Made in Preston – Page 6 – Made In Preston

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 around Preston could be executed so well.

To build a park and ride with no-one wanting to park there and bus services to no-where in particular isn’t the best example of planning. Now Lancashire County Council are looking to sell it and are looking for ideas of where to build another one.

Is Preston congested? Probably at rush hour it is, but the rest of the time there is no problem at all. If Tithebarn is built will this create more traffic? Yes, but most people travelling to the type of stores being proposed aren’t going to be keen to take a long bus ride, if they want to take one at all.

Park and Ride doesn’t appeal unless its very efficient, secure, not too crowded and if the city is unfamiliar. That means the Preston Park and Ride to serve the north, east and more distant south, if it’s necessary, should be on Moor Park as it has easy motorway access and isn’t too far out of the centre. It could also serve Deepdale Retail Centre and be used for the football. Using Moor Park might be controversial but it depends on how big the car park is and whether the council can sweeten this by smartening up the park and providing facilities that might appeal to people who are using the car park.

BAE SYSTEMS announces potential redundancies

The UK’s biggest advanced engineering company, BAE SYSTEMS, has announced potential local job losses following the cancellation of the UK Nimrod MRA4 and Harrier contracts. These include 668 at Warton and 119 at Samlesbury. In addition jobs will be lost in Manchester including closure of the Woodford site. A statement has also been issued related the Saudi Arabian contract that potentially effect another 90 Samlesbury jobs, making the total 208 at that site. Although the statement is slightly ambiguous about whether these 90 are in the 119 but it appears not.

BAE SYSTEMS has 35,000 UK employees of which 11,000 work at Warton and Samlesbury. The portfolio of major programmes locally now includes the Typhoon, Tornado, Hawk, F35 plus Harriers in service overseas. Future unmanned aircraft are in development and collaboration with France has been proposed.

The job reduction is about 8% locally so not insignificant but whether that many actually leave can depend on many factors such as new work and other consolidation and initiatives. In addition local suppliers and out-sourcing companies may be effected. Several million pounds will be taken from the regions economy, not good news for anyone at this time.

Anyone for strawberry picking?

Reading in the paper today that David Cameron is taking a business delegation to China to follow on from his Indian visit. A bit further down an article that Jaguar – Land Rover might build a factory in China to supply the Chinese market. So how very clever of the Indian company that bought Jaguar – Land Rover. A bit more far-sighted maybe than British investors. Looking through the Made in Preston website the list of items made in this area that have fallen to overseas companies; cotton, buses, lorries and their suppliers to name a few. To a degree this has been inevitable but to the extent it has happened it seems folly and now the North West is said to be an area where people increasingly do transplanted government paperwork processing jobs that have no added value to the economy.

What are the paths for young people to start with some kind of solid vocational training, get some qualifications and maybe rise through the ranks in a company making interesting and long term products, so good they are wanted overseas and keep the food on our tables. Is it that if you are in the 50% who don’t go to university you can only get a job with little prospects. Many of those who go to university aren’t particularly academic or practical and often don’t have the grounding to get a decent job either. Sometimes starting younger at work can give you this work sense and getting qualifications while at work is a better path. Maybe I’m just old fashioned. Having started as a craft apprentice who left school with little but got an HNC, which opened some doors, then a degree with the Open University. It is a worry that the children being born today in Britain might need to be good at picking strawberries, perhaps in China.

Defence Review

The defence review announced on the 19th October ended the UK requirement for Harrier, Nimrod MRA4 and vertical take off F35 which all provide work in the local BAE SYSTEMS factories. The Nimrod has been in work for well over 10 years and much of the design and development is complete although upgrades and support would be expected. The Harrier fleet is a support activity but its termination coupled with end of the the vertical take-off F35 requirement reduces the UK foot in the door of advanced technology that was gained with the Harrier some 40 years ago.

What the implications are for the the status of the UK in the F35 programme will unfold as the details are finalised. Not to ignore the Rolls Royce involvement. Samlesbury has major investment due to the F35 and it would be bad for the region if this was affected.

That the Tornado and Typhoon continue as the RAF’s prime fighters is good news. No mention of the future of unmanned aircraft projects although the French relationship is increasing overall which might be a clue.

Andrew Flintoff – Freeman of Preston retires

On the last day of the cricket season Andrew Flintoff MBE, Freeman of Preston, former captain of the Lancashire and England cricket teams, 2005 BBC sports personality of year, 2005 joint cricketer of the year, scorer of the most 6’s for England announced his retirement from cricket after a battle against injury.

