A woman has been safely rescued after a tree fell onto her car in Altrincham over the weekend.
Thousands of homes are still without power in Scotland and rural parts of North East England after Storm Malik arrived on Saturday and brought with it strong winds of up to 80mph, downpours of rain, damage to buildings, and in two certain tragic cases, loss of life due to falling trees, all before Storm Corrie began to set in on Sunday.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that Storm Malik’s high winds caused a tree to fall on top of a Peugeot 107 car roof at about midday on Dunham Road in Altrincham.
A woman was rescued from the vehicle.
Strong winds will persist throughout the afternoon. Please check local weather warnings and plan your journey accordingly. We also advise any loose outdoor items to be properly secured or brought inside where possible. (2/2)
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) January 29, 2022
Firefighters from GMFRS confirmed that they were required to use cutting gear and specialist equipment to rescue the woman.
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Taking to social media on Saturday to explain the shocking situation, a spokesperson for GMFRS said: “This afternoon, firefighters rescued a woman after a tree had fallen onto a car roof [and] the woman received first aid from a fire service technician before being transferred to the care of North West Ambulance Service.”
They then warned that “strong winds will persist throughout the afternoon.”
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The statement continued: “Please check local weather warnings and plan your journey accordingly [and] we also advise any loose outdoor items to be properly secured or brought inside where possible.”
A woman has been safely rescued after a tree fell onto her car in Altrincham over the weekend / Credit: GMFRS
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind across Greater Manchester as Storm Corrie is set to continue hitting the UK today.
Bringing another blast of strong winds up to 90mph, the Storm Corrie weather warning is due to end at around midday on Monday, and will likely cause some travel disruption, and generate some large and dangerous waves around the coasts.
NHS set to make thousands of staff redundant after being given go-ahead
Emily Sergeant
Thousands of NHS staff are set to be made redundant after the £1 billion needed to fund them was approved by the Government.
The Government had already announced earlier this year its intention to cut the headcount across both NHS England and the Department of Health by around 18,000 administrative staff and managers, including on local health boards.
But before this was to happen, the HM Treasury had to approve the funds first.
National news outlets such as the BBC and Sky News are reporting that the Treasury has not granted additional funding, which is something that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is understood to have been pushing for.
But the NHS will, however, be permitted to overspend its budget this year to pay for redundancies – with the aim that it will recoup the costs further down the line.
The NHS is set to make thousands of staff redundant after being the given go-ahead by the Government / Credit: Pxhere
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been in Manchester this week at the NHS Providers’ Conference, where he addressed attendees to announce the redundancies move saying: “Headcount across my department and NHS England will be halved, returning to the size we had in 2010 when the NHS delivered the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in history.”
He also told delegates at the conference that there was ‘no money to waste’, given the state of public finances.
According to the Department of Health, the redundancies and overall reforms to NHS England will cut ‘unnecessary bureaucracy’ and raise £1 billion a year to improve services for patients.
Today, we're announcing the next steps in modernising our NHS so we can invest more into patient care.
By cutting bureaucracy, our plans will mean an extra £1 billion a year for NHS services – enough to fund an extra 116,000 hip and knee operations. https://t.co/3LbJsuexW0pic.twitter.com/r3Aiix80yX
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) November 12, 2025
It said that every £1 billion saved in bureaucracy costs is enough to fund an extra 116,000 hip and knee operations.
NHS Providers’ Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles has called the move a ‘pragmatic step’ that means planned redundancies can now go ahead.
“It reflects the flexibility of a three-year settlement, allowing some funding to be brought forward in order to generate future savings to go into frontline care,” he added in a statement this week.
“However, we must recognise the position of staff affected by these changes, who face a very uncertain future.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to make further announcements concerning the NHS in the upcoming Budget on 26 November.
Featured Image – rawpixel
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Robert De Niro pops up in Manchester to break ground on £360m Nobu skyscraper
Daisy Jackson
Hollywood a-lister Robert De Niro was in Manchester yesterday, to break ground on the new 246 metre tall Nobu skyscraper.
The movie star is a co-founder of Nobu Hospitality, which has revealed plans for a £360m tower in the heart of Manchester.
When it’s complete, the skyscraper will be the tallest outside of London, and will be home to a signature Nobu restaurant as well a 160-room hotel and 452 residences.
At the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, Nobu Hospitality founders Robert De Niro, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper joined Salboy’s co-founders Fred Done and Simon Ismail.
The new tower is set to complete in 2031, once again transforming Manchester’s skyline with its tallest skyscraper to date that will dwarf the likes of Deansgate Square and Beetham Tower.
As well as first-class dining from one of the world’s best-known restaurant names, it’ll be bringing hundreds of new Nobu branded residences to town.
Yesterday, it was announced that the Nobu restaurant will be situated on the ground floor, among the site’s original Grade II-listed Victorian viaduct arches.
Nobu Hospitality co-founders including Robert De Niro broke ground on Nobu Manchester this week
It’s hoped that the space will have a strong sense of Manchester’s industrial history to go with the modern cuisine.
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Los Angeles in 1987, later partnering with Robert De Niro and launching in New York in 1994.
Now, there are more than 50 restaurants worldwide.
As for the Nobu Residences, these will be 452 luxury home, some of which will be among the highest penthouses and apartments in Western Europe.
Residents in these Japanese-inspired homes will have access to premium amenities like an exclusive swimming pool, a podium garden, and a gym.
Salboy and Nobu Hospitality will be collaborating with award-winning designers, Bowley James Brindley.
Nobu Manchester will be the city’s tallest skyscraper when it completes. Credit: Supplied
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality’s Shareholders, commented: “Breaking ground in Manchester is a defining moment for Nobu in the UK – our first venture beyond London, and the introduction of Nobu Residences to this market.
“This landmark project – encompassing a hotel, restaurant and residences – marks the debut of Nobu Residences in the United Kingdom. Manchester’s global outlook and dynamic spirit align perfectly with the Nobu brand.
“We’re proud to bring our signature hospitality, dining and design to the city, and excited to offer both guests and residents an authentic Nobu experience.”
Fred Done, co-founder of Salboy, said: “Ten years ago, Simon Ismail and I founded Salboy with a clear vision: to change Manchester’s skyline. I believe we are doing just that.
CGIs of the Nobu Manchester restaurant
“I’ve been fortunate to experience exceptional cuisine and hospitality around the world, which is why we chose Nobu as our partner to help realise that vision. Best in class, best in creativity, the best of the best.
“This is our pièce de résistance— exactly what we wanted to bring to Manchester, the city of firsts. This is why it’s so fantastic to welcome Nobu to our wonderful city.”
Simon Ismail, co-founder and CEO of Salboy, added: “Chef Nobu’s 30-year influence on our culinary tastes can not be understated and I look forward with huge anticipation for the impact he and his team have on Manchester’s established and ambitious dining scene.
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“As a proud Salfordian too, I’m keen to see how Chef Nobu and his team blend local produce and influences from the Northwest’s culinary heritage into the dishes and flavours they are famous for.
“Beyond the signature restaurant, which will look magnificent under the Victorian arches, being part of Nobu’s journey to extend its leadership in the global luxury hospitality and property markets is an honour.
“Manchester deserves luxury accommodation to match its growing position on the international stage and the Nobu team has the imagination and track record to make that happen.”
Enabling works are now underway, with intentions to start construction next year.
Emily Sergeant -
31st January 2022 
