Ian Burke

Manchester

Writer at Freelance

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Articles

Hospice fumes at "scandalous" charity shop break in

1 month ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

The culprits smashed in the back door of Willow Wood’s store on Reddish Lane before trashing stock on the shop floor. “It is scandalous that someone can do this to a charity shop,” said a spokesperson for the hospice. “This incident has not just caused financial damage, it’s impacted our dedicated team, who work tirelessly to support the Hospice and community. “Despite this heartbreaking setback, the shop remains open and we’d love for you to pop in and show your support.
Egg-ceptional work! Ava-Grace's ambulance wins over NWAS

1 month ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

Ava-Grace shared her colourful creation with staff at Ashton ambulance station on Cambridge Street. It features an egg carton ambulance – complete with blue lights - painted egg paramedics, lambs, Easter bunnies and a casualty awaiting treatment who has cracked in half. “We live right by Ashton-under-Lyne ambulance station, so we often see ambulances and wave at the crews,” said Ava-Grace's mum.
Twenty 'dangerous' bikers prosecuted over past two weekends

1 month ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

The area is a magnet for bikers, but 15 died on the roads of Derbyshire in 2024, including five over one weekend near Buxton last summer. The operation started two weeks ago, with 50 people spoken to about their speed and another 20 prosecuted.
Police Federation head dubious of PM's 'new bobbies' promise

1 month ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

Mike Peake, Chair of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, claimed that existing budgets won’t stretch to recruiting and training more cops. With most GMP departments already understaffed and officers leaving the force in record numbers, Mr Peake is dubious as to where the extra boots on the ground will come from. “Of course, I want to see ‘more bobbies on the beat’, but more importantly I want GMP to be able to have far more officers to take the pressure off my hard-working colleagues.
Eight fire crews put out woodland fire

1 month ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

Crews from Glossop, New Mills, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Whaley Bridge, Bradwell and Hathersage, along with water carriers from Buxton and Clay Cross and a mountain rescue drone team raced to the scene just before 7pm on Thursday April 10. The flames took hold of 4,000 square metres of woodland, with the fire teams staying until darkness in the remote spot off the A628 Woodhead Pass. They returned on Friday morning to fully extinguish the fire, which also affected a conifer plantation.
"Retention crisis" at GMP as student cops quit

1 month ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

Mike Peake, the organisation’s Chair, claimed almost one-third of GMP’s student police officers left to take up ‘less risky’ jobs in the year ending March 2023. Evidence from the How Effectively Police Investigate Crime report by the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services points to constables having a 32% higher workload than a decade ago, with some saying their caseloads are unmanageable.
We Are All Derbyshire portrait exhibition comes to New Mills

1 month ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

We Are All Derbyshire is the culmination of a year’s work by acclaimed portrait artist and former librarian Melissa Speed, who painted 15 people from the county for the show. As well as being longlisted for the Jackson’s Painting Prize and Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize in 2023, Melissa has also taken part in the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year competition.
Helicopter winches walker to safety after leg break

2 months ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

Seventeen members of Kinder Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) scrambled to the scene at the top of Crowden Brook after being called out at 1:50pm. However, the casualty was in such a remote location that the MRT decided to ask for help from the coastguard, which sent an S-92 helicopter. A spokesperson for the rescuers said: “Kinder 1 went to the casualty site and Kinder 2 prepared the rope rescue equipment in case it was needed.
Plans for 16-bed HMO in Victorian arcade turned down

2 months ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

Drawings for the development of 41 Clarence Arcade on Stamford Street Central in Ashton were criticised by Tameside Council’s (TMBC) planning department for attempting to squeeze 16 bedrooms – potentially housing 32 people – into the unit. In his planning report, TMBC’s director of place Julian Jackson, said: “With multiple tenants living in close quarters, the likelihood of frequent disturbances increases.
Jet wash scammers targeting Tameside

2 months ago | notreallyheremedia.com | Ian Burke

The scammers have been charging £500 to clean patios and driveways but have done such a poor job that residents felt they had to contact the police. “Even if you initially agree to a price, if you don't know the going rate for that kind of work and you end up paying over the odds the provider may still have committed Trading Standards Offences,” said a spokesperson for GMP’s Tameside South team. “You are also entitled to a cancellation or cooling-off period of 14 days.