Manchester City Council says it has “new exciting ideas” for the regeneration of Gorton, but it wants to hear the opinions of residents first.
After an initial strategy developed by the Council has highlighted potential new public spaces, homes, and employment opportunities, proposals outlining “significant investment plans” in and around Gorton District Centre have now been put out for consultation – with Council leaders keen to “gather vital feedback” from the people who live, work, and use the areas daily.
While there has been a good chunk of investment ploughed into the Gorton neighbourhood in recent years, the Council says it has intentions to ensure the District Centre is “a destination of choice” for local people.
One of the main ambitions is to make sure Gorton is well-connected to the wider area.
Three areas have been identified by the Council as “areas of great potential” – North of Garratt Way (the area around Sibley Street, to Wellington Street and Hampden Crescent), Gorton Market and surrounding area, including improved walking and cycling routes, and Garratt Way and the Gorton Hub ‘loop’.
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We have new exciting ideas for Gorton District Centre.
We want your thoughts on potential changes – such as a more attractive, greener, more accessible and diverse environment.
So, what exactly are these ambitious plans then? And what could the future of Gorton actually look like?
Well, at the heart of the plans is to not only make the centre greener by improving quality green space and planting more tree, but to also create a more attractive local area that is comfortable and attractive to spend time in, according to the Council.
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The regeneration plans also look to support new events and activities to attract people to visit Gorton in the evenings and weekends.
Creating “a heart of the community” in the form of a new civic square is also part of the plans.
The Council says it also wants to deliver new mixed tenures homes to match local housing demand, including affordable housing, as well as making sure the centre of Gorton more accessible by safe walking and cycling.
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Overall, the Council is keen to create “a broader mix of uses” for the area that will attract different communities and age groups.
The Gorton District Centre Consultation will end on Friday 6 January, and you can find out more about the plans and drop-in sessions here.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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A FREE family-friendly lantern parade is returning to Altrincham this Christmas
Thomas Melia
There’s a family-friendly lantern parade making its way back to Altrincham town centre this Christmas and it’s completely free.
If you thought the Christmas season couldn’t get any better, you were wrong, as now you can have your very own Rapunzel moment as Altrincham welcomes the return of its lantern parade.
Before these dazzling paper creations light up this Greater Manchester town, there will be a very exciting Nativity Trail spread across various locations starting at Stamford Square.
Not only this, you can also expect a range of family-friendlyactivities running throughout the day featuring everything from live music and storytelling.
And if you’re after getting stuck in yourself rather than just watching from the sidelines, there’ll be lantern making workshops taking place on the day.
Although these classes will be free for all to enjoy, any families looking at attending will still need to book a ticket to create and design their own lantern at at OYEZ Arts in Altrincham Town Hall.
Previous lantern parades that have been held in Altrincham have seen lots of exciting and fun festive surprises with live donkeys trotting through the town last year.
The event itself encourages parade-goers to gather in Goose Green from 4pm before the official walk and lighting takes place from 4.45pm.
This illuminated walk includes a full Nativity cast, local schoolchildren, lantern puppets alongside a live soundtrack courtesy of Sale District Scout and Guide Band.
With the lantern parade finishing in Stamford Square and expected to last just under one hour, there will be a live Nativity performance happening at 5.30pm.
Mandy White, Director of Altrincham BID, said: “The Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey truly capture the spirit of Christmas in Altrincham. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, explore the town and celebrate the festive season.”
Altrincham’s Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey returns on Saturday 13 December from 12pm with lantern lighting at 4pm onwards – all events and further info. HERE.
Featured Images – Supplied (via Altrincham BID)
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‘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.
#JAILED | On Thursday at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/7/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to 15 years & 8 months with a further 6 years on licence – after previously pleading guilty to the 35 offences involving messaging young girls pic.twitter.com/HrYKCVay2l
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.”
Emily Sergeant -
12th December 2022 
