City news in 250 words

IT’S ALL A BIT ‘Degrees for Dummies’ according to a senior professor at Manchester Metropolitan University. The MEN are reporting how economics lecturer, Sue Evans, has criticised academic standards. And even, according to her, the students think so. She went further claiming that rubbish students were having their marks increased to keep them at the university. The university administration has denied the accusations saying Evans was allowed her opinions but that they were proud of their academic standards.

A COUPLE OF YEARS ago Confidential wrote about Will Allsop’s idea of a Maglev rail link between Liverpool and Leeds via Manchester – like the Japanese ‘Bullet’ train. Now part of this maybe realised if not by Maglev (magnetic levitation) technology. Confidential correspondent Blackley MP Graham Stringer has called for equal transport investment to that in London and the government is now looking at plans for track and stock improvements to cut the time between Manchester and Leeds to around 25 minutes.

GRUBBY BOLTON RAIL STATION is being given extra funding amounting to £950k to add to the existing package of £4m improvements. The latter should see better waiting areas, information provision and security, with a completion date of Spring 2010.

A VAST SUPER-PRISON IS being opposed by Warrington locals. The *so-called Titan prison with room for 2,500 wrong-doers is planned for the *Omega Business Park in Burtonwood, near the M62. It would cost around £400m. This February 10,000 signatures were delivered to Downing Street and now the local MPs are getting involved.