Gully grate thefts are costing Trafford Council thousands of pounds. It is estimated one grate may fetch thieves £5 on the black market, but it can cost taxpayers between £150-200 to replace, depending on the circumstances. More than 80 grid covers had been stolen in one week alone, costing £15,000 to replace.
Police job losses will increase crime, the chairman of the Police Federation in Lancashire has said. John O’Reilly said: "If they think that it is not going to affect crime in this area, then they’re dreaming." The Home Office did not want to comment on Mr O’Reilly’s statement, but pledged that front-line services would be protected.
Lancashire Police Federation has said its members are "stretched to the limit" in reply to their chief constable’s plea to work harder. Steve Finnigan made a rallying call to officers to make a greater effort since the force faces cuts of £42 million in the next four years.
Fire crews tackled a plastics factory blaze in Rochdale and reported that they had contained the fire to one property. The severe fire broke out at Taylor Engineering and Plastics, in Moss Bridge Road, Rochdale at about 0600 BST on Thursday, April 28. Access to roads off Moss Bridge Road has been restricted.
The University of Salford has announced it is getting rid of 200 jobs as part of a "strategy to enhance and improve" the university. It said that most of the losses would occur from administrative areas, while new roles will be created.
A car firm which has a site in Merseyside was revealed record sales over world markets. Jaguar Land Rover, which produces cars at Halewood, Merseyside, reported that its sales in March ranked with the highest monthly figure in the company’s 63-year history.
Staff at Darwen Vale High School in Darwen said they have a lack of backing from management when they confront bad behaviour from pupils and thus took part in a one-day walkout today (Thursday, April 7). Head teacher Hilary Torpey said she was disappointed with the strike.
A charity based in a south Manchester park said a theft from its premises was "demoralising and dreadful". A substantial quantity of the special cycles was stolen from the volunteer-run club in Wythenshawe Park.
Funding comes from a partnership of Liverpool City Council and ACC Liverpool for a new £40 million exhibition complex on Liverpool’s waterfront. Plans have been unveiled for the development, which is earmarked for next to the arena and convention centre. This would create 1,300 new jobs and include halls, a hotel, restaurants and bars.
The news that Manchester City Council is closing 18 out of its 19 public toilets has prompted Richard Chisnell, the British Toilet Association chairman, to reply: “The argument isn’t about demanding to Manchester ‘you must have facilities’ in the Victorian scheme of things.