2019 didn’t get off to the best of starts after three people were injured after a man,reportedly shouting Allah,attacked them with a knife at Manchester’s Victoria Station.
Mahdi Mohamud, 26 was sentenced at the end of November to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 11 years, which will begin in Ashworth secure hospital hospital until he has recovered sufficiently to be taken to prison.
Later that month Six people were jailed for almost 100 years as part of an investigation into a multi-million pound drugs ring as part of Operation Cosmetic,an investigation into the nationwide supply of drugs and firearms by an organised crime group primarily based in Manchester.The criminal empire unraveled following a three month police investigation led by GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, which resulted in the seizure of cocaine, heroin and MDMA valued at over £2.7 million.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester was in the news that month.As commuters returned to work facing the prospect of higher rail fares, Andy Burnham issued an ultimatum to the rail industry,deliver for passengers in the North or make plans for your own departure.
Four days later he promised a city region where prosperity, opportunity, health, hope and happiness are widely and fairly shared across all our people and places.Launching the Combined Authority’s much delayed Spatial and Plannng Framework, he promised that at a time of national uncertainty, Greater Manchester is starting the year with confidence and a clear, united statement about its future direction.
And he wasn’t finished,setting out his ambition for Greater Manchester buses, he pledged to improve the city-region’s bus network, including free bus travel for 16 to 18-year olds. “In 10 years time I want Greater Manchester to have a similar system to London, a fully integrated transport system making it easier to switch from one mode to another.” said the Mayor while adding that “we are some way from being where we want to be”
A City centre street cleaning programme removes over 250,000 pieces of chewing gum in first few weeks, it was announced.The cleaning programme had started earlier that month on Market Street and St Ann’s Square.
The City meanwhile announced plans to go wild.A partnership between the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and Manchester City Council and their partners. Together they will develop and deliver an exciting new 10-year vision for biodiversity in the city.
Manchester Pride announced the brand new format for the 2019 Festival and a new home for the August Bank Holiday event’s live music experience at Mayfield.
A collection of the region’s young up and coming filmmakers have released a new film exploring some of the issues and ideas connected to the legacy of the Peterloo Massacre 200 years on, as part of the HOME BFI Academy 2018.
It was announced that the people of Manchester will get a chance to see twelve of Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawings on display at the City’s Art Gallery for the next three months, part of 144 from the Royal Collection which are being shown across the country as part of the commemorations of 500 years since Da Vinci died.