Scoring almost 3,000 runs and taking over 250 wickets in international matches the highlight of his career was his role in the Ashes win in 2005 where he scored 9 sixes and took 7 wickets in one game. This was one of the all time best and a tightly played Ashes series which broke years of Australian dominance. Afterwards, in 2006, Andrew was awarded the MBE and became a Freeman of Preston.

Born in 1977 in Preston he attended Greenlands Primary School in Ribbleton and then Ribbleton Hall High. Throughout his youth Andrew excelled at cricket playing for St Annes and Lancashire. He continued to develop in the international game and became a national favourite of the fans with his outgoing, laddish joviality and big game temperament. He’ll be missed.

3rd degree vulnerability in Preston

The data research company Experian has published an analysis that shows the areas around Preston to be more vulnerable than average to government cut-backs. Out of 324 areas Preston and its surroundings are generally in the third quartile 0r positioned around 250th. The main reasons given are that people are vulnerable to long term unemployment, low numbers of self-employed and professional workers, as well as some areas having vulnerable employment.

In the region Burnley, Hyndburn and Blackpool are below the 300th. In many ways much of this could be guessed but it puts more focus on those areas and these areas should be looking for assistance from the government rather than cut-backs. The BBC contains fuller information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11233799

BAE trims its cloth

Around 450 jobs are to go at BAE SYSTEMS Warton and Samlesbury plants out of a total of 950 that will be shed nationally. In such a large company it could be expected that there will be a lot of volunteers and redeployment but with the Strategic Defence Review approaching the company workforce could be in for a rocky time so transferring to another site might not be a good move.

Over the years there have been many ups and downs and the factories in the north west have benefitted from consolidation of the industry. With the rump of the aircraft sector now being in the north-west there isn’t a lot more consolidation available and changing technologies mean new types of aircraft are being developed with new companies entering the market as well as new countries.

Over the years this industry has done well for the region and there is little opportunity for similar work possibly in the UK so any damage could further degrade the UK skilled engineering base. Reduce the potential for exports and influence while creating a need to import these expensive products: double losses all round. Not to mention the small factories all over the north-west who supply parts.

At the moment it hasn’t come to major reductions and Liam Fox commented that he wanted new technology to be introduced rather than upgrading old products. Upgrading is a useful piece of business but the prestige of producing a new and complete product creates a more solid core and a reputation that brings customer confidence and a position of strength in negotiations with potential partners.

Industrial Revolutionaries in Preston

The Industrial Revolutionaries is a display at the Harris Museum in Preston. The revolutionaries are the people who made an impact in Preston and include cotton magnates and reformers, mill workers and inventors. The display was funded by a number of organisations to make that key part of Preston’s history come alive for locals and tourists. This is achieved to some degree although if you already have a decent knowledge of local history it might not be deep enough whereas to many it will be just right.

Entering the museum it isn’t obvious where the display is if you come in when the monitor is showing something else. It’s on the third floor.

The information is in a modern well presented display made of a number of islands in subdued light. The story is formed around 7 people in different segments of society which can still be recognised to this day in the UK wrapped in 200 years of new legislation while the changes from rural to urban industrial can be seen today in the development of China. As a side issue, sort of worrying about where we are heading, we need some new inventors in the north west.

For me the most interesting part was the 100 year old film of the raw cotton being processed into material in the Yard Mill. Looking at the workers, their reactions to the camera and thinking they were walking round Preston over a 100 years ago sparked curiosity. Ladies in shawls, men in flat caps or bowlers. We see where the flat cap worker image comes from in the north, whereas in the south it often represents the wealthy country gentleman. The story of the workhouse and prison reform was interesting as well. They’re all interesting and even though it might not appear too deep there is enough, as it would be a good test to name the main characters on leaving. I’d fail.

It would be good if this could be made into a permanent exhibition coupled with updating the History of Preston exhibition. Having been ‘Stuarted’ which is a term used for those intercepted and spoken to by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable museum worker Stuart, it appears that to do that will cost a lot of money and probably at this time the cash will be difficult to find. If I win the Euro Millions maybe. Been to see this twice now and overall it’s definitely worth a visit. On until 6^th November 2010. Website; http://www.revolutionaries.org.uk/index.php

Blackpool 11, Preston 3*

A wake up call. The elected Preston council is struggling to get its projects put into place. Tithebarn, Winckley Square, Flag Market are being thwarted. On transport the bus sale has been done and redone, and light rail proposals seem uncertain. The football team is in difficulty and the National Football Museum lost. Successes have been the Deepdale Retail Centre, updating the football ground, updating St Georges and probably the biggest success; UCLan.

