International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is marked every year on May 17th across the world to remember the date that homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organisation; May 17th 1992.

IDAHO is also an opportunity to celebrate the positive contribution LGBT communities make to Manchester and we encourage other organisations and individuals to do the same.

MCC continues to support our partners and communities across the city to challenge these issues through a number of initiatives including the recently published Manchester Hate Crime Strategy, developed in partnership with GMP and the Crown Prosecution Service, through the city’s refreshed equalities funding programme and by working closely with organisations such as the Lesbian and Gay Foundation on their ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign and LGBT Youth North West on their educational work with young people to tackle homophobia.

Councillors Kevin Peel and Bev Craig, Lead Members for LGBT issues on Manchester City Council, said:

“IDAHO reminds us how far we have come, but the brutal rape and murder of a gay man in Russia last week shows us how far we still have to go.

“Manchester City Council has a record it should be proud of in standing up for the rights of LGBT people in the city and long may it continue.

“Over the next year we’ll be looking at what we can do to promote our values of fairness and equality to other cities around the world where being lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans isn’t so accepted.”

To mark IDAHO and to launch the next phase of the Enough is Enough! Action against Homophobia campaign, MCC and LGF are asking you to ‘Kiss Hate Goodbye’ in the city centre on Saturday 18th May. For further information please visit http://www.lgf.org.uk/Take-Action/kiss-hate-goodbye

Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council will shortly announce a consultation on the bus priority package which will make way for cross city buses operating through the city centre.

The package includes major changes to Oxford Road, Portland Street and surrounding roads and the introduction of ‘Dutch-style’ cycle lanes.

The plans for Oxford Road and Manchester city centre are part of a wider bus priority package to benefit everybody who travels, lives and works in Greater Manchester. The bus priority package will deliver improvements for buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

The consultation goes live on 22nd May and will run to 26th June. All city centre residents along the affected route will receive a leaflet in the next few days but you can download it here. A separate leaflet detailing the plans for Oxford Road can be downloaded here.

City centre councillor Kevin Peel said:

“These improvements are sorely needed, particularly the introduction of new cycle lanes on Oxford Road.

“I am fully supportive of the proposals but I have asked TfGM to consider relocating the bus stop on Whitworth Street from outside a residential block. I would also like to see the introduction of environmental improvements along the affected roads – new street trees for example.

“I would encourage all residents to participate in the consultation.”

Four consultation events will be held for city centre residents to view the plans and discuss them with representatives from TfGM and Manchester City Council:

• Tuesday 4th June, 2pm – 7pm, Cube Gallery, 113-115 Portland Street, M1 6DW
• Wednesday 5th June, 11am – 5pm, TfGM Piccadilly Online Shop, Piccadilly Gardens, M60 1HX
• Thursday 6th June, 2pm – 7pm, Shudehill Travelshop, Shudehill Interchange, M4 2BS
• Monday 10th June, 2pm – 7pm, Manchester Deaf Centre, Crawford House, Booth Street East, M13 9GH (This event will include information and exhibition materials that are suitable for people with disabilities. A BSL Interpreter will be available at the event.)

Full information can be found on the consultation website at www.tfgm.com/buspriority. E-mail your comments to buspriority@tfgm.com, copying in your Labour councillors.

Bosses at the Printworks club have applied to extend their current opening hours by two hours on Friday and Saturday nights.

A nightclub with one of the highest police call-outs in Manchester wants to stay open until 5.30am.

Bosses at Tiger Tiger in the Printworks have applied to extend their current opening hours by two hours on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Withy Grove venue also wants to increase serving alcohol from 3am until 5am.

The M.E.N. revealed on Saturday that police and council chiefs are considering hitting bars with a ‘late-night tax’ to cover the cost of policing the city centre at weekends.

This year, we reported on a list of Greater Manchester pubs, clubs and bars with the highest number of police call- outs. Tiger Tiger had the second highest number over two years – at 496.

Bosses at the club, and pub and club industry leaders, argued the figures were misleading and included incidents in the streets around the venue.

