Hale Independent Issue 197

OCTOBER 2026 2 SHOWROOM: 410 Flixton Road, Flixton M41 6QY DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL ROLLERS - ROMANS - WOOD VENETIANS - VERTICALS bd BLINDS DIRECT Flixton For a FREE no obligation quote call: 0161 749 8525 MANCHESTER Airport’s first-ever JD Wether- spoon pub, The Belle Vue, has officially opened its doors. The 300-seater pub is named after Manchester’s historic showground and has design features which nod to the city’s sporting herit- age, including vintage event posters and memorabilia, a ‘locker wall’ hosting trophies and other sporting exhib- its, and a cricket-themed design in the carpets and bar panels. It will be open from the first flight to the final flight each day and food will be served from opening until 10pm. The pub is expected to create around 150 jobs. The Belle Vue is the final planned new eatery to open in the airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2, marking one of the final steps in the super-terminal’s decade-long, £1.5bn transformation – which has seen it more than double in size to become the Northern hub’s focal point. Richard Jackson, Retail Director at Manchester Airport, said: “It’s a proud moment to see the final new retail unit opening in our new-look Terminal 2, a world-class facility with an unrivalled range of options for passengers to eat, drink and shop. “To be rounding off this 10-year programme by add- ing such an iconic name as Wetherspoon to the terminal is particularly special and we know that it will prove extremely popular with pas- sengers. We think they’ll love the nods to Manchester’s her- itage in the décor and design – and of course the name.” Wetherspoon pub opens in Terminal 2 CONTACT US No part of this publicationmay be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2026. This newspaper is publishedmonthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate,Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD. 01204 478812 EDITOR Mike Hulme mike@independentnewspapers.co.uk CONTACT JayneMeadowcroft 01204 478812 or 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk ADVERTISING Robin Atkins 07767 840274 robin@cheshireindependent.co.uk A CARE group has appointed a new director to lead its new complex care division. Clare Murray has joined Altrin- cham-based Compassionate Care Group as director of complex ser- vices, bringing 20 years of expe- rience in adult and children’s social care. She has spent over 15 years working alongside nurses, clini- cians and multidisciplinary teams. Ms Murray said: “I was attracted to Compassionate Care Group as it is family-owned, with family val- ues at the heart of the company. “They have no intention of being the biggest clinical complex care provider, instead they want to be one of the best, recognised as one of the highest-quality providers in the sector. Her new role focuses on deliver- ing high-quality, person-centred and clinically safe care. Ms Murray said: “With a desire to exceed expectations, I promise Clare Murray (Image: Philosophy PR) Care group’s new director College catering staff strike CATERING staff completed three days of strike action in a dispute over a redundancy and changes to working hours. The action took place at Altrincham College in Trafford and was led by the National Education Union (NEU), which argues that the proposed removal of one catering assistant role by the Achieve and Learn Trust is based on ‘sparse and inaccurate’ evidence. The NEU claims the decision does not reflect a genuine reduction in need and that a workload impact assess- ment was only carried out after the decision-making process was already well advanced. James Starnes, NEU Trafford branch and district secretary, said: “These catering staff have shown real courage and determination across three days of strike action. “They should never have been forced into this position. “The employer has still not produced convincing evidence that this cut is Airport opens new hi-tech sensory zone MANCHESTER Airport has officially opened a state-of- the-art space in Terminal 2 that will offer respite to passengers with autism and neurodivergence, along with other non-visible disabilities and assistance needs, as they wait to board their flights. The Sunflower Room facility is broken down into three sections – two of which are sensory rooms offering an array of interactive features, alongside a quiet room space to act as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the terminal, with comfortable seating, low-level lighting and minimal stimuli. Features of the two sensory rooms include bubble tubes, infin- ity mirrors, light projectors, adjust- able lighting including brightness and colour, and weighted, padded furniture. The design of the rooms and the different types of furniture on offer accommodate for passen- gers who wish to sit, stand, or lie down when using these spaces. At the entrance are flight information screens, so that passengers using the facility can quickly and easily check for updates and information. necessary, and the assessments now provided only strengthen our concern that the conclusion was reached before the consultation properly began. “These workers carry out essen- tial duties every day, often under intense pressure, and their con- tribution deserves respect rather than dismissal. “Cutting one of the lowest paid workers while free lunches con- tinue for the highest earning staff is indefensible. “The Trust should withdraw the proposal, engage meaning- fully with the union and find a fair resolution that protects jobs, pupils and the quality of the cater- ing service.” The union also criticised the equality impact assess- ment, arguing that redundancy appeared to be a ‘foregone con- clusion’ and that the consultation process was ‘little more than a box-ticking exercise.’ Sue Caldwell, secretary of Trafford Trades Council, said: “The Trades Council is fully behind the canteen staff at Altrin- cham College. “We know the vital role that these workers provide, which goes way beyond serving essential hot meals. “We reject the notion that in times of financial hardship for many, it is always the low paid and our public services that suf- fer the most.” to be there for my team and allow them to have a voice. “I want clients to be cared for like we would our own family and will ensure everyone is adequately trained to provide this, with client views and requirements at the cen- tre of all decisions.”