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.
Fears have been raised over the safety of a detained Manchester-based journalist who fled death threats in Iraq and narrowly averted deportation due to a last minute legal challenge.
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.
Campaigns against leisure centre closures as part of £80m in cuts to local services are underway in Levenshulme, Moston and Withington.
As winter weather hits Manchester and snow covers the ground, a charity has issued an urgent call for warm hats, gloves, scarves and coats for destitute asylum seekers.