Tiger Tiger was named Best Bar None venue – an award for security and safety – four years running, a spokesman said.

But city centre councillor Kev Peel is writing to town hall licensing bosses objecting to Tiger Tiger’s application over fears of increased booze-related violence and disorder.

Coun Peel said: “It’s just not on. Closing times keep getting later and later. A lot of serious and violent crime happens after 3am, when people are so drunk they’re out of control. It’s going to cause more problems by 5.30am.”

He said he would call on city centre residents to make their feelings known at the town hall.

Information released by Greater Manchester Police showed that Tiger Tiger had 496 call-outs over two years, with 280 for 2012, and 216 for 2011.

The offences included robbery/theft, assaults and rowdy behaviour. The highest month was September 2012, when police were called out 39 times.

City centre chief Coun Pat Karney said: “I will look at this licence application very carefully. We are keeping an eye on all late-night venues in the city centre, particularly those with a large number of police call-outs.”

Phil Burke, spokesman for Manchester Pub and Club Network, warned against police figures, stating the call-out numbers include incidents on the streets around the venue and not just inside. He said licensing teams could ‘kill the night-time economy by stifling successful and responsible bars’.

He said: “If venues want to stay open until 5.30am, fine. There are plenty of conditions the council can use to make sure they keep in line with their licence and act responsibly.”

Information released by GMP shows officers were called to more than 4,000 venues a total of 56,298 times over the two years – 29,884 in 2011 and dropping to 26,414 in 2012.

5th Avenue on Princess Street in the city centre topped the list.

Tiger Tiger only plan to extend their opening hours to 5.30am on Friday and Saturday nights, with the venue closing at 3.30am on Sunday to Thursday.

A bar spokesman said: “Tiger Tiger has been established for 14 years , is Manchester’s busiest and biggest venue with 700,000 customers through the door per year and is also a local landmark. It is a very successful business, supports the local economy employing 150 people, pays its taxes and is a hugely popular element of the city’s nightlife

“This is a best-in-class run club with an enviable record built on high standards that works hand in glove with the Manchester authorities including the police.

“Tiger Tiger has been acclaimed Best Bar None four years in a row in recognition of its status as Manchester’s safest and best-run venue.”

Date: 8 May 2013

Application Type: Premises Licence variation

Premises: Lammars, 57 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EJ

A summary of the application is as follows:

Trading hours for the provision of regulated entertainment (recorded music): Sun to Thu – To amend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0100) to (1200 to 0100) Fri to Sat – To extend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0200) to (1200 to 0500)

Trading hours for the provision of late night refreshment: Sun to Thu -  2300 – 0100 Fri to Sat – 2300 – 0500

Trading hours for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises only: Sun to Thu – To amend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0100) to (1200 to 0100) Fri to Sat – To extend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0200) to (1200 to 0500)

Opening hours for the premises: Sun to Thu – To amend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0130) to (1200 to 0130) Fri to Sat – To extend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0230) to (1200 to 0530)

In accordance with regulations under the Licensing Act 2003, the application is in consultation until midnight on 04/06/2013.

If you require any further information regarding this application please contact the Licensing Unit by telephone or email as per the contact details below, copying in your local Labour councillors.

Tel: 0161 234 5004 (call centre)

Email: premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk

Web: www.manchester.gov.uk/licensing

Register of Licences: www.manchester.gov.uk/la2003/licensingregister

Date: 30 April 2013

Application Type: Premises Licence variation

Premises: Revolution, Arkwright House, Arkwright House, Parsonage Gardens, Manchester, M3 2LF

The following variations are sought:

