The Mancunian Way: ‘A big f***-off wheel’ - Manchester Evening News

The Mancunian Way: ‘A big f***-off wheel’Could a new landmark rival the Angel of the North?NewsBeth Abbit Mancunian Way newsletter editor16:30, 03 Jun 2025Hello, When it was recently

revealed that two thirds of children are living in poverty in a Greater Manchester suburb, I wanted to find out why.

In the Oldham suburb of Coldhurst, 66 per cent of children were living in poverty in the year ending March 2024 - a total of 2,676 children.

‌ Just 13 other areas in the entire UK had a higher proportion of children living in poverty, according to the latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions.

‌ Viewed alone, the statistics look harsh. So I was keen to understand the people behind the numbers.

The children of Coldhurst enjoy a magic trick during a community party(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News) I contacted Sadrul Alam, treasurer of the community group My Coldhurst,

and he immediately invited the Manchester Evening News to a bank holiday community day to celebrate Coldhurst and its people.

Article continues below Over the course of several weeks, Sadrul helped me understand what it is like to live in Coldhurst, to have grown up there and to raise a family there.

He explained, with great pride and enthusiasm, why he loved his area so much. And he told me about the work of a dedicated band of volunteers who are helping locals negate the effects of

austerity, the pandemic and two child benefit cap.

They clean the streets of rubbish, provide youth activities and replace public services that are so desperately needed.

‌ And one of the greatest balms in these difficult times is food. It’s shared during the community fun days and after MMA and football classes for local children.

So when Sadrul saw his neighbour Rohima Chowdhury enjoying a traditional Bengali meal on their street with her neighbours, he asked the ladies of St Hilda’s Road and the surrounding streets

if they would do it again.

Families from across Coldhurst, one of the most deprived communities in Greater Manchester, enjoy a community day each summer. Throughout the year volunteers work to provide youth work, food

parcels and community days(Image: Jake Lindley / Manchester Evening News)‌ Last month they set up huge pots of curry and biryani, cooking them in the street and sharing it across the

neighbourhood.

The picture Sadrul and Rohima painted of Coldhurst is one of a community battling the same challenges faced by so many across the country. But they gave real insight into the families

working hard to maintain civic pride and, crucially, make their children happy and successful.

You can read the full story here.

‌‘What do I do?’ A couple of weeks ago we told you about the Oldham neighbours battling a crippling rent hike which they feared could leave them homeless.

Local democracy reporter Charlotte Hall spent weeks speaking to the residents of Gilderdale Close, in Shaw, who are arguing with their landlord Places for People Homes Limited about their

status.

Rachael Jelley is worried she won't be able to afford her home if she's classed as a private tenant. (Image: Manchester Evening News)‌ The housing association say they’ve always been

'private’ renters and they want to bring their housing stock in Shaw ‘up to market value rates’. But the tenants say they are under ‘assured/secure tenancy’ contracts, making them immune to

rent hikes.

Now Charlotte has spoken to Rachael Jelley - who worries her children could ‘end up on the streets’ for the same reason.

“When they go to bed, I sit downstairs on my own and I think: What do I do?” Rachael said. “How am I supposed to look after the kids if I don’t even know if I’m going to be safe in this

house? I’ve nowhere to turn.”

‌ You can read Charlotte’s moving piece here.

Vindication When Jodey Whiting’s benefits were wrongly cut off, she took her own life.

‌ Her mum Joy refused to let her daughter die without her true cause of death being revealed.

She has now won an eight-year fight for justice after an inquest ruled the benefits cut had led to Jodey’s tragic death by suicide.

A coroner has found that the mental health of Jodie, a mum-of-nine, deteriorated when her benefits were stopped incorrectly by the Department of Work and Pensions.

‌ Helena Vesty has been following the story and has all the details of Joy’s fight for justice here.

‘A big f***-off wheel’Oldham Athletic owner Frank Rothwell celebrates promotion to the EFL(Image: PA) Frank Rothwell is a force of nature. Not only has he set the Guinness World Record

becoming the oldest person to row any ocean, he’s also determined to set up a landmark in Oldham to rival the Angel of the North.

‌ As Charlotte Hall reports, the businessman wants to erect a 50 metre high £2 million cogwheel at the side of the M60 in Oldham.

As the owner of Oldham Athletic FC, he is canvassing councillors to garner support for the new landmark on the side of the road in Hollinwood.

“There’s nothing I want to do in life except make Oldham a better place. I’m going to build a big f***-off wheel.

‌ “And everyday 100,000 cars will drive past it, and they’ll recognise they’re in Oldham,” he told Charlotte.

Manchester’s Mad JuneMusic fans enjoying Sunday at Parklife 2022(Image: Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News) Things are amping up in Manchester. In just a few short weeks, Noel and Liam

Gallagher will kick off the first of five huge shows at Heaton Park.

‌ And before that, the venue will host Parklife festival.

In the meantime, there will be a staggering 12 gigs held at Co-op Live including shows from Morrissey, Robbie Williams, Lionel Richie, Chris Brown, Pulp and Diana Ross.

What’s On editor Jenna Campbell says things are about to get very busy for music fans, as she explains here.

‌Headlines Sewage: United Utilities has won a long-running court battle to run a new sewage pipe into the Manchester Ship Canal. A panel of High Court judges have ruled the canal's owner,

the Manchester Ship Canal Company, does not have any grounds to oppose construction of the 1.16km long pipe from Eccles sewage works in Salford. It follows a near 10-year-long legal fight

between the two firms. Full story here.

Scrambled: ‘Every’ police officer on-duty in Manchester city centre was scrambled to an ‘outrageous’ fight at a bar which ‘promoted’ customers ‘pouring tequila down each other’s necks’, it's

been revealed. Deansgate was rocked by two large brawls on April 28 and May 4, both of which started inside Eagle Bar and resulted in patrons crowding on the thoroughfare, blocking traffic.

More here.

More please: Andy Burnham has called on the government to invest an extra £400m in train stations across the North of England. The Greater Manchester mayor has written to the transport

secretary demanding that stations are made more accessible for all. Details here.

‌ Development: Part of Salford’s Greengate neighbourhood could become home to the city’s next major development under new plans. A 52,000 sq ft site off Trinity Way has been earmarked for

huge change in the future, after the land was bought by property developer Salboy. More here.

Weather Wednesday: Sunny intervals changing to cloudy by late morning. 17C.

Roads: A572 St Helens Road southbound, Leigh, closed due to roadworks from A578 Twist Lane to Bonnywell Road. Until June 30.

‌ A6 Chapel Street westbound, Salford, closed due to long-term roadworks from A6041 Blackfriars Road to A34 New Bailey Street. Until January 19.

Worth a readThe hidden gem Jamaican spot is tucked down an alleyway (Image: Manchester Evening News) In an alleyway in Old Trafford, the unmistakable aroma of curried goat wafts overhead.

‌ That’s because a husband and wife team have been running their restaurant, Butty's Booth's, from the back of their house for around five years.

As What’s On editor Jenna Campbell discovered, it’s one of Greater Manchester's best Jamaican restaurants.

She salivated over portions of jerk chicken, rice and peas and lamb chops - and a Guinness punch customers are desperate to get the recipe for - all in the name of journalism.

Article continues below You can read Jenna’s review here.