Whalley Range Cricket Club opens £25,000 practice nets complex



Whalley Range CC officially opened its £25,000 state of the arts practice nets complex on Sunday 8 July, the latest element of its ambitious plans for the club.

The two-bay nets complex, plus bowling machine, was funded with £10,000 each from Manchester city council and the England and Wales Cricket Trust, plus donations from Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund and members and friends of the cricket club.

"The nets have already proved their worth this miserable summer, allowing us to practice when everywhere else on the ground is wet,” said Mike Hill, head junior coach. “And the players – from U11 starters to 1st team regulars – have improved their skills no end.”


Fallowfield councillor Mike Amesbury commented: “The cricket section is just part of a community club offering sport to local residents, including tennis and softball, and we are delighted to support the club’s ambitions.” Cricket Development officer Paul McGuffog added: “The city council have a keen focus on all sports in Manchester, and cricket participation in Manchester is increasing, through clubs like Whalley Range CC, and elsewhere.”

Bobby Denning, Cricket Development Manager for Lancashire Cricket Board, said: “The strength of the county championship winning Lancashire side is built on a platform of strong local clubs with their roots in the community, and the LCB is committed to strengthening facilities throughout the region. Whalley Range CC is a clubmark and focus club, which through this investment, has the capacity to produce better cricketers playing to a higher standard.”





Note to editors:



Whalley Range CC was founded in the 1850s, and has played at Kingsbrook Road since 1921. It has three senior teams in the Manchester & District Cricket Association, a Midweek XI and Sunday Friendly XI, plus junior teams from U9s to U18s. It has 110 junior members, 24 of whom represented City of Manchester district teams, and two have represented Lancashire at U13s and U14s. The 1st XI played in the prestigious Lancashire Cup this season.



For more details, please contact Mike Hill on 07894 961530.



Pic caption: L-R Cllr Mike Amesbury, Whalley Range CC chairman Dave Rushforth, head junior coach Mike Hill holding memorial plaque, LCB’s Bobby Denning, Manchester cricket development officer Paul McGuffog

New Kitchens, Windows, Bathrooms and Doors - Decent Homes for Fallowfield

As a consequence of the the previous Labour governments decent homes programme, tenants in the Fallowfield area ( and City South patch ) continue to see improvements to their homes and neighbourhoods. Below is the latest update that I have received as one of the Directors of the City South Housing Trust. Cllr Mike Amesbury.
Summary of Headline Achievements at 31st June 2012


New PVCu windows fitted to 3631 homes and

Aluminium in 484 multi-storey homes


New kitchens at 3591 homes


2578 properties partially rewired


New bathrooms at 3682 homes


3420 external doors replaced


1080 properties fully rewired


New energy efficient condensing boilers or storage heaters

installed in 2744 homes


Loft insulation installed or upgraded in 1967 homes


External work (roofs, gutters, brickwork as required) to 935 homes


Cladding and roofing work complete at 8 multi storey blocks covering 484 multi-storey homes and under way at a further 3

Insulating cladding and roofing complete at 213

After a number of attempts to improve the trading activity of the Twisted Public House in  Fallowfield,  these premises are letting our community down. I and my Labour colleagues want to see a thriving Fallowfield Centre, that provides safe and entertaining bars that are good neighbours to local residents. Twisted is not one of them, I have therefore submitted to letter below to revoke it's license.

"I concur with Greater Manchester Police, colleagues and residents in my objection to the continued trading of the Twisted Public House in the Fallowfield Ward.

Despite the intervention of key stakeholders such as the police and environmental health, the licensee has failed to improve matters having little regard for customers and the neighbouring communities.

Twisted is poorly run and managed, not helped by an absentee landlord and unsupported staff.

The premises are unclean both within the building as well as the outside grounds, health and hygiene are not familiar concepts associated with Twisted.

Customers have been seen on the roof, often intoxicated and are clearly a risk to the themselves and others.

The police have made numerous visits in relation to ASB and criminal activity.


Twisted should have it's license revoked because it contributes to crime and disorder in the Fallowfield Ward.

It is detrimental to the health and public safety of young people.

The licensee is not a fit and responsible person to discharge his operating duties under the Licensing Act".