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University of Bolton Stadium ‘reviewing plans’ after Pink concert-goers report being stuck in the car park for HOURS

Fans were in the car park until the early hours.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 8th June 2023

The University of Bolton Stadium is going to be ‘reviewing the traffic management plan’ before Pink’s second show this evening, after gig-goers for her opening concert reported being stuck in the car park for hours.

Several fans reported still being in the car park into the early hours of this morning following the first of Pink’s two gigs at the venue.

One fan reported that their journey home took three hours instead of 40 minutes after being stuck in their car for so long.

Others slammed the ‘shambolic traffic management’ at the £25-per-vehicle car park, and described the gridlock as ‘an absolute joke’.

The University of Bolton Stadium, which will host Pink’s second show tonight, assured fans that they were working with the relevant authorities to improve fan experience.

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A spokesperson for the Bolton venue said: “Following an incredible opening night of Pink’s sensational Summer Carnival Tour 2023, at which we welcomed over 35,000 people to the University of Bolton Stadium, we are aware that some concert-goers experienced traffic and congestion issues when departing the site.

“Working closely with the relevant authorities, we are reviewing the traffic management plan in place ahead of this evening’s show, with a view to mitigating these issues and improving the experience for all those visiting the stadium for tonight’s second concert.”

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One concert-goer had posted: “Never coming to a concert at @UoBStadium ever again. Been stuck in the disabled car park £26 for an hour and a half not moving anywhere. The staff and security haven’t got a clue what they are doing.”

Another wrote: “Anyone travelling to pink tomorrow! Don’t drive to the venue! 1.26am and we’re still in the car park! @pink was amazing but this is a joke now!”

Someone else said: “Over 2 hours waiting in a grid locked car park at stand still, not good enough. Concert finished at 11 and was still in the car park after 1am, absolute joke!”

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One person posted: “@Pink was absolutely AMAZING (as always!) However, @UoBStadium it took me nearly 2.5hrs to get out of the carpark (and there were still lots of cars left in). PLEASE get it right for the 2nd show. For the £25 that I (and everyone paid!) I would have expected a better system.”

Someone else tweeted: “Absolutely shambolic traffic management trying to get out!! We were stuck for nearly 2 hours without moving!!!!!”

The travel advice on the University of Bolton Stadium’s page points Pink gig-goers to shuttle buses as well as the car parking on site – and warns of delays leaving car parks.

The website states: “Stewards and marshals will be on site to provide any assistance as you arrive and leave the concert car parks.

“We anticipate that it is likely to take up to two hours for all cars to leave the car parks and surrounding area due to traffic.

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“We ask that for your assistance and patience as we get everyone out of the car parks, off site and on their way home as quickly and safely as possible.”

You can see the latest travel advice if you’re seeing Pink in Bolton here.

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Featured image: Instagram, @pink

News

Oldham Council is asking local kids to name its six new gritters

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Oldham Council has announced the news that a handful of its hardest-working salt spreaders are retiring this year.

After gritting more than a million miles between them over several years of “super service”, it’s now the end of the icy road for six of Oldham‘s famously-named gritting fleet, and a new wintery journey is gearing up to begin for the town’s replacements machines.

But, you know that that means – the the popular ‘name a gritter’ competition is back once again.

With the nights drawing in, and the weather getting colder and colder by the day, it won’t be long before local residents will be able to see the big yellow machines traveling around the borough spreading grit and salt.

Fan-favourites Winston Chur-chill and Nicole Saltslinger will be making welcome returns this year, but they’ll also be joined by six newbies, and it’s our job to name them equally-iconic names.

Oldham Council‘s ‘name a gritter’ competition is now open, and it’s hoped that primary and junior-age children in the town will, once again, come through with “an avalanche of entries” like they have done in the past.

