Star date: 19th June 2013

A Salford Star Exclusive

£130,000 A YEAR SOCIAL CARE BOSS RESPONDS TO PRIVATISATION CONCERNS FOR OLD AND ILL… `AT LEAST THEY'RE BEING FED'

Salford Council staff worried about the future of services to the city's old and ill people were horrified when Sue Lightup, Director of Health and Social Care, apparently responded `At least they're being fed'.

The Council has now voted to privatise its Intermediate Home Support Service…even though three of the favoured private providers failed basic standards tests, Salford people will get less care, and over fifty highly trained staff have left the Council service. "It's back to Victorian times" one support worker told the Salford Star, reflecting on Sue Lightup's comments…

Full details here…

Star date: 18th June 2013

A Salford Star Exclusive

SICKENING SALFORD COUNCIL REPORT PRAISES CUTS THAT ARE TOO DEEP TOO FAST…

While Salford councillors and the City Mayor weep tears for the cuts they've had to make, a new finance report reveals that the Council is actually forecasting an under spend this year of over £3.5million.

As hundreds of Council staff have been axed and social services cut to the bone, the self congratulatory report actually praises hatchet-happy officers for their "hard work" in "achieving a provisional under spend on this scale".

Full details here…

Star date: 17th June 2013

COUNCIL PAYS STADIUM CLIENT MANAGER UP TO £72,000 AND OVER £12,000 FOR CONSULTANT

While cash strapped Salford Council is cutting staff and services for the elderly and disabled, it's currently paying a Salford City Stadium `Client Manager' up to £72,027 a year, while consultant, D and R Tinkler Ltd, was paid £12,354 "in relation to support to the stadium and its tenants".

The payments come on top of Salford Council's £600,000 Stadium bail-out, and its 25 year, zero interest £1.26million loan pay off deal with new Salford City Reds and racehorse owner Marwan Koukash…whose bankrupt company owes Chester Racecourse £792.

Full details here…

Star date: 14th June 2013

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON LABOUR PARTY AS JOHN MERRY CALLS ON MILIBAND TO REPEAL BEDROOM TAX

Salford residents attending last night's Broughton Against the Bedroom Tax meeting were furious that no local councillors attended, holding up `Wish You Were Here' messages to get their point across. However a statement was read out from former Salford Council Leader John Merry, calling for the Labour Party front bench to commit to repealing the hated Tax.

Meanwhile, Salford City UNISON has demanded the Tax be suspended, while a new petition has been launched imploring City Mayor Ian Stewart to introduce a policy of No Evictions. The pressure in Salford is mounting…

Full details here…

Star date: 14th June 2013

BNP BOTTLES IT AND CANCELS PUBLIC MEETING

`The BNP ran scared this afternoon' Councillor Balkind

At the last minute, Salford BNP cancelled its public meeting at the city's garbage depot, as anti-fascist protesters turned up to oppose what UNISON's Steven North called "hate and division in our city".

Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart, was also present at the demonstration to hear Councillor Howard Balkind add that "the BNP ran scared this afternoon".

Full details here…

Star date: 13th June 2013

SALFORD UNITES TO KICK OUT BNP FASCISTS

"Wherever it is allowed a voice, it uses that voice to preach bigotry and division" Steven North Salford City UNISON

After cancelling a BNP meeting at Salford Civic Centre a few weeks ago, Salford Council has allowed the fascist BNP to hold an election meeting tonight at the city's garbage depot - Turnpike House, on Eccles New Road.

A protest has been called by Unite Against Fascism and Salford City UNISON, while Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart has been urged to ban the meeting.

Full details here…

Star date: 12th June 2013

NEVER MIND GCHQ AND US NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY…HERE COME SALFORD COUNCIL SPIES AND UNDERCOVER AGENTS

While global debates rage over the gathering of citizens' private data, few people are aware that local councils, including Salford, have powers of covert surveillance and the collection of communications data.

The last figures available show that Salford Council was the 11th largest user of these spying techniques in the country. And, in sinister twist, the Council can spy on its community, not only to prevent crime but also to `prevent disorder'…

Full details here…

Star date: 11th June 2013

COME TO SALFORD AND DIE EARLY…

Salford is the fourth worst area in England for early deaths according to statistics released today by Public Health England – ranking 147th worst local authority area out of 150. Amongst similar local authorities Salford ranks the worst in the country, 15th out of 15.

The shocking early death rates, for cancer, lung, liver and heart disease, are linked to poverty.

Full details here…

Star date: 10th June 2013

SALFORD COUNCIL RUDEST IN ENGLAND?

The Salford Star has called off its two week old strike against Salford Council's attitude towards the city's independent community press, to expose its attitude towards its own citizens.

Over the last few weeks the Council has been forced to apologise for the way it treats Salford people and we're now hearing of many cases where the community has similar experiences to the Star. So we ask `Is Salford the rudest council in England?'

