Never mind the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn capers, Salford Council is under threat from an infestation of Pokemon, as Drowzees and Zubats appear all around the Civic Centre.
Today, Pokemon Go players were in evidence all over the place, catching the critters, as the Clock Tower itself is a Pokegym, and there are Pokestops at the back of the Civic Centre and at the War Memorial on the lawn. Meanwhile the Memorial by St Peter's Church is also a Pokestop...
"There's a Pokemon called Drowzee and he is very common around here" explained Daniel O'Brien, who was sat on the Civic Centre steps with friend Laura Davies "I caught 155 of just that one Pokemon, it's always around here. The more Drowzees you catch, you can evolve them, power them up and make them stronger. The aim of the game is the more you catch the better a trainer you are. I have a friend who controls most of Eccles.
"The Memorial is quite popular for catching better Pokemon because it's more open and there's more grass, especially the field behind it" he added "Pokemon come from there towards the Memorial, especially when you lure them."
On smart phone screens, the area outside the Civic Centre and War Memorial were glowing purple as players wafted virtual incense to lure the Pokemon. Shortly after, a Drowzee appeared at the public entrance, another was dancing on the miners' memorial bench and a Zubat flew amongst the flowers.
But at the Clock Tower Pokegym itself, a battle was just over and the Red Team had taken control...
"The gym is just about territorial control, for bragging rights and stuff" Daniel explained "Now all Red Team members can put their Pokemon in it and train them to make them stronger. There's Blue and Yellow teams who want to take it down and use it as theirs. But the stronger the gym the harder it is going to be to take down."
A bit like the politics going on inside the Centre, except there's no yellow LibDems any more...
"This is a significant area because you can collect resources as you walk past the Pokestops, so you just walk around in a circle and every five minutes it refreshes and you can get resources" he said "And while you are walking you can hatch your eggs which is a great part of the game I think."
Daniel and Laura had been out since early morning catching Pokemon all around Swinton – from the Poets estate to the top road, from Victoria Park to the Civic Centre.
"It's great because, instead of sitting at home gaming you're actually out there, I must have caught around two hundred Pokemon around here" said Laura "And it's more healthy for kids being outside, walking about."
Pokemon Go is also incredibly sociable. As we were talking, complete strangers were coming up, comparing catches and asking how to get to various Pokestops...
"The best thing about it is that you can approach people who you can see are playing the game and they can help you" said Daniel "People just come up to you, they just know you're on Pokemon Go and want to talk."
Salford councillors and staff had better beware – there might just be a Vaporeon knocking about...and then they will see a real response from the community!
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