NEWSLETTER June 2011 (No. 2)

Here is the second issue of our newsletter.  If you would like copies to distribute to friends, at work, church or in the pub call 07817434240, email salfordagainstcuts@gmail.com or print copies yourself (click on each page and select Print...). If you would like to contribute something for next month's issue send before Monday 27th June by email or to 1 Lynwood Avenue, Eccles, M300UH.

Benefit Concert -- 27 May at Islington Mill

The inaugural Salford Against the Cuts gig took place last Friday and by all accounts lived up to the promise of the eclectic line-up and hard work already put in by all involved to make it happen.

Irma Vep played a tight blend of crunching guitars and catchy vocals and were well received by the steadily filling room. 

Horses, a two piece with a similar vibe to the White Stripes and vocals that sounded akin to the Kings of Leon amongst others were next up and blasted through quick songs at breakneck pace.

 

Class Actions showcased the night’s diversity in its best fashion, with their politically charged themes and a display embodied by passion for the words they rhymed; it showed Class Actions to be a prime example of the platform this gig was trying to create.

Death to the Strange

Death to the Strange are already making big noises on the North West music scene and from this display it is easy to see why. Their brand of Brit-pop is reminiscent of a bygone era but there sounds are no nostalgic trip into the 1990’s. Death to the Stranges sound is just as vital and current as their earlier contemporaries. For 30 minutes they captivated all in attendance and left the stage to rapturous applause.

 

Trojan Horse

Bringing the night to its final culmination was Trojan Horse whose arrival upon the stage belied their namesake. They came with a reputation and boy did they live up to it. It is hard to make any comparisons as they play in a style and with a sound that’s unmistakably unique and only heard in their progressive rock songs. Think Isis meets Glassjaw with a diversion into the Smashing Pumpkins and you may get something that slightly resembles the band being championed as the ones to watch in the alternative music scene. Heads were nodding in appreciation as the boys ripped through a set that was as energetic and confident in its performance as the quality of the songs they were playing. 

The night was a huge success and the 100 plus in attendance helped raise over £500 for the cause with many staying and dancing well into the early hours at the hugely accommodating Islington Mill. Salford Against the Cuts would like to say a big thank you to all of the bands who played, all the people who came to watch and everyone who helped make the night so enjoyable.  We’ll see you at the next one!

Benefit Concert -- TONIGHT!

For more information or to help publicise this event please
see http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175750615808952
call 07817434240 or email salfordagainstcuts@gmail.com

Keep Salford A Fit City - Save Broughton Rec

Salford City Council has declared the Broughton Rec is no longer financially viable. Broughton Rec is on Camp Street, Lower Broughton, Salford. It could be facing closure at the end of this year. Broughton Against the Cuts is campaigning to keep the Rec under public control. It is a vital community resource and has a massively positive effect on the lives of many local people.

A community resource

Broughton Recreation Centre is currently under the control of Salford Community Leisure, a subsidiary of Salford City Council. Membership is cheap (£25 per month, unlimited access). With this membership, you can use any of the facilities at any leisure centre in Salford. Broughton Rec provides an essential place for all Salfordians to participate in loads of different activities. Martial Arts, Boxing, a Church, OAP clubs, kids clubs, hockey, squash, a computer skills learning centre, aerobics, a fully equipped gym, etc... It is a busy place, packed every evening with people from all walks of life having fun, and hanging out with friends.

The “Temple” under threat

The climbing hall is housed in Broughton Recreation Centre. an oasis of good vibes, making new friends and meeting new climbing partners is very easy. The Wall (aka The Temple) was masterfully created in 1991, using concrete and natural, by Bendcrete. Since then it has served many, many climbers of all levels and abilities. To its users, it is the best (indoor) crag in the country. It even has its own downloadable guidebook, with hundreds of classic problems and traverses. The climbing itself is amazing. Anyone in need of a perfect training venue for the nearby walls of Yorkshire and Peak limestone need look no further.

Check out the Broughton Power website and see just how amazing the wall really is. Better still, come to the wall and climb on it.

Stop the Closure

It was recently announced by Salford Community Leisure, that, due to government cuts in public spending, the centre will close in December 2011.

The Council is saying that they wish the centre to be run by sports group or the voluntary sector. Even if possible this is extremely dangerous as, if the enterprise fails, Salford Council will say they have a non-sustaining and unaffordable centre, either selling to a property developer or close the building.

