THING OF THE WEEK

GARDEN… Bupa is on a greenspace crusade. The healthcare provider last week revealed it was contributing a significant chunk of funding towards the second phase of the Castlefield Viaduct garden – Manchester’s answer to New York’s High Line – and is now investing over the border in Salford. Bupa has donated £100,000 to the University of Salford for the creation of a wellbeing garden on the roof of the Thrive Building, the new home for the uni’s healthcare courses. Anna Russell, Bupa Foundation’s director of ESG, said: “The space will provide a unique opportunity to explore the benefits of green prescribing and other preventative, nature-based interventions that support healthier lives.”

The UK National Nuclear Laboratory’s Tom Bell knows his tie is awful. Credit: Place North

BAD TIES… As a rule, we do not insult our guests’ outfit choices at our events, but yesterday at our Energy & Power event we made an exception for UK National Nuclear Laboratory’s Tom Bell. His offensively ugly tie demanded commentary. The result was an audible gasp from the audience as host Julia Hatmaker ripped into his fashion choice. But it was all in good fun – Bell is making the most of his collection of atrocious vintage ties by wearing one every workday in an effort to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice Trust in Lincolnshire. Support his noble effort by donating at justgiving.com/page/bad-ties-for-st-barnabas.

Large-scale fireworks displays are returning to Manchester. Credit: via Unsplash

BANGING… Manchester City Council has announced that large public fireworks displays are back, presumably with a loud bang. Having paused municipal pyrotechnics extravaganzas in 2020 due to Covid, the authority is lifting the moratorium on Catherine wheels by announcing a trio of events this autumn in Wythenshawe Park, Heaton Park, and Platt Fields Park. Banging.

Runners braved the rain in the name of charity. Credit: via Cubed Thinking

RUNNING… 150 runners braved the rain and the congestion caused by crowds heading to see Manchester United’s return to Champions League football last Thursday to raise £10,000 for property charity LandAid, which aims is to eradicate youth homelessness. The event, held across the water from Old Trafford at MediaCity, saw property professionals take on 5k and 10k races for a good cause. Martin Lucas, whose running exploits have been documented in THING before, was the fastest male over 1ok, while Bruntwood’s Lewis Brown was quickest over five. Sophie Yates of Overbury was the fastest female finisher in the 5k, recording 24 minutes, while Aisha Anwar of On the Beach was the fastest female over 10k – and 7th overall – in a blistering 38 minutes.

Prima Group is developing an arresting scheme. Credit: via Thorne PR

POLICE… One of the country’s first purpose-built police stations is to be converted into affordable housing thanks to £4.5m from a range of public sources. Vacant since 2011, Prescot Police Station will be repurposed into 13 homes by Prima Group. While nobody wants to feel like they’re living in a prison, it is important that heritage schemes retain a sense of their origins; in this spirit, the former cells and judge’s changing quarters will be opened up to provide kitchen dining and living spaces in one of the ground floor apartments.

Oldham could end up being something of a trailblazer. Credit: PNW

TRAILBLAZER… Oldham Council’s warring membership has reached something of a ceasefire following months of squabbling since the May elections that has left the authority without leadership. At a meeting this week, the council divvied up different responsibilities to different political parties in a bid to keep them all happy and get things moving again.

Reform will head up the children and young people portfolio, the Lib Dems are in charge of the council’s budget, and Labour will keep hold of the place portfolio. The council’s resent stalemate has made national headlines and attracted ridicule from some quarters. However, the model adopted by Oldham this week could end up serving as a template for other councils down the line as the country’s political landscape becomes increasingly fractured.