UK News

Why the Peak District’s ‘blue lagoon’ is too dangerous for a swim

The quarry water is affected by high alkaline pH levels - which makes it dangerous for anyone who decides to risk taking a dip.

The Manc The Manc - 3rd June 2021

Police have issued a fresh warning for people to avoid swimming in a lagoon-like body of water in the Peak District – which has been described as a “bath of bleach”.

Yorkshire Live reports that officers are continuing to “monitor” the bright blue water in Harpur Hill Quarry near Buxton – which attracts hundreds of visitors each year.

The water is apparently affected by high pH levels, which makes it particularly dangerous for anyone who decides to risk taking a dip.

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police stated: “Officers have not received reports of anti-social behaviour around the quarry at Harpur Hill over the bank holiday weekend but continue to monitor the area and work with partnership agencies to help maintain this over a long-term period.

“There are a number of disused quarries across Derbyshire, and throughout the country.

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“Many of them are on private land so as well as the risk of trespassing penalties, people swimming in quarry waters put themselves in danger of cold-water shock, getting injured by hidden items beneath the surface or other health issues relating to pollution.

“Please don’t put yourself at risk.”

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Police dyed Harpur Hill Quarry’s water black in 2020 in an attempt to deter visitors / Image: Buxton Police SNT

The water in Harpur Hill Quarry is apparently toxic enough to cause a variety of ailments including ‘skin and eye irritations, stomach problems and fungal infections such as thrush’.

It is also known to contain car parts, animals, excrement and rubbish.

When groups flocked to the location during the first nationwide lockdown, local police dyed the water black to “make the water look less appealing”.

Featured image: Buxton Police SNT

UK News

A Greater Manchester campaigner is calling on the government to get rid of VAT on energy bills

Danny Jones Danny Jones Petition to get rid of VAT on energy bills in the UK

With the colder months now well and truly upon us, a local campaigner is calling on the UK government to scrap VAT on energy bills across the country.

The nation is still in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and besides grocery shopping, business rates and eating out still climbing, one of the biggest hits to the wallet continues to be at home, thanks to the cost of gas and electricity.

With that in mind, and as we approach the ever-challenging festive period when purse strings feel tighter than ever, industry expert and Bolton-born entrepreneur Corin Dalby is making a fresh push for crucial aid and urging Brits to put digital pen to paper.

Sharing the petition link on social media – which has been taken up by more than 42,000 people online – Dalby is asking others who believe domestic residents deserve a much-needed let-off to sign the Change.org document and help scrap VAT on energy bills in the UK.

Introducing himself and the idea in the description beneath the petition, the Greater Manchester native writes: “My name is Corin Dalby, and last year I successfully campaigned for hospices in the UK to receive an extra £100 million of government funding, with the support of 37,254 signatures.

“Now I’m calling on the Government to axe the 5% VAT we are all forced to pay on our energy bills.”

Dalby, 56, is the co-founder and CEO of non-profit energy company, Box Power CIC (community interest company), and has seen significant money from FCA fines go towards palliative care facilities since December last year.

Pointing out that the current energy secretary and former Prime Ministerial candidate, Ed Miliband, has previously hinted that his party would be open to this possibility, he goes on to add: “It’s vital that we hold them to this, to bring some much-needed relief to millions of households.”

While the initial goal aligned with the hope of getting enough signatures to put this bill forward in time for the most recent Labour budget (revealed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday, 26 November), the initiative could still provide vital support this winter – especially for those worst off.

As mentioned, the 2025 autumn statement has now been shared publicly following some early leaks, and despite including positives like a lift on minimum wage, as well as benefit increases, there have been much bigger reactions to aspects such as the hits being taken by pensioners and more.

The 2025 autumn budget has been largely underpinned by raising taxes by an estimated £26 billion.

If anything, the announcement has made the plea from Dalby and those in agreement more poignant than ever – and there are, indeed, plenty of people in his camp.

Sharing his most recent update back in October on social media, Corin said: “Overjoyed to see 20,000 signatures in just 3 hours.

“Scrapping the 5% VAT will directly save every hospice [an area he’s already successfully advocated for in the past], house and care home in the country, so who will help us to knock this out of the park and help the most vulnerable in our country and quickly smash 100,000?

“If you wish to help make a difference, please support this petition by just adding your name and [circulating] to like-minded contacts and repost this if possible.”

If you agree with the petition, you can sign via the official Change.org link right HERE.

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Featured Images — Roberta Sant’Anna (via Unsplash)/HM Treasury (via Flickr)

UK News

Tim Burgess pens touching tribute to ‘everyone’s mate’ Mani

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tim Burgess tribute to Mani from Stone Roses Sunday Times

Legendary local musician Tim Burgess has written a touching tribute to the late, great Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield as people continue to pay their respects to the iconic Stone Roses bass player.

The Charlatans’ frontman, who recently got the band back in the recording studio for their stunning 14th studio album, is one of many who have taken the time to honour the influential Manc musician over the past few days.

Mani, 63, who also saw his career reignited as a regular member of Primal Scream after his time with the Roses, sadly passed away last week.

Penning a lengthy eulogy for The Sunday Times, Burgess was unaware that the digital version of the paper would be behind a paywall, deciding instead to share it publicly online.

Sharing the first few excerpts from the full article, the 58-year-old lead singer, solo artist and Salfordian said of Mani: “People have more stories to tell of their shared adventures with Mani than anyone else I know, often simply about enjoying a gig with him.”

The most striking part of his column is how much of it reiterates not just the Crumpsall native’s undying love for music but his raw obsession with the medium.

Perhaps most touchingly, however, is how he is positioned as “everyone’s mate” in the piece – a sentiment that seems to have been echoed all over social media, among the countless Manchester United fans that bumped into him at games, in the pub chat since and countless other corners.

Burgess is one of several high-profile artists to have honoured Mounfield in their own way; Richard Ashcroft and Oasis playing the ‘She Bangs the Drums’ riff and dedicating ‘Live Forever’ to their idol, The Membranes member and Louder Than War boss, John Robb, speaking via the BBC, just to name a few.

A particularly heartbreaking line is when he says, “On hearing the news of his death last week, I found solace in the idea that Mani lived life to the full. But at 63, it was a life cut lamentably short.” You can read more down below.

Since disclosing the Times write-up with his followers, it’s clear that the 58-year-old is going through a period of reflection following the death of not just a peer and role model but a close friend.

As well as sharing his work with Peter Hook, Andy Rourke and Mani on their short-lived Freebass project (a supergroup that far too few people knew about until now), he’s also been sharing countless pictures and posts, not to mention interacting with other Stone Roses fans and audiophiles over tales about the bassist.

On Sunday, he summed up his feelings perfectly: “Go to that gig. Listen to that song, dust off that record player, learn to play that guitar. Music helps us through. Life can be overwhelming at times. Music can help, I promise you that.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Speaking of – we don’t know about you, but we’re going to be playing the best of The Stone Roses for the foreseeable future, and there’s a good chance we’ll also be heading to Chorlton for a special tribute DJ set by one of his friends and former colleagues.

An Emmerdale star is kicking off a series of special guest DJ slots in Manchester
Like Tim says, there are few things as curative as live music… RIP Mani.

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Featured Images — Edwardrhodes06/mari (via Flickr)

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