Star date: 18th April 2014

SALFORD STAR TAKES A TECHNICAL BREAK

The Salford Star website is taking a break over Easter for a technical switch over but will be back on air asap.

In the meantime enjoy the array of articles we've put up to keep you going.

More details here…

Star date: 18th April 2014

STARRING JESUS, JUDAS STEWART, PEEL HOLDINGS AND GMP HEROD'S PRIVATE ARMY

The Easter story has long been told through the ages. But it has never been told like this before, as Barton Moss Camp protector, Tammy Samede, reworks the biblical goings on for Salford's modern age.

It's full of in-jokes but everyone can get the gist. Happy Easter…

To read the story click here…

Star date: 18th April 2014

AS SALFORD ANTI FRACKING CAMP CLEANS UP, IT'S UP FOR LOCAL HERO AWARD

As the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp moves on from Salford over Easter it's been nominated for the Observer Ethical Awards 2014 in the Local Hero category and is believed to be through to the finals.

It's ironic as one of the local heroes, Kate, who has been well involved with peaceful action at Barton Moss, will spend Easter in a Birmingham jail on remand as a `political prisoner' after breaching bail to go back to the Camp to clean up...

Full details here...

Star date: 18th April 2014

NEW DOCUMENTARY GIVES GEOFFREY KEY INSIGHT

Salford artist Geoffrey Key has seen the collectability of his work rise dramatically recently. Yet the man himself, who works from a local studio, has always remained rather private.

Now a new documentary, called Saltglaze Pot and only available on DVD, follows Key in his studio producing a new work while providing insights into his raison d'etre.

Full details here…

Star date: 18th April 2014

REMIX JUSTICE FOR THE 96

Salford punk rap collective, Class Actions, have released a mixtape of tracks to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Hillsborough, and to `send a message of solidarity to Liverpool and the victims'.

Titled MCR Says JFT96, the free downloadable tracks include sounds by various artists and re-mashes of sounds relevant to Hillsborough such as Rip Up The Sun and M is 4 Maggie.

Full details here…

Star date: 17th April 2014

THE WONDER OF WEASTE CEMETERY

Free Tour of Weaste Cemetery
Easter Sunday 11am

While cruising cemeteries might not be everyone's idea of wonder for Easter Sunday, a trip around Weaste Cemetery is really not to be missed with its mix of gothic angels, landscaped gardens and Victorian ambience.

Salford's first municipal cemetery also houses the last resting places of Sir Charles Halle, Mark Addy and Eddie Colman amongst many others. Plenty to explore on this popular tour.

Full details here…

Star date: 17th April 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL CUTS £50,000 FROM `JAM BUTTY' CAMP

Jam Butty Camp Fundraiser
Saturday 3rd May
Welcome Inn, Robert Hall St, Ordsall
1-6pm Free 7pm £2 entry

`What do I think is behind the cut? The sale of the land' Nick Abbott

When Salford Council announced it was going to cut £50,000 from the Salford Children's Holiday Camp in Wales, where thousands of youngsters have had their first holiday, the Camp's trustees stated that it would close.

Since then, the community has leapt into action, raised thousands of pounds, and now has a business plan to take over the Camp. But Salford Council is stalling over the proposals. Why?

Full details here…

Star date: 17th April 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL TEARS UP PLANNING RULES (AGAIN) FOR MIDDLEWOOD LOCKS

Scarborough Development Group is planning to put huge apartment blocks, a hotel and loads of shops on the currently derelict Middlewood Locks site. For the privilege of plonking an urban profit farm on the Salford border with Manchester, the developer should be paying over £8million in fees to the Salford Council…

…But the Council is only asking for less than £2million - letting the Group off with a massive £6million in payments. This despite £4million of public money having already been spent on the site. 

Full details here…

Star date: 16th April 2014

SALFORD HYPOCRITE MAYOR ANNOUNCES DELANEY DAY

With incredible hypocrisy, Salford City Mayor, Ian Stewart, yesterday announced that 25th November will be the city's official `Shelagh Delaney Day' – failing to mention how Salford Council, the Mayor and the then Salford City Reporter tried to destroy the brilliant writer because her work was said to tarnish the image of the city.

Yesterday, Stewart said that Delaney's work "captured and celebrated the spirit of Salford" – not what the Council said at the time of A Taste of Honey! The Salford Star is demanding that the Mayor and Salford City Council should make a full formal apology before jumping on the Delaney bandwagon.

Full details here…

Star date: 15th April 2014

SALFORD COUNCIL DIRECTOR JIM TAYLOR IN TOP 1% OF EARNERS IN UK

Last night, Salford Council rubber stamped the appointment of former Rochdale Chief Exec Jim Taylor as its controversial new £150,000 `Council Director'.

While Mayor Ian Stewart crowed about Salford's `pay ratios' at a recent Council meeting, a new report by Steady State Manchester and Equality North West slates local council pay inequality – and Salford is no exception.

Full details here…

Star date: 14th April 2014

REJECT ROCHDALE CHIEF EXEC JIM TAYLOR GETS £150K AT SALFORD  

Jim Taylor, the controversial Chief Exec of Rochdale Council, is to be appointed `Council Director' of Salford – the controversial £150,000 a year job created in the wake of former Fat Cat Chief Exec, Barbara Spicer's departure.