We have already launched a campaign to keep the Centre and The Temple, under council control. This campaign can not only save the building but through your support it receives investment and continues to flourish. It continues to be a vital part of the Broughton community, a place of employment and climbers conitinue to go there and get strong.

We can win

In February this year, Manchester City Council announced that Levenshulme Swimming Baths was due for closure. After a successful three week campaign by users and locals, the decision was overturned. The swimming baths is still open and is receiving inward investment for improvements. So it is possible. For more information and to join The Broughton Against the Cuts campaign, text 0754542 5742, email broughtonagainstcuts@gmail.com, or become a member of our Facebook groups

What can you do:

Please support the campaign and email your protest of the council's declaration to the following individuals who will be responsible for making a final decision about our Rec.

Exec of Salford Community Leisure, STEVE HASSALL:  steve.hassall@scll.co.uk
Exec of Salford City Council:  BARBARA SPICER:  barbara.spicer@salford.gov.uk
Labour Councillor JOHN MERRY:  councillor.merry@salford.gov.uk
Labour Councillor CHARLIE MCINTYRE: councillor.mcintyre@salford.gov.uk

Or write to:
The Chief Exec, Salford City Council, Civic Centre, Swinton, Salford M27 5FJ

Security at Islington Flats

On 2^nd March Salford Council passed a budget which involved £40 million cuts to services. Since then many staff have left council employment but it isn’t always clear where the cuts are falling.

However, Salford Against the Cuts has unearthed yet another cut to frontline services. The residents of the tower blocks in Islington - Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court - have revealed that the hours of their security guards are to be cut by half and instead of 24 hr cover there will be a security presence only between 12 noon and 12 midnight. 

Residents who have lived there for a good while have pointed out that in the 1970s the blocks were ‘mad places’ until the residents themselves agreed to pay extra for full-time security cover. One resident, speaking to SAC Community Officer and Ordsall Against the Cuts Organiser George Tapp, described anti-social noise, fights, break-ins, dog fights and fires in unoccupied flats. He feared that if the guards were removed it would go back to how it was.

Salford Against the Cuts will be organising with residents, tenants committees and unions to ensure the guards can continue to provide full 24 hour cover in the flats.

NEWSLETTER May 2011 (No. 1)

Here is the official first issue of our newsletter.  If you would like copies to distribute to friends, at work, church or in the pub call 07817434240, email salfordagainstcuts@gmail.com  or print copies yourself (click on each page and select Print...). If you would like to contribute something for next month's issue send before Monday 6th June by email or to 1 Lynwood Avenue, Eccles, M300UH.

Salford May Day Rally 2011, Bexley Square

For the first time in over a decade Salford People held a May Day Rally to celebrate the struggles of workers and ordinary people and discuss the struggles ahead. More than sixty people gathered in Bexley Square on Monday 2nd May, in front of the former Town Hall and Magistrates Courts. The weather was bright and blustery, and there were several stalls including one from the Working Class Movement Library. I came away with an armful of pamphlets.

This year is the eightieth anniversary of the "Battle of Bexley Square", when Salford workers tried to present a petition to their elected representatives on the council protesting the reduction of the dole at a time of economic hardship, but were beaten by horseback police (there is a brief video here or you can read Edmund and Ruth Frow's account).

Tony Flynn told the story of the battle, and drew parallels with the student protests in London at the end of last year. He spoke about his campaign for a plaque on the old town hall to commemorate the events. The council have in principle agreed to it, but refused to pay towards it. Steven North then announced that Salford Against the Cuts would do everything we could to see that on the Anniversary itself, October 1st, the plaque would be unveiled.

Others spoke about Salford university against the cuts, bringing students and lecturers together to fight, and about the crime of cuts to pensions. Alice Searle spoke passionately about the cuts to Education and the NHS -- "I was born at the start of the NHS, I don't want it to die before I do." Paul Kelly expressed his outrage at students beaten for demanding a better world.

Two speakers came from outside Salford. Ian Heyes from Wigan people against cuts stressed the importance of anti-cuts groups working together. Stuart Richardson from Birmingham against the cuts told how a region not known for activism or radicalism was seeing a growing anger and action against the current cuts.

Steven North closed with the news that due to campaigning by the people of Salford the council had decided to keep Ordsall Library open, reversing its decision to close it. This brought a cheer from the crowd, but with determination to continue to fight all cuts in Salford and Britain.

Video of the rally at Salfordonline

BBC report