Hello,
The boundaries of Greater Manchester might be defined officially, but how residents feel is quite another matter. We all know someone who still insists they live in Lancashire, or that Wigan is a region to itself.
Now, just nine miles away, a town with a strong local identity and no desire to change is facing the prospect of joining Greater Manchester.
Chapel-en-le-Frith lies in a region known as High Peak in Derbyshire, which is set to see significant change in a major restructure of the council. What exactly will happen is still up in the air – but it could see areas like High Peak join larger authorities like Greater Manchester.
READ MORE: Martin Lewis says UK households can see savings ‘within five days’ with easy switch
READ MORE: Sainsbury’s shopper fumes at price of Cadbury Mini Eggs as they say ‘fix it’
Arthur Carrington -Credit:Copyright Unknown
It’s something locals are less than keen on, to put it mildly. In fact, opinion is so strong that a Facebook page has even been set up for locals to voice their opposition.
The High Peak MP, Jon Pearce, said it’s a ‘no-brainer’ for his constituency to join Greater Manchester. But people in Chapel-en-le-Frith think the idea is ‘brainless’. Arthur Carrington, 78, said he felt ‘no affiliation’ between Greater Manchester and the town.
“I think most people around here don’t go to Manchester anyway. That’s a big city and we’re country folk,” he told our reporter George Lythgoe.
“I can see the Glossop connection but not here. I think it would look wrong. This is country, (Manchester’s) a city. It’s not so much the name being on the address that’s the issue, there is just no affiliation.
“I think Andy Burnham is a good mayor. But people around here think they’d just get the little bits and everything would go to the city.”
You can read the full story here.
The ‘most pretentious’ burger in Manchester
Manchester’s new pop-up diner has been making waves online, being dubbed everything from ‘performative’ to ‘pretentious’.
The happy meal from Humbug
Humbug, a new burger joint from the team behind Stockport restaurant Where The Light Gets In, focuses on sustainability, with ‘nose-to-tail’ burgers, alongside mushroom popcorn and a £40 deposit.
The concept has certainly divided opinion, and M.E.N’s Adam Maidment went along to see what he made of it. You can read his full piece here.
‘One punch changed my life’
Eight years ago, one punch turned Jake Andrews’ life upside down. His dad was hit in the back of the head during a night out in Manchester, leaving him in a wheelchair after a stroke and spinal injury.
Jake with his dad Alan -Credit:Contributed
Months later, in February 2018, he took his own life at just 46-years-old.
Now Jake is a plasterer, but works with a local charity called Winston’s Wish to support young people who are grieving. You can read more about the amazing work they do here.
Speed limit slash
Council plans to make city roads safer will see the speed limit on eight roads slashed to 30mph.
Mancunian Way -Credit:Getty Images
The authority’s latest road safety strategy plans to cut speed limits across the city after a surge in accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. You can read which roads are set to be affected here.
Pizza please
Apparently it’s National Pizza Week, which if you ask me is the perfect excuse to get down to your favourite pizzeria and treat yourself.
Pizza from Double Zero -Credit:Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News
Luckily in Manchester we have all the pizza styles you could ever dream of, from traditional Neapolitan to Detroit-style and Chicago deep dish. If you want to survey your options, Jenna Campbell has the full list here.
Weather etc
Thursday: Clear changing to overcast by early evening. 8C.
Trams: No service on the Eccles line on Manchester Metrolink between Eccles and Exchange Quay due to emergency engineering works.
Manchester headlines
-
Court: A drunken passenger on a Jet2 holiday flight ran up down the aisle ‘trying to expose himself’ and was so intoxicated he fell over when police tried to arrest him. More here.
-
Police appeal: An urgent appeal has been issued after a man and woman reportedly attempted to ‘grab’ an 11-year-old girl as she walked to school in Irlam on Tuesday morning (January 14). More here.
-
Arndale evacuation: There was confusion at Manchester Arndale following an evacuation earlier today. Eyewitnesses reported people being told to leave the building this morning (January 15). More here.
Worth a read
Cold Weather Payments will be paid out to all 88 postcode areas of Greater Manchester following last week’s cold snap.
It comes after last week’s snowy weather -Credit:PA
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that temperatures across all 10 boroughs were cold enough during the recent icy blast that those who qualify will now receive the cash. You can read more here.