Compare that with Blackpool who looked lost not long ago when the casino plans were rejected. Since then the promenade has been rebuilt for £100m with more to come, a new main shopping mall built, several streets and main square pedestrianised. A light rail system and depot is replacing the trams, the Tower and Winter Gardens have been taken over by the council and a £40m grant obtained. The Central Library is about to be given a £3m modernisation. A central gateway has been built enabling fast access to the town centre. A large sound and light effects structure has been built along the length of a shopping street with an EU grant. The Pleasure Beach and South Pier have announced £10m of investment in the next year. Not to mention the football team and its ground. Granted it still looks like a building site but all these are underway or done.

Blackpool has 11 major improvements. Preston possibly 3*. Yes, Blackpool is only making up lost ground. Preston is still ahead on points overall but wouldn’t it be good to get some great new stuff. Shouldn’t those stalled projects get better attention or is it too late now with the economy needing the heat turning down.

Note: *Tithebarn could be worth 8 points to make the score equal.

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 is quite a mis-match in size as the Indian company makes thousands of commercial vehicles a year and is higher valued than Optare.

Ashkok-Leyland is owned by Hinduja Group and has factories in India as well as the UAE and East Europe. The company began in 1948, although the tie up with Leyland in the 1950’s created the name Ashkok-Leyland. It has manufacturing and technology agreements with Nissan and Avia as well as its own research. The tie up with Optare provides Optare technology while giving Optare access to A-L lower cost sources and wider market base.

It is forecast that the total Indian workforce will grow to be larger than that of China by 2030 and rise to a billion by 2040. If the forecast is accurate and the planet can sustain such numbers it will create a massive market that will be a magnet for worldwide manufacturers. India is training engineers at a rate not heard of here for a long time and they are generally looking to be self sufficient. Survival in the world market requires strategic intelligence as well as technological prowess and carefully controlled costs and it is hoped that Optare can cleverly tread through this minefield to continue as a British manufacturer with design and development in the UK.

Sunday morning cruising in Preston

This morning, Sunday, was warm and bright and it was necessary to drive across Preston quite early. Just the day to take a leisurely detour. It’s times like this when Preston looks very pleasing, so much greenery, several old buildings and generally looking in decent condition.

The A6 from Broughton, left at the Black Bull to pass the hospital, nice area. The old hospital and workhouse at Sharoe Green is a character building and some kind of public museum facility would be a great feature there. Then all those trees lining Watling Street Road and it was tempting to go into some of the side streets as they have a lot of character as well. Turning right at the old 1840 Barracks into Deepdale Road. Past the PNE football ground which is so transformed and contrasting with the trees and park across the road. The former Park Grammar school looking quite small nowadays. Was impressed by the cleaned up architecture of the offices at the old Bus Depot, had never noticed it before. Then a bit further on the original former Preston Royal Infirmary is an attractive building. The well built stone fronted terraced houses are a stand out feature as is the small green area just further along the road. At the end of Deepdale Road is the old harsh looking prison building. Deepdale Road has a barracks at one end and a prison at the other and they’re both built using those large old stone blocks that look like they would withstand a bomb.

Just round the corner on London Road is the remaining wall of the former Horrocks Mill complex that once took up a quarter of Prestons centre. While across the road is the Lancashire Museum building in a fine old house, a church and another Horrocks Mill just along New Hall Lane. Travelling out of Preston on London Road down the hill to the river is a view of trees and hills that reminds you that Preston is on the edge of lush and remote countryside. At the bottom of the hill is the river bridge where Jacobite armies crossed and fought and Joseph Livesey lived nearby while forming the Teetotallers. There’s so much heritage in Preston. It was a pleasant drive, quite lifting.

What’s in a name: The Mall re-named St Georges

Will confess that it isn’t too long ago that I realised that the name of St Georges Shopping Centre had been changed to The Mall mall and now it’s reverted to St Georges. Seems a mistake to call a mall The Mall. Like calling your house House, perhaps in Street Street. St Georges is the long term name of the area of Preston it is in and is England’s patron saint so there are two good reasons for it to be known as St Georges. It was always St Georges Shopping Centre, not mall, but no worries. Good to move forward without breaking all links with the past.

