LCA Annual General Meeting

The Levenshulme Community Association AGM will be held at 14.30 on Saturday 12th March 2016 in the Community Studio at the Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre.

Old Membership Rate Offer Extended to 26th February at Arcadia

Statement from Greenwich Leisure Limited / Better today after councillors have asked for clarification of pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre:

“It has always been our intention to honour the membership benefits of those customers who have historically enjoyed using the facilities at Levenshulme Pools. Unfortunately during the migration period from Levenshulme to the new Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre there has been miscommunication in relation to the extended availability of the £18 membership previously available at Levenshulme.

As a gesture of goodwill, until the end of day on Friday 26th February, we will be happy to honour this rate to any of our customers who can demonstrate previous use of Levenshulme Pools.

Customers who believe that they are entitled to take up this offer yet are unable to prove their past use of Levenshulme will be looked at on a case by case basis. All applications should be made in person at Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre.

From Saturday 27th February only the new membership pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre will be available. This is in line with all the other comparable/ new leisure centres across Manchester including the Manchester Aquatics Centre”.

UPDATE:

The Manchester Evening News has published an article on the availability of the old membership rates at Arcadia, available HERE.

Artist Residency At Bankley Studios

Levenshulme’s Bankley Studios is offering a residency for a local artist from Greater Manchester.


Residency opportunity for an artist based in Greater Manchester

Bankley Studios would like to offer the opportunity of a two-month residency in Bankley’s project space ‘Studio20’ to an artist based in the Greater Manchester area. We are particularly interested in hearing from artists who may not be able to participate in intensive creative practice away from home due to various other commitments. We welcome applications from artists working in all types of contemporary visual art, including two- and three-dimensional practices, installation, new media, moving image and performance.

Taking place during May and June 2016, the residency will offer the artist space and time to experiment and test ideas, and to produce a new body of work for an exhibition in our newly renovated Gallery Space. The Artist will be supported by the Project Space Team and receive one-on-one mentoring sessions with a curator in preparation for their show.

During the residency Bankley will be hosting talks and critical discussions with artists and arts professionals around the theme of ‘Process’. The artist in residence may wish to contribute towards this event, i.e. with an Artist Talk or Open studio event.

The residency includes:

  • 24h access to a free studio space at Bankley’s Project Space ‘Studio20’
  • £200 stipend towards materials
  • 2-week solo exhibition in the Gallery Space, either immediately following the residency or scheduled later in the year (to be agreed with the artist)
  • Mentoring by a curator who will work with the artist in the installation of the show

The artist will be encouraged to hold their own artist talk and/or or Open Studio event and to add to the Bankley blog whilst in residence

Application process:

Artists will be required to submit an application form (see below) alongside 5 images of current work (in .jpeg format, no larger than 1 MB each) and an Artist CV. Selected artists will then be invited for an interview with members of the Bankley committee before the final decision is made.

Deadline for applications: Friday 18th March 2016

Interviews will take place in April 2016.

Further information about Bankley Studios can be found HERE

  

Arcadia Library And Leisure Centre Is Now Open

After years of campaigns, consultations, marches, plans, occupations, letters, meetings, talking and even quite a bit of dancing the people of Levenshulme can now celebrate as our new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre throws open its doors.

Here are a few photographs of the new Arcadia. These are the third set in the series of photographs recording the old Levensulme Baths, the original Levenshulme Library and now the new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre.

Arcadia is a brand new £9.3m facility. It is managed and operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited under the Better brand through a contract with Manchester City Council. GLL are experts in managing leisure facilities. The facilities were built by Laing O’Rourke both on time and on budget. The quality and attention to detail is very impressive. Arcadia includes:

  • Community Library of 300 square metres including dedicated children’s library 
  • Over 20 free computers
  • Free wifi throughout the centre
  • Two swimming pools
  • Flexible changing rooms that can provide dedicated access to one pool for use by specific groups or for private hire 
  • Multipurpose Community Studio for exercise classes or community activities or meetings
  • 60 station gym with additional free weights
  • Sauna – up to 12 people
  • Steam room – up to 12 people
  • Disabled access throughout with a large lift and easy access for the pools
  • A buggy store

Arcadia stands as a wonderful facility and proof of what can be achieved when there is a genuine cooperative, positive collaboration between residents, our community, councillors, council officers, designers and developers.

