Star date: 2nd January 2020 

SALFORD COUNCIL WINS U-TURN AWARD FOR BODDAN LODGE BACKTRACK

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 13th annual Salford Star Mary Burns Awards, which are given out to honour the most deserving individuals and organisations in the city for their stupid statements, dodgy dealings and iffy activities over the past twelve months.

Some nasty people at Salford Council wanted to axe a £15,000 grant to Boddan Lodge Over 60s Club which would have meant it closing, before a petition and games protest on the Civic Centre lawns obliged a change of heart. So twirl and shout 'Bowls to the Council' for the winner of the Salford Star Mary Burns U-turn of the Year Award ...

Full details here...

U-turn of the Year Award

Goes to...

Salford City Council

Boddan Lodge Over 60s Club has existed for over fifty years, but in May news broke that Salford Council intended to axe what amounted to a subsidy of around £15,000 for the lease and maintenance of the white building on Monton Green.

"I've been coming for five years since I lost my wife and, quite honestly, this place has saved my life" said member Edward Christian, echoing the thoughts of all the members "I'd be so upset if it closed."

The Club runs activities six days a week, including sequence and line dancing, bowls, snooker, card games, keep fit, themed nights, trips out and fundraising for charities like St Ann's Hospice...and everything, bar the lease and maintenance, is paid for by members' subscriptions.

People in the community were horrified that the Council wanted to effectively shut the place, and thousands signed petitions to Save Boddan Lodge. Meanwhile, Salford councillors and officers were shocked when, in July, members decided to showcase what they do on the Civic Centre lawns, before a stormy Council meeting.

Nigel Pivaro joined in as bowls were played on the lawns, dancing happened on the Civic Centre steps and golden oldie music blared outside the Council palace... "Let's keep it going, let's give them hell and get in their faces and show them what we're about" said Club chair Roy Zammit over the loud speaker.

Later, inside the Council meeting, Carol Boyce of Saving Our Neighbourhood, representing Boddan Lodge, explained that a business plan, drawn up by Eccles ward councillors expected members with an average age of 80 to set up a self-financing business..."It's borderline ludicrous..." she laughed, pointing out all the contradictions of Salford being an 'age friendly city'.

In September, Salford Council, obviously petrified of more pensioner protests, did a U-turn, giving the Club a further three year lifeline. Since then, the Salford Star's parent company, Mary Burns, together with the Broughton Trust and Ambition For Ageing via the National Lottery Community Fund, has been working with Boddan Lodge to promote its activities and get new members. Already two videos have been produced (see here and see here) and there's a special publication coming out in the New Year.

In the meantime, however, sharpen your Viagra, wave your Werther's Originals and snarl your dentures for the winner of the U-turn of the Year Award...

Salford City Cooooouuuuncil!!!

If someone from the Council would like to make an acceptance speech please use the comments box below...

See other winners of the 2019 Salford Star Mary Burns Awards...

The Rome Wasn't Built In Two Decades Award – Salford City Council – click here

Uncle Joe Stalin Award for Open and Democratic Government - Salford City Council - click here

Wizard of Oz Scarecrow Award – Hazel Blears – click here

Uncle Joe Stalin Award for Open and Democratic Government Part 2 – Salford City Council – click here

Feed The Rich Award – English Cities Fund – click here

Local Government Scandal of the Decade Award – Salford City Council – click here

'We Might Be Bulldozing Swinton But We're Not Telling You' Award – Salford City Council – click here

Fat Cats of the Year Award – Salford City Council and GMCA – click here