive signs – they’ve been inseparable so far.”
The Manc -
5th August 2020 
