The Mancunian Way: The new Berlin?

Hello,

Stockport is known as one of the coolest places to live in the UK. The town is frequently named in trendy ‘best place to live’ guides following a huge regeneration - but some are feeling left behind.

Residents told Chris Slater they are worried about rent and house prices amid gentrification in the area. “The idea of buying a place is just a fever dream. The prices have just shot up,” 25-year-old Nathan Dean said.

"How can they say one minute 'this area is worth £500 a month', then the next say it's worth nearly a £1,000? People are going to be driven out."

In March, it came out on top in a Times poll of the best places to live in the north west. Its newly-found bohemian vibe has even seen it dubbed 'the New Berlin'.

"They say it is, but it's not," Nathan says with a wry smile, which soon disappears. For 25-year-old, the tag has an impact which isn't helping.

In the safe Labour constituency, many told Chris they would be voting for Keir Starmer’s party. But some said their heads had been turned by Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s party. You can read more here.

Blues at Manchester’s rudest restaurant

Manchester’s rudest restaurant has closed with immediate effect as the brand turns its attention to ‘pop up’ events rather than eateries.

Karen’s Diner in Prestwich - where staff are rude to customers on purpose - has proved a controversial addition to the area’s hospitality scene. But in a statement issued yesterday, the restaurant confirmed they would be closing.

A spokesperson said: “As it stands the initial licence agreement has come to an end and our head office wants the UK operation to concentrate on ‘pop up’ events rather than restaurants. In the current climate reluctantly we can understand their decision.

“When the business opened in Prestwich critics said that is was “far too far out the way” and we want to thank the 100,000 + customers that have proved them wrong.

“The group is undergoing a reconstruction which will see the brand appearing in its pop up form all over Britain.” More here.

A ‘national scandal’

Salford City Council have extended a plan to give food vouchers to children during school holidays amid what the mayor called a ‘national scandal’ of child poverty.

A recent report revealed a 'substantial' increase in the number of children in Salford who are eligible to claim free school meals.

Across the city, 24 percent of children were eligible for free school meals in 2019, a figure which has now increased to 35pc. And the council say they only expect this rise to continue. More here.

Lucy Letby on trial

Former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby is on trial charged with a single offence of the attempted murder of a baby girl, Child K.

In August last year, the defendant was convicted in a “very long trial” of seven murders and seven attempted murders relating to six other children, the court heard, while she worked as a nurse at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Opening the case on Wednesday, prosecutor Nick Johnson KC told jurors: “Her status as a multiple murderer and attempted murderer is an important piece of the evidence that you can, if you wish, take into account when you are considering whether we have made you sure that she attempted to murder (Child K).”

Jurors in the previous trial failed to reach a verdict regarding the allegation. More here.

Avanti under review

We’ve all been there. You’re standing at Manchester Piccadilly, ready for your train to London, when an announcement comes over the tannoy. It’s cancelled, and you’re left stuck.

Avanti West Coast’s service between Manchester and the capital has long been a problem for many. Office of Rail and Road figures show Avanti West Coast had the third worst reliability of all operators in Britain in the year to the end of March, with the equivalent of one in 15 trains (6.9 per cent) cancelled.

Now, Labour has said it would urgently consider stripping Avanti West Coast of its train operating contract if the party wins the General Election. More here.

Weather etc

Thursday: Cloudy changing to heavy rain in the afternoon. 15C.

Roadworks: Dantzic Street in both directions closed due to unsafe building from Collyhurst Road to Gould Street.

Manchester headlines

Crash: A woman is fighting for her life after being struck by a vehicle near Bolton. Greater Manchester Police says it was called out to a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Norris Street, in Farnworth, at 4.30pm yesterday (June 11). More here.

Banned: Police have ordered a teenager not to return to part of Stockport after discovering drugs, a knife and CS spray. Neighbourhood officers on patrol in Brinnington first noticed a vehicle being driven suspiciously yesterday (June 11). More here.

Tribute: The grieving family of a man stabbed to death have paid touching tribute to him and said his smile 'showed what true happiness looked like'. Michael McCann died following reports to police of a stabbing in The Haulgh area of the town, just outside Bolton town centre, last Friday evening. More here.

Worth a read

There are 33 Greater Manchester general election candidates who don’t actually live in the region.

You can check to see if yours is on the list here.