Defence Minister fires warning shots at Farnborough

Liam Fox the Defence Minister made a speech at Farnborough giving a warning about the affordability of defence projects in the current climate. Although some might say in any climate.

The most promising part of the speech was the support for export programmes. This is quite different from what Robin Cook started out with in the last government, although he soon found out it was easier said than done.

Some of it sounded like fine words and it will be interesting to find what happens in the longer term. Statements like upgrading existing products is taking funding away from new technology. This sounds real enough yet getting those few extra years or enabling an existing item to meet a new threat sound more cost effective than letting them become incapable. Also the statement about too much optimisation also sounds good but with many defence products you either win or lose and being unable to hit the target isn’t a useful option. In reality watch out for less upgrading, more new technology, less gold plating.

Other statements like recognising sovereignty for some items but co-operating more with the French are things that the aircraft industry has done for years. Cutting numbers to make up for cost overruns isn’t that new either. Co-operating with the French is something that has been mentioned in both nuclear and aircraft carrier work so perhaps that is a clue to his thinking on one or both of those.

In conclusion the export support and new technology themes are positive. We await the defence review.

Preston entrepreneur wins over Dragons

Kirsty Henshaw of Preston coolly put out the Dragons fire on BBC Dragons Den last night. Entering the room with her Worthenshaws Iced Pudding Kirsty presented the product with a modest certainty and assuredness that couldn’t fail to impress. At times it all seemed too good to be true; a product that was healthy, gluten and nut free, looked like ice cream but wasn’t, all done by one young person who admits to not being academic, works 2 and a half jobs to pay for it and has a young son.

Having been encouraged by a large supermarket and a large ice cream manufacturer it seemed all the boxes had been ticked. Theo offered a substantial investment more than requested, and then Peter and Duncan coming in equal, Kirsty was comfortable in accepting a joint offer that took 30% of the business for the sum she wanted, £65,000. In the end this iced pudding might be invented in Preston but didn’t seem likely to be made in Preston, even so this is a good example of entrepreneurial activity. Let’s watch this space, this is really good stuff. No doubt the appearance was a great advert and reading the website the product is already out there in many health shops.

Here is a link to the BBC Kirsty page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/entrepreneurs/kirstyhenshaw.shtml

Here is a link to Worthenshaw’s website: http://www.worthenshaws.co.uk/

Coconuca, coconice.

Taranis Unmanned Aircraft unveiled

Yesterday July 12th, BAE SYSTEMS at Warton held a ceremony to unveil the Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle concept demonstrator which is due to fly in 2011 around 5 years after the programme was launched. The aircraft is the size of a Hawk training aircraft which presumably determines its range, which is said to be long, and its carrying capability.

This aircraft demonstrates the UK capability to produce the stealthy airframe, electronics and engine with the complex ground control system. Positioning for the future is important with BAE SYSTEMS and Rolls Royce being two of the biggest and most advanced engineering companies in the UK. The market for these vehicles will be substantial and international partnerships, leadership and workshare isn’t yet established. At this time we also await the government strategic defence review output which will examine the UK’s requirements.

With Tornado, Typhoon and Lightning II the manned element has at least 30 years life unless technology overtakes it as it frequently threatens, but not succeeding, to do. Although it seems likely the two types will complement each other for some time. Interesting imagining how quickly things could change.

Industrial Revolutionaries at the Harris Museum

In tune with the theme of this website, www.madeinpreston.co.uk, the Harris Museum has a new exhibition.

Industrial Revolutionaries
Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston
26 June – 6 November 2010

Think the Industrial Revolution was just about machinery and smog? Think again….

http://www.revolutionaries.org.uk/

Will be going to have a look. Nice website and sounds interesting, although www.madeinpreston.co.uk is 8 years old and similar in content.

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).

On June 23rd the Institute of Mechanical Engineers announced that Leyland Trucks were overall winner of the Manufacturing Excellence Award 2010 (MX Award). This is the second year running Leyland have won this award.

Not only overall winners but were also finalists in 8 out of the 12 categories including also winning the Business Development and Change Management Award.

The company currently employs 970 people at the Leyland site and exports around 50% of it’s products. Two years ago it made 25,000 vehicles and has recently expanded the capability of the factory to include fully bodied trucks straight to the customer.