• To extend the hours for sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment until 0300 on Wednesday nights
• To extend provision of late night refreshment until 0230 Sun to Tues and 0330 Weds to Sat
• Remove condition 28 of Annex 2 regarding children (Persons under the age of 16 shall only be permitted into the premises until 1800 hours) and replace it with a condition which reads: “Persons under the age of 16 shall only be permitted into the premises until 2000 when in the company of a responsible adult and only in the raised part of the premises.”
• Amend condition 5 of Annex 2 (Noise levels shall be kept to a level which will not cause nuisance to any nearby residential property) so that it reads “Meetings shall be held with local residents at the request of those residents.”
• Remove condition 17 of Annex 2 (No bottles or glassware shall be removed from the premises by patrons.)
• Remove condition 2 of Annex 3 (Trained SIA-registered door supervisors shall be on duty from when the premises opens for the sale of alcohol to the close of the premises.)
• Amend condition 15 of Annex 3 (No drink shall be sold from a bar or by staff service or consumed in or on the premise premises other than in a container made from non-splintering plastic, paper or toughened glass) and replace it with a condition which reads: “toughened glass shall be used where available.”

In accordance with regulations under the Licensing Act 2003, the application is in consultation until midnight on 28/05/2013.

If you require any further information regarding this application please contact the Licensing Unit by telephone or email as per the contact details below, copying in your local Labour councillors.

Tel: 0161 234 5004 (call centre)

Email: premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk

Web: www.manchester.gov.uk/licensing

Register of Licences: www.manchester.gov.uk/la2003/licensingregister

Application Type: Premises Licence variation

Premises: Tiger Tiger, Maxwell House Unit 5-6, Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 2BS

A summary of the application is as follows:

• Trading hours for the provision of regulated entertainment (live music, performances of dance and anything of a similar description to live music, recorded music or performances of dance): Fri to Sat – To extend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0300) to (1100 to 0500)
• Trading hours for the provision of late night refreshment: Fri – Sat – To extend the permitted hours from (2300 – 0330) to (2300 – 0500)
• Trading hours for the supply of alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises: Fri to Sat – To extend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0300) to (1100 to 0500)
• Opening hours for the premises: Fri to Sat – To extend the permitted hours from (1100 to 0330) to (1100 to 0530)

In accordance with regulations under the Licensing Act 2003, the application is in consultation until midnight on 012/06/2013.

If you require any further information regarding this application please contact the Licensing Unit by telephone or email as per the contact details below, copying in your local Labour councillors.

Tel: 0161 234 5004 (call centre)

Email: premises.licensing@manchester.gov.uk

Web: www.manchester.gov.uk/licensing

Register of Licences: www.manchester.gov.uk/la2003/licensingregister

Network rail are holding a final round of public consultation events ahead of submission to the Planning Inspectorate in August, and at this stage the full suite of draft application documents will be made available for members of the public and other interested parties for comment.  Network rail are hoping you will be able to drop in and discuss the plans at one of the following events:

8^th & 9^th May – Castlefield Hotel, Liverpool Road, Manchester:  12.00 – 20.00pm

10^th & 11^th May – Creative Media Centre, Chapel Street, Salford:  12.00 – 20.00pm

Once the consultation starts all of the documents will also be available to view on the website:  www.networkrail.co.uk/ordsall

If you have any further queries in the meantime please feel free to contact ordsallconsultation@networkrail.co.uk, copying in your local Labour councillors.

CC Leaflet May 2013

Our leaflet will be delivered to every apartment in the city centre over the next few weeks. If you don’t get one it means we don’t have access to your building. If you’d like to give us access or help out by delivering the leaflet in your block please get in touch with Cllr Kevin Peel.

Manchester City Council Event’s Unit would like to notify residents and businesses in the Castlefield area of the forthcoming activities that will be taking place in the area over the coming summer months.

May 5 – 12 – Beach Installation

The beach will be open to the public May 5 through to May 12 (8 days) and will be open primarily between the hours of 10:00 and 22:00. Other than the events identified below, there will be no amplified live bands performing during the Beach’s normal operating programme.

The load in of the beach will commence 29 April – with the facility open to the public on 5 May. The core beach area will be contained within a controlled site on the Kenworthy as last year and will focus on family appeal in the daytime and a more adult orientated audience in the evening.

