A Salford Star Exclusive

SALFORD'S SHOCKING UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES

The latest unemployment figures suggest that MediaCityUK is having almost no impact on jobs in Salford, despite claims by Salford Council that "approx 1500 residents have worked on the MediaCity development".

Unemployment rates in the wards nearest to the MediaCityUK development are some of the worst in Greater Manchester, with Langworthy (8.8%) and Broughton (8.7%) showing double the average rate of Job Seeker's Allowance claimants.

Over the last year, while every other area of Greater Manchester showed an increase in JobCentre Plus notified vacancies, Salford's fell by 31%. There are now almost five people chasing every JobCentre Plus vacancy…

THE NIGHT THE FA CUP CAME TO SALFORD 

Last night the FA Cup arrived at Moor Lane, home of the mighty Salford City, and went on display before the kick off against Curzon Ashton to promote the Ammies' FA Cup tie with Northwich Victoria this weekend.

Loads of kids and families turned up to have their photos taken with the famous old trophy. But once the match against Curzon Ashton kicked off, it really kicked off with Salford City finishing the game with nine players to Curzon's ten.

The FA Cup represents all that's magical about the game. Shame we had to play Curzon - who represent everything that's bad about the game. Plus yet another duff referee…

THE QUEEN CHASES SALFORD COUNCIL FOR OVER £500,000

Never mind the summons for your Council Tax, Salford City Council itself is now being chased by `Her Majesty's Court Services' for over half a million quid it owes for five year's rent and stuff on Bexley Square, site of the old Salford Town Hall and now the city's main courthouse.

As Salford Council tries to stop Her Maj merging its courts with Manchester following the no-show of the new Eccles court building, there's the little matter of the £578,468 bill to settle – or the Council could find itself in the court rather than fighting for its survival.

REPORT RECOMMENDING HOPE MATERNITY UNIT SHOULD STAY OPEN WAS `IGNORED' AND CONSULTATION WAS `BIASED'

An official report recommending that Hope Hospital's Maternity Unit should stay open was "ignored" and there was "a clear indication of bias" in the consultation proceedings, according to a new document produced by midwives.

The document states that "there was never a chance of maternity and neonatal services being retained at Hope, from the very start of the consultation process". And, as a result of population increase, it adds, "We judge that the new unit at St Mary's will be barely able to meet the needs of its own population let alone that of Salford…"

KEEP HOPE MATERNITY OPEN RALLY ATTRACTS HUNDREDS

"Why has the almost 100% opposition to this, been arrogantly ignored?" Mike Sweeney

Hundreds of people wearing Born In Salford t-shirts gathered in Buile Hill Park on Saturday to show opposition to plans to shut down the Maternity Unit at Hope Hospital, now called Salford Royal.

Backed by Ryan Giggs, Mike Sweeney, John Thompson and Salford Reds, the campaign is gathering renewed momentum as pressure mounts on the new government to reverse the decision to close Salford's baby unit.