Privacy Policy Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayohits radiomanchesternewsDriver arrested after fatal crash on Eccles Old RoadThe 71-year-old pedestrian died at the scene An appeal for information continues as investigators look into a fatal road traffic collision in Eccles Officers received reports of the incident at around 9:05pm on Saturday 3 May 2025 when they were called to a serious road traffic collision on Eccles Old Road They say that as the vehicle passed the junction with Manor Road a pedestrian was struck by a car as he attempted to cross the second lane was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving Greater Manchester Police say he remains in police custody officers said: "Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward "They are also keen to speak to anyone who may have any footage from the area in the moments leading up to the collision dash cam or mobile phone footage is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting log number 3447 of 03/05/2025 "Alternatively, details can be shared on our LiveChat function on our website, www.gmp.police.uk or via the independent charity First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Melissa Mosscrop and Grace Eccles have been recognised for their immense talent as they were awarded the 2025 Sefton Young Sportsperson of The Year Awards sponsored by Merseyrail Melissa and Grace were presented with their accolades at the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards at The Grand in Southport was honoured for her huge dedication to the sport of cycling Melissa has been road and track cycling since the age of eight and she spends hours and hours each week training Her commitment to her training is truly impressive and she consistently pushes herself to improve She sets herself high standards and continually strives to refine her technique All her hard work recently paid off when she was selected for Team GB’s national talent programme (known as NSR foundation) being one of only ten female riders One of the main aims of the talent pathway is to support the development of riders year-on-year who can transition into the Great Britain Cycling Team (GBCT) programmes the GBCT Performance Pathways support the development journey for the country’s most promising riders all the way to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Grace Eccles made British history at the Aerobic World Age Group Championships by being the first person to get an aerobic gymnastics medal for GBR let alone the silver medal An amazing achievement which takes a lot of time and dedication It has helped increase knowledge and understanding about a lesser known gymnastics discipline The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards are organised annually by Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport with media support from In Demand Radio with each of the 13 categories sponsored by supportive local businesses Over 2,000 nominations were received for this year’s Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards Next year’s awards will take place at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport on Friday 24th April 2026 For more details please email: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com     Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com Subscribe Now for Real-time Updates on the Latest Stories Created by Digital Media Guys Sign our campaign for a grant funding review The proposed regeneration of Eccles could be one of the Forum's first projects Credit: SimpsonHaugh via Salford City Council The site of the former Vauxhall garage on the corner of Albert Street and Peel Street earmarked for 256 homes is the Manchester-based property developer’s latest acquisition CERT Property has bought the Eccles site from Motus for an undisclosed sum The plot comes with planning permission for a 25-storey tower featuring a mix of apartments and townhouses which Silverlane Developments secured in 2022 Silverlane’s option on the site has expired CERT is currently considering redesign options as the approved project would not now be compliant with the latest BSA regulations The approved plans were designed by Jeffrey Bell Architects which has now rebranded as Jeffrey Bell + Co said the groundswell of development in the Eccles made the investment an enticing one Salford City Council acquired the town’s shopping centre in 2022 and is drawing up plans for a comprehensive regeneration project on the site. More recently, the authority bought Charles House Read more about Salford’s plans to rejuvenate Eccles Elsewhere in Eccles, Silverlane is nearing completion of a 272-apartment project featuring a 23-storey tower on Church Street “With work already started on the Eccles town centre masterplan by Salford City Council we see this as the perfect time to be investing into Eccles,” Lord said “Our One Albert Street plans will contribute to the vision for the town as a vibrant community and place to live by bringing high-quality CERT’s other projects include Peelers Yard in New Cross Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The next GM area to gentrify with its excellent transport links and surrounding amenities Get in whilst you can and its still relatively cheap in Manchester terms That’s right – only 23 minutes to Shudehill on the bus off-peak although it will probably help sell apartments to overseas investors who are deceived by the route map Do we really need any more flats in Eccles another load of housing most likely being sold to foreign investors only And where will all those tenants park their cars What about the train station..10 mins into Manchester Eccles..best connected sleeper area around Manchester It’s gonna need some work though so here’s hoping it’s location and that nearby Monton vibe helps in the future It’s only 8 minutes on the train to the city centre Hopefully the specifications will be good and the rental attractive Prices in the city centre are becoming out of reach for many That shopping precinct was well past its peak Hopefully a few named retailers can return and support the footfall for the independents Eccles has so much potential – its close to the city centre Trafford centre and all the motorway networks trams and a train that is only 8 mins to Deansgate – just needs a more frequent service Now finally it just needs the population to move in with a bit of income to bring the much needed money and the new shops Just look down the road to Monton for what can be done What about parking with all these apartments going up where are residents going to park there cars eccles does not want another crap building Is there no plans for some shops with all the new residents of Eccles The borough claims it has a “disproportionately high number of HMOs” and is to pursuing the introduction of measures to wrestle back control A new 122,000 sq ft distribution facility for the wholesale food supplier and an additional 70,000 sq ft of employment space are planned at the firm’s Langley Road base Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" View the latest digital editions of all of our publications or head straight to the archives SUBSCRIBE VIEW ARCHIVES VIEW ARCHIVES VIEW ARCHIVES The new automotive glass repair and replacement location joins a local repair shop that has been in business for more than 40 years near Hamilton who purchased the business from his parents Bruce and Claire in 2019 starting out by from washing the shop floors on weekends He then attended business school and became a licensed 310S technician While adding the two-bay Novus Glass service he has invested in the Hunter Ultimate ADAS machine meaning the shop can offer comprehensive services in both glass replacement and ADAS calibrations.  The shop is involved in the electric vehicle space, with public chargers at the shop and an array of EV-related services, as featured in the Fall 2024 issue of EV World “We’re thrilled to welcome Novus Glass Dundas to the Fix Network family,” said Zakari Krieger which includes Fix Network’s retail brands “Scott’s commitment to innovation and community aligns perfectly with our values We’re eager to support his journey and witness the positive impact he’ll continue to make.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment Privacy Policy Cat Eccles tells PoliticsHome she always knew she was different Speaking to PoliticsHome ahead of Autism Awareness Day Labour MP Cat Eccles says she hopes that sharing her story will help make Parliament more accommodating to neurodivergent people Labour MP Cat Eccles can remember feeling like she didn’t fit in from a young age But despite her parents’ attempts to get her to mix with other children by sending her to dance classes she gravitated towards the adults or just “doing her own thing” Eccles was elected the Labour MP for Stourbridge at the July general election.  during Neurodiversity Celebration Week and ahead of Autism Awareness Day in April she told PoliticsHome she feels ready to speak more publicly about her autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) diagnoses you have to consider that if you've got a story to tell then this is the perfect place to tell it from," she said “There are quite a few of us here in Parliament...  "We like to call ourselves neuro-spicy” Since entering Parliament last summer has been praised for her confidence and apparent ease with public speaking “When I go home to my husband in the evening because that's all I can manage.”  