News

Police issue warning after reports of rocks and bricks being thrown at cars on M60

Motorists are being urged to take care when driving in the area.

The Manc The Manc - 30th September 2021

Greater Manchester Police has issued a warning to motorists after reports of rocks and bricks being thrown at moving vehicles on the M60.

The force said incidents of this nature have occurred “multiple” times this month.

GMP Bramhall and Cheadle explained in a social media post that officers have received reports of these incidents happening particularly near the junction three slip road for Cheadle in Stockport.

Several reports were made of bricks and rocks being thrown at cars as they travel at speed along the carriageway.

Motorists are now being urged to take care when driving in the area.

ADVERTISEMENT

A post on the GMP Bramhall and Cheadle Facebook page read: “We have been made aware of multiple incidents during September involving rocks and bricks being thrown at moving vehicles coming off the M60 at junction 3, the slip road for Cheadle.”

The force revealed that some of the incidents have been witnessed without victims coming forward and urged those that have been a victim of this dangerous crime to let them know any information to assist investigations.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Please can ALL motorists be aware and take care when driving in this area,” the statement continued.

“Report any suspicious activity or evidence via dash-cams through the GMP website for the attention of the Cheadle Neighbourhood Policing Team.”

Featured Image – Highways England

News

Noel Gallagher to be awarded prestigious Songwriter of the Year at 2026 BRITs in Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Noel Gallagher on stage

Noel Gallagher is set to receive a special honour at this year’s BRIT Awards.

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard has just announced that Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award, which is an accolade that recognises exceptional songwriting talent, and is decided by a select panel of expert judges – with previous recipients ranging from Ed Sheeran through to Charli xcx.

Noel will accept the award in person when the BRITs comes to Manchester for the first time ever at Co-op Live on 28 February. 

According to the panel of expert judges, Noel’s songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for more than 30 years, from his seminal work with Oasis, to his ambitious and acclaimed solo albums with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

His songs span generations and have continued to resonate with audiences around the world like no other.

Of course, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Oasis ended 16 years of speculation by confirming a return to the stage last year in a reunion that many thought would never come to pass. The Oasis Live ‘25 tour became a cultural phenomenon, with 41 electrifying performances in cities across the world – including right here in Manchester’s Heaton Park.

Oasis sold in excess of one million albums in 2025 alone, the only UK artist to achieve such a feat… and the albums didn’t even come out in that year.

Alongside his brother, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Noel has multiple BRITs to his name so far, but this time around, it’s Noel’s chance to shine in his own right with this important accolade.

BRITs in Manchester
The BRIT Awards are coming to Manchester for the first time in its history in 2026 / Credit: ITV / BRITs / Co-op Live

“For more than three decades, Noel has crafted songs that have become part of our collective story – bold, brilliant, and always recognisable,” commented Stacey Tang, who is the Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, as Noel’s songwriting honour was announced last night.

⁠“His songs have soundtracked memories for multiple generations and defined the spirit of British music globally. Honouring Noel as Songwriter of the Year celebrates a remarkable body of work and a creative force that continues to connect and inspire artists and fans worldwide.”

Read more:

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28 February from Manchester’s Co-op Live, and audiences at home can watch on ITV live or stream later on ITVX.

Comedian and actor Jack Whitehall will return to presenting duties in 2026 – his sixth time hosting the show.

Featured Image – RTP (via Flickr)

News

Plans approved for huge new purpose-built ice arena and events space in Trafford

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Plans for a new purpose-built ice arena and event space at TraffordCity have officially been approved this week.

Marking what is said to be a ‘major milestone’ for Greater Manchester‘s leisure and sports offering, the new 3,000-capacity TraffordCity Arena approved by Trafford Council will feature state‑of‑the‑art ice skating and ice hockey facilities, and a flexible event space designed to host a wide range of entertainment and community activities.

According to plans, Planet Ice is set to be the new venue’s ‘anchor tenant’ and it will become one of the brand’s largest venues in the UK.

Located on the former Soccer Dome site, adjacent to The Snow Centre, Trafford Golf Centre, David Lloyd, Fives Soccer, iFLY, and The Padel Club, this new arena is predicted to further strengthen Trafford‘s position as the UK’s leading leisure destination.

The new arena will offer year-round ice activities, lessons, and staking sessions, alongside premium hospitality experiences like family dining, bars, leisure, and VIP areas.

But on top of the that, the new venue has been ‘designed with versatility in mind’, so it will also host concerts, screenings, and a range of immersive experiences, all with the hope of creating a ‘dynamic’ destination for visitors.

The project is being developed by ICITIES in partnership with Peel Waters – the latter of which has cleared the site to enable future leisure developments.

The approval of the new ice and multi-use events arena comes after work has now commenced on the £450 million Therme Manchester wellness resort, also in TraffordCity, which is predicted to become one of the most advanced destinations of its kind in Europe.

The new arena is expected to deliver ‘significant’ economic benefits to the region, developers are saying, by contributing both construction roles during the build phase and the more than 50 permanent operational jobs once it opens – including in hospitality, event management, and leisure services.

Ice hockey
Ice skating
Plans have been approved for a huge new purpose-built ice arena and events space in Trafford / Credit: April Walker | Joao Viegas (via Unsplash)

Due to the increasing popularity of ice sports, Trafford Council believes the new arena will bring a significant number of new visitors annually to the region, boosting the local visitor economy, driving further investment into the area, and also benefit surrounding businesses and leisure attractions too.

“As Planet Ice enters its 30th year, we’re delighted to see planning permission granted for this landmark project,” explained Heath Rhodes, who is the Chief Operations Manager at Planet Ice. 

“Demand for ice facilities in the North West continues to grow, and this arena will help meet that need while delivering first class amenities for visitors.

Read more:

Peel Waters has confirmed that contractors for the project will be announced very soon, with construction even expected to begin as early as spring 2026 and an estimated build time of around 12-15 months.

Featured Image – ICITIES & AEW Architects

More News

News

Police appeal for information after two people die in light aircraft crash in Rochdale

Affiliate

Bad Bunny: What you need to know about the Super Bowl LX headliner before his big halftime show

Boroughs

Passengers urged to ‘plan ahead’ as Manchester Piccadilly prepares to close for nine days next week

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches