News

Plans for new ‘hi-tech innovation hub’ in Manchester approved by local leaders

Atom Valley could bring 20,000 jobs, and 7,000 new low carbon homes to the region.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 1st August 2022

The green light has officially been given for a major new high-tech innovation hub in Manchester that’s set to bring thousands of new jobs and low carbon homes to the region.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) confirmed that leaders have approved plans for the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) – which will connect town centres in Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Middleton, Heywood, Radcliffe, and Prestwich.

Atom Valley has the potential to deliver around 20,000 high-quality jobs, 1.6 million sq m of employment floorspace, and 7,000 new low carbon homes, according to GMCA.

With the aim of “driving innovation in the housing market” and supporting the region’s ambitions to be net zero by 2028, Atom Valley is set to create a “hub for innovation” in advanced materials, manufacturing, and green technologies.

GMCA says there’ll also be world-leading facilities and opportunities for local residents to access good jobs, training, and skills.

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An artist’s impression image of what the Advanced Machinery and Productivity Institute at Atom Valley in Rochdale could look like / Credit: Rochdale Council

Leaders in Greater Manchester explained that the decision to designate Atom Valley as an MDZ means that work between public and private sector partners and national agencies can be “better aligned” as part of a coordinated strategy for “guiding development” and “unlocking investment”.

Atom Valley MDZ will cover the Northern Gateway in Bury and Rochdale, the Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale, and Stakehill in Rochdale and Oldham.

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It’s tipped to “transform economic growth” and industrial innovation in Greater Manchester.

Atom Valley tipped to “transform economic growth” and industrial innovation in Greater Manchester / Credit: Google Maps

It’s one of six priority growth locations identified as part of the Greater Manchester Strategy – with the aim of delivering a greener, fairer, more prosperous city-region.

“The decision is a green light for our plans to transform the economy of our city-region and rebalance the scales of growth and opportunity,” explained Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.

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“Our priority has always been to deliver inclusive growth that benefits all of our people and places, [and] Atom Valley will offer world-class facilities for research and innovation, powering the skills and jobs needed to drive a new industrial revolution in advanced manufacturing and green technologies.

“It will also be the catalyst for revitalising town centres in the north east of the city-region, with new transport links integrated into our Bee Network – and as part of this we’re looking at all options to deliver Metrolink right into the centre of Middleton.

Read more: Plans submitted to build the UK’s biggest ‘urban farm’ in Oldham

“While the future of the national levelling up agenda hangs in the balance, we’re getting on with our vision for a Greater Manchester that delivers good jobs, good homes, and better opportunities for everyone.”

You can find out more about Atom Valley here.

Featured Image – Atom Valley

News

Elf Bars stripped from UK supermarket shelves after ‘illegal’ nicotine levels found

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of the most popular e-cigarette brands has been stripped from the shelves of several major UK supermarkets after they were found to contain “illegal” nicotine levels.

ELFBAR 600 – which is more commonly known as just ‘Elf Bars’ – is described by the company as being “the most popular disposable vape”, and it comes in countless eye-catching bright colours, an extensive range of 30 sweet and fruity flavours.

Given the uncharacteristic e-cigarette look, and the fact they come in flavours such as Blueberry, Guava, Cotton Candy Ice, Blue Razz Raspberry, Pink Lemonade, and so many more, this has lead experts to believing that Elf Bars are a contributing factor to the rise in popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping among younger people.

This is only proven by a recent survey carried out for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finding that the proportion of children aged 11 to 17 currently vaping has risen from 4% in 2020 to 7% in 2022.

Elf Bars are available in varying nicotine levels – but recently, a Daily Mail investigation has revealed that the Watermelon-flavoured ELFBAR 600s were found to have at least 50% more than the legal limit for nicotine e-liquid.

This has lead Morrisons, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s stores across the UK to cease selling the product.

Elf Bars stripped from major UK supermarket shelves after ‘illegal’ nicotine levels found / Credit: ELFBAR

Not only that, but Morrisons has even taken things one step further by deciding to stop the sale of the whole ELFBAR 600 range following the investigation.

Addressing the findings from the investigation and explaining its decision to strip all Elf Bars from its shelves, a Morrisons spokesperson told ITV News: “As part of our ongoing investigation into the legal compliance of ELFBAR 600 disposable electronic cigarettes with Trading Standards, we have made the decision to remove all flavoured variants from sale.

