Yahoo News The Mancunian Way: No consequences for canines
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It’s been described as an ‘unforgiveable error’ which has left a town unprotected against the scourge of dog poo. Ever since an enforcement order lapsed in 2021, Oldham council has been powerless to fine or prosecute dog owners who fail to pick up after their pets.
It means there are no consequences for canines dirtying the streets and parks of the borough, writes Charlotte Hall. The oversight emerged after a Freedom of Information request revealed that despite more than 300 complaints being lodged with the council about dog poo in public areas in the last two years, zero fixed penalty notices were issued.
Coun Howard Sykes, who filed the FOI, said: “This is an unforgivable and basic error for the council to be making. By failing to get the basics right like this, the council has missed hundreds of opportunities to prosecute an environmental crime and tackle this anti-social behaviour.”
The council said the order ran out at a time when the authority was ‘busy prioritising protecting our residents against Covid’ and are currently working on renewing it.
Executive director for environment Nasir Dad said ‘We would urge everyone to clean up after their dogs as that would improve the cleanliness of our streets and open spaces,’ before asking, not unreasonably: “If you aren’t prepared to clean up after your dog then should you even have one?”
Inquest underway after long delay
A teenager with a ‘history of severe self-harm’ was told his life was a ‘car crash’ by a psychiatrist involved in his care in a 'stretched' mental health unit, an inquest has heard. The hearing into the death of Charlie Millers has started after more than a year of delays.
The 17-year-old trans boy died five days after he was found unresponsive in his room on mental health unit Junction 17 at the former Prestwich Hospital site, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, on December 2, 2020. Two other patients being treated at the hospital also died within nine months of Charlie.
The first day of the four-week inquest was told how Charlie had been through a lot of ‘trauma’ throughout his life including being ‘bullied at school’, with ‘acid thrown on him’ and ‘sexual abuse’ over the course of five years. Charlie felt ‘worthless’, struggled with ‘big feelings of shame’, and ‘did not feel safe in his relationships’ ahead of his death, one doctor said.
An inquest into the death of Charlie was delayed in January 2023 so the Greater Manchester Police inquiry could take place after it emerged at a coronial hearing that hospital records may have been edited after his death. The Manchester Evening News understands a GMP investigation has concluded and that there is insufficient evidence for authorities to seek a prosecution for manslaughter by gross negligence. Helena Vesty has more here…
The ‘Grand Alliance’ that never was
To Rochdale now, where George Galloway’s The Workers Party are facing accusations of ‘manipulation’ after claiming to have formed a ‘Grand Alliance’ with the borough’s Lib Dems and a number of independent candidates ahead of next month’s local elections. In a press release the WP endorsed four Middleton Independent and two Lib Dem candidates and stated that David Tully, the independent candidate who came second to Mr Galloway in last month’s by-election ‘is backing our outstanding Workers Party candidate in Healey ward, Amr Nazir’.
It was dubbed a ‘Grand Alliance’, by Mr Galloway, who vowed it would ‘sweep away this incompetent and arrogant council, and put residents back at the heart of decision making’. But all parties involved have strongly denied having any involvement with Rochdale’s new MP.
Mr Tull strongly refuted claims he was in an ‘alliance’ with Mr Galloway, saying he did act as Mr Nazir’s proposer but only because they had known each other for a long time. He added: “I feel let down by this. They have manipulated the situation. I am not in any alliance with them.”
Lib Dem leader Andy Kelly issued a similarly strong rebuttal. He said: “Of course they (the two Lib Dem council candidates endorsed by the Workers Party) have not entered into an alliance. I have never even talked to anyone from Galloway’s camp.”
Local democracy reporter George Lythgoe has more here…
Period drama
Dating back to the 1780s, it’s the only surviving Georgian terrace in Manchester city centre. And now a rare opportunity to live in one of the grand townhouses of St John Street has come up.
But, it’ll set you back a staggering £10,000 a month in rent. If that’s out of your price range, you can have a nosey round inside the three bed home by reading property writer Phoebe Jobling’s piece here…
Got to get fizzycal
We’re going to indulge in a bit of nostalgia now. Lee Grimsditch has been speaking to some of Manchester’s pop men, those hardy souls who delivered bottles of fizz to your door in all weathers and seasons.
Dave Schofield, 57, from Stockport, started off in the pop trade as a 'van lad' in 1983 just after he left school. It was a ‘big shock to the system’.
"It was very hard work and it wouldn't be allowed these days either because of health and safety,” he said.
“You'd be out in all kinds of weather and you'd be absolutely p*** wet through, and you'd just have to carry on. When it was cold it was hard work but it toughened you up and it made us lot into men, really.”
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Weather etc
Wednesday: Cloudy changing to heavy rain by lunchtime, 13C.
Roadworks: Barlow Moor Road in Didsbury is closed in both directions due to electricity work between Pine Road and Wilmslow Road until April 12.
Manchester headlines
Murder arrest: A man from Oldham has been arrested in the hunt for a murder suspect. 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter was stabbed several times in the Westgate area of Bradford city centre on Saturday afternoon. A national manhunt was launched for her alleged attacker. Today, police say a man was arrested.
MP resigns: Hazel Grove MP William Wragg who said he was ‘manipulated’ into sharing other politicians’ personal numbers as part of a parliamentary sexting scam has reportedly resigned as vice-chairman of the powerful Conservative 1922 Committee. Read more
Bomb squad: Terrified neighbours living in Stockport were told to 'stay inside' their homes after a bomb squad descended on their street. Police were called to Woodhall Crescent in Reddish on Monday after receiving concerns for the welfare of a man. A man was found dead at a property on the street. His death is not believed to be suspicious, officers said. But, 'suspicious items', understood to be old firearms, were also discovered inside the address.
Worth a read
Neal Keeling has been speaking with ‘Salford Conservative royalty’ Karen Garrido as she steps down after 32 years as a councillor in the city. Taking in bankruptcy, planning battles with Peel and her distrust of the Tory right-wing, it’s an illuminating insight into a life in local politics.
