It’s been a brutal month weather-wise – but it’s not over yet, with snow forecast to fall in Greater Manchester today.
Winter has so far been uncharacteristically mild and we’ve not had much in the way of snow yet.
But the arrival of Storm Gladys – the UK’s fourth named storm in a fortnight – that might all change.
Yellow weather warning are in place for parts of the UK further north than us.
Despite dodging the worst of the weather warnings this time, there are snow flurries forecast in several Greater Manchester boroughs today.
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Snow in Marple Bridge in Stockport. Credit: Unsplash, Richard Pennystan
According to the Met Office, Oldham is the most likely to see some snow today, but there are glimpses of the white stuff in other boroughs too.
Here’s the borough-by-borough forecast for Thursday 24 February.
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Manchester – It’s a day of heavy showers and scattered sunshine for Manchester today, with highs of 4° and lows of 3° – but it will feel as cold as -2° into the evening.
Oldham – Oldham always seems to be the Greater Manchester borough that gets the best snow, and today is no exception – there are heavy snow showers predicted almost all day, with some potential rain at around 4pm. It might feel as cold as -5° there today.
Rochdale – It might look like snow in Rochdale today, but don’t get too excited – it’s mostly set to turn to sleet and rain as the day wears on. Heavy snow IS forecast to fall at about 7pm, but it may not stick after so much rain.
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Bury – There are heavy showers and scattered sun all over Bury, with some big downpours expected in between 7pm and 9pm.
Bolton – Bolton’s snowfall is forecast to arrive early in the day, with a heavy snow shower expected at around 11am. But it will then turn to sleet, and back to classic northern rain by the afternoon.
Wigan – Much like Bury, Wigan will be hit with some heavy rain showers throughout the day, with a few patches of sunshine in between.
Salford – There’ll be some heavy rain falling at intervals across Salford today, with temperatures feeling as cool as -3° in the evening.
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Trafford – The southern edge of Greater Manchester is looking like it won’t see much in the way of snow today – instead, it’ll be a day of sunshine and showers, with a chance of sleet around 7pm.
Stockport – There are rain showers forecast all day in Stockport, bar some potential dry spells between 5pm and 7pm, and at 8pm.
Tameside – The Met Office is predicting heavy rain showers mid-afternoon and again at around 9pm.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
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‘Groundbreaking’ new police team launches on Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world
Emily Sergeant
A ‘groundbreaking’ new policing model aimed at making the Bee Network one of the safest public transport networks in the world has launched.
Described as being ‘pioneering’, the first-of-its-kind approach – named the Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) – will bring Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) even closer together to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour, and safety issues across the region’s transport network.
So, how will it work then? Well, according to TfGM, the command will ‘effectively establish’ the Bee Network as GMP’s eleventh policing district.
It will bring together up to 300 personnel, including new police officers, who are all involved in keeping the network safe and providing greater reassurance to passengers travelling across the region.
Efforts to keep passengers safe on buses, trams, active travel routes, and roads across Greater Manchester will be ‘strengthened’ through the new team – improving co-ordination in response to incidents, and helping to reassure communities.
A ‘groundbreaking’ new police team has launched on the Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world / Credit: TfGM
The new team will also incorporate the existing Roads Policing Unit within GMP that includes specialist functions such as the Central Ticket Office, the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, the motorbike unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, and more.
Overall, the key focus of TPACC is to:
Increase public confidence on safety across the transport network
Reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and criminality across the transport network
Increase the number of users of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester
The launch of TPACC is said to represents ‘the next phase’ of Greater Manchester’s commitment to creating a ‘safer, more secure, and more welcoming’ transport network for everyone who lives, works, and travels across the region.
“I want a world-class Bee Network where everyone feels safe,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“Our new dedicated transport policing command will bring together more than 300 police and safety officers, with high-profile patrols across our roads and the Bee Network. It means a stronger presence in our communities and faster action when people need help.
“TPACC will also crack down on dangerous driving to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which have devastating consequences for families and communities.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Two arrested after assaulting and burgling 90-year-old woman in Stockport suburb
Emily Sergeant
Two people have been arrested following reports of an assault and burglary at a 90-year-old woman’s home in a Stockport suburb.
While en-route to the incident in Heald Green – which was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at around 2:30am on 29 October – officers located the victim’s vehicle being driven by an unknown man.
The stolen vehicle made off from police before it lost control, went up a grass verge, and collided with a stationary vehicle.
Police confirmed that a white British man, aged 41, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a burglary and serious assault, while a white British woman, aged 47, was also later arrested on suspicion of burglary and serious assault – with both remaining in custody for questioning.
The victim, a 90-year-old woman, was taken to hospital for treatment and is being supported by specialist officers, although luckily, her injuries are not life-threatening.
Enquiries are now ongoing, and officers are working to establish the full circumstances of the shocking incident.
“This was undoubtedly a traumatic experience for the victim, and we have specialist officers supporting her through this investigation,” explained Detective Inspector Craig Turner, from Stockport CID.
“This was a violent burglary and thanks to the brave victim reporting it, our officers made two swift arrests with the suspects taken into police custody to be interviewed.
“We believe this was a targeted attack and there is no wider risk to the community. Extra patrols of officers have been deployed to the area to offer reassurance to members of the community. Please let them know if you have any concerns.
“We are committed to tackling dangerous offenders and keeping our communities safe from harm.”
Daisy Jackson -
24th February 2022 
