Students leave Owens Park after striking deal with University of Manchester on rent reduction
Students occupying the Owens Park tower have ended their initial protest after striking an agreement with the university to reduce rent for semester one.
Students occupying Owens Park tower block have ended their initial protest after striking an agreement with the university to reduce rent.
Groups UoM Rent Strike, Students Before Profit and 9K4WHAT took up residence in the deserted Fallowfield halls on November 12 and have continued to campaign for lower accommodation prices ever since.
The University of Manchester (UoM) initially put a two-week rent reduction on the table, which students called a “slap in the face“.
But negotiations continued, and protestors left Owens Park tower after UoM agreed to a 30% rent reduction for all students in semester one.
Owens Park Tower is officially de-occupied after today’s victory 💥@OfficialUoM this ain’t over yet though. January Rentstrike is still going ahead, today proved the strength of solidarity can overcome greed and we’ll be fighting even harder for a victory in semester 2. pic.twitter.com/mZ1PUE7h12
Students welcomed the reduction but warned that the protests were “not over yet“.
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“This victory would not have been possible without the incredible pressure that was put onto the university’s management by the strength of a united movement of students, staff and wider community,” said UoM Rent Strike representatives.
“We will continue to organise for a January rent strike to ensure we win a similar victory in Semester 2 and coordinate with grassroot student groups on campuses across the country to ensure this victory is replicated nationally.”
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Working with @ManchesterSU, we have agreed to give all students in University halls of residences a reduction for semester 1 totalling 30%. This will be provided irrespective of whether students stay in halls over the holiday period or not.
The university stated: “We have agreed to give all students in University halls of residences a reduction for semester 1 totalling 30%.
“This will be provided irrespective of whether students stay in halls over the holiday period or not.
“The increase from the previously announced two-week rent reduction, announced last week, follows detailed discussions between the University, [UoM Students Union] officers and elected student representatives from halls of residence.”
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UoM also confirmed they would open more social and study spaces in halls; develop a behaviour pledge; improve the reporting, tracking and resolution of maintenance issues; and work with students to enhance safety and security in halls.
The university has admitted they have “not got everything right” after a difficult first semester – which has seen accommodation flooded and students tear down “prison” fencing put up around Fallowfield halls.
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
24-hour bus services are now running across all Greater Manchester boroughs
Emily Sergeant
24-hour bus services are now running across all boroughs in Greater Manchester.
You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy… and now it’s official, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched those 24-hour buses this month, along with a series of other measures.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford now join the rest of Greater Manchester in having 24-hour bus services, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
It’s expected that these new services will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.
The routes which will run around the clock from Thursday until Sunday are:
50 (Salford – Manchester)
216 (Tameside – Manchester)
263 (Trafford – Manchester)
192 (Stockport – Manchester)
83 (Oldham – Manchester)
All Greater Manchester boroughs now have 24-hour bus services / Credit: TfGM
They launch alongside the most significant service changes to the Bee Network since the completion of bus franchising last year – including other new bus routes, and more frequent services across Greater Manchester.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy everything Greater Manchester offers, without the worry of how to get there and get home,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“By growing the Bee Network, we’re making it easier than ever for people to use the bus, day and night.
“Our night buses are already providing a lifeline to some of the hundreds of thousands of people who are growing our night-time economy and working in essential public services.”
“Whether people are heading home from a night at the theatre or starting the early shift at a hospital, they can now get on board the night bus as a safe and affordable way to travel.”
Further improvements will delivered from January 2027, and a full breakdown by borough can be found on the Bee Network website here.
The Manc -
26th November 2020 
