Category Archives: Road

Buses, trucks, cars, roads and the like related to the region around Preston.

20mph Speed Limit in Lancashire

Lancashire County Council popped a leaflet through our door today announcing that our road will have a 20mph speed limit to improve safety and improve the local environment. The leaflet says that the objective is to make driving at 20mph … Continue reading

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Trams in Preston – Edinburgh’s lessons

For quite some time there has been the idea of building a tram track and trams in Preston using part of the old Longridge rail line, including a route along Church Street. On paper this seems a good idea enabling … Continue reading

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Preston Bus bought by Rotala

Preston Bus has been sold by Stagecoach to Rotala for just over £3m.  It has been said the Preston Bus identity and staff will be retained, although that must have some caveats.  Preston Bus now has 85 buses and 240 staff … Continue reading

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Residential Speed limits to be 20mph – ridiculous!

Lancashire County Council announced that all residential roads will have a speed limit of 20mph by 2013 to create a new attitude towards speeding and reduce road deaths. There is some merit in the proposal but how many deaths will … Continue reading

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The Strange Story of the Secret Park and Ride

Down in Bluebell Way, east of Preston in Lancashire lies a secret Park and Ride.  No-one knew why it was there or what it was for.  It seems someone had a good idea and then there it was. If only other plans … Continue reading

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Leyland bus name slips into Blackburn

The Leyland name is once more associating itself with bus manufacture in Lancashire.  Optare the Leeds based bus manufacturer who bought out East Lancashire Coachbuilders of Blackburn have agreed that Ashkok-Leyland of India will buy a 26% stake in the company.   There … Continue reading

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Broughton Roundabout No Change

Today the council announced that widening the M55 / Broughton roundabout and associated work wouldn’t go ahead.   The previous plan to by-pass Broughton with a  road from the roundabout east to Whittingham Lane and back to the A6 has also … Continue reading

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Leyland Trucks Best British Manufacturer 2010 (and 2009)

On June 23rd the Institute of Mechanical Engineers announced that Leyland Trucks were overall winner of the Manufacturing Excellence Award 2010 (MX Award). Continue reading

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British Commercial Vehicle Museum on TV

Last night the British Commercial Vehicle Museum (BCVM) at Leyland made it onto the BBC in a look behind the scenes. Ex-Leyland employees and bus enthusiasts working to restore and catalogue the exhibits and records. Over the last few years the … Continue reading

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Green Party and Lancashire

An election is coming so what will some of the parties be offering to the region.  Starting with the Green Party. They deserve a couple of seats in Parliament, I think.  You expect the Green Party to support green policies. Yes, … Continue reading

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Competition Commission says Stagecoach must sell Preston Bus

 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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Preston Bus v Stagecoach competition inquiry

The Evening Post alerted me to the Competition Commission (CC) report issued on 3rd September 2009 relating to Stagecoach taking over Preston Bus Limited. The CC have quite a good website and there is a lot of stuff related to … Continue reading

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2009 Tour of Britain Cycle Race Photo – Tuesday 15th Sept

Beautiful sunny day, no wind, slight chill in the air. Went to Poulton Le Fylde which is about 3 miles from the start. Quite a few people lining the road including a school party from a school nearby. The race … Continue reading

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2009 Tour of Britain Cycle Race – Blackpool & North West England stage

Tuesday 15th Sept the cycling tour race starts at 10.15am from Stanley Park, Blackpool and heads to Cockerham(Sprint) 11am and Claughton. Then three King of the Mountain trials via Trough of Bowland, Clitheroe, Longridge, Broughton (Sprint) 1pm, Elswick then Blackpool and finishes at The Sandcastle, … Continue reading

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Miller Park to centre link

It’s a long time since I walked from Miller Park into the centre but I noticed that it is proposed to make a cycle and pedestrian greenway linking Fishergate Shopping Centre with Avenham and Miller Parks.  This includes replacing a  missing bridge. … Continue reading

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Leyland Vehicle Event 2009

Havn’t been to the event for a couple of years and discovered late that it’s moved to the middle of Leyland now. Sign on the motorway said use Junction 29 and then I discovered that all signs led to Park and … Continue reading

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Preston Bus Station preservation

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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Manufacturing job losses in Blackpool

EMCON Technology are an American company who make vehicle exhaust products at factories at Warton and Squires Gate, Blackpool. The Blackpool Evening Gazette says it was announced today that 100 jobs will be moved abroad from Squires Gate and the … Continue reading

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A59 improvements

Beautiful day. Drove from the M6 along the A59 towards Samlesbury. New traffic lights outside the Swallow Hotel controlling traffic from Walton Le Dale. About time really, it always was a close your eyes and hope for the best type … Continue reading

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Motorway accidents and traffic announcements

Travelling south on the M6 yesterday there was a plague of interrupting traffic news about roadworks on the B6576 in Oswaldton from Radio Lancashire.  Yet later heading back there was no news but I met a sign saying motorway closed ahead.  Apparently the M6 had been … Continue reading

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