Author Archives: Pete of MIP

Avenham, Miller Parks and Lancashire Museum get lottery funding

Posted on 17 December 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 →

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Manchester – Preston – Blackpool Electrification

Posted on 14 December 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 13 December 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 11 December 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 →

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Preston to Manchester Rail Electrification in pre-budget statement.

Posted on 10 December 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 →

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Lostock Hall Engine Sheds Regeneration

Posted on 6 December 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 2 December 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 →

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Winckley Square facelift

Posted on 2 December 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 →

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Borders closing

Posted on 1 December 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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Blackpool v Preston North End

Posted on 29 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

November 30th an evening kick-off for Sky.  Blackpool need 3 points to get them back into the top 6 and PNE need them to make up lost ground.  This is an international break month so not many games have been … Continue reading →

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International Space Station over Preston

Posted on 25 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

The International Space Station with Space Shuttle Atlantis was visible from Preston yesterday morning (24th Nov) at 4.46 and it was very bright (if no clouds), I was in bed and it was probably raining. Atlantis undocked from the International … Continue reading →

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Tottenham 1 Wigan 9, Preston v Newcastle

Posted on 23 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

Amazing away win for Wigan. I’m not a Wigan fan but I don’t like to see teams being thrashed. I thought the defence was very poor and made the opposition attackers look much better than they are. Today people are saying their … Continue reading →

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Digital Switchover and further to HD

Posted on 21 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

Wednesday 2nd December the freeview digital changeover will be complete in the Granada region. Also the power at the transmitter becomes 10 times stronger. Wow does that make our aerial glow? Probably not, I’ll add just in case someone thinks it does. … Continue reading →

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Football Museum moving to Manchester, loss or opportunity?

Posted on 20 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

The National Football Museum trustees announced on their website that the museum will move to the Urbis in central Manchester opening in 2011 with some items remaining in Preston if funding can be found. Newspaper reports say Manchester is paying … Continue reading →

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Preston Railway Station investment

Posted on 17 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

Preston station was named as the 6th worst station in the UK with platform access via the steps as one of the worst features. The government announced that the worst stations would get a total of £50m spent on them … Continue reading →

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House Prices Down but Turning (perhaps)

Posted on 13 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

The Land Registry figures for the end of September show the North West having one of the lowest average house prices in the UK. The North West being Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside. Overall in the North West the … Continue reading →

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Competition Commission says Stagecoach must sell Preston Bus

Posted on 11 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

 The Evening Post alerted me to the Competition Commission announcement released today that Stagecoach must sell Preston Bus to a bidder able to provide a competitive service. It seems a bit late for this as the deal was done months ago, buses … Continue reading →

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Nuclear Irish Sea announced

Posted on 9 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

Today the government announced 5 new nuclear power stations on the shore of the Irish Sea. Three in Cumbria, 1 at Heysham, 1 in Anglesey. There are currently 3 that have limited life remaining. The government has also announced a … Continue reading →

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Digital Switchover Day for BBC2

Posted on 5 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

Yesterday BBC2 went digital in the Granada region. The person managing the changeover said they’d only had 10,000 calls yesterday so it went well.  At the time I thought it sounds a lot as BBC2 doesn’t get a big audience. … Continue reading →

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Queueing for the 2012 Preston Guild

Posted on 3 November 2009 by Pete of MIP

Three weeks after the 2012 Olympic Games is the 2012 Preston Guild. The Royal Lancashire Show suggested last week it could be in Preston in the 2012 Guild Year and yesterday the Corporate Games said they’d hold a Games in Preston … Continue reading →

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