Over in Rochdale there was fury when the Council wanted to increase Taylor's wages by £40,000 while making cuts of £45million. Public outrage led to the Council doing a U-turn – but now Mayor Ian Stewart will formalise Taylor's Fat Cat Salford appointment at a special Council meeting tonight.

Full details here…

Star date: 13th April 2014

FROM TAKING THE POLICE TO COURT TO STICKERING CELEBRITY BOOKS  

Mark Thomas: 100 Acts of Minor Dissent
Thursday 24th April
The Lowry

"I've always regarded Hazel Blears as a pitbull for Blairism…"

Activist, comedian and political prankster, Mark Thomas brings his 100 Acts of Minor Dissent show to The Lowry on 24th April, showcasing his efforts at undermining the system with, er, acts of minor dissent. Thomas has had a year to do one hundred of these acts – and if he doesn't get them done by 13th May he has to donate £1,000 to UKIP.

Full details here...

Star date: 13th April 2013

KENNY'S STORY HAD TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY

Kenny's Story
by Phil Riley (The Memoir Club)

Phil Riley worked on the night shift at Ross Foods with a bloke called Kenny Butterworth, who originally lived near Salford Cinema before moving to Folly Lane. Phil listened to Kenny's incredible Second World War stories night after night and promised to write them down for posterity. Kenny died but Phil delivered on his promise.

Here Mike Skeffington reviews the result: Kenny's Story… engagingly written in the first person and well worth the read.

Full review here…

Star date: 13th April 2014

AGECROFT MEMORIAL GARDEN DEDICATION AND MINERS REUNION

Saturday April 26th
Agecroft Garden Dedication noon, Agecroft Road
Agecroft Miners' Reunion, Swinton Royal Legion

Last July, hundreds of people flocked to the former site of Agecroft Colliery for the unveiling of a monument for those who worked, were injured or died at the Salford pit. On April 26th, there's going to be the dedication of the memorial garden at the base of the monument, followed by a reunion of former Agecroft miners at the Swinton Royal Legion.

Full details here…

Star date: 13th April 2014

BARTON MOSS SALFORD CAMP ENDS WITH PARTY

"It's going to be hard to let all this go…but we'll definitely be back in September" Jasmine

The Barton Moss Community Protection Camp kind of formally closed last night with a party, drawing well over a hundred people who have been involved over the last six dramatic months.

Performing were Salford punk rappers Class Actions and poet Intoxikie but the real stars were those who had faced the police and IGas lorries during one of the most Shakespearian winters on record.

Full details here…

Star date: 12th April 2014

RETURN TO MEDIA CITY

March Against Mainstream Media 2
Saturday 19th April noon
MediaCityUK

"We are not given news, we are given celebrity led `feel good stories' as a distraction…"

Last November saw the first Salford protest against the mainstream media, with a loud and colourful demonstration outside the BBC headquarters at MediaCityUK. Next Saturday sees Return To Media City: March Against Mainstream Media 2…

Full details here…

Star date: 12th April 2014

STORIES FROM BARTON MOSS – Part 2

"We have done what we set out to do…to help local people to help themselves, to grow in strength, knowledge and numbers" Nick

Thousands of people have been involved in the Barton Moss anti-fracking campaign, from Salford, Greater Manchester and beyond. The Salford Star talked to two of these people, one from Salford and one from outside Salford, to see what has been achieved by the Community Protection Camp.

Here Nick, one of the so-called `outsiders' - from Huddersfield - tells his story.

Full details here…

Star date: 11th April 2014

STORIES FROM BARTON MOSS – Part 1

"I've learned a lot coming down here, to stand up for myself and don't stick your head in the sand" Scott, Salford protector

Thousands of people have been involved in the Barton Moss anti-fracking campaign, from Salford, Greater Manchester and beyond. The Salford Star talked to two of these people, one from Salford and one from outside Salford, to see what has been achieved by the Community Protection Camp.

Here Scott, from the Seedley/Langworthy area, who has never been involved in any protest before, tells his story.

Full details here…

Star date: 11th April 2014

BARTON MOSS COMMUNITY PROTECTION CAMP WINDS DOWN – FOR NOW!

Barton Moss Farewell (For Now) Party
Saturday 12th April from 6pm free
Starring Class Actions, Markus De Rawkus and Intoxikie

After almost six months the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp is winding down for the time being, as the IGas exploratory drill has gone – for now.

Tomorrow night there's an end of Camp party starring Class Actions, Markus De Rawkus and Intoxikie before the big Camp clean up begins on Sunday.

Full details here…

Star date: 10th April 2014

FIRST SALFORD BEDROOM TAX EVICTION HALTED

As sixty people turned up outside a house in Walkden this morning to stop the first Bedroom Tax eviction in Salford, Manchester County Court dramatically gave a four week stay of execution and the City West Housing bailiffs never arrived.

"There is no doubt that if we weren't here now City West would not have changed their mind" Mark Krantz of the Greater Manchester Anti Bedroom Tax Federation, told campaigners who had assembled to face up the bailiffs.

Full details here…