Eccles hasn't always had a warm reception in the workplace “I couldn't understand why people thought that,” Eccles said The Labour back bencher's path to diagnosis was long and frustrating She became "very depressed" as a teenager as a series of "back and forth" medical appointments left her feeling no closer to the truth about her condition During that time, she received multiple diagnoses and treatments covering mental health conditions like severe depression “I just reached a point where I felt that things were getting worse rather than better." She was eventually diagnosed with autism and ADHD — but not until her late thirties is partly down to women finding it harder to get diagnosed While it was historically assumed that autistic people were largely men and boys due to outdated stereotyping about autistic characteristics “We [women] are so good at mimicking and masking and that maternal side of us wants to make everyone think everything's okay. We want to look after other people quite often as well Masking is a strategy used by some autistic people to appear non-autistic Exploring online forums and communities helped Eccles feel "like I found my people.” But she recalled how doctors and counsellors questioned why she even wanted a diagnosis “When you want to be at work and stay in work and be a valuable employee sometimes you need these labels to get the support you need," she told PoliticsHome “What I've experienced in the workplace is that when I have got these labels, there isn't always a requirement to implement reasonable adjustments," she said adding that not all employers are "necessarily set up to support people compassionately and in a way that they need” and we need to pay attention to that." While Eccles said that the Employment Rights Bill currently on its second reading in the House of Lords she said more needs to be done to ensure that people don't have the experience she did Eccles was working for the health service when she fell ill with a life-threatening pulmonary embolism She claimed Universal Credit for 12 months which “barely covered” her rent “I was fortunate to have the support of family and friends to keep me going.” Entering the world of Westminster has not been plain sailing Asked by PoliticsHome how she has found it as a place to work Eccles joked it's "bonkers” and “bizarre” “It's unlike anything I've ever experienced and I think most MPs regardless of whether they're neurodiverse or not the biggest shift was moving from a job that was very structured to one that was more “abstract” your time is mostly to do with it what you will Eccles has also struggled with the parliamentary estate itself adding there are aspects of it “that peak my anxieties and my symptoms in a way that I’ve not experienced previously” She used the example of auditory processing like a baying House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions, can make it difficult for her to focus As she explained this particular challenge she was interrupted by the harsh sound of the division bell Another experience that caught Eccles off guard was the voting lobby where MPs are “herded through like cattle” Earlier this year, Labour MP Sam Carling told PoliticsHome that the Modernisation Committee should consider installing voting terminals around Parliament Eccles said changes like this would work well for her and colleagues who do not feel comfortable being in a crowd The Labour MP also wants to see more training to help more people understand autism being offered to MPs as well as in other industries and workplaces is leading a committee inquiry into the effectiveness of the 2009 Autism Act and government progress in developing an autism strategy While she said it was too early to discuss what recommendations the committee might put to ministers when it comes to helping improve the lives of autistic people, "nothing is off the table" that creating a commissioner for autistic people could be a way of addressing concern that there is not enough accountability around the autism strategy PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe Are you looking to engage with the most influential people in UK politics PoliticsHome & The House Magazine organise a number of industry leading political events throughout the year Get daily news alerts and weekend round-ups straight to your inbox © Political Holdings Limited document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); by Andrew Ross | May 5, 2025 | 0 comments NOVUS Glass has announced the addition of NOVUS Glass Dundas to its network an expansion of the highly-regarded Eccles Auto Service Inc is a family-owned and operated business providing exceptional service and quality workmanship to the Dundas who purchased the business from his parents in 2019 initially washing the shop floors on weekends before attending business school and becoming a licensed 310S technician alongside the investment in the Hunter Ultimate ADAS machine allows his team the opportunity to offer comprehensive services in both glass replacement and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) calibrations In keeping with technological advancements Eccles Auto Service distinguishes itself with state-of-the-art offerings and the inclusion of electric vehicles as part of their shuttle and courtesy services Their team is comprised of technicians who are trained to work on all vehicle types The shop also prides itself on providing digital vehicle inspections since 2018 and offers an easy-to-use online booking system that is directly accessible from Google Eccles Auto Service is deeply committed to supporting its community The shop actively sponsors local sports teams and makes significant contributions to the St Joseph’s Villa Foundation The team also engages in activities such as BBQ Fridays and Go-Kart days As they open their two-bay NOVUS Glass Dundas shop Eccles Auto Service is poised for continued success and community impact Their dedication to excellence is evident in the array of awards and recognitions they have received over the years which encompasses Fix Network’s retail brands expressed excitement about partnering with the well-established and respected local business: “We’re thrilled to welcome NOVUS Glass Dundas to the Fix Network family Scott’s commitment to innovation and community aligns perfectly with our values Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress A man from Eccles has been found guilty and jailed for two-and-a-half years for possession of drugs and conspiracy to supply Deon Boshell, of Buckthorne Lane, Eccles was found guilty yesterday (Tuesday 22 April) at Manchester Crown Court The 27-year-old was sentenced for Possession of Class A and Possession Class B as well as being found guilty of Conspiracy to Supply Class A Boshell received a two and half year custodial sentence, following an extensive investigation into the supply of Class A and Class B drugs in Salford by the Eccles Neighbourhood Team. sport and entertainment from around Salford – produced by students from The University of Salford’s Journalism Department Please call the Salford Now editor on 0161 295 2220 if you have a story or query You can also contact us at now@salford.ac.uk or DM one of our social media accounts Salford Now is run for educational purposes and is not a commercial website The University of Salford denies any responsibility for and / or knowledge of content on this website Plans for the site have been in the works for a decade ForHousing has been trying to redevelop a gap site next to the College Court tower block for a decade The latest iteration of the project is taller and has more homes than earlier proposals The housing association has lodged a third application to redevelop the Fox Street site in Eccles seeking permission from Salford City Council for a nine-storey block featuring 46 apartments would meet a growing need for specialist accommodation in the area The site of the proposed nine-storey development used to be occupied by a set of garages These were demolished in 2018 and the site has sat vacant since making it a target for anti-social behaviour ForHousing – then known as City West Housing Trust – secured permission for 24 extra care flats on the same site funding issues prevented a start on site and the development was shelved the housing association returned with revised plans for a seven-storey complex comprising 36 apartments That development was also approved by Salford City Council at the back end of last year The latest designs by Halsall Lloyd Partnership indicate a building that is two storeys taller with 10 more flats The majority of the homes will have one bedroom The scheme is described as an extra care ‘lite’ development which means homes will be available to people who require less assistance day-to-day than when compared to those residing in an extra care home There is a shortage of this type of accommodation in Salford which claims in planning documents accompanying the submission that there is a “shortfall of 187 units of extra care in Salford” search for reference number PA/2025/0545 on Salford City Council’s planning portal Who will be able to apply for these apartments and are they available for local people No thought for college croft residents with all the extra noise dust drilling over the next 2yrs blocking off 60% of our view leaving us with a brick wall outside our living room windows will it not take the light out of college croft ? The housing association is working with main contractor Caddick to build 69 social rent homes for over 55s and a GP surgery on 2.5 acres of disused land on Arrow Street in Broughton Mike Eccles: “I’m proud we have made it to the start line” London Broncos Director of Rugby & Performance Mike Eccles says he is proud that the club have made it to the start line for the 2025 season after an off-season of change after the club were told they would be relegated from Super League before a ball was kicked Mike Eccles side performed admirably winning a number of admirers along the way Mike was nominated for Super League Coach of The Year At the end of the season it was then announced that long time owner David Hughes would be leaving which left the financial future of the club uncertain.  This weekend just five members of last season's squad were named in the 21 There are 8 trialists named who all have varying levels of experience from League One to amateur rugby in the SCL Mike says after a tough few months he is now excited to get out of the field; “It’s the first team we will see the trialists in action in a game because we haven’t had a friendly It’s really exciting for them and I am excited to see our established players step up they’ve been fantastic in the close season understanding our difficulties “They understand how we have had to build with recruitment and financial issues I’m also excited to see one or two of the younger boys who we have added to the squad this year “I’m excited to see what Goole brings I watched their friendly against Featherstone in a lot of mud We will be on a fast track this weekend at Rosslyn Park.” £10 for concessions & £5 for U18’s The 35,000 sq ft Charles House falls within the area of the town centre the city council is hoping to regenerate Salford City Council has acquired the Eccles office block from MHE Investments for £2.5m Landlord MHE Investments appointed Knight Frank to find a buyer for the Albert Street site last year stating it had the potential to be converted into 300 apartments However, Salford City Council will demolish the building as part of its wider vision for Eccles. The site backs onto Eccles Shopping Centre, which the authority took control of in late 2022 purchasing the 180,000 sq ft complex from Columbia Threadneedle for around £4.15m Salford plans to appoint a development partner later this year to bring forward the wholesale regeneration of its Eccles land holdings Demolition of 66,000 sq ft of vacant retail units within the shopping centre to pave the way for the first phase