North Manchester is set to become home to a huge new public green space within the next couple of years.
Forming part of Manchester City Council and Far East Consortium’s (FEC) ‘Northern Gateway’ masterplan – recently rebranded as ‘Victoria North’ – to regenerate and rejuvenate over 390-acres of land into new communities over the next two decades, the proposed City River Park will boast 113 acres of landscaped green space.
Set to be completed by 2024 in the north eastern area of the city, City River Park is expected to incorporate part of St Catherine’s Wood and the River Irk.
Much of this land is currently disused and has sadly become somewhat of a fly-tipping hotspot.
City River Park has been described as “a park for the people”.
ADVERTISEMENT
A description of the proposed plans for the park on the Victoria North website reads: “At the heart of the regeneration is the City River Park, which covers 113 acres of new and improved parkland and will become one of Manchester’s largest city centre green spaces.
“The park will vary in character providing a diverse and active new recreational corridor for the community including parks and smaller amenity spaces.
ADVERTISEMENT
“City River Park will enhance existing habitats and create new habitats for wildlife, and be guided by climate positive design to create results which as carbon neutral as possible. Connectivity and accessibility are also key ensuring high quality pedestrian and cycle movement within luscious green spaces for active lifestyles and wellbeing”.
The £4 billion ‘Victoria North’ project will aim to create around 15,000 homes north of Manchester Victoria train station over the next 20 years, and is made up of seven neighbourhoods.
These neighbourhoods are: Collyhurst Village – which Manchester City Council and FEC submitted first phase regeneration plans for last month – Collyhurst South, New Cross, New Town, Red Bank, Vauxhall Gardens, and Smedley Dip and Eggington Street.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking on the decision to rebrand as ‘Victoria North’, Gavin Taylor – Regional General Manager at FEC in Manchester – said: “The Northern Gateway has served us well as a name as we shaped plans for the area’s regeneration, but as we begin to bring forward development this year, it’s the right time to start creating a sense of place for what will be a significant new district in Manchester, as well as an identity that people can engage with”.
Introducing the North of England’s biggest urban regeneration project!
He continued: “When taken together, Victoria North’s seven neighbourhoods are greater than the sum of their parts and we want there to be a sense of cohesion between them.
“Each area will have its own unique characteristics, meaning we can celebrate the rich identities of existing communities that we’re passionate about preserving, alongside new ones that we’re excited to be creating.”
Sir Richard Leese – Leader of Manchester City Council – added: “We are at the beginning of an incredibly exciting phase of history for this part of Manchester and with some eagerness to see how this potential unfolds”.
You can find more information about the Victoria North project here.
News
Body found at Bolton restaurant and suspected cannabis farm days after fire
Daisy Jackson
A body has been found at the site of a fire in Bolton, days after a blaze ripped through a restaurant.
It’s believed that the fire started on the first floor of the property, with early inquiries suggesting it may have been used as a cannabis farm.
Human remains were found at the premises on Bolton Road in Farnworth.
A criminal investigation is now underway and Greater Manchester Police are appealing for information and footage relating to the incident.
Emergency services had first been called to the area at around 1pm on Monday 27 November, to reports of a fire.
Earlier today, Saturday 2 December, a body was found during a search of the restaurant building, days after the fire.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Naismith of GMP Major Incident Team said: “Work is ongoing to identify the deceased and we are committed to ensuring the potential family members are fully supported and informed of updates in this investigation.
“The loss of life is a tragedy and I understand the upset this news will cause in the local community. I can assure you on behalf of the investigation team that we are determined to get to the bottom of what has occurred and establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.
“I can confirm this fire is being treated as suspicious and if there is any criminal responsibility, it will be brought to light and dealt with appropriately. We are particularly interested to hear from anyone who knows how this building was being used in the lead up to 27 November 2023.
“I would also like to appeal to anyone with information about the fire itself – including if you have any footage (such as CCTV, mobile or dashcam) – to contact GMP’s Major Incident Team.”
You can make a report by calling 0161 856 1995 quoting log number 1485 of 27/11/2023 or via the reporting function on GMP’s website: www.gmp.police.uk
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Tameside police officers hailed ‘absolute heroes’ after saving the life of a seven-year-old girl
Emily Sergeant
Two Tameside police officers have been hailed as “absolute heroes” after saving the life of a seven-year-old little girl.
It comes after emergency services were called to an address in the Greater Manchester borough of Tameside earlier this week (29 November), and found a young girl who was struggling to breath and coughing up blood after choking on a sweet.
Police Constables Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell, from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Tameside division, were first on the scene.
To the huge relief of the girl’s parents, who were said to be “understandably distressed” and concerned for her welfare, PC Kincaid jumped straight into action and was able to utilise his first aid training to full effect by going on to successfully dislodge the sweet from the youngster’s throat, and then helping to calm her down before the paramedics arrived.
Whilst PC Kincaid looked after the little girl, PC Blundell did “everything he could” to help the parents remain calm.
Paramedics then took over once they arrived, and the young girl was taken to hospital as a precaution.
#NEWS | Tameside officers praised for saving the life of a 7-year-old girl who was choking.
The officers used their first aid training to dislodge the sweet, whilst helping the young girl and parents remain calm until paramedics arrived.
Reflecting on the incident, and hailing his officers “absolute heroes”, Superintendent Mike Walsh, from GMP’s Tameside district, said: “PCs Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell acted without hesitation during the incident, and took control of the situation that they were faced with.
“They deserve every credit for staying calm under extreme pressure and for working together as a team and utilising their training to lifesaving effect, and I’m sure the girl’s parents and family will consider them to be absolute heroes.”
“We’re both glad that we were in the right place at the right time,” PC Kincaid added.
“I have a daughter the same age as the little girl who needed our help, and I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was when she started breathing normally and said she was okay after I had managed to dislodge the sweet.
“The little girl gave me a thank you hug before she went to hospital, but I couldn’t have done what I did without PC Blundell’s assistance, so it was a real team effort.”
The Manc -
18th March 2021 
