Manchester City Council voted for £80 million cuts and 900 job losses over the next two years as council leader Sir Richard Leese warned that austerity could last beyond 2018.
A popular library in a “homes fit for heroes” Fallowfield council estate built after World War I is threatened with closure – but locals say they’ll fight to keep it.
R.I.P. public services? A mass “die in” and march blocked Levenshulme’s roads today as local families fresh from the occupation of their threatened library refused to take the cuts lying down.
Families marched in their hundreds on Saturday against the closure of Withington’s swimming pool. Up to 400 demonstrated, as speakers from the trade union Unite and the Save Levenshulme Baths campaign warned the crowd of major cuts across the entire city.
Manchester City Council’s plans to fell what protesters claim could be up to 400 trees in Alexandra Park have been challenged by local residents since they were unveiled in December 2012. Despite this, felling went ahead before being halted this week by local opponents who have occupied the park to make themselves heard.
Demonstrators intend a repeat tomorrow of last weekend’s mass baths protests with a march on Saturday against the planned closure of Withington Leisure Centre.
Residents stripped down to their swimwear this weekend as up to 800 people protested against swimming bath closures in Withington and Levenshulme.
