LORDING IT UP IN SHAMELESS

Salford actor Stephen Lord makes a spectacular entrance in the new series of Shameless tomorrow night, starring as Dominic, a randy, alcoholic priest who arrives on the Chatsworth Estate in, er, biblical style.

We caught up with Stephen at the Langworthy Cornerstone to talk Salford, Somalian pirates and gangsters becoming reality show producers…

NEW FILM TO BE MADE IN SALFORD

Unleashing Creativity is about to start making a feature film which will be shot in March this year, and is offering the chance anyone who is unemployed or on low income to get involved…

THE DRAMA OF CHANGE

Socialist Theatre Course
9th Feb 1:30pm for 10 weeks
Working Class Movement Library

Back in the day left wing theatre helped change the world – performed in pubs, clubs, docks canteens, factory car parks and on the streets, it reflected people's attitudes and feelings, and stirred things up. Can it change anything now?

LADIES HELP FOR HEROES AT THE BLACK LION

Ladies Charity Night
Saturday 4th February
Black Lion pub
Chapel Street

A special ladies charity event Help For Heroes will see a soldier being auctioned tonight, while other soldiers perform saucy dance routines…

A Salford Star Exclusive

SALFORD COUNCIL CAVES IN OVER DAY CARE CLOSURES

"It is a great achievement for all those who believe that services for vulnerable people should be protected…" Steve North Salford City UNISON

Salford Council has done a major u-turn over withdrawing funding from Humphrey Booth and Craig Hall day care services following a campaign led by Salford City UNISON, carers, service users and community activists.

At 8pm tonight, Councillor John Warmisham, the Council's Lead Member for Adult Services, hoisted the white flag…and Salford Council Leader, John Merry, informed colleagues "We will not be proceeding with the changes in 2012/13…"

A Salford Star Exclusive

COMMUNITY ANGER AT SALFORD COUNCIL `ORNAMENTS' – UNISON DEMANDS TO SEE MULTI £MILLION MEDIA CITY CONTRACTS

Both public sector trade union Salford City UNISON and Salford Community Media Partnership (SCMP) have strongly criticised Salford Council, MediaCityUK and the BBC over excessive spending and lack of opportunities at prestige projects in the city.

Now, UNISON - slating Council spending on `ornaments', while `bread and butter services' are being run down - has demanded to see the contracts for the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Media City and Salford City Stadium, while SCMP states that the attitude of the BBC and Media City has left a "bitter feeling"…

A Salford Star Exclusive

400 JOBS TO GO…HOME CARE AND DAY SERVICES SLASHED… WELFARE ADVICE CHOPPED…£2 MILLION AXED FROM CHILDREN'S SERVICES…£1MILLION FROM YOUTH SERVICES…COMMUNITY RECREATION FACILITIES FLEECED…BUT PEEL HOLDINGS PORT GETS £15MILLION!

While Salford Council has been making great play that it is cutting £1million off its fat cat budget, behind the smokescreen a further £23million is being axed from other budgets that will hit Salford's most vulnerable people.

Make no mistake, while Salford's prestige projects are hardly touched, and Peel Holdings gets a £15million Council handout for Port Salford, the community is being forced to pay – yet again!

THREE WEEKS TO PROTECT MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SALFORD   

Salford's community has exactly three weeks left to save the day care centre services that Salford City Council is threatening to shut. The decision is being made by Councillor John Warmisham, the Council's Lead Member for Adult Services on February 20th and there's all sorts of demos, actions and protests planned before this date.

The latest meeting to discuss action took place last Saturday in Ordsall with Labour councillor, Howard Balkind storming out at one point…

BROUGHTON REC – OPEN OR CLOSED?

The Future of Broughton Recreation Centre
Feedback Event, Tuesday 31st January
11am-7pm plus presentations 1-2pm/5-6pm

Last year saw demos and protests against the possible closure of Broughton Rec due to Salford City Council cuts. The Fit City Centre, on Camp Street, Lower Broughton, was popular with sports clubs, community groups and climbing enthusiasts but was destined to be demolished, until Broughton Database looked to take over the centre.

