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Illegally demolished Grade II listed pub to be rebuilt ‘as soon as possible’

The pub was visited by highwayman Dick Turpin

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Chris Heaton & Phil Platt / Geograph

A historic pub which was illegally demolished by a group of property developers will be rebuilt ‘as soon as possible’, a councillor says.

The Punch Bowl Inn, in Hurst Green, Lancashire was bulldozed by Donelan Trading Ltd after the group previously said they ‘grew tired’ of waiting for permission.

Donelan Trading ignored a council decision in June 2021 and went ahead and knocked it down.

Ruth Health / Wikimedia

Councillor Stephen Atkinson has said he is ‘determined’ the historic landmark will be rebuilt ‘as soon as possible’.

Five people were fined over £20,000 last year for their part in demolishing the historic landmark.

Owners were ordered to rebuild it by March 3rd to its original plan based on architectural records. But the deadline has now passed and the pub has not been rebuilt.

Phil Platt / Geograph

Mr Atkinson said: “The fact is it’s a listed building, it needs to be put back as it was.

“Listed building owners enjoy many privileges including not paying business rates on empty properties. They have an obligation to maintain that property and they know what the property was when they bought it.

“The council are determined to get this building back, as soon as possible, to the correct standard.”

Owners of the Punch Bowl Inn and contractor Percliff were made to pay a range of fines handed to them at Blackburn Magistrates Court by district judge Alexander Boyd.

Chris Heaton / Geograph

He said the company was aware the demolition of the building was a criminal offence when it took place.

Owners told the court they were concerned the building had fallen into disrepair and had become unsafe as it deteriorated over the years. They said it had been targeted by arsonists since it closed in 2012, and when they bought the site in 2015.

The court also heard plans had been submitted to the council before 2021 signifying the intent to give the site a new lease of life. But while a holiday park was approved with conditions, other applications were refused.

Ian Cunliffe / Wikimedia

Owners had said they were happy to rebuild the structure but that ‘it would be impossible to actually rebuild the building exactly on its original site’ as its proximity to the road could be dangerous.

The pub was built in the 1720s and visited by highwaymen Ned King and Dick Turpin.

Turpin and King are said to have stayed for three days after which Turpin travelled on to York while King attacked travellers on the local roads, assisted by landlord Jonathan Brisco.

Turpin was executed for stealing horses in 1739 at York, and King was executed in 1741 – his ghost was said to haunt the pub.

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Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’

The news we’ve all been waiting for!

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After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.

The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.

The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.

And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.

The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.

15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.

The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.


The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:

July

4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium

5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium

11th – Manchester, Heaton Park

12th – Manchester, Heaton Park

19th – Manchester, Heaton Park

20th – Manchester, Heaton Park

25th – London, Wembley Stadium

26th – London, Wembley Stadium

August

2nd – London, Wembley Stadium

3rd – London, Wembley Stadium

8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

16th – Dublin, Croke Park

17th – Dublin, Croke Park

You can grab your tickets HERE.

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Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries

Fancy a career change?

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Stagecoach

Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.

You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.

Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.

As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.

Stagecoach

There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.

Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.

“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.

“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”

Stagecoach

Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.

“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”

To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.

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Two men charged with murder after torso discovered in Salford nature reserve

BREAKING:

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Greater Manchester Police

Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.

As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.

This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.

Greater Manchester Police


Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.

They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.

While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.

ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.

“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.

“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.

“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.

“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.

“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”

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