This is our facility.

(All photographs copyright Jeremy Hoad)

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

   

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   

Council Budget Cuts Consultation Ends Today

Manchester City Council is consulting on budget cuts for 2016/17. The consultation closes today.

“We’re setting our budget for 2016/17 and want your views. You can read what we’re consulting about and the options we’re considering and have your say.

Today is your last chance to respond – the formal consultation closes midnight.”

Find out more and submit your views HERE.

Watch an explanatory video HERE.

Goodbye To Levenshulme Baths

Levenshulme Baths closed today (18th February 2016) for the last time. I asked if I could take some photographs to document the building that has meant so much to generations of Levenshulme residents. Pete Caveney, Duty Manager, kindly let me have the run of the place on its last day.

Levenshulme Public Baths and Washhouse has been serving Levenshulme for decades, for some time now as a leisure centre with a sauna, steam room and gym in addition to the two swimming pools but without the Washhouse. These photographs mark the building’s last day serving the people of Levenshulme before the new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre opens on Saturday 20th February 2016 at midday. Goodbye to the old, hello to the new.

Jeremy Hoad
Secretary, Levenshulme Community Association
(All photographs copyright  Jeremy Hoad)

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   

Save Money At The New Levenshulme Arcadia Library And Leisure Centre

Act now to save yourself money on membership at the new Arcadia Library Leisure Centre.

The old Leisure Centre closes on 18th February before the new one opens on 20th as the new Arcadia Centre. The pricing at the new Arcadia facilities has come as a surprise to people, particularly as we were assured pricing would be sensitive to the area and remain affordable.

But there is a way you can save a lot of money on membership…

If you join at the £18 a month rate at the existing Leisure Centre on Cromwell Grove this rate will continue at the new facilities. To keep this membership rate you MUST continue to renew your membership every month by cash or card in person. No direct debit option is available. If you miss a month you will be counted as having cancelled your membership and will have to renew at the £35 a month rate charged at the Arcadia Centre for use of all the facilities.

The £18 a month current membership includes:

  • swimming;
  • gym;
  • sauna;
  • steam room; and
  • classes.

Classes at Arcadia will be held in a dedicated multipurpose Community Room with a sprung floor and wall of mirrors.

Levenshulme Library which is also part of the new facilities is, of course free to use. There will also be access to free use of computers and free wifi at the new Arcadia.

Join now to save yourself over £200 a year on membership at the new Arcadia.


UPDATE 23/02/16

Statement from GLL today after councillors have asked for clarification of pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre:

“It has always been our intention to honour the membership benefits of those customers who have historically enjoyed using the facilities at Levenshulme Pools. Unfortunately during the migration period from Levenshulme to the new Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre there has been miscommunication in relation to the extended availability of the £18 membership previously available at Levenshulme.

As a gesture of goodwill, until the end of day on Friday 26th February, we will be happy to honour this rate to any of our customers who can demonstrate previous use of Levenshulme Pools.

Customers who believe that they are entitled to take up this offer yet are unable to prove their past use of Levenshulme will be looked at on a case by case basis. All applications should be made in person at Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre.

From Saturday 27th February only the new membership pricing structure for Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre will be available. This is in line with all the other comparable/ new leisure centres across Manchester including the Manchester Aquatics Centre”.


Could Julie Reid Be Greater Manchester Mayor?

With news that Tony Lloyd* has confirmed his intention to stand for the position of Greater Manchester Mayor the Manchester Evening News has suggested a few other possible candidates.