of the project is underway said: “We’re committed to the redevelopment of Eccles town centre as a key priority for the city council and a much-needed outcome for residents “The purchase of Charles House offers strategic benefits when combined with our adjacent property interests and will enhance the city council’s ability to drive comprehensive redevelopment This decision is part of our ambitious plan to deliver a new vision for the town centre a shared vision developed with the community and focused on re-establishing Eccles a vibrant town centre where people can eat Cushman & Wakefield and Mills & Reeve advised the council on the deal Could you please tell what are they going to build to replace the Shopping centre…thank you. Salford should be putting public money to better use namely education the elderly Is eccles town centre going to have new shops and bars or is it just going to be expensive apartments a shared vision for growth with ambitious plans Pls share with the community you represent Hi Simon. Here is the timeline https://www.salford.gov.uk/planning-building-and-regeneration/regeneration/salfords-towns/eccles/timeline/ You can read more about the plans in the various articles PNW has published Need salford doing up new bus station and a good clean up I lived on Albert street as a teenager before moving to Ellesmere park. When is salford precinct getting sorted out its a dangerous place to shop let alone work their although there is potential to earn money from 300 apartments No disrespect l personally think we live here and all the other painting etc were a complete waste of the artist time and money forgive my ignorance but l would have thought a re developer should have been consulted before all the demolition began Eccles has Bus station,train station and tram terminal it’ makes sense to develop the town I think anything to help regenerate the area is a good idea As per comments below we do need shops and community spaces as well as housing but in essence I think an uplift for the area is great It would be nice if the opportunity was taken to make the precinct area and it’s surroundings more like a real town centre with streets and services I looking forward to the regeneration of Eccles hopefully we can shops and a nice place to go and shop eat and drink and possibly under a roof Eccles ‘ a rich guy’s Getto’ (sic) oh please 😎 The millionaire’s are queuing up I’ll bet..everyone will be moving up from Worsley Everyone loves to moan saying that the shopping centre was once amazing Tbh many of the retailers no longer exist due to administration At least they can regenerate but the hardest part is the years in between the old and the new It’s great to see a local authority actively working hard for their communities Rather than an endless array of cafes and restaurants invest in offering practical skills courses /Apprenticeships to a wider age group not ” buy to let” with the incentive for the Tenants after 5 years to have the option of turning the rent that they’ve been paying into a ” Rent/Mortgage option How this would pan out would be up to the experienced Professionals to look at other areas around the UK that have already implemented and utilised local people’s suggestions and practices etc I am a local Eccles resident (I live on Russell Street) and no-one on my street is aware of any consultation have a vibrant shopping centre – but we have no idea what is planned I really appreciate the council putting money into the Eccles town centre with a long-term plan for it’s regeneration I’m fed up of people moaning when the council do nothing and then moaning when they do I don’t think anyone can say that Eccles town centre was functioning the way that it was This is part of a long-term plan to regenerate an area – for money to come back into the area you need people in that area to contribute with taxes and with money to spend for that to happen you need places for them to live I understand some of the other comments positions around funding for education and elderly being important but for there to be real change in an area it needs to happen alongside the uplift of that area I personally welcome the purchases and plans Salford council are making and am hopeful of the benefits it will bring to Eccles As a Worsley resident you will never see me in Eccles town centre The race is on to implement the planning permission for the 15-floor Store Street scheme before it expires later this year Connell Brothers landed the work in summer 2024 Salford contractor Connell Brothers has begun a programme that includes bringing down a market hall The city council bought Eccles Shopping Centre from Columbia Threadneedle for around £4m to give itself control over the town centre’s future The project has around £5.4m in Levelling Up Fund support Connell Brothers’ brief is to demolish the northern part of the shopping centre in phase one of the Eccles town centre redevelopment with the southern part to follow in phase two BOOK NOW: Greater Manchester Development Update 2025 transport and sustainable development at Salford City Council and an Eccles ward councillor said: “Through our purchase of the shopping centre we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community “It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work to deliver the vision we have developed with the community.” Cllr McCusker said that implementing that vision “starts with this demolition” He continued: “Whilst we work on the town centre of the future today’s town centre remains open for business I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life We’re still extremely keen to get the views of local residents on their needs for a new town centre and welcome all feedback to ensure we develop this truly shared vision and create an Eccles that’s fit for the future.” Public consultation saw 600 residents share their views and aspirations for drastic improvements to the town centre Architect SimpsonHaugh and development manager Identity Consult have advised the council to shape the broad vision Salford’s plan is that once demolition work is completed it will “present a blank canvas to potential development partners,” triggering a selection process The phase one demolition work is expected to be completed before the end of the year Think it will be a ‘blank canvas’ for a while…. Eccles needs shops not more tower blocks it’s a ghost town and has been ruined What was once a thriving shopping centre has fallen into the hands of the council only time will tell whether they will bring it back to life or not Salford shopping centres all need major overhauls with proper long term investment I doubt Salford Labour Council will have the fight and forethought for this Please look back at its past we have lost so much in eccles it’s lost its roots we need more restoration on what we have and build shops like their old looking out the heritage back I believe this is a fantastic vision but the cost of living in Eccles will drastically be elevated including the cost to acquire shops in Eccles What really killed Eccles is when they ploughed a motorway through the middle of it Unbelievably short-sighted decision from idiotic highways planners who were given far too much money and free-reign to do as they pleased See also: ploughing another motorway through Worsley Get rid of the smelly motorway or utilise its below-ground nature to cap it off with a concrete deck and put a park on top That’ll properly reconnect Eccles with Monton and Ellesmere Park Better yet: get rid of the motorway altogether (sod the suburbanites) and re-lay four tracks of railway between Eccles and Manchester to enable more capacity for Eccles station (giving it more than 1 train per hour!) Emma the shops have closed because they don’t have enough trade The only way to get more trade is by more people shopping You get more people shopping by more people living there The ripple effect from Monton Green would start if they sorted out that shopping centre SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Mike Eccles names 21-man squad for Challenge Cup 2nd round Mike Eccles has named his 21-man squad for this weekend’s Challenge Cup 2nd round tie with Goole Vikings at Rosslyn Park In what is a new look squad with a number of players looking to win contracts at the club for next season There are 8 trialists named in the squad with; Chris Ball Chris Ball and Charlie Randall have both stepped up from last season's Reserve team Tyler Kearsey was most recently playing with London Chargers Matt Ross & Aaron Small were in League One at Cornwall Jack Ryan at Hammersmith Hill Hoists & Jerome Yates & Leighton Ball both previously at West Warriors The duo from Wigan Kian McDermott & Lukas Mason are also both named in the 21-man after agreeing loan moves to the club Sam Winney & Curtis Davies could all make their debuts if named in the matchday squad Mike Eccles lays out plan for new era at London Broncos London Broncos Director of Rugby and Performance Mike Eccles has spoken about plans for the club as it heads into a new era David Hughes left the club at the end of the 2024 season ending a 27 year association with London Broncos when combining this with relegation from Super League the club is set to go through a transition period Mike Eccles said that whilst challenging this can be an exciting chapter; “David’s been involved with the club for nearly three decades so “what are the implications of no David Hughes?” has been the (questions) around off-season so far there has been an obvious turnover off the back of the insecurities around us as a club for the staff “The investment that David made every week every year was astronomical and important for keeping London Rugby League alive David is now not with us and there’s been no parachute payments either for the first time in around 10 years so we’ve had to really take stock of the situation what investment we will get and most importantly what we can generate We will be a commercially driven club in the very near future That will determine our existence and what kind of squad we can put together.” “We feel we are in a position to move forward now and we’ve put in a lot of time and effort working with the off-field staff to project “what can we do here?” It’s going to be difficult but its also exciting “In the medium to long term we all want Super League but right here right now we have to cut our cloth accordingly and generate as much money as we can Mike Eccles has also announced that Lewis Bienek academy product Harry Stevens and Chairman’s Player of the Year for 2024 Marcus Stock will also be staying at the club “We have had to take stock of where we are at in terms of finances That will determine what we can put on the field.  “There were three contracted players at the club Harry Stevens and Lewis Bienek and we are delighted to announce that we can honour their contracts and that’s fantastic news for the club “We are also delighted to announce that there are upwards of ten players They are keen to stay and we are keen to have them “We’ve also opened negotiations with a series of other players as well some players we are looking to bring back to the club which is still the way I want the thread of the team to be things have started moving and we will have a lot more updates on that so hopefully that will all move very quickly.” The club are delighted to announce that memberships for the 2025 Betfred Championship season will be available to buy from Wednesday (16th) of October and Mike is urging everyone to get behind the initiative; “We must generate the revenue to spend on the team and we need as many membership sales as we can “It’s just a message to get on the journey with us I’m here because I want to drive this club to Super League in not the long term but the medium term “We’re going to have a massive uprise in our (IMG) score and we feel in around two years we can get back to Super League it will require external investment which we are working hard to secure but right now it's the sales of our memberships “Get on the journey with us - I thought last year was amazing but we are back in Championship and we are starting again so please get on board.” Rayohits radiomanchesternewsTwo in hospital after Eccles plane crashA light aircraft crashed at Barton Aerodrome earlier this evening It's understood two people have been seriously injured in a plane crash in Eccles Emergency services rushed to the scene at Barton Aerodrome at around 5:30pm this evening It's not clear exactly what happened but Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service say: "At around 5.30pm today three fire engines from across Greater Manchester and the technical response unit attended an aircraft crash at Barton Aerodrome “Firefighters arrived quickly and assisted Greater Manchester Police North West Ambulance Service and the airport fire service in making the area safe and helping two casualties out of the aircraft "Both casualties were transferred into the care of North West Ambulance Service and transferred to Salford Royal Hospital "Crews were in attendance for roughly one hour." Meanwhile an update from Greater Manchester Police reads: "Emergency services are currently responding to a plane crash at Barton Aerodrome one with life-threatening injuries and another with potentially life-changing injuries "A scene is in place whilst emergency service workers conduct their enquiries and people are asked to avoid the area." First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Plans to transform Eccles town centre has begun with the demolition of the shopping centre car park and Eccles Market Hall marking the first phase of the town’s regeneration The demolition is the first key phase of a long-term plan by Salford City Council to deliver a new shared vision for the future of the town centre which has seen dwindling footfall in recent years The initial demolition has been focused on these areas as a part of phased work that will ultimately result in the development of a modern The demolition work is being conducted by Salford-based Connell Brothers demolition contractors and is expected to be completed before the end of the year Construction consultancy Identity Consult have been development managing the project on behalf of Salford City Council Transport and Sustainable Development at Salford City Council and Eccles Ward Councillor “It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work to deliver the vision we have developed with the community.” He continued: “It enables us to begin the implementation of this shared vision and that starts with this demolition here in the heart of the town centre it is great to see this work begin in earnest “Whilst we work on the town centre of the future “The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.” McCusker added: “The demolition work will take some time “We’re still extremely keen to get the views of local residents on their needs for a new town centre and welcome all feedback to ensure we develop this truly shared vision and create an Eccles that’s fit for the future.” The redevelopment also follows a public consultation which saw 600 residents share their views and aspirations for drastic improvements to the town centre Feedback highlighted that the current town centre isn’t working for or meeting the needs of the local community – with residents and a fundamental transformation and the redevelopment of the town centre was needed will be to present a blank canvas to potential development partners – this will then allow the council to work and secure a development partner to help deliver the long-term shared vision for the town centre The demolition of Charles House in the town centre will be completed as part of the next phase of work within the wider Eccles Town Centre scheme For more information on the Eccles Vision and to share feedback towards the redevelopment – you can find more information here. Mike Eccles: "In the coming weeks we will have positive news about the club" London Broncos Director of Rugby & Performance Mike Eccles has offered an update on the squad ahead of the first competitive game of the season next weekend in the Challenge Cup and he says good news is on it’s way It has been well documented that the club is going through a transition period following relegation from Super League last season and the departure of long time owner David Hughes Mike Eccles says he is confident that he has the experience to guide the club through the transition and says that good news is coming including a new player being announced on Monday (20th) Watch the full interview with Mike Eccles below London Broncos first competitive game of the season is on January 25th in the Challenge Cup against Goole Vikings at Rosslyn Park Peter Eccles saw himself as a dedicated and conscientious farm manager and hardworking rugby teammate he found himself having something of an identity crisis after opening his own on-farm fitness business and getting involved in supporting the wellbeing organisation Farmstrong Scotland he opens up about finding his new sense of purpose Moving home to take over the reins at his family farm Carlaverock was something Peter had been preparing for his whole career he wasn’t quite expecting how challenging a move this would be a former back row forward for Heriot’s and then Melrose who also achieved Club International honours was named as the winner of the prestigious Farmers Weekly Farm Manager of the Year Award He also took the overall title of Farmer of the Year ‘People would mostly talk to me about rugby and farming,’ explains 40-year-old Peter ‘Following the end of my rugby playing days and my decision to leave my role as a farm manager I went through a tough time where I struggled mentally to find my new purpose ‘I was at a stage in my life where I felt it was important to pursue my dreams and build something for myself Farming is my passion and something I continue to do but I’ve chosen to diversify and create an additional revenue stream to the farm’s income which can be so volatile ‘It has been a challenging time transitioning out of my role as a farmer manager becoming a qualified personal trainer and starting my own business I’ve had to adapt since leaving a job with all the security of a monthly salary and a tied home for my young family.’ successful diversification can be key in safeguarding the future of the family farm ‘I had been looking at the farm’s assets and kept coming back to the idea of repurposing the older buildings,’ recalls Peter had been such a huge part of my rugby playing days I found myself adrift and feeling low and without a real sense of purpose Then I joined a local Crossfit gym and started training again regularly and making new connections with people too giving my mood and energy levels such a boost ‘This inspired me to want to start my own gym back home on the farm I wanted to help others start their fitness journey and begin building a community of people who enjoy coming to the farm for regular workouts with a twist I’ve called it Fitness Farmyard and it opened in late autumn last year.’ ‘Whilst juggling the gym alongside both farm work and family can be stressful at times it’s exciting and the gym has huge potential for growth I’ve recently brought in two more personal trainers and together we are exploring ways to enable parents to exercise alongside their children They also get to visit the farm too and learn a bit more about where food actually comes from.’ The Eccles family farm stands at 250 acres with 140 acres owned and the remainder rented The farm grows 200 acres of cereals on a contract farming agreement while Peter manages his own herd of pedigree Hereford cattle and a few crossbred sheep I sell breeding bulls and heifers from the herd but we also have some of our own grass finished beef and lamb processed too It’s for family and our growing fitness community’s consumption only,’ Peter says with a smile The gym currently runs a mix of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and Hybrid strength and endurance training classes with classes starting at 6.30am in the morning five days per week while evening classes also take place two or three days per week Peter fits in livestock work and his own training in-between ‘We have a great mix of folk coming along and of all ages and we cater for all levels of fitness and experience too’ said Peter who still struggles at times to maintain his positive outlook came following a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in both his hips ‘I have at least one hip replacement coming – which is probably a result of knocks on the rugby pitch and perhaps not taking my post-match recovery as seriously as I should have done Though it is amazing how much of my mobility I have managed to maintain through careful selection of exercise and daily stretching.’ The challenges Peter faces are not uncommon in sport or in farming and he has found solace in learning from others’ experiences ‘Moving away from playing competitive sport or being unable to farm the way they used is something a lot of people can find tough Often it is the thing they love most and have done since they were a child ‘I think my original way of coping was just to retract myself stop going to things to avoid speaking about it but I found myself feeling increasingly lost and without an identity to hang to my hat It’s been great for me to get this interaction and connection with people back again now that I have Fitness Farmyard and from speaking at Farmstrong events ‘I think farmers put a lot of pressure on themselves in keeping up appearances I want to build something I can be proud of and enjoy the benefits of its success.’ explains Peter who is planning a charity cycle ride to raise funds for Farmstrong as a way of raising awareness and acknowledging the help the wellbeing movement has been to him ‘I got back on track by learning more about myself and re-evaluating my priorities such as my family and the importance of managing my mental health and physical fitness’ says Peter ‘A big part of my farming ethos is trying to be as efficient as possible I look to take time off for strategic thinking and forward planning which may help me cut out an unnecessary job and give me even more time back ‘For me getting out on my gravel bike is time well spent But that could also just be taking an afternoon off to go for a walk or enjoy time doing another hobby Everyone is different so any time spent doing something which contributes to supporting better mental and physical wellbeing is time well spent ‘Following the osteoarthritis diagnosis I struggled physically and mentally and lacked the knowledge skills and motivation to do anything about it becoming increasingly unhappy and demoralised,’ he said ‘Now there is Farmstrong in place I feel the whole farming and crofting community is so lucky to have it There is so much advice and inspiration available on its website and it now even has its own podcasts and song playlists It’s a fantastic resource and continues to further its reach with local Farmstrong community and social groups forming and organising social events all around Scotland.’ Read more News stories here Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you 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effectiveness of the ad campaigns The Worsley and Eccles MP Michael Wheeler has shared his concerns over the Eccles Post Office being at risk of closure The branch on Church Street may have to close because the Post Office is pulling out The decision will see the closure of more than  100 branches across the country that include both Eccles and the Salford Precinct The move could see all 115 branches transferred to retail partners or postmasters Worsley and Eccles MP Michael Wheeler said: “I am extremely concerned about reports that the Post Office’s strategic review could put our Crown Post Office in Eccles at risk “I listened carefully to Gareth Thomas MP the Government minister with responsibility for the Post Office as he gave a statement to Parliament today where he said that no decisions to close any or all of the directly managed branches had been taken’by the Post Office.” The MP promised to do all he can to protect this valuable local service He continued: “I know how important the Post Office is to many people in and around Eccles who rely on it particularly as many other commercial bank branches have closed or are about to close.” He says he will follow this up with the Minister and the Post Office to hopefully keep the site open And with the announcement of the closure of the local Halifax branch on Church Street in January 2025 it has caused concerns for the Eccles community One resident Christine Leach shared: “The Halifax closes in January Where are you supposed to do your banking when the PO closes?” Ervis Zenelcanaj added: “This branch is always always busy The Oddfellows Arms in Eccles will be hoping to rebuild its reputation with a new relaunched that will invites guests to a night of live music The relaunch at the Oddfellows Arms will be from 7:30pm till late and guests will be able to visit the pub to party to Motown and Soul singer JP Morris Rebecca Smith has been in the hospitality business for just over a year with the Eccles pub becoming her second relaunch project Before becoming the owner of Oddfellows she was once a customer She recognised a strong customer base with a community focus on her visit before making the decision to take on the role of the owner Smith’s hopes for the pub’s future remain bright as she hopes to change the current reputation that the pub has as she said: “My goal is to get it to where it was a few years ago.” In her previous establishment she had the same determination as she continued: “When I went to the last place which had a bad reputation I brought that back up over the year when I was there and that’s what I intend to do here.” Rebecca has received positive feedback so far from the community regarding herself and other members of staff And after being welcomed into the community she has been able to shake of the traditional first day nerves Rebecca’s confidence in a male dominated career sets a prime example of fighting gender norms in today’s society She said “Just because I’m a woman don’t think that you can come in and take over because we’re trying to do something to build it back up and not one person is going to stop me from doing that.”  During Rebecca’s first week of working she experienced a scary moment of confrontation from a customer Rebecca remained calm and with the help of her staff and regulars the situation was diffused She said: “The police did assist but it was the customers who got him out of the premises and helped and that’s the community support I felt when I came in as a customer.” Another one of Rebecca’s hopes for The Oddfellows Arms is to continue hosting a range of events for the Eccles community to enjoy And the new manager of the pub will be hoping to do the same with the relaunch this weekend where people can enjoy live Motown entertainment with the whole community Rebecca aims to host a variety of events people can look forward to throughout the week as she said: “Hopefully going forward there will be live entertainment “So there’s more stuff going on during the week and the quieter days because I’m rolled up by community focus.”   Mike Eccles: There is a lot of local talent around and we are after the next Jarred Bassett London Broncos Director of Rugby & Performance Mike Eccles has offered supporters an update on the current squad as he continues to build towards the new season There were a number of player departures following the conclusion of the 2024 Super League season and following the departure of David Hughes as owner the club are facing a big rebuild ahead of the Championship campaign getting underway in February “So we have extended to 6 with the number of original training trialists and then we had an open trial at the weekend which I thought was very successful and we have now invited 8 from that down “There is a lot of local talent around “There is some real talent around and it was great to see to be honest with you and it was a very successful evening we have the 6 original training trialists which are going really well are bedding well into the team and then the new 8 trialists as well as ongoing recruitment for permanent signings The opening game of the season will take place on 25/26th of January against League One side Goole Vikings The players who have featured on trial in pre-season are yet to find out their long term future with the club and Mike Eccles says all outcomes with the group are being looked at; You might get some playing in January against Goole Hopefully the ambition is that we get the reserve team back and the academy back These players could play a part in the very near future or they could be more of a development plan “There are players already that I wish we had in our programme last year It is still baby steps at the moment in terms of where we were last season and where we are now but the reality is we need to put a squad together and what we look like in January remains to be seen.” Mike Eccles nominated for Super League ‘Coach of The Year Mike Eccles of London Broncos is among four nominees to be the Betfred Super League Coach of the Year for 2024 even though his team finished bottom of the table Eccles is joined by Matt Peet of Wigan Warriors Willie Peters of Hull KR and Paul Rowley of Salford Red Devils following a poll of the 12 Super League head coaches – with the winner to be named at Rugby League’s Awards Night next Tuesday (October 8) at the Royal Armouries in Leeds Eccles was named Betfred Championship Coach of the Year in 2023 after steering the Broncos to a surprise promotion to the Super League and has earned widespread admiration for the way his team have responded to a wide range of challenges remaining competitive in the vast majority of their matches even though they only secured three wins It is a third consecutive nomination for both Peet and Rowley who won the award in his first season as head coach of Wigan in 2022 has steered them to a second consecutive League Leaders’ Shield and picked up two other trophies with victories over Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge in February and over Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in June Rowley maintained his remarkable record of defying pessimistic pre-season predictions for Salford with the Red Devils finishing fourth in the table to secure their second appearance in the Play-Offs in three years the Australian who took charge at Hull KR last season and has followed a successful debut campaign in which they qualified for the Play-Offs and reached Wembley in the Challenge Cup by achieving greater consistency to secure a top two finish – the club’s first in the Super League era A body has been found on railway tracks close to Eccles station Police were called around 4.15pm on Sunday afternoon (February 9) following reports of a casualty on the track Multiple emergency service vehicles and paramedics attended but the person was pronounced dead at the scene A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesperson said: “Officers were called to the line near Eccles Railway Station at about 4.15pm yesterday (9 February) following reports of a casualty on the tracks however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.” Following the incident transport was halted TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales services being impacted a spokesperson from Northern Railway shared: “Emergency services dealing with an incident between Manchester Piccadilly and Newton-Le-Willows – some lines are blocked.” they shared at 8.37pm: “Services are no longer affected by this problem.” British Transport Police said: “The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.” values and vision; our pledge to sustainability and road to net zero; and learn about life at AXA IM you are not authorised to access this site and you are invited to log on to https://www.axa-im-usa.com/ Explore our Core Investments website to learn more about our investment capabilities in fixed income 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I’ve