“The products will only be returned to sale once stock that fully complies with UK legislation becomes available”. 

Tesco says the vapes have been temporarily removed from shelves as “a precautionary measure” while the manufacturer “urgently investigates these claims.”

Sainsbury’s echos a similar statement to Tesco, and confirmed it’s in “close contact with our supplier”.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that the number of children aged 11 to 17 currently vaping has risen / Credit: Flickr

In light of the Daily Mail investigation – which was the result of buying multiple £5.99 vapes from a Tesco in Derbyshire, and sending them off for testing – an ELFBAR spokesman told the newspaper in response to the findings: “We found out that some batches of the Elf Bar product have been overfilled in the UK.

“It appears that e-liquid tank sizes, which are standard in other markets [such as the US], have been inadvertently fitted to some of our UK products [and] we wholeheartedly apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.”

Read more:

The company added that it would alert retailers and review its production process, but insisted that the “highly regrettable situation” did not compromise the product’s safety.

Featured Image – ELFBAR

News

Award-winning Northern Quarter restaurant announces shock closure with most heartbreaking statement yet

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

One of the Northern Quarter’s best restaurants and bars has announced its shock closure, adding to a tidal wave of hospitality casualties. 

Cocktail Beer Ramen and Bun – better known to most of us as CBRB – announced the news this evening with a frank and heartbreaking statement. 

In it, the late-night Oldham Street business outlined the ‘massive financial strain’ it’s been facing, describing the obstacles that are ‘affecting everyone in the hospitality industry right now’. 

CBRB stressed the staggering costs of goods and the doubling of energy bills as the ‘massive factors’ that have forced their hand. 

They wrote: “It breaks our heart to have to make this decision and please know, it has not come lightly or without months of deliberation, meetings and rescue plans.

“Countless discussions about a way out of the sh*t that wouldn’t end up coming to this.”

CBRB
CBRB. Credit: The Manc Group
CBRB
CBRB. Credit: The Manc Group
CBRB
CBRB. Credit: The Manc Group

CBRB, which specialises in huge steaming bowls of ramen, delicious small plates and award-winning cocktails, took the time to thank all the customers who have supported the hugely popular independent restaurant over the years. 

They also urged people to get out and support their local favourites before it’s too late, writing: “We can guarantee they’ll need it. So many amazing ideas and talented businesses in our industry are struggling and closing almost every day now and they need your help.” 

CBRB’s final day will be this Sunday, with bookings and walk-ins operating as normal.

CBRB’s statement in full

This is probably the hardest thing we’ve ever had to write. The worst news we’ve ever had to deliver.

This Sunday will be our last. 

The last noodle pull. The last blue drink. The last dinner service.

We want to be as honest with you as possible. After all, it’s you lot that make this place what it is and it’s you who have kept us going as long as we have. 

CBRB wouldn’t be where it is today without your amazing love + support over the last 4 years… 

The business has been under massive financial strain, that we have unfortunately been unable to pull ourselves out of. The obstacles that have been affecting everyone in the hospitality industry right now. The cost of goods sky rocketing. Energy bills more than doubling. They’re all massive factors and they’ve all made it extremely difficult to continue doing what we love, without compromising on quality. 

It breaks our heart to have to make this decision and please know, it has not come lightly or without months of deliberation, meetings and rescue plans. Countless discussions about a way out of the sh*t that wouldn’t end up coming to this.

So for now we just want to thank you. For making this tiny little kitchen and bar become something way bigger than we ever imagined. For making coming to work the last 4 years so much fun. For all the lovely messages, the constant support, for bringing your friends and sharing the love for the food we create. 

Thank you for supporting your local Girl Gang. But for now, it’s over.

If we can leave anything behind it’s this. Go and support your local independent bar! 

Eat out at your favourite family owned restaurants. Order that takeaway from your local small business. Because we can guarantee they’ll need it. So many amazing ideas and talented businesses in our industry are struggling and closing almost every day now and they need your help.

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Bookings and walk ins will operate as normal this week and we’ll keep on slinging the noods and pouring the drinks until the second we have to leave. 

2018 – 2023 

This week will be a bittersweet one. Come see us for a drink.

Big love, Team CBRB x

Featured image: The Manc Group

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