News
Spain opens its borders – but UK ministers urge people to avoid travel
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country would be "very delighted to welcome all British tourists" - but the UK is advising against travel.
Spain has officially opened its doors to British tourists – but UK ministers are pleading with the public not to head abroad unless there is an “urgent” reason to do so.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed last week that the country would be “very delighted to welcome all British tourists” – allowing people to enter without having to quarantine, take a PCR test, or show proof of vaccination.
But the UK government has reminded any holidaying Brits they will still be subject to restrictions upon their return to Britain.
Spain has been placed on the ‘amber’ list – meaning passengers must self-isolate for 10 days when they get back to Britain.
Travellers will also need to take a pre-departure test and two additional tests on day two and day eight after their arrival.
Spain, however, will still welcome UK tourists “without restrictions”.
Speaking to Sky News, business minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan insisted people should avoid trips to Spain for the time being.
“The prime minister has been clear that, for now, amber means please don’t go unless there is an urgent family reason and so on,” she stated.
“Because we are still trying to slowly move through our roadmap to being able to open up on 21 June and we want to do that in a steady and careful way.”
Currently, there are 12 countries on the government’s ‘green list’. These are the nations considered low-risk, with no quarantine required upon arrival back in England.
Passengers travelling from ‘green’ nations – such as Portugal, Iceland or Gibraltar – will still be required to complete a passenger locator form, provide a negative test result prior to travel and take another test on day two after returning home.
International visitors who have visited or transited through any ‘red’ country in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England. Only British and Irish citizens will be allowed to enter and must stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel for 10 days.
More information on the government’s traffic light travel system is available online.
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
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Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
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“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.
You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.
Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)
The Manc -
24th May 2021 