always been fascinated and passionate about biology and medical science which ultimately led to me studying Physiology at university or “medicine for those who already know they don’t want to practice” My lab dissertation (which lasted a year longer than it should have done) soon made me realise that I didn’t much fancy the idea of research either I remember feeling slightly rudderless at the time: I wanted to find a career where I could leverage my existing medical knowledge in a more practical or commercial way while continuing to learn and remain current The biggest ‘Butterfly Effect’ moment of my life was bumping into an alumnus while ordering drinks at my college bar while watching the Champion’s League with friends He was an MD in Fixed Income at Morgan Stanley and in town for a student careers event earlier that day and it quickly turned out that something I’d never heard of called “Equity Research” appeared to be quite a good match for me If it hadn’t had been my round at half time I naturally gravitated towards STEM subjects at school and initially studied Medicine at university I loved that medical science is a field that is always changing and every year we are uncovering more and more aspects about how the human body works and how we can treat disease with better outcomes I started to appreciate how investment in the field is essential in order to drive forward healthcare innovations and I decided I wanted to pursue a career that combined both the rigors of medical science and something with an entrepreneurial edge… healthcare investing is a perfect mix of both of those things I’ve been relatively familiar with AXA IM and my predecessors on the Healthcare team throughout my career meeting either as clients while I was on the sell side or peers at various industry conferences and company gatherings The reputation of the team and the funds are second to none and if I was sitting with one of my companies for 15 investor meetings through a week in London you could always guarantee the most constructive and thorough meeting Through my recruitment process and my first few months at the company it’s clear to me that this high level of quality is made possible by how we are able to work the level of access to companies and KOLs afforded by the AXA IM platform allowing us to focus on researching companies and managing our funds effectively Ever since I started my career on the sell side AXA IM has long been a revered name in Healthcare investing The AXA IM healthcare funds have a great track record and long tenure and the teams were renowned across the street for their rigorous investment process I wanted to work somewhere that has a strong investment philosophy and a great team of investors across various sectors and geographies.  I think it’s important to be able to appreciate the uniqueness of the role: every single day brings a completely new and often unpredictable set of challenges and circumstances where you are in constant competition with both yourself and all other market participants we invest across all healthcare sectors and on a global basis which brings with it an incredibly varied set of business model end markets and regulatory or policy bodies and actions The job is never ‘over’ and there is always so much more to learn The opportunity to continue to learn and evolve with our underlying companies and markets is rewarding by itself and there is certainly a satisfaction when we are able to correctly distil these complex variables into investment decisions which perform well for our clients.  I started my career covering Medical Technology companies on the Sell Side and that compliments the strong Biotech and Pharma expertise we have on the team with Chris and Cinney Having worked at a hedge fund & other firms with various investment time horizons & strategies I bring a different perspective on positioning set up and risk which compliments the rest of the team.  the key tenet for successful healthcare investing begins with acknowledging that healthcare systems globally are often flawed and nearing breaking point patient outcomes are too often still sub-par and we need to be able to do better for less; this will lead to business model transition and disintermediation and we seek to understand the long-term winners and losers from such shifts we believe there remains plenty of room for innovation within targeted therapies and complex biologics and areas of rare disease or high unmet medical need biotech currently has a more robust set up for success now than it has done in many years we believe the growth runway is strong for specialized pockets of outsourced pharma service companies which can help drive improved returns on R&D expense for their customers the use case for genetic and spatial medicine continues to grow at a rapid pace and the continued secular growth drivers for bioprocessing activities remain intact The current elevated trend of healthcare utilisation – especially in the US – provides a good backdrop for growth for many companies across medtech and facilities.  as scientists and as investors we have barely scratched the surface of what is possible with regards to improving healthcare outcomes Investing in healthcare is becoming increasingly important when we think about the challenges facing populations today mainly aging demographics rising cost and shortage of skilled healthcare professionals to meet the growing demand Investing in companies that provide the solution to these problems is not just critical for payers and patients healthier populations lead to healthier economies One of the exciting things as a healthcare investor is that we get to research the innovative companies trying to solve these problems and in our own way help these companies to make the healthcare system better.  and outside of work the usual outlet for this is online gaming building my first computers while I was still at school and at 15 I was part of a 5-man team who became world champions in the most competitive FPS eSport at that time – although I don’t believe the term eSport had even been coined yet I peaked about 20 years too early to earn a living and play in front of tens of thousands of people in arenas as they do now and I’ve definitely lost a millisecond or two of reaction time over the years… For many years I have been involved in amateur drama productions writing and performing in small shows and murder mysteries Whilst I won’t be nominated for an Oscar any time soon it is a great way to unwind and is an excellent tonic after working on an excel spreadsheet or Bloomberg terminal all day.  Have our latest insights delivered straight to your inbox Not for Retail distribution: This marketing communication is intended exclusively for Professional Institutional or Wholesale Clients / Investors only as defined by applicable local laws and regulation Circulation must be restricted accordingly can fall as well as rise and 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websites A campaign has been launched to save a Salford Post Office after it was earmarked for closure the Post Office announced the potential closure of up to 115 branches and the potential risk of a loss of 1,000 jobs in the process One of the Post Offices named was the Eccles branch Eccles Post Office has been leaving its stamp on the community since 1932 with many residents using the office daily has lived in Eccles for more than 50 years and has since launched a campaign to save the branch it’s more than just a post office – it’s a vital community asset a lifeline to those who rely on it’s financial services due to the absence of banks in Eccles “The Eccles Post Office holds a special place in the heart of the community “What a slap in the face if they take away this vital asset.” but John says it is vital for 1,000 people to sign it as he wishes to present it to the council tomorrow Local Eccles residents have expressed their concern with regard to the closure with many outraged at the Post Office and their decision said: “I think it’s ridiculous “This is just going to make it worse Eccles has gone downhill anyway it used to be a thriving town and you know It’s just going down the pan to be honest.” The opinion that Mike had seemed to resonate with another resident “I don’t use it that often but you quite often see some of the older generation and the sort of more vulnerable people going in there There have always been long queues outside there and everyone in Eccles is really worried about it closing for those people.” Here is a TikTok video with some Eccles residents and their thoughts towards the news: Click here to sign the petition to keep Eccles Post Office open Zenobē has today announced it has reached financial close and begun construction of its latest battery storage system in Eccles the site provides the critical infrastructure the UK government needs to deliver on its Clean Power by 2030 ambition the Eccles site demonstrates the increased scale of battery projects on the transmission network and the announcement brings Zenobē’s live and contracted portfolio of projects in Scotland to 1.05GW an over twentyfold increase since announcing its 50MW Wishaw project in East Ayrshire in 2022 The total debt raised for the project comes to £220 million representing Zenobē’s largest debt raise for a single asset The project’s financing is being provided by a group of lenders arranged by National Westminster Bank Plc and KKR Capital Markets Partners LLP Tesla will supply its Megapack 2 XL battery energy storage system for the project This is the first project in the UK to use Tesla’s grid-forming technology and demonstrates the importance of this technology in providing stability to the grid The site balance of plant will be constructed by OCU Group who are also principal designer and responsible for the electrical and civil works Hyosung Heavy Industries are providing the super grid transformers which will connect the battery storage system to the transmission network Through a dedicated contract the Eccles site will provide Stability Services to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to improve the reliability and affordability of the UK’s increasingly renewable power system This is the third contract of this type to be won by Zenobē and includes 2984MWs of inertia – almost 40% of the inertia contracted in the 2022 Stability Pathfinder 2 tender Zenobē will also provide 936MVA of short circuit level The site will ensure renewable power like wind and solar are not wasted It is estimated it will save consumers £309 million over 15 years once operational It will also prevent approximately 4.9 million tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere during this period by integrating more