Brad Grit, Gritiana Grande, Snowbee One Kenobi, Nick Gritshaw, Leonardo de-ice-io, and Basil Salty are just some of the names of the gritters who’ve spread Oldham’s salt in previous years, so they should be able to serve as inspiration for what the Council’s looking for.

The winning names from this year’s competition will be added to the front of the six new cabs.

“Oldham Council was one of the first local authorities in the country to name its gritting fleet, and since then many others have followed our lead,” Councillor Chris Goodwin, who is Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said as the competition opens.

“In the past, we’ve always run the competition as a bit of fun and it’s really captured the imagination of our young people, so please urge your children to get their thinking caps on and send in some names.”

/ Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Unfortunately, Cllr Goodwin did stress that this year’s competition is only open to all children aged four to 11 who live in Oldham or attend one of the boroughs primary or junior schools, and that any “40-odd-year-old ‘comic’s who are thinking of sending in unfunny names” should thinking again, because they’ve “heard it all before”.

As social media suggestions “will not be accepted”, parents, guardians, and carers will need to help their little Oldhamers get their entries in on the Oldham Council website here, and you’ll need to make sure the child’s details are included, plus how the Council can contact you.

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The closing date for entries is 11:59pm on Friday 3 November.

All naming suggestions will then be put to a panel of councillors and council officers to have the final say, and the lucky winners will be invited down to the town’s Moorhey Street depot to have their photo taken with the gritter they’ve named.

Featured Image – Oldham Council

News

Four jailed for over 70 years for ‘daylight murder’ of Withington teen Kyle Hackland

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Four teenagers have been collectively sentenced to more than 70 years for the murder of another teenager in Withington last year.

Kyle Hackland, who was just 17 at the time, was brutally stabbed in broad daylight in Withington at around midday back on Tuesday 22 November 2022, and went on to sadly pass away in hospital as a result of his injuries – which were described as “catastrophic”.

He was described as “kind and well-mannered young boy who never failed to say “love you” as he walked out the door” in a tribute paid by his loving family at the time.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launched a murder investigation shortly after.

Detective Superintendent Neil Jones, of GMP South Manchester Division, said at the time that the force understood the incident would “cause distress and concern to the community and across Manchester”, but assured the public it was an isolated incident and there was no wider threat.

Several men were subsequently charged in connection with the incident nearly two weeks later on 7 December, and were remanded in custody while awaiting trial.

And now, after the trial at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court has finally concluded yesterday (Tuesday 3 October), and accumulative sentences of more than 70 years were handed out, all four men have been publicly named.

They have been named as Yousef Sesay (24/11/2004), Lewis Ludford (05/12/2004), Tafari Kosey-Smith (26/06/2006), and Alfie Benson (30/03/2006).

Sesay was sentenced to 22 years, Ludford for 21 years (with two years concurrent for a bladed article), and Kosey-Smith for 19 years (with two years concurrent for a bladed article), after all were found guilty of murder.

Benson has been jailed for 12 years (with two years concurrent for burglary offences) after being found guilty of manslaughter.

Kyle lost his life in what the court heard this week was “a pre-mediated revenge attack”, and was “brutally attacked with knives” by the four teenagers during the “violent assault” in broad daylight.

Yousef Sesay
Lewis Ludford
Alfie Benson
Tafari Kosey-Smith
Four jailed for over 70 years for ‘daylight murder’ of Withington teen Kyle Hackland / Credit: GMP

“This is another heartbreaking example of how carrying a knife can have devastating consequences in a matter of seconds,” said Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector David Moores, after the trial concluded yesterday.

“Our thoughts as a force are once again with Kyle’s loved ones, who will have to continue to live with the pain, but hopefully this can be eased in some way with the conviction of his killers.

“Officers in our Major Incident Team have worked tirelessly to bring justice, and, in our role, we are reminding any young person willing to carry a knife to put it down and think twice before doing so.

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“It is not worth it and can ultimately cost yours and other people’s lives.”

Featured Image – GMP

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