Monthly Archives: December 2009

High Speed Rail to miss Preston?

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Pete of MIP

The High Speed 2 Company submitted its plans to Lord Adonis who will declare the preferred routes in March 2010.  To date the proposal has shown a line up the west coast via Preston to Glasgow but yesterdays newspapers seemed cooler on this idea.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Political, Rail, Technology | Comments Off

PNE sack Alan Irvine

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Big surprise news today - PNE have sacked their popular manager Alan Irvine. It was thought he’d have more time.  Not long ago everyone was sweating on whether he’d go to WBA and even if he’d manage Scotland.  There was gratitude he stayed and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Preston North End | Comments Off

St Ledger returned to PNE by Middlesbrough

Posted on December 25, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Middlesbrough announced that they are returning all 4 of their loan players and that means Sean St Ledger back at Deepdale. He played 15 games and scored once for Boro. Since he left both teams have had poor results and … Continue reading →

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Verge of a crisis or just a phase at Deepdale

Posted on December 20, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Notts Forest 3 PNE 0.  With died in the wool North Ender Paul McKenna scoring the opener for Forest.  Forest are on a roll at the moment under Billy Davies. Can he get 3 clubs into the play-offs?  So from that point … Continue reading →

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Avenham, Miller Parks and Lancashire Museum get lottery funding

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Pete of MIP

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) agreed a grant of £1.75m to Avenham and Miller Parks. This tops up the £2.7m granted in 2005. Also the Lancashire Museum in Stanley Street has been allocated £0.9m from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Manchester – Preston – Blackpool Electrification

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Lord Adonis, today, put more substance behind the pre-budget statement that seemed to cover electrification of only Manchester – Preston. It now includes Blackpool, which makes more sense.  His statement reads: ”The first line is between Huyton – on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rail | 5 Comments

Harris Institute, Avenham, bought

Posted on December 13, 2009 by Pete of MIP

It is reported that the Harris Institute  at Avenham has been bought by Yousuf Bhailok, a local businessman, for just under £300,000.  Mr Bhailok also bought Harris Park in Fulwood and has been involved in the campaign to keep the football museum … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 1 Comment

Peace at Christmas

Posted on December 11, 2009 by Pete of MIP

President Obama made a great speech with many messages in Oslo when receiving his Nobel Peace Prize. The part below stood out as a lesson to everyone if viewed in the context of your personal life. ‘I know that engagement with repressive regimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Not particularly Preston, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Preston to Manchester Rail Electrification in pre-budget statement.

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Yesterday, 9th Dec, the Chancellor stood up in Parliament and said in his pre-budget announcement; ‘I can tell the House today that I have also given the go-ahead to further plans for rail electrification between Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Political, Rail | Comments Off

Lostock Hall Engine Sheds Regeneration

Posted on December 6, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Householders in Lostock Hall have been sent a questionnaire asking what use they would like to be made of the designated open space on the old railway engine shed and sidings. It is quite a large area on both sides of … Continue reading →

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Digital Switchover Day – 2nd Dec 2009

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Pete of MIP

What a shock only a black and white fuzz on  TV.  After watching it for a while decided to tell my old aunt that the signal had gone off. It wasn’t the signal that bothered her though,  it was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology | Comments Off

Winckley Square facelift

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Pete of MIP

After reading letters in the Evening Post about the selected design for Winckley Square I was expecting something gross, and being someone who doesn’t want heritage areas defaced feared the worst.  Yet the design seems fairly minimal and doesn’t appear to change the … Continue reading →

Posted in Made in Preston | Comments Off

Borders closing

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Pete of MIP

Disappointing that Borders will be closing in Deepdale Shopping Centre. Paid a visit yesterday and the place was busy, the 20% off signs an attraction.  It’s good to have had 2 good bookstores in Preston. Borders was a bit different with … Continue reading →

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