wind power onto the transmission network Zenobē’s Global Director of Network Infrastructure said,“Having just announced that we’ve gone live at Blackhillock and with our 300MW/600 MWh Kilmarnock South battery on track to go live in 2026 achieving financial close on Eccles demonstrates the pace at which Zenobē Is working to deliver the Government’s Clean Power 2030 mission We look forward to working with experts at Tesla Hyosung Heavy Industries and OCU Group to deliver this critical infrastructure Zenobe is working to prevent not only unnecessary cost from the waste of renewable power but also to enhance the UK’s energy security by increasing the use of home grown power in these uncertain political times” Mike Snyder Vice President Energy & Charging said: “This is the first project in the UK using Tesla’s proven Grid-Forming technology – and demonstrating its efficacy at scale Zenobē’s commitment to innovation and operational expertise make them a strong partner as we continue to develop and deploy new technologies to improve grid stability.” Copyright © 2024 | The Energyst | Website users agree to abide by our Terms & Conditions and Cookie Policy Design by: MoravacNET Art is an award-winning reporter who covers advanced industry and technology on the Deseret News' special projects team was christened Monday when pro sports veteran and Utah native Dave Checketts and the Eccles family private investment firm Cynosure Group launched Cynosure|Checketts Sports Capital a joint venture aiming to raise $1.2 billion to back “high-potential sports opportunities Checketts and the Eccles family can trace their connection back to the advent of big-time professional sports in Utah then CEO and chairman of First Security Corporation Miller secure funding in 1985 to keep the Jazz in Utah in a deal that eventually led to Miller acquiring full ownership of the team Checketts was two years into his first pro sports gig with the Jazz having become the youngest-ever NBA team president in 1983 at the age of 28 The ensuing decades saw the Eccles family support a myriad of sports venues and programs through their philanthropic arm and help bring the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City as Checketts built a wide-ranging career as a top sports executive and investor His tenure as Jazz president/CEO ran through 1990 before he moved on to take over as the New York Knicks chief executive and later became the president/CEO of Madison Square Garden from 1994-2001 Along the way he founded the New York Liberty Utah’s first Major League Soccer franchise only) championship in 2009 when the team defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy to win the MLS Cup Cynosure|Checketts Sports Capital says it already has deals in the pipeline and will be targeting investments across multiple segments of the sports industry “This partnership is a dream come true for me who were key in keeping the Jazz in Salt Lake City bringing the Olympic Winter Games to Utah in 2002 and building tremendous intercollegiate athletic programs in the state,” Checketts said “By joining forces today with The Cynosure Group we are creating a powerhouse entity with assets that will make us competitive on a global scale and will give us great opportunities to help shape the future of the industry right away.” Checketts said the idea to start a sports-focused investment fund has been on his mind since he and his wife completed a mission in London for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2021 “When I came home I was close enough to retirement age that I started thinking about what the last chapter of my career in sports was going to look like,” he said “I wanted to raise a significant fund and go after interesting investments in sport The last six years has evolved into a watershed moment for private equity investment opportunities in sports all five major North American sports leagues have opened their doors to private investment and the business of live sports is booming According to a report from Buyouts global sports revenues hit $463 billion in 2024 and are expected to reach $863 billion by 2033 “Investments in the sports ecosystem have increased in recent years due to rising franchise valuations and media rights packages merchandising and gaming and the digitization of distribution,” Scott Marimow managing partner and co-founder of The Cynosure Group and former executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development noted in a Deseret News interview that the relationship between his family and Checketts goes back nearly five decades and the shared approach to business ventures makes for a natural fit “We’re bringing together two powerhouses with a shared vision business acuity and track record of successes,” Eccles said “We knew if we were ever going to partner Cynosure and the Eccles family with an effort in the sports space Eccles noted his family’s connection with sports both in personal pursuits and financial support goes back generations and focuses on “building individuals building communities and building the state.” chairman of The Cynosure Group and former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve noted the sports investment realm is rife with both opportunity and earnings potential “Sports represents a unique asset class with tremendous growth potential,” Quarles said in a statement whose expertise in building value across multiple sports properties is unmatched we are positioning ourselves to capitalize on the most compelling opportunities in this dynamic market.” The return comes two years after Dominic Eccles initially departed Dominic Eccles is set to return to Federated Hermes two years after departing from the firm for Fidelity International he will work on the London desk which trades: equities Nicholls said: “We are pleased to announce that Dom is joining Federated Hermes He brings with him over 15 years of experience which will further strengthen our trading desk We are delighted to welcome him back to the team.” Read more: Federated Hermes multi-asset trader departs for Fidelity Eccles had previously spent two and a half years at Federated as a multi-asset trader before joining Fidelity International in November 2022 as an equities trader He has previously also served at Woodford Investment Management and also worked at BP Investment Management and L&G Investment Management – both in investment operations roles The TRADE recognised Eccles as a Rising Star of Trading and Execution at Leaders in Trading back in 2021 A stellar year for Federated Hermes wherein the firm also won the coveted Trading Desk of the Year buy-side award Flaming bottles and a brick were hurled through the window of an pub causing a small fire had to extinguish a “small fire” after the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning Police are looking for two men on suspicion of causing arson and criminal damage No-one was injured and pub staff messaged to tell regulars they were okay Greater Manchester Police said: “We are investigating criminal damage and arson of a premises on Church Street which occurred at approximately 1.30am on Saturday 12 October 2024.” Two windows were smashed by the brick and two flaming bottles “A small fire started but was quickly put out and thankfully no-one was injured during the incident,” they continued Today Church Street remained cordoned off by police at the scene as police investigations continued The police have urged anyone with information to contact them on 101 The Dutton Arms in Eccles has been serving the people of Salford for generations and changing social habits its landlords fear for the future of the pub Charismatic husband-and-wife team Donna and Matt Shaw Donna is worried about the future of the pub “We’ve got the back end of it now,” she says nostalgically specifically the rising cost of utilities and supply chains having to keep putting the prices up,” Donna admits “But we can’t continue if we don’t.” According to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) a total of 290 pubs were demolished or converted to another use in Great Britain CAMRA has called for government intervention to protect pubs and said in a statement: “Pubs offer a vital hub for locals to get together as a community Pubs are also taking an active role in tackling loneliness – whether that’s running lunch groups chatting to regulars or just providing a place for people to meet” A lot has changed since Donna and Matt took over the pub in the aftermath of COVID-19 They’ve worked hard to keep the sense of community that makes places like this stand out from the crowd but the pub has struggled to find new customers known lovingly as “Grumpy Tony,” sums it up well when he describes the pub as “Great… Yeah “You must’ve caught him on a good day.” The Dutton Arms offers a solid selection of drinks who take particular pride in how they pour their Guinness and have a variety of lagers to choose from it’s the kind of place that feels familiar and comfortable a throwback to the classic British pub experience She continued to talk about how the changing times and differing culture are a leading bearing in the decline of local backstreet boozers: I walk around there now — don’t know anyone That’s how fast communities are changing” she said “You’ve not got the culture now with the kids The kids aren’t as interested — they’d rather play on their computer after work or smoke a joint…you’ve got no chance” You’d struggle to find a better pint of Guinness in the area It’s a pub where the conversation flows as easily as the drinks and the warmth of the community is obvious in the steady flow of regulars who return week after week we’ve got good clientele — touch wood — at tea time “you having a pint Tony?” before continuing to explain regrettably that Donna and Matt have evidently worked hard to ensure that the essence of the place remains intact even as they navigate the challenges that so many independent businesses are facing today I’ve got the contract for another two years Not one hundred percent decided — because of changing times Everything’s going up and we don’t like to put everything up” The Dutton Arms also hosts a live singer from 5:00PM to 7:30PM For more information, visit their website here Changing times and habits spell uncertain future for the Dutton Arms Trams between Eccles and MediaCityUK are set to stop for three weeks this February due to track replacement work Work will be carried out at the Weaste tram stop between Saturday 25 February as part of further improvements to the Metrolink network The replacement plans will be a part of a £147m package to maintain upgrade and improve the Metrolink network up to 2027 – with further works planned this year Residents between the affected