Full details here…

Star date: 6th June 2013

CHINA ON THE IRWELL

After the Salford Star picked up on a report by the Electoral Reform Society which compared councils like Salford to one party states with `no viable opposition', they invited us to write about our experiences living in China on the Irwell.

Full details here…

Star date: 3rd June 2013

SALFORD COUNCIL COUGHS UP THE ILLEGAL STUFF BUT THE STRIKE GOES ON

Under pressure Salford Council has finally coughed up some information following the strike by Salford Star over the authority's illegal withholding of information.

Having told media website Prolific North that "Salford City Council does not seek to block information and rejects these allegations", lo and behold, three responses arrived with information requested from as long ago as nine months. This is not enough. The strike continues.

And what's this got to do with Taksim Square? Full details here…

Star date: 23rd May 2013

SALFORD STAR ON STRIKE AGAINST SALFORD COUNCIL ILLEGAL DENIAL OF INFORMATION AND MORE…

Today, the Salford Star is seven years old. And, today, the Salford Star is going on strike to show what the city would be like with no free independent press holding Salford City Council up to account.

As Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart and his cohort of Assistants and spin doctors seem determined to turn Salford into China with its idea of democracy, the Salford Star is taking a stand.

Full details here…

Star date: 22nd May 2013

`PRAVDA' COUNCIL MAG TO BE RE-LAUNCHED AS SALFORD STAR REFUSED ACCESS

As the Government's Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, officially condemns local council magazines as `Town Hall Pravdas', and says they are "propaganda that pours taxpayers money down the drain", Salford Council is about to re-launch its Life In Salford magazine.

After asking for `community' articles to be included in the first issue of Life, a small feature about volunteering for the Salford Star was refused by the infinitely biased publication.

A free press in Salford? Are you having a laugh? Full details here…

Star date: 22nd May 2013

NARROWGATE NIGHT SHELTER REOPENS – BUT NO THANKS TO SALFORD COUNCIL

Narrowgate Night Shelter, which had to close its doors to around 28 homeless people this month, is to reopen for three nights a week thanks to a large donation from a member of the public.

Salford Council, however, is continuing with its compassion deficit and is refusing to support the Shelter, unlike other councils.

Full details here…

Star date: 21st May 2013

PEEL GROUP CASHES IN ON BBC AT MEDIACITYUK

The BBC handed £500,000 to Peel Media for studio space it didn't use at MediaCityUK, according to a new National Audit Office Report.

While the media has concentrated on the huge expenses of BBC staff involved in the move to Salford, the astronomical contracts signed with its private landlord, totalling over £16million a year, have been overlooked.

Full details here…

Star date: 20th May 2013

A WEEK OF SALFORD OPPOSITION TO CONDEM AUSTERITY

Manchester People's Assembly
Tuesday May 21st from 5:30pm
Central Hall, Oldham Street, M/cr

Salford Bedroom Tax Meeting
Little Hulton and Walkden Tuesday May 21st 7:30pm

A week of opposition to ConDem Government policies begins tomorrow night when Salford people will be joining Mancs to hear Mark Steel, Owen Jones, Francesca Martinez and more address a packed hall. Meanwhile the Salford fight against the Bedroom Tax continues with a meeting in Little Hulton the same  night.

Full details here…

Star date: 20th May 2013

ADIDAS, McDONALD'S, M &S AND URBIS TARGETED FOR PROTESTS

Campaigners against Israel targeted high street stores that are sponsoring this summer's UEFA Under-21 Football Championship, before protesting outside the National Football Museum at Urbis last weekend.

Full details here…

Star date: 20th May 2013

FRIGHTENING PROSPECT OF HARMFUL AIR POLLUTION
 
Last week, Eric Pickles, Government Minister for Communities and Local Government, announced that Peel Holdings' incinerator, also known as the Barton Renewable Energy Plant, would go ahead, despite opposition from local communities, councils and incinerator experts.

Now Salford can expect to get the full wind-blown fall out from the plant which the Breathe Clean Air Group states "will cause harm and people may therefore leave the area..."

Full details here…

Star date: 20th May 2013

TOP TUNES, WORDS AND ATTITUDE AT THE KINGS ARMS

The Girobabies,
The Universal, Death To The Strange, Words Escape Me 
Thursday 23rd May from 7:30pm £5
Kings Arms

An ace two fingered salute to everything that's happening arrives in Salford this Thursday, led by Scotland's The Girobabies, Liverpool's The Universal and Salford's own Death To The Strange, with added anger from local poet Words Escape Me.

Paul Heaton, who invited The Girobabies to play at the Kings, says they "tell it like it is, like it was and more importantly like it's going to be". Don't miss!

Full details here…

Star date: 19th May 2013

SALFORD URBAN AND RURAL

Featuring a town and country theme, Salford Art Club's Annual Exhibition opened on Saturday, with artists inspired by everything from Buile Hill Park to Media City and most work up for sale at affordable prices.

There's also a guest painting by Salford Art Club's most famous member, LS Lowry, depicting Oldfield Road Dwelling. Gareth Lyons browsed through the collection and was well impressed.

Full details here…