Tomorrow sees a community feedback event on the Database's consultation for the future of Broughton Rec and everyone's invited…

SALFORD ART CLUB SETS THE STANDARDS

Salford Art Club's Annual Exhibition opened on Saturday at Salford Museum and Art Gallery.

Salford Star art critic, Gareth Lyons, went along to sample the works and found a real life triumph over tragedy moment…

Warrington Town 4 Salford City 2

SALFORD CITY'S NINTH KEEPER OF THE SEASON FAILS TO KEEP OUT WARRINGTON

Salford City have used an incredible nine goalkeepers, including three outfield players, this season, and we're only just over half way through the fixtures. The latest hopeful, Danny Jackson, failed to keep out Warrington Town, who had just four efforts on target – and scored four goals…

CLIMATE ACTION GROUP HIT PROFIT GRABBING ENERGY COMPANIES

For anyone who is gobsmacked by the 22% rise in gas and leccy bills this month… For anyone who is sickened by a quarter of all UK people living in fuel poverty… For anyone who is disgusted by the thousands of people who will die this winter because they can't afford to put the heating on… And for anyone wants to vomit over obscene profits being made by the big six energy companies… This is for you...

…courtesy of the Manchester Climate Action Group, who did a bit of DIY subvertising on billboards yesterday in support of Winter Warm Up Weekend…

SALFORD MAYOR ELECTION IN MAY

Salford will have a mayoral election in May, after yesterday's referendum vote went in favour of an elected Mayor. Only 18.1% of the electorate bothered to vote, with 17,344 of those votes in favour of an elected Mayor, and 13,653 against, in what will be seen as a massive defeat for the ruling Labour Party in Salford which campaigned for a `No' vote.

SALFORD MAYOR – YES OR NO?

On Thursday 26th January, Salford citizens are being asked to vote on whether the city should have a Mayor or not.

The Salford Star never tells anyone how to vote, so here we look at what an elected Mayor would mean and consider both sides of the argument. Oh, and we also try to figure out where Hazel Blears is coming from on this matter – after all, it was her idea in the first place…

SALFORD COUNCIL ACCUSED OF `MURDERING' ELDERLY

"This Council is now killing Salford people…it's literally murder" Salford Pensioners Association

On Saturday over 150 people, including day care centre workers, carers, service users and activists, met in Swinton to oppose Salford City Council's plans to withdraw funding from at least two day care centres.

In a passionate speech, George Tapp of Salford Pensioners Association accused Salford Council of `murdering' the city's elderly.

LENGTHIEST RIOT SENTENCE FOR BBC RADIO MANCHESTER CAR TORCHER

Last Friday, Salford man Zac Challinor got five and a half year's in jail for torching the BBC Radio Manchester car at Salford Precinct. It was the lengthiest sentence doled out for any rioter. But, so far, most media hasn't bothered to report it.

Anne Czernik was in court for the Salford Star, reports on the background to the case and asks whether both the sentence and the crime was symbolic of the city's polarity with MediaCityUK…

ABLE TO DRINK WITH BIPOLAR?

Mental health trusts and universities have launched a huge research programme called Able, which stands for Assessing Bipolar Lifestyle Experiences, to study psychological approaches to the bipolar disorder.

As part of this they are looking for Salford people with the condition who also drink alcohol in any amount.

Salford City 2 Bamber Bridge 2

TEN MAN BAMBER STIFLE PAY OFF HOPES

Salford City were heading for victory at Moor Lane yesterday when ten man Bamber Bridge rustled a penalty late in the game to earn a draw.

Goals from Gavin Salmon and Jamie Baguley had seemed to put the Ammies back in touch with the play off positions before Bamber penned Salford back.

SALFORD DAY CARE CENTRES IN PERIL FROM COUNCIL CUTS

"It's going to upset a lot of people, particularly the elder ones who can't cope with it" Dorothy Mainwaring, 79.

Defend Our Day Care Centres Public Meeting
Saturday 21st January 12-2pm
Swinton Royal British Legion, Cheetham Road

Tomorrow's public meeting in Swinton will see people from all over Salford continue the resistance to Salford Council cuts to day care centres – with Humphrey Booth in Ordsall, Craig Hall in Irlam, Brierley House in Little Hulton and St George's in Charlestown all under threat. Here, people at the sharp end of those cuts give their views and tell their stories.