stops will be offered a bus replacement service with the Bee Network buses also running as usual The multiple stops that will be affected include Eccles And although there will be no trams through those stops services will continue to run from MediaCityUK towards Mancester City Centre and other regions on the tram network TfGM’s Interim Network Director for Metrolink said: “The works at Weaste tram stop are essential to ensure that services on the Eccles line remain safe and reliable for the thousands of journeys people make on it every day we are working hard to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum including the provision of replacement buses for our passengers “Metrolink is the biggest light rail system in the country so it’s critically important we keep investing in the network and making sure it remains a safe reliable and accessible way to get around Greater Manchester well into the future “While this essential work at Weaste is ongoing I would encourage people to plan ahead and check our website or the Bee Network app for the latest travel information before setting off.” The rail replacement work is more crucial than ever with the Bee Network recording 45.57 million trips being made on trams last year Further information about the halted tram service between Eccles and MediaCity can be found here An Eccles man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for the importation supply and possession of Class B drugs and possessing criminal property was sentenced on Wednesday 26 March 2025 at Manchester Crown Court Detectives had intercepted a package from Thailand and were able to identify Healey’s involvement in flooding the streets of Salford with drugs is a joint operation between Greater Manchester Police and the Border Force The GMP’s Salford Challenger Pro-active team became aware that Healey was involved in the importation of drugs into the country In August 2024 police discovered £21,600 in his car parked outside his house and cannabis with an approximate street value of £22,000 in a kitchen cupboard Analysis of Healey’s phone messages showed he was dealing in multi-kilograms of cannabis importing the quantities direct from Thailand through the post to different associate addresses said: “Our enquiries are ongoing around the use of this system to import drugs nationally and hopefully this sentence sends a clear message to others out there that if they are intent on committing crime and flooding the streets with drugs we will do everything we can to bring the full force of the law to your doorstep Programme Challenger tackles all manner of serious crime: county lines drugs exploitation of young children and vulnerable adults immigration and economic crime and the use of firearms More information about the sentencing can be found here. A “heartless” Eccles couple have been sentenced after cheating their vulnerable 76-year-old neighbour out of over £100,000 in just two years following suspicious flagged activity on their 76-year-old victim’s bank account which involved a £230,742.19 withdrawal continuing to offend while an investigation continued A Greater Manchester Police investigation revealed how Hodson was able to fraud his way into being named on the victim’s financial accounts creating online access whilst posing as the victim Hodson successfully impersonated the victim setting up online accounts using his own contact details and using Picken’s bank account to launder money after updating the details online personal paperwork and the victim’s private information such as date of birth occupations and his National Insurance number in order to pass online security checks who leads a team of fraud detectives in GMP’s Economic Crime Team described the fraud as ‘well-planned’ and ‘targeted’ “Their despicable actions have had a devastating impact on the victim and now his surviving relatives have had to endure a trial,” he added Hodosn also updated the victim’s pensions and state benefits so that they would be paid directly into his own account without flagging bank security Detective Inspector Flint urges anyone who has an elderly relative to make them ‘aware’ of this type of fraud Lee Hodson received a 5 year and 4 months jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to fraud impersonating a police officer and burglary offences whilst Jennifer Picken was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment suspended for two years She has also received 150 hours of community service Greater Manchester Police can be contacted via 101 or through the Live Chat function on the website here.  Reports can also be made anonymously through the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 The branch offers a variety of facilities to the residents in the area including a cash machine counter service and travel money collection The closure is a part of an official statement from Lloyds Banking Group which Halifax is under said they are to shut at least 292 of their bank branches across 2024 and 2025 The date of closure is said to be January 7 2025 with a further 32 more branches expected to close throughout the year The official closures will mean that 119 branches will be closed across the country by the end of 2025 The Eccles Bank has released a statement informing the public about why they are closing it said: “Most customers are now using our Mobile Banking app despite the rise in mobile banking and online payments locals are saddened at the loss of the local branch Locals have taken to Facebook to share their frustrations with the closest branch being the Salford Precinct as one Facebook user said: “Absolutely gutted they are closing means a drag all the way to Salford which isn’t always convenient.” And while there is a lot of frustration with the inconvenience of travelling to the bank there have been various concerns for those who can’t access online banking Jude Kenny added: “They don’t think about the elderly that depend on going into a branch for help “Especially when they are not able to use technology.” The worries and concerns will need to be addressed, with residents of Eccles being recommended to learn more about the closure – and can do so via the link here. 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Coventry's Jack Rudoni dislocated his shoulder against Oxford earlier this month Coventry City will have captain Ben Sheaf and midfielder Jack Rudoni back to face Sheffield United in the Championship on Friday night but Josh Eccles will miss the game at Bramall Lane Sheaf returns after being out injured for the past two games while Rudoni has missed three matches having dislocated his shoulder in the 3-2 win at Oxford at the start of this month "Rudy and Sheafy should both be in the squad to travel so that's good but we understand it's a tough game we're going into," Coventry head coach Frank Lampard told BBC CWR Lampard revealed midfielder Josh Eccles picked up an injury before the international break and will not feature against Sheffield United but the City boss did not disclose the nature of the problem Coventry go into the game in fifth position in the Championship Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. 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A pub in Eccles is celebrating its early success and exciting plans under new management The Kings Head on Barton Lane has been given a new lease of life being reintroduced to the people of Salford took ownership of the building in November are hoping to reconnect the local people to the pub The pair have always had the ambition of owning a pub – and after living in the area for sometime they believed the Kings Head was the perfect destination Sabarish said: “We have been able to get a place that used to be up and running and it was something we decided to take over and bring back to the area and kept it how it is – but have introduced our kitchen downstairs hoping to keep the traditional feel but also introducing their culture through food And introduction of the Indian culture to the menu has been something they have wanted to add to the traditional pub to make it truly one of a kind As Sabarish explained that it was something important to them both he said: “The whole concept of the food is to retain its English culture ,which it had already and we have a variety of appetisers and meals and our food has had good responses and positive feedback “We know that people in the area like traditional Indian food and we want to bring that mix to the pub,” he continued And although they are aiming to revitalise the pub with authentic Indian dishes they have no plans on changing the tradition and history “We want to be a traditional English pub that serves wonderful Indian food but this place was the perfect location because of the area The pair have shared that they have seen a lot of positive responses from reopening the pub in Eccles and are now on a mission to continue to build on that success Sabarish added: “We want to stand out and be a place that people can enjoy and also get great food “We have already had a lot of people say to us ‘thank you for bringing it back’ so hopefully we can keep building on that.” they added that they saw a lot of success over Christmas “It has been a couple of months now since opening And we are hoping that now we can kick on and make the final adjustments for the summer.” The Kings Head pub in Eccles will also see guests entertained by a selection of different events not only wowing them with amazing food and drink but live singers Sabarish said: “We plan to do a variety of different nights as we want people to come in and enjoy it once again.” Tram passengers can expect a reduced tram service with the Eccles line terminating at Deansgate-Castlefield until March 16 No tram services will operate between St Peter’s Square to Market Street/Piccadilly Gardens with engineering work taking place on the Metrolink lines at York Street Salford people have expressed frustration at the disruption 👷 Work on the Metrolink Tracks on York Street are in place until Sunday 16 March ❌ There are no trams running from St Peter’s Square to Market St/Piccadilly Gardens 👉Customers can still reach all stops via a short walk or by changing trams: https://t.co/wmiOLEdW0T pic.twitter.com/IVyTf9TqIx — Bee Network (@BeeNetwork) March 3, 2025 Passengers have complained about the reduction to the Eccles tram service said: “I can’t get straight to Piccadilly Station once I’ve finished college I have to get three trams to get home instead of just the one.” felt “frustrated” by the tram line being cut short Trams will resume their regular service pattern from Monday March 17 For information, visit the Bee Network page here Minor delays to be expected along the Eccles tram line | Salford Now