The MEN offers a shortlist of actual and potential candidates:

  • Tony Lloyd (Labour Party)
  • Richard Leese (Labour Party)
  • Ivan Lewis (Labour Party)
  • Hazel Blears (Labour Party)
  • Jonathan Reynolds (Labour Party)
  • Julie Reid (Labour Party)

According to the options suggested the MEN appears to think that only Labour Party politicians will stand for election as Greater Manchester Mayor.

Included on the list is local Councillor Julie Reid (Gorton South Ward) whose ward covers much of Levenshulme.

Billed as the only “Corbynista” to have been touted as a potential candidate the MEN says: “Councillor Reid has reportedly been vocal among colleagues in expressing n interest [in standing for Greater Manchester Mayor]“.

* Tony Lloyd is currently Greater Mnchester Mayor after being appointed to the role without any election last year when the leaders of Greater Manchester councils signed up to the devolution deal offered by George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  

Councillor Julie Reid (Gorton South Ward). Photo courtesy of the MEN.

The Wait Is Almost Over For Our New Library And Leisure Centre

Not long to go until the new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre opens on on Saturday 20th February on Stockport Road right in the heart of Levenshulme. Here’s a nice positive article in the Manchester Evening News.

Read the article HERE

  

Goodbye Levenshulme Library

Levenshulme Library closed its doors today for the last time after 112 years serving our community.

The library was opened in 1904 as a Carnegie Library and has provided a place of learning, support, education, entertainment and community events and meetings for over a century.

The library was going to close several years ago under council plans but Levenshulme residents campaigned long and hard to keep the doors open. We had marathon readings, occupations of the building, demonstrations and die-ins on the street outside. Art work from children across our community adorned the failings of the library and discussions and meetings were held with the council to save Levenshulme Library. In the end we won and kept the library open with Levenshulme High School for Girls renting the building several days a week. We spoke, the council listened and the library stayed open.

With the imminent opening of the Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre on Stockport Road the old library has now reached the end of that chapter in its story. Hopefully the building will find a new role as a community centre and facility for all sorts of exciting things but for now the doors have closed and the lights have gone off. The Levenshulme Old Library group conitinue to work to try and find a future for the building but for now the old Levenshulme Library is in the past.

Jeremy Hoad, Secretary of Levenshulme Community Association took one last look round the library and recorded a few images before the doors closed.

Levenshulme Library, 1904-2016

(All photographs copyright Jeremy Hoad)

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 

Greater Manchester Libraries Unite With New Superservice

 Councils across Greater Manchester join together to share access to almost 3 million books from this weekend. 
Everyone living in Manchester, Bolton, Oldham , Rochdale, Salford, Stockport and Trafford will be able to borrow books from scores of sites across Greater Manchester – rather than just libraries in their own boroughs with Tameside council joining later this year.
This is perfect timing just before the new Levenshulme library opens on Saturday 20th February in the new £9.3m Arcadia Levenshulme Library and Leisure Centre on Stockport Road.

See the Manchester Libraries announcement HERE

Manchester Evening News article HERE

ITV News report HERE

  

Tony Lloyd Offers Almost £1m To Neighbourhood And Youth Projects To Reduce Demand On Police Services

Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Loyd, is spending almost a million pounds of funding from the Greater Manchester Police budget on a project to get neighbourhoods to do things to reduce demand for police services in 2016.

The GMPCC website says: “Communities across Greater Manchester are being invited to bid for a slice of £900,000 to reduce demand on police services by building strong neighbourhoods, boosting volunteering, and empowering our region’s young people.”

The funds available:

Commissioner’s neighbourhood fund

  • Grants of up to £1000 (from a total fund of £200,000)

Active citizens’ fund

  • Grants of up to £5000 (from a total fund of £200,000)

Youth aspiration fund

  • Grants of up to £30,000 (from a total fund of £500,000) 

Find out full details HERE.

  
Photo of Tony Lloyd giving away money from the Greater Manchester Police budget in 2015 (photo courtesy of GMPCC website)