News
Snake Pass is reopening today after a five-week closure – but there’s a slow speed limit
The major Peak District through road was closed after being structurally damaged during two February storms.
It’s been confirmed that Snake Pass is to finally reopen to the public today after being closed for five weeks.
Back towards the end of February, it was revealed that sections of the A57 – which is better known as Snake Pass, and is one of the major roads through the Peak District between Manchester and Sheffield – had been structurally damaged from the recent relentless storms, Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin.
There were three active landslips at the time, with one verge dropping by as much as two metres, and major cracks to the road surface were also left, as well as there being a risk of further landslips
Read more: Snake Pass through the Peak District expected to be closed for at least a month after ‘serious’ landslips
It meant that the road had to be closed “for quite some time” so repairs could be made.
During the closure, Derbyshire County Council said it took the opportunity to carry out general resurfacing works, and pothole repairs, as well as rebuilding retaining walls damaged by February’s storms, while cracks in the road surface caused by the landslips were also repaired using bitumen to create a flexible seal.
Now, the road will reopen to all road users this afternoon, including cyclists and pedestrians, but with what is being called a ‘safety first’ approach, according to Derbyshire County Council.
The road is re-opening to traffic with three temporary single carriageway restrictions at Gillott Hey, Alport, and Wood Cottage, and traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic lights, as well as a 20mph speed limit will be in operation.
Read more: The furious row from cyclists desperate to use deserted but dangerous Snake Pass
To minimise any further damage to the road at the site of the landslips, HGVs over 7.5 tonnes will be asked to follow a signed diversion route using the A6013 / A6187 / B6049 / A623 / A6 / A6015 / A624 and vice versa.
The road will continue to be monitored using a hi-tech portable laser scanner to check for any further significant movement, Derbyshire County Council says.
“Please help us help you by allowing a little extra time for your journey, showing courtesy to other road users and keeping to the new temporary speed limit,” Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal – Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport at Derbyshire County Council – said ahead of the reopening of the road this afternoon.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
‘Disgraceful’ Manchester sex offender jailed after messaging several young girls under 16
Emily Sergeant
A sex offender from Manchester has been charged with 35 offences, including messaging several young girls while on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
William Howarth, from the Miles Platting area of Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison – with a further six years on licence.
The 23-year-old’s sentencing follows an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023.
Howarth was subject to routine checks due to him being an already-registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and it was here where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.
After Howarth’s phone was seized by police, forensic analysis revealed a number of messages were sent to several young girls under the age 16.
An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, GMP managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with – who ‘bravely’ agreed to give their accounts.
Police say Howarth displayed ‘controlling’ behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests.
When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images to him, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online.
In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last week (10 November 2025), Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences – including 11 counts of breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and possession and making of indecent images of children.
Speaking following Howarth’s sentencing, Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), commented: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them.
“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.”
Read more:
DC Cresswell then spoke directly to child victims of sexual abuse to encourage them to come forward and report it to police.
“We are here to listen to you, and we will believe you no matter the passage of time. We can work at a pace that you are comfortable with.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Rochdale man jailed for 16 years after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve party
Emily Sergeant
A man from Rochdale has been handed a lengthy jail sentence after killing another man at a New Year’s Eve house party.
Hassan Suliman, of Rothesay Terrace in Rochdale, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week after previously being found guilty of the manslaughter.
His sentencing comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance on Essex Street in Rochdale in the early hours of New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), and upon arrival, officers found a man with multiple stab wounds.
Despite the best efforts of all emergency service workers, the man was sadly pronounced dead at hospital soon after.
The victim was later named as 38-year-old Alberto Ursu.
GMP’s Major Incident Team launched an investigation immediately after, which subsequently revealed that Hassan Suliman had been involved in a confrontation with Mr Ursu – which both of the men were left injured during.
Suliman fled the scene following the confrontation, but was found by officers collapsed nearby a short while after.
Forensic analysis by officers later linked the weapons to both Suliman and Mr Ursu.
Following a six-week trial at Manchester Crown Court in September, Suliman was convicted of manslaughter, but was found not guilty of all other charges, and then last Friday (14 November), he was sentenced to 16 years – ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years in prison, with a further three years on licence.
Speaking following Suliman’s sentencing last week, Detective Sergeant Helen Hitchen, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “This was meant to be a happy night celebrating the New Year, but sadly ended in the tragic loss of a life.
“This case just goes to show the devastating consequences of knife crime and its lasting impacts on lives.
“A man lost his life and will never return to his family.
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“Suliman is now serving time behind bars for his actions that night, and I do hope that this sentence brings some measure of closure to Alberto’s family.”
Featured Image – GMP
