Monthly Archives: June 2009

Tithebarn Project

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Pete of MIP

The Preston Council Leaders blog says the Planning Committee will be sitting on Wednesday’s 8th and 15th of July to assess the Tithebarn planning application. I have some doubts although overall it sounds good enough. Liverpool One cost about £1bn which is about … Continue reading →

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PNE – Alan Irvine summer gossip

Posted on June 26, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Alan Irvine is being linked with the vacant West Brom manager post.  A bit flattering for North End, but unwelcome. Papers in the midlands have a list of likely candidates.  Former WBA captain Derek McInnes is a favourite of the … Continue reading →

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National Politics: A couple of recent events – the Con. Lab. Speaker and the £9.6m man

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Pete of MIP

I don’t like putting national stuff on here but sometimes I get a bit fired up.  So a note on a couple of things that came out yesterday.  Lets see if these are storms in teacups or just a further step … Continue reading →

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Preston Bus Station preservation

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Interesting article in the Times at the weekend about the architectural value of Preston bus station.  According to English Heritage it is ‘one of the most innovative pieces of transport architecture in Britain’.  Part of Prestons identity according to the … Continue reading →

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More on Digital Switchover

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Went on a visit to my old aunt south of Preston. She had a letter from an alleged Switchover Help Scheme saying the BBC can help you switch to digital TV. It mentioned a company called DSHS Ltd sounds a … Continue reading →

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Preston Military Show and Football Museum

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Saturday 20th June, a sunny day after early cloud, parked at Deepdale and wandered round the National Football Museum. Thought it had improved since my last visit. Seemed a lot to take in and so I focussed on the last … Continue reading →

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Digital Britain

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Pete of MIP

I’ve read that the recently released government sponsored report ‘Digital Britain’ proposes everyone should be able to have a 2MB broadband link – almost 3 million homes havn’t. Also that higher speed lines should be available to 90% of the population.  To … Continue reading →

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University of Central Lancashire (UCL) in Times league table

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Exeter University does a survey of Universities each year that is published in the Times newspaper. I thought I’d have a look at this and produce a laymans view. The criteria are; Student Satisfaction, Research Quality, Entry Standards, Student / Staff … Continue reading →

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Nature: 3 woodpigeons, 1 squirrel, 1 mouse

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Pete of MIP

The birds have been well fed in our garden for several years though protection from pests is a constant battle. The hanging seed container gets unwanted visitors like squirrels and yesterday a baby mouse had climbed up the post around 10am … Continue reading →

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PNE first games

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Pete of MIP

August 8, Morecambe in the Carling Cup at Deepdale. Morecambe havn’t reached the status of deadly local rivals and maybe they’ll bring some shrimps so take some butter to the game. They beat PNE last time so don’t get cocky.  … Continue reading →

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TV Aerial – Digital Switchover

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Our TV aerial started banging on the chimney so I called the man who fitted it about 10 years ago.  His first line was I needed a new aerial for digital switchover in November anyway, something about frequency. I said that … Continue reading →

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Beeching in reverse: railway improvements Preston / Blackpool / Fleetwood

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Pete of MIP

In the last month there have been a couple of reports, one from Network Rail(NR) and the other from the Association of Train Operating Companies(ATOC).  Both of these propose improvements to the rail system following increased usage in the last … Continue reading →

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Premier League upper tier – Ronaldo

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Real Madrid are said to be offering £80m for Ronaldo of Manchester United.  If the offer is true it seems irresistable. Noticed that one reporter said Real Madrid havn’t confirmed the figure.  Ronaldo is a great player that brightens up … Continue reading →

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Blackpools £100m investment

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Pete of MIP

The government announced the go-ahead for new track and trains along the prom between Starr Gate at South Shore and Fleetwood. A new tram depot is included all to be up and running in 2012. Maybe this is part of the recession beating infrastructure … Continue reading →

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Royal Lancashire Show in Preston

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Pete of MIP

The last few years have been disastrous for the Royal Lancashire Show with venues being waterlogged. Now Moor Park is in the frame for the next one. Sounds a great idea. The agricultural show run by the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society … Continue reading →

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New Minister of Defence

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Bob Ainsworth appointed Minister of Defence. Time was when this was a very big appointment. Now the defence budget is much smaller than the social budgets. It’s still big to Preston though if you work at BAE SYSTEMS. The minister … Continue reading →

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Lancashire, The Red Rose county goes blue

Posted on June 6, 2009 by Pete of MIP

After Thursdays election Lancashire County Council now comprises: Con 51, Lab 16, Lib Dem 10, Independant 3, Green 2, BNP 1, Idle Toad 1.  35 seats changed hands. The Conservatives said they’d not increase Council Tax next year.  In the last … Continue reading →

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Gordon Brown

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Pete of MIP

I guess you can’t have a blog, whatever its subject, without writing something about the current state of the state. Why pick on Gordon Brown, he hasn’t been accused of exploiting expenses rules?  Yet, as a pensioner myself, I can’t … Continue reading →

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North West England Regional Minister

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Pete of MIP

I keep finding these layers of government relating to the area, mainly while searching for something else. Who is aware that Beverley Hughes, an MP in Manchester,  is Minister for North West England.  I think of all these organisations that the North … Continue reading →

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