THING OF THE WEEK 

BLOOMING GREAT… Spring sprung in Manchester last week as businesses across the city took part in its annual flower festival. From New Cathedral Street to Vimto Gardens, King Street to Lincoln Square, Manchester bloomed in the May sunshine. The event, which is organised by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, took place over the bank holiday weekend and brought in an additional 100,000 visitors to the city compared to the same weekend in 2022, data compiled by the organisers shows. Flower power indeed.  

The bins can even speak to you. Credit: via Cheshire West and Chester Council

RUBBISH IDEAS… Chester is getting smart with trash, with Cheshire West and Chester Council installing 57 high-tech bins in the city. The bins boast foot pedals for hands-free access, the ability to compact 1,000+ litres of rubbish, and solar panels for renewable energy. They’re also geared to prevent time waste, with the ability to notify the council when they are full so that they can be collected when needed and thus cutting down on CO2 emissions from needless trash trips. And that’s not all, folks! The bins even say “thank you” when you use them. Cute.

From left: Tukwini Mandela and Dr Maki Mandela at the site of the new memorial in Princes Park. Credit: via Liverpool BID

MEMORIAL MOMENTS… A memorial to Nelson Mandela will be officially unveiled in Liverpool next month to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the former South African Prime Minister’s death. Charity group Mandela8, along with Liverpool BID, Torus Group, and the Big Help Project, will welcome the former leader’s family to Princes Park in Toxteth for the unveiling on 18 July. The campaign for a permanent memorial began on the day Mandela died in 2013 when mourners gathered at Princes Park to lay flowers and pay their respects. Makaziwe Mandela, Nelson’s son, said the memorial is a “moving and truly inspirational tribute to the sacrifices [Mandela] and his comrades made to rid South Africa of the violent apartheid system”. Designed by architecture studio Wayward, the limestone memorial will be constructed on an island in Princes Park that will be connected via a new bridge. 

Credit: Andy Ford via Rumpus PR

FIGHTING CANCER… Ben Hall from Blackburn was just a few weeks into his apprenticeship at H&S Joinery when he was diagnosed with cancer. But he didn’t let his diagnosis stop him from furthering his career. Five years later, the 22-year-old has finished his apprenticeship and won the Overcoming Adversity Award from the Construction Development Alliance’s Young Person in Construction Awards. He credited H&S Joinery’s continued support through the process as helping him accomplish his goals, with the company offering counselling and support throughout the five years.

Those looking to join the fight against cancer can join Peel L&P’s Bridgewater Way Walk fundraiser for The Christie Charitable Fund this Sunday. The five-mile walk will raise money for The Christie’s Bloods Closer to Home Service, which allows patients to book appointments close to their homes to have their blood sample taken for later analysis by the doctors at The Christie – rather than having to commit to what could be a two-hour roundtrip for a procedure that takes just a few minutes. Sign up at  bridgewaterwaywalk.co.uk.

A jam-packed first meeting of the Planning Committee of the municipal year! We approved purpose built student accommodation, with affordable housing, as well as hotels, new high quality office spaces & residential schemes as well! Watch the full meeting 👉 https://t.co/A2JbXTM1zw pic.twitter.com/dJkXrzxILO

— Cllr Jon-Connor Lyons 🐝 (@JonConnorLyons) June 1, 2023

START OF A LYONS… As first days go, Cllr Jon Connor Lyons had a pretty busy one as the new chair of Manchester City Council’s planning committee. The 26-year-old Piccadilly Ward councillor replaced Cllr Basil Curley this month, who had presided over the committee for the last four years. Chairing his first session yesterday, Lyons oversaw the approval of 821 homes, 1,762 student beds, 742,000 sq ft of offices, a hotel, a school, and a Lidl. He then went for a big Lyons down.