Tithebarn, the battle continues, Preston v Blackpool and Blackburn

Since 18th May the inquiry has continued into whether Tithebarn is giving the City of Preston too much retail advantage in relation to the towns of Blackpool and Blackburn.

Some highlights of this week’s case by Blackpool and Blackburn against the proposal are that Preston is highly ranked at 38th in Britain in its retail shopping, while Blackpool is a lowly 95th and Blackburn 130th using the results of the National Survey of Retail Shopping Patterns. Also that Preston is a regional transport hub and the proposed new bus station and surrounding roads are inadequate to support Tithebarn.

In many ways these arguments against Tithebarn strengthen its case. At the moment the hub of the North West is firmly in Manchester, with Liverpool also being a major centre, both cities being on the southern edge of the NW Region. Both of these cities get a lot of attention and investment. There is a case for more investment further north. England extends 130 miles north of Manchester, almost a third of its length, yet little investment goes beyond that city. Areas further north should be encouraged to keep their wealth and not to feed places that already get a lot of investment. Preston is the first major stop for that large area of the north.

Local Repairman blues

A few years ago our Hotpoint freezer went wrong and we called in a local repairman at under half the price of the Hotpoint man. Nice bloke, said it was an electronic unit that needed sending for repair by exchange. No freezer for 2 weeks. Refitted the part and hey, presto – it still didn’t work . He said we’d have to pay for the exchange item, even though it wasn’t broken, and we’d best call out Hotpoint. He then tore a hole in the lino floor putting the freezer back. Nice one. A couple of days later Hotpoint turned up and replaced the most obvious and cheapest item – the thermistor – and in 5 minutes it was working. Score 1-0 to the manufacturer.

Couple of months ago our fairly new Bosch oven started tripping the earth leakage device when it reached 200degC, turning off all the electricity and setting the burglar alarm off. Called in the local repairman who said it was the element and replaced it. Seemed OK for a few weeks but then started tripping again so we can only have the oven on 170deg. Repairman said that earth leakage faults aren’t covered by warranty and he could only suggest replacing the new element at a parts only charge. Bosch, await our call in the next couple of weeks, interesting to see what they say.

The burglar alarm why did it go off every time the earth leakage device tripped. The company who maintain it said, the alarm thinks it’s been hit by lightning because earth leakage devices trip so fast and it goes off. Take his word for that as he’s been very good. After a bit of persuasion he came out and replaced the battery at no charge with one with a capacitor and now it doesn’t go off. Score 1-1 with a result awaited from Bosch. No hesitation in recommending Hi-Tec Security for maintenance, although he’s in Lytham and the company address in Bispham.

Then there was a problem at a relatives with the lock on a upvc door. Called out a locksmith and he seemed a decent bloke but it was taking a long time practically taking door apart. Then with one great movement he fell over a table and knocked the leg off. It was somehow made to appear good. Then he decided he couldn’t fix the lock and said he was leaving without a charge. When he’d gone it was discovered he’d broken the lock although it still worked. What do you do? Called in locksmith number 2 and he fixed it up and replaced the back door lock at a good price as he was there. Those upvc mechanisms are quite expensive though as it was a wind-up action or something. No hesitation in recommending Mr Boyd of Boyd Locksmiths, a local repairman.

Finally, had a problem with our Hotpoint washing machine about a year ago when it started moving around the room during spin. Didn’t call out a local man – called out Hotpoint – cost a lot but was fixed with a new valve of some type the day after in 10 minutes.

Finding the right person isn’t easy. There are plenty of websites claiming to offer advice, often too much advice and a lot of it little help. As goods get more complex and protection systems like earth leakage and burglar alarms are added to the equation it seems it can get beyond the local repairman. Sometimes they might tear your lino or break the leg off a table. Although they are so much cheaper it is quite possibly worth taking a chance.

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 museum has struggled despite its fine collection.

It seemed some of the Friends of the Museum had an agenda that wasn’t exactly in line with the museum management. After a lot of internal politics the main members of the dissenters group departed.

There was cafe service complete with a railway station announcement through a metal jug – train to London stopping at Wigan, Warrington, Crewe……. Funny. Wish I’d heard a live performance while eating my Chorley Cake.

The serious work of getting the museum back on its feet is progressing through the action of a new manager and the trustees who had run a successful summer festival and obtained accreditation to enable funding grants to be sought. So an optimistic note at the end.

The museum is priceless with some great vehicles and needs more support. Definitely must take another visit.

The Made in Preston website has a page on the subject, click here.