News
Oxford Road to remain closed for ‘most of the day’ due to serious flooding
Those travelling into the city centre are urged to "avoid the area".
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed that Oxford Road in the city centre will remain closed for “most of the day” today.
Due to what has been described as a “serious water leak” occurring in the early hours of this morning, Oxford Road – near the University of Manchester and the Manchester Royal Infirmary – is currently closed both directions, and the nearby Lloyd North Street is also closed to traffic.
Both are main roads, with Oxford Road being one of the busiest bus routes into the city centre.
Oxford Road is shut between Booth Street West and Grafton Street, and Lloyd Street North is closed between Denmark Road and Burlington Road.
GMP City Centre said in a tweet posted at 5.40am: “Road Closed – Oxford Road is closed in both directions between Booth Street West and Grafton Street outside the University due to a serious water leak, causing major flooding on the road.”
A second tweet later added: “Road Closed – Lloyd Street North is closed between Denmark Road and Burlington Street due to serious flooding on the road.”
Those travelling into the city centre are being asked to stay away from the area.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) took to Twitter this morning to say it is part of a “multi-agency response” to the incident.
“This morning we’re part of a multi-agency response to a large burst water main on Oxford Road, Manchester. There is a lot of localised flooding and damage to the road [and] there will be substantial traffic disruption this morning due to road closures so avoid the area.”
The University of Manchester is also urging people to “avoid the area”, saying in a tweet to students this morning: “We are aware of a major water leak which is affecting travel, access and supplies to several buildings on campus around Oxford Road [so] please avoid this area of campus for the time being [and] we will update you as soon as possible.”
United Utilities confirmed that the leak – which is said to have been caused by a burst water main – has also left some houses and properties in Manchester without water, and many with low water pressure this morning.
A spokesperson for the water services company said earlier this morning: Some customers in the locality of the burst may be experiencing a loss of water or low pressure [but] our teams on site are working as quickly as possible to rectify this.
“We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we complete this emergency repair.”
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Stagecoach Manchester, First Manchester, Go North West have announced that diversions are in place on public transport services, and those travelling into the city centre are being advised to “seek an alternative route”.
Delays are expected throughout the today.
Featured Image – GMP City Centre
News
Manchester music store Forsyth is giving away free music lessons
The Manc
Manchester music store Forsyth is giving away a host of free music lessons next month in a bid to inspire people to learn a new instrument, or pick up an old one.
The store is giving new and returning musicians a chance to receive a 10–15-minute free music taster session as part of its Music for All Learn to Play ’22 event.
Taking place across 8 and 9 October between 10am-5pm (8 October) and 1130am-30pm (9 October),short taster music lessons will allow all ages and abilities to have a musical experience that could turn into a lifetime of enjoyment, or even a new career.
Speaking on the free music lesson initiative, Emma from Forsyths said: “The past two years have shown how important music is to all our lives and how it can bring people together even in the most difficult of circumstances.
“We aim to help as many people as possible understand the unique joys and benefits of learning an instrument (or taking part in a choir).
“Anyone interested in learning to play an instrument or looking to pick it up again, should come and join us for this two-day celebration of music making.
“We’re delighted to be part of Music for All’s Learn to Play ’22 event, and we can’t wait to get started.”
OBE Jools Holland, Patron of Music for All, said: “Making music is very important to me. It’s my work, my pleasure, my friend, companion and therapist.
The charity Music for All believes passionately in the unique power of music to change lives and that is why it runs Learn to Play.
Music for All believes everyone should have equal access to music making.
The charity supports disadvantaged music makers by providing cash grants for tuition and instruments and by donating instruments directly.
Read more: The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 26 September – 2 October 2022
The Learn to Play ’22 event is generously supported by the NAMM Foundation and other partners include Music Industries Association, Musicians Union, Making Music, Music Mark and Black Lives in Music.
Those interested in joining Forsyths for a free music lesson simply need to email [email protected] or pop into the Sheet Music department on the ground floor to register interest.
Feature image – Forsyth
News
Celebrated author Dame Hilary Mantel has died ‘suddenly yet peacefully’ aged 70
Emily Sergeant
Dame Hilary Mantel has died aged 70.
The unexpected passing of the critically-acclaimed author whose celebrated career spans nearly five decades has just been announced by her agents 4th Estate Books and her publishing team at HarperCollins in two separate statements released this morning – who confirmed that she died “suddenly yet peacefully”.
The Glossop-born writer was famed for historical fiction work, and was most-known for being the author of the beloved Wolf Hall trilogy.
The statement by her agents confirming her passing reads: “We are heartbroken at the death of our beloved author, Dame Hilary Mantel, and our thoughts are with her friends and family, especially her husband, Gerald.
“This is a devastating loss and we can only be grateful she left us with such a magnificent body of work.”
Mantel’s publishers HarperCollins called her “one of the greatest English novelists of this century”.
The company’s statement reads: “It is with great sadness that AM Heath and HarperCollins announce that bestselling author Dame Hilary Mantel DBE died suddenly yet peacefully yesterday, surrounded by close family and friends, aged 70.
“Hilary Mantel was one of the greatest English novelists of this century and her beloved works are considered modern classics.
“She will be greatly missed.”
Read more:
Mantel has twice been awarded the Booker Prize, the first time for the 2009 novel Wolf Hall, a fictional account of Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power in the court of Henry VIII, and secondly for the 2012 novel Bring Up the Bodies, the second instalment of the Cromwell trilogy.
She was the first woman, and fourth person, to receive the award twice.
Featured Image – 4th Estate Books