The Venue Manager/Organiser Tim Ross will oversee the beach project and will also be responsible for the day to day management of the event.  Should you wish to contact him with any concerns/complaints he can be contacted during the event period on – 07980 162418 

May 4 – Real XS – Rock Radio Beach Party  

The site will be extended to create a venue for an event in partnership with Rock Radio.  Capacity will be capped at 4,500 with the site open from 12:00.  Access will be by paid ticket only via a pre-booked Rock Radio promotion (no on the day walk ups). From 12:00 – 22:00 there will be outdoor performances – comedy and music on the stage in the Kenworthy area – 14:00 – 22:30 – there will be live bands in the marquee located on the arena.  Sound checks will take place for a short intermittent period/s from 11:00am

There will be additional market stalls and content linked to the theme located on the Kenworthy (Markets Rights will be applied for). Noise levels will be set in accordance with the Premises Licence and a system of monitoring put in place.

On site contact telephone number for Event Control – 07583185924

May 6 – FuturePerfect 4

A one day music, arts and comedy event (to raise awareness and funding for The Christie Charitable Fund) in a ticket access fenced site incorporating the Kenworthy and Area 7. The event will run from 12:00 to 21:00 – with a programme of live music, DJ’s, comedians and activity workshops and exhibitions.  Tickets (via Skiddle.com)  priced at £6 pre-ticket, £7 on the door, free to children under 12.

It is anticipated up to 1000 people will attend the event across the day. The venue will incorporate the beach area for the main stage, additional stage in the arches on Area 7 (opposite car park), an arts marquee plus food and drink provisions. Appropriate stewarding, medical, cleansing and toilet facilities will be provided.

There will be no impact on access to buildings or resident or business car parking facilities. Sound levels will be monitored by an independent engineer so that they operate within the license conditions, and any issues can be directed to the contacts below.

On site contact telephone number for Event Control – 07583185924  

May 26 – Love Running Manchester

A Charity initiative run by St Peter’s ParishChurch- consisting of 100 runners entering the Manchester10k.  Event consists of a modest marquee in the RomanGardenswhich is used as a drop off and pick-up point before and after the race.  There will be an element of music to keep the runners motivated, food (hot dogs) and face paining. Set-up will commence at 08:00 – de-rig and site cleared by 15:00.

June 1 - RNCM in the City, 1pm

This hour-long performance, given by the RNCM Military Band, will offer an energetic programme suitable for all ages. Situated in the Castlefield arena, the ensemble comprising 30 first and second year students, will feature a whole range of wind, brass and percussion instruments. Music will include pieces by Vaughan Williams, Percy Grainger and Holst.

This event is part of RNCM in the City, a series of 40 free performances taking place in 40 different venues across Manchester and Salford marking the College’s 40^th anniversary.  For more information, please visit www.rncm.ac.uk/inthecity

June 2 – Manchester Day Parade

The theme of this year’s parade is ‘Wish you were Here’. In a celebration of people and places, highlights will include gravity-defying acrobats, marauding pirates and a carnival of poppies dancing through the streets!

In order for the parade to take place, Liverpool Roadwill be closed between PotatoWharfand Deansgate from 07:00 to 20:00 although we will probably be able to open it earlier. Access from Deansgate to Duke St and Rice Street will be maintained at all times. Participants in the parade will start assembling between 08:00 – 09:00.

Residents ofLiverpool Roadwill be contacted again nearer the time with more detailed information.

For more information, see www.themanchesterdayparade.co.uk

June 15 – Manchester Urban Orienteering – A Trail of Two Cities

The sport of Orienteering comes to our urban environment with an event ranging fromManchestercity centre via Castlefield and St. George’sIslandthrough to The Quays andMediaCityinSalford. Organisers expect the area around Castlefield canal basin to be one of best on offer.

Orienteering is the sport of running and navigating. Competitors are given a specially-drawn detailed map marked with a number of control points which they must visit in order, choosing what they consider to be the fastest route from their map. Control points are identified on the ground by a red and white marker with a timing device attached, which runners use to prove they have visited each site. The runner with the fastest overall time is the winner.

