Category: Made in Preston

Main theme and general stuff about Preston.

Visiting Royal Preston Hospital

Daily visiting an elderly relative last week at RPH. Got a bit of a routine of getting an Evening Post. Today a young woman was giving the counter staff a telling off for some slight and was oblivious to everyone thinking she was the problem. You never know what stress visitors are under in a hospital and the staff are probably used to it.

It’s a very busy place. Arrive around 2pm and security are controlling traffic as the car parks are packed. Even so, someone has conveniently left as I arrived almost each time, but at £1.50 a day plus an Evening Post it’s adding up. Long walk and climb the stairs. From above the buildings cover an area bigger than a football pitch on a single floor. 70’s style design looks inefficient. How about some car parking on that big flat roof.

The staff have been very good although there are so many people in different coloured uniforms and a lot of them say they’re only passing through or it’s not their bit. Finding who to talk to is a problem. The nurses have limited scope to advise as they are performing routines prescribed by the doctor and don’t make judgements. Finding a doctor is another matter, I haven’t found one yet. They seem to be on ward in the morning well away from visiting time.

On the ward each bed has a personal TV and Radio which seems good but it costs £5 a day. Who pay’s that much? Didn’t they have free TV on the wards before.

Visiting in the evening or weekend is recommended, being able to park easily makes it more relaxed. Overall I thought the hospital seems to be doing a good job but something should be done about the traffic and car parking and the price of the TV. Maybe a patient information point in the ward with an occasional doctor present would be useful. Think there’s another week ahead of the same.

Made in Lancashire Food Market Days

A food market is to be held on Friargate in Preston in August selling only food made in Lancashire. If this can be achieved it will be a great opportunity to find out just what is made in the locality. There might be surprises.

Lancashire Cheese comes immediately to mind. Then again Rocky Bars are made in Kirkham, a stall of Rocky Bars sounds pretty good. Beeches chocolates made in Preston, not what you’d normally find on a market, as they try to be more up-market than market, but why not.

Is Bury classed as Lancashire or is it Greater Manchester – black pudding display. Thwaites Beer from Blackburn and maybe Boddingtons and Stella Artois from Samlesbury. What could be more Lancashire than Stella Artois. Cains from Liverpool, whoops Merseyside not Lancashire.

Fishermans Friend of Fleetwood, Burtons biscuits in Blackpool, not to mention a stick of rock from Coronation Rock, Greenhalgh’s bakery. Hollands Pies and Uncle Joes of Wigan not Lancashire. Warburtons of Bolton in Greater Manchester. Where is the boundary, is it county or palatine. Are unitary authorities in Lancashire. Don’t be pedantic.

Hope it’s not all eggs, sausages, pies and cheese.

It will be interesting to find out who Lancashire residents preferred suppliers should be. To find one new decent product made locally, bring it on.

Preston Maps at Alston Hall

Yesterday I attended a 4 hour talk at Alston Hall by Stephen Sartin, one of Prestons most knowledgeable local historians as well as art expert. The subject was ‘Preston through its maps’.  The subject of Preston and of maps creates double appeal to myself and I wasn’t disappointed.  Even though Stephen did his usual trick of having enough material to talk for days even though I think he could talk for days on a single slide and no-one would mind at all.

Starting at Ptolemy in AD150 the Ribble estuary was clearly shown. Roman routes and then through time to maps of the 19th century along with pictures of what the maps were showing.  The story of the Battle of Preston was presented as a battle commentary, John Simpson eat your heart out, using a map showing the burning houses and troop positions.  We followed the progress of the troops coming up from the river and the fighting and burning along Church Street.  As well as the positions to the north of the town and their push into the centre.

We were treated to the development of the town from its core in the Flag Market and Town Hall. The speculation about the origin of the orchard or garden now under the covered market.  Also the story of the fine alibastar church mantle given to Preston by Queen Mary and possibly also buried under the covered market which was the site of the vicarage of St John’s.  An excuse to dig up the floor of the covered market is required to check this.

Mr Sartin gives regular talks at Alston Hall usually about Preston with a couple more coming up soon. Not to mention the magnificent lunch that Alston Hall is renowned for and its coffee break refreshments especially the cakes after the talk.  A good day. To be recommended.

Miller Arcade. Where is it going?

The LEP reports that the sale of Miller Arcade has fallen through. The building is looking in good condition and quite welcoming although it doesn’t have many shops in it and seems a bit isolated.   It’s on the corner of the shopping area with nothing beyond it to create passing trade. Although it could be said that the new bus station, if it’s ever built, will rejuvenate that area.  But perhaps not as both routes into the current bus station aren’t what you aspire to with a building like the Miller Arcade.

Miller Arcade is beautiful building fully worthy of its Grade II listing. When inside with the doors it’s quite welcoming and sheltered although perhaps the doors deter entrance and make it less obvious what is inside. With an uncertain future it can’t be guaranteed that it will be properly maintained and many buildings in such a situation get lost to fires.  It is said the council are hoping the Heritage Lottery Fund will provide some cash although what would be done with it isn’t said, as the building looks alright on the surface.  The problem appears to be location.

Recently Blackpool Council made a bid to buy it’s two iconic buildings, the Winter Gardens and the Tower, with the help of a European Re-generation Grant.  That the Conservative Blackpool council is taking buildings into public ownership while the Labour Preston Council is seeking private solutions appears to be the wrong way round. Buildings like Miller Arcade are more than commodities to be bought and sold. St Georges was sold and personally I wouldn’t worry if it disappeared. But Miller Arcade is irreplaceable. The council should be involved at least in the investment to ensure it is maintained as one of Prestons icons and that the main shopping area is driven more in its direction.

The UKIP effect in Lancashire

The second article on how parties could affect the Preston area and Lancashire if they obtained power or held influence after the General Election.  UKIP are today’s subject as they were in the news last week after a speech by their leader that said Belgium wasn’t a proper country.

The main policy and purpose of UKIP is to leave the EU and reach a free trade agreement.  It isn’t easy to say how that will impact the region particularly as we are the furthest away from the continent, although close to Ireland.  Although it could be said that free movement of people across EU borders will no longer be a right and therefore migration patterns will change.   Most of the immigration in this area has not been from the EU so it will have little effect.  Although it seems locals don’t want to do the jobs EU migrants are doing and if they do it increases costs.  So whether increasing costs will drive work elsewhere, and if there would be an increase in illegal and non-EU labour to make up the numbers is an unanswered question.

One of the policies that might be good for the area is a 40% increase in the defence budget as there is a large regional defence industry. Although it isn’t said where the money will go, I assume home defence will be the main agenda. 

Also the policy of building nuclear power stations will retain existing Lancashire jobs at Heysham and Salwick and create new ones for the replacement stations that will be required soon.

The policy to replace VAT with local tax could have mixed effect.  If local areas are able to keep their sales taxes it should benefit areas containing businesses, although it would be subject to central government agreement no doubt. Councils with mainly residential property will not have as great an income from this so whether that effects them isn’t clear.  It could start a tax war between say Preston and Blackburn to attract trade. Although it would have to be a significant change to make effect.

Other policies include scrapping inheritance tax, allowing doctors to work as many hours as needed and having elected health boards. How many workers want their hours to be unrestricted? Personally I’d prefer to be treated by a doctor who hasn’t been up all night.  Notice there is no mention of scrapping the 48hr working limit for everyone else.  Scrapping Human Rights laws, increasing prisons and local voting on police priorities are listed.

UKIP’s other polices include combining income tax and national insurance and raising the tax threshold to £11,500, which sounds a good idea, both of which are similar to Liberal Democrat policies.

It could be said that overseas investment will be less if the UK isn’t in the EU.  Many companies invest here in expectation of it being a place with equal access to EU markets but generally with a more business friendly climate.  Also without a UK influence the EU could take measures against UK interests, perhaps deliberately, without us having a say.  Britains standing in the world might be affected by not being in the EU with the move towards large power blocks.  Some say Australia for example doesn’t have such an arrangement but Britain has historically been at the top table and might find itself squeezed unless being outside the EU creates a resurgence.
 
Overall an interesting package of populous measures designed to appeal to those who don’t like bureaucracy and don’t like the EU.   They are similar to what many Conservative voters would like.  It could therefore be said a UKIP vote is likely to help Labour, a triumph of unintended consequences.

Snowdrops in March

It’s nearly the end of February and snowdrops are out.  I thought that was January’s job.  We’re going to get a rush they say as the season is a month late; crocii, daffodils, tulips, blossom. Most days it’s been around 4degC when it should be 7ish. 

Now it’s raining hard making the soil difficult to work. You can’t have the season too compressed or nothing will ripen and we might be short of stuff like wheat, apples, corn.  The further north you go the shorter the seasons.  A lot depends on how the weather develops in the next few weeks.  Could be beautiful if all the blossom is out together but how stuff matures is a longer term event.

We’ve had leeks and spring cabbage in the ground over winter and they seem OK although someone said the cold comes up from underneath and spoils the hearts. So we’ll see, there’s always one merry soul waiting to say you’re doomed.

We have an outdoor apricot although it’s only given us one small fruit. The blossom is too early for round here and we’re not disciplined enough with our gardening. It needs a clockwork schedule to catch the short windows of opporunity so we don’t get a lot unless it’s inevitable like leeks.

Here’s to a good spring.

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, wind power, insulation and waste management are high on the agenda.  Along with quite high social provision and low defence provision. 

Who could argue with wind, insulation and waste measures? Insulation seems to be one of the biggest factors in reducing energy bills. It isn’t very glamorous though and isn’t going to gain technological credibility so doesn’t get a lot of press. 

All those windmills.  Are they becoming a bit of a blight already?  They’re often not turning, so not very dependable. For the region with its seas, hills and facing the prevailing wind we can expect a lot more who-ever is in power but even more with the Greens. We can also expect Heysham Power Stations to close and the fuel site at Salwick.

Waste? All that plastic packaging and milk cartons. Surely it should be discouraged.  Some countries already re-cycle twice as much as the UK without too much difficulty.

Another Green policy is an increase in public transport.  Not too long ago their promise of building 30,000 new buses would sound like manna from heaven for this region, Leyland,  but now there is hardly any bus building except some body work at East Lancs Coachbuilders, Optare.  

There wasn’t much written about reducing car use but cutting rail fares by  30% and expanding public transport implies a reduction in car use. I’m not convinced about a 30% cut in rail fares. A cut from £10 to £7 is only marginally advantageous and if I was spending that every day, a cut from £50 to £35 wouldn’t be life changing. I’m against encouraging distance commuting so in some ways an increase in fares might help that.  I have free bus use now and have never used it, so cars will need to be penalised. 

The 30,000 buses are an interesting concept. British jobs for British workers?  Including steel from Middlesbrough for windmills and buses, although probably it’s the wrong steel and too little, too late and steel making isn’t green. 

Taxes on aviation, like VAT on aviation fuel, and restrictions on new runways coupled with reductions in rail fares, might create an advantage to resorts like Blackpool.  Especially if the pound sank because of the financial controls the Greens promise. 

On defence the Greens are looking at a defensive posture and only venturing overseas under the UN. As UN don’t usually use more than Land Rovers and light armour you could say no overseas capability will be needed.  Is that goodbye to Ascension, Falklands and perhaps Gibraltar.  Aircraft Carriers and their aircraft and probably a lot of the navy wouldn’t be needed. Trident is definitely out.  I wouldn’t hold much hope for the aircraft industry in Lancashire or ship industry at Barrow.  As an area with a large defence and nuclear industry how many defence workers does it take to insulate one loft.

The Greens are also big on social welfare including workers and human rights and a citizens wage. 

There are other policies about building solar arrays in Africa and using high voltage d.c. transmission lines to bring in the power.  As well as local generation.  It’s not long ago I was reading about the advantages of the a.c. distribution system so I must re-visit that. Surely a policy like that couldn’t be written without engