The main speaker was David Davis who raised points about the betrayal of a long history successful work at the Brough plant. That the Hawk still has prospects for sales and that much of it is being offered to overseas companies in ‘offset’ deals to gain more sales. Also the point was raised that BAE had made the error of selling off its commercial aircraft interests which had often taken up the slack when defence orders are slow. A plea to slow the rate of redundancies at Brough was raised.

There was also talk about the terms in the ‘yellow book’ which represents the trading agreements between government and industry. This relates to guaranteeing jobs to maintain capability and covers who pays for redundancy costs. It seems the government pays in this case. Some MP’s think BAE is exploiting this.

Others mentioned large overspends that need to be reduced and ensuring the ability to satisfy future projects.

Each MP spoke. It seemed reading the debate that very little was said that hasn’t been said a dozen times. It is perhaps unusual for redundancies at one company to secure so much time for discussion and it left me wondering what was achieved. At the end there was a resolution which might mean more in politics than it does when reading it. This says;

That this House urges BAE Systems to act to preserve the UK’s defence production skills base and, as a recipient of enormous resources over many years from the UK taxpayer, to deploy those resources in such a way as to protect the nation’s manufacturing capability.

Or it seemed;  Carry on as planned,  if what you make costs more and what you can offer is limited by inflexibility then you reduce the chance to sell it, and so could lose more jobs.

It could be argued that to preserve jobs the government should place contracts that pull work forward or create new research. In the current climate this seems unlikely.

An overview of defence as a whole could read as follows. Over the years the UK aircraft industry has consolidated to a few plants and BAE has changed from an aircraft company to one that delivers systems with a large part in the US. Also the number of projects has declined and it appears that the UK is likely to become an aircraft ‘part’ manufacturer. With UAV’s potentially creating work but it isn’t clear how that will evolve. The alternatives come with large bill. Perhaps a measure of the UK’s decline over the years coupled with increased complexity and the range of military options from tanks to submarines, UCAV’s and very expensive electronics, counter-measures, surveillance and cyber-warfare. Where to focus? Which elements to play a major part in?  Off the shelf, licence build, direct purchase? A lot to consider.  Let’s hope we can maintain a viable aircraft industry producing whole aircraft rather than a bit player. Today we might not be optimistic. Only the French put national glory and maintenance of capability on an equal pedestal to financials e.g. Renault, Airbus, TGV, Nuclear Power, Ships.

The aircraft industry has been recognised as one that generates large export earnings through products and services over long periods of time.  Aircraft also contain a wide range of sophisticated equipment that provides high technology business and employment all over the country and these items are also exported. The business fosters close relationships and partnerships with other countries of all sizes that often leads onto other business, particularly infrastructure, as well as demonstrating a capability to participate in future high technology international ventures. Investment in aircraft projects provides the likes of BAE, Rolls Royce, Martin Baker, Marconi with the foundation for their products. There is a lot to lose without care.

Read the full debate on the website ‘they work for you’.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2011-11-24a.472.1&s=speaker%3A11668#g475.0

After over 10 years of debate and delay it is surprising anyone is still in the project. Blackburn must think they won in the end by delaying it with their legal challenge.

What now? A smaller project is mooted with no bus station and containing an M&S. There must be a clue here and with the Winckley Square on-going discussion that the way to get things done needs to be changed. It might be thought that John Lewis would have come into Preston years ago if the first stage had been to build their shop, and perhaps M&S, along with parking. Shrinking the bus station to half its size would have left part of its iconic shape and been big enough while providing car parking space as well.

Grandiose plans have created an all or nothing state similar to Blackpool when the casino dream died.  Yet after being badly holed Blackpool has obtained a lot of money to rejuvenate its centre, the tram system and its two best known buildings and is now starting on a Central Business District development. So perhaps Preston can dust off its plans and start a more realistic scheme phased sensibly so not to disrupt the centre for years and not to frighten the neighbours.

Whether demolishing the building is good or bad is open to question. The attractiveness and potential uses of a building change with time. Many an old hovel was knocked down and now they are classed as characterful and in demand to live in or as tourist attractions.  At this time the elaborate stonework contrasting with the red brickwork is the main feature of Edwardian buildings and it could be said there are still quite a lot of them around. Also there is a need to build on brownfield sites rather than greenfield and as travelling becomes more expensive building near town centres is likely to become more popular.  On balance the decision seems acceptable.

The other old building in the news is the former Park Hotel, built 1883, a major feature of Preston, having a commanding position over the Grade II listed Miller Park. This building is deemed surplus to Lancashire County Council’s use as offices and staff are being moved into the main Pitt Street offices. The building will then be put on sale. If justice was to be done it would be kept as Council Offices as that is one of the best ways to preserve it.  It might be thought that a preservation grant would be available to councils for this. Let us hope that a good use is found although the recession and general cut backs make this unlikely in the short term.

The preservation of buildings is a controversial subject. There are as many opinions as people and we can’t keep every building. Those no longer fit for a purpose have a difficult time.  The main bus station and Mount Street Hospital being two buildings at risk. Proposals to modernise buildings and places are often sacrilegious, like the hanging letters on Winckley Square.  Careful planning and cash are needed. Of the above buildings it seems the Park School isn’t worth keeping but the former Park Hotel should certainly have its exterior shape preserved at least.

Warton and Samlesbury are hit by a slowdown in Typhoon deliveries which has been agreed with Germany, Italy and Spain. Also by a slowdown in the build up of the US led programme, the F35.

The Brough site is Hawk related and a union representative said on the BBC that Hawk work will be moved to Warton which they are going to resist. The company has stated it is negotiating ending manufacture at Brough which will leave structural testing at the site.

In the last few years there have been a number of reductions at the Preston area sites. The Jaguar and Harrier taken out of UK service. Nimrod scrapped. Some Tornados mothballed. Previously defence work has been consolidated at Warton as other sites closed and export orders kept the workforce numbers high. As Tornado and Typhoon have peaked and F35 work delayed some reduction seems inevitable.

Yet BAE has often cut numbers locally and sometimes taken them back within a couple of years. Whether this will happen again is questionable although there are a number of potential orders such as Typhoon for India. Also the company declared the job reductions as ‘potential’ so there is perhaps optmistically  some scope for movement of staff and new work which may reduce actual redundancies.

For the future the company are working on unmanned aircraft and prototypes have been built. Questions will be asked about what comes after Typhoon and fits above the F35, if anything.  The US has long wanted to be the monopoly supplier to Europe’s Air Forces. A ‘super project’ like the F35 ordered by almost every western air force will no doubt be proposed to see off the capability of the UK. Although it might be expected the French will continue their full range of aircraft and air vehicle manufacturing capability and perhaps they are the people to use as an example or logical partner.

Preston isn’t the only area with advanced technology development and manufacturing on these aircraft. The engines, radar, electronics, undercarriage, ejection seats all have major UK development and manufacture and are all assisted by a home market which enables their equipment to be chosen on American and other aircraft. A manufacturer not selected on a home project loses mass and credibility. A long term plan for the industry isn’t visible at this time although this isn’t a new situation with aircraft projects being complex and long term.

Whether the Blackburn appeal has already done its job might be another factor. The delays to the project have put it into a time when retail on the high street is going through a bad patch.  Investors now need convincing that there is the prospect of a return. In the last week alone well known retailers like Habitat, Jane Norman and TJ Hughes have called in administrators. The battle between the high street and the internet is one reason, not to mention out of town shopping, and it might be thought that over the longer term the internet can only get bigger.

If it is true that John Lewis are looking to open a store they are one of the few retailers that isn’t doing so badly. Although their business tends to be with people who have a decent level of disposable income, whether Preston can still present many of this type of customer might be questioned.

The government is also looking to steer the economy away from the consumer led boom and high borrowing.  Also the cost of Chinese made goods is increasing. Whether this means retail will no longer be a growth area and growth will come from other businesses might tip the balance of the project away from retail and towards business premises. It has seemed possible that Tithebarn is expanding Preston’s retail area more than might be sustainable if you add in out-of-town supermarkets and retail areas.  A watch needs to be kept on potentially conflicting interests; developers, builders, retailers, businesses and the council, to ensure that a white elephant doesn’t appear in the heart of Preston or that it compromises the rest of the centre which is looking quite smart now.

The UK is still the 7th largest manufacturer in the world but falling although still having some very large succesful companies like GKN. Comparing the UK with China the conclusion was that the jobs moved there because they are simple to do and China can do them cheaply. Our challenge is to keep ahead of the game. Obvious you might say.  Even when the items are made in China it was said that 80% of the added value is retained in the UK. The route being suggested to keep ahead is through niche manufacture like MacLaren cars and other items of sophistication and desire. Next week it’s research and development. Will it be back to Warton, although aero engines, pharmaceuticals and microchips are also big in the UK for R&D.

In this world the council empty your bin onto the street and then turn off the streetlights, some might say what’s new.  Then at night when it’s completely dark mindless graffiti, fly tipping and a mass dog fouling exercise occur. What’s new? This being TV, solutions must be found immediately, wrong ones are penalised and conflict dramatised.

Novel solutions like storing waste in the lounge and filling your garage with fly tipped junk are used. A spotlight is hired for street lighting. But these are just an inconvenience.

The most contentious part is social care. One family needs extra financial help because of low income.  An old lady had previously been taken by council supplied bus to the shops and residential centre.  As the final twist a lady wanted help from this street for her father who lived somewhere else.

We all had opinions but you couldn’t help admire Mr Can do, the caravan salesman who arranged the lights and generally kept upbeat.  A lot of people put in a lot of elbow grease. Some were good at talking but weren’t seen doing a lot. Some seemed to want more than they appeared to be putting  back, although in the limited time you couldn’t get a full picture. Overall it seemed as good a range of sensible and decent people as you’d find.

The success appeared to be with the old lady who  was an invisible street member until the show, whether this lasts beyond the show time will tell. The most interesting was the resident who expressed entitlement, an idea that often causes strong feelings, and you might wonder if this scene was set up to stir the pot for the show. The residents voted to provide all the needs even though they had no money left but not without it causing bad feeling from those who felt they didn’t have much but managed.

One case thrown in seemed to test reality.  Whether to support a residents disabled father who lived elsewhere.  Wouldn’t the street where the father lived pay for his help in reality? Yet it was agreed, with some being in no doubt it was right, and some seeming to have given up.

In the end Mr Can Do said the programme had created divisions that may never heal and the lady who wanted benefits said she’d move. That’s what you get when your personal life is laid open to those nearby to judge. It made decision making look difficult and recognition for council services. Yet, if you’re thrown in the deep end with no training it will look difficult and as councils have more than council tax for income it wasn’t clear that the refunded tax was all they were entitled to, so their budget was probably low.

Overall it scored on entertainment and gave some perspective of decision making, but didn’t give a broad or deep insight or have any after programme discussion into what was learnt. Some people expressed more sympathy with the council, and why not. In general councils do a good job in a very civilised way, but it might be you think it could be done even better or cheaper.

The Tithebarn plans are now waiting for a legal objection by Blackburn and how confident of it going ahead in good time would we be without the legal objection.  There was mention of knocking down the bus station a couple of weeks ago but you might think they’d build a new one first.  There is also mention of building a tramline and Trampower have drawn a plan for a line along Fishergate linking the bus station with the railway station.  Winckley Square refurbishment and the Flag Market update seem to have gone quiet as well. One thing going ahead is the Preston Guild but it doesn’t depend on any of the above.

It is easy to say we don’t need these changes but it might be short sighted not to plan ahead and start to create what Preston will need to look like in 10  and 20 years. Is fuel going to continue to get more expensive, will we be using more public transport and electric vehicles.  Will shopping move to the internet and city centres focus more on entertainment, eating and leisure or will that move out of town like in the US where many city centres are just office blocks and sandwich bars.

Local historian Stephen Sartin will be speaking about the history of Preston to be found between Ringway and the River Ribble.  While other local history talks feature local parishes as well as farther afield, Liverpool, Manchester, West Midlands and Lancaster.  Other more general talks on Cotton, Victorian life and canals.  There are courses in many other subjects but these might appeal to anyone interested in this website.

For more information look at the Alston Hall website.  Alston Hall is quite a cosy place with beautiful views over the Ribble Valley, the meals are good and the bar quite amenable.

http://www.alstonhall.com/

Personal preferences are for the model of the Horrocks Mill to be put in a better setting making it more alive as it’s very bare.  The dock, Dick Kerr /  English Electric trams and traction shouldn’t be forgotten and the aircraft.  Favourite painting in the Harris is the view over the railway tracks into Preston centre dated 1953, this should be the theme of a whole presentation.   Although the history of Preston is interesting with many major events, it only developed into a place of significance in the last 170 years and the exhibition should balance older major events with events as a result of population and industry increase as shown in the Industrial Revolutionaries exhibition.

Congratulations to the Harris staff and look forward to seeing it.