You may see some of these markers secured to street furniture. They will be put out and removed on the day of the event. Competitors will be set off at minute intervals, so residents will not see a pack of runners heading down a street – more a steady trickle of 80 – 100 over about two hours between 12.00 and 14.00.

The event is part of a National League and is already attracting competitors from across the UK. It will have a number of courses of different lengths and difficulty,  including some aimed at novices, so that people of all ages and abilities can take part. The action will be centred on The Quays right next to MediaCitymetro station, so anyone wanting to give the sport a try will need to head over there at around midday. Help will be on hand for beginners. Although the courses that reach as far as Castlefield are probably going to be a bit long for anyone not keen on running around 10km, there will be shorter options available staying around The Quays.  For more information, see www.seloc.org.uk.

July 5 – 6 Courteeners at Castlefield

SJM Concerts will stage a two night  sold out commercial gig in Castlefield Arena headlined by the Courteeners 5 – 6th July.  The shows will follow the bands recent and biggest ever tour of UK and Ireland.  Each show will host a capacity of 8000 attendees per night. Supports across both dates include Miles Kane, Reverend And The Makers, James Skelly & The Intenders, The Strypes, The Heartbreaks and Findlay. To put his in perspective, D:Percussion had around 30,000 attendees across the day and around 22,000 on site at any one time.

Manchester City Council are working very closely with the concert promoters to minimise the impact on local residents and businesses in the surrounding area and we will be in contact with you again with complete details for the management of the event and notice of  temporary road closures and parking restrictions.  As always, we will work to ensure access to car parks are maintained.

As with the nature of this event, there will be adequate levels of visible security by the stewarding company with staffed gated entry points at the Kenworthy and the Visitor Centre steps.  Gates are at 17.00, show starts at 18.00 and finishes 23.00. Event Control will operate out of the Visitor Centre and a bespoke cleansing plan will be developed to assist with managing the wider Castlefield area.

Measures to protect the heritage structures and landscaped areas will be put in place across the duration of the event.

Build Schedule – work will commence Monday 1 July and the site will be clear by Monday 8 July.

July 10 – 21 The Machine – Manchester International Festival

Commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival.  Venue: Campfield Market Hall.  For more information, please see www.mif.co.uk

August 4 – Castlefield Carnival

Castlefield Carnival is a one-day event combining music, sports activities, markets, food and fun for all the family located at facilities of the YMCA Manchester and Castlefield Arena.  The event will run from 10:00 – 16:.00. The programme is still in development and will be communicated nearer the time.

August 24 – Pride Parade                        

Parade starts onLiverpool Road.  Residents of  Liverpool   Roadwill receive more detailed information nearer the time.

For more information on the Pride Big Weekend please visit www.manchesterpride.com

Should you be having difficulty contacting the identified Event Organiser on the day or require further information please don’t hesitate in contacting me on – 07949 727848 or by email j.walker@manchester.gov.uk

MCC is working with the Castlefield Forum to improve communication between Events organisers and local residents and businesses.  For further information about the Castlefield Forum, visit the website www.ourcastlefield.co.uk or contact Ian Christie, Secretary, ianchristie2@btinternet.com

The £2 million Corridor Growth Fund, supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, will provide grant funding to qualifying applicants to help underpin the private sector-led growth of the knowledge economy in this part of Manchester.

The scheme, aimed predominantly at small and medium-sized enterprises, will operate from 1 April 2013 until 31 March 2015 and is expected to support the creation of at least 100 full-time jobs.

The maximum grant any one applicant can receive during the three-year period is around £169,500 (200,000 Euros.)
The Corridor is a unique business location at the heart of Manchester’s knowledge economy, covering some 243 hectares with a 55,000 strong workforce. It is home to two of the UK’s leading universities and the largest clinical academic campus in Europe.

Businesses interested in applying for grants via the Corridor Growth Fund should contact corridorgrowthfund@manchester.gov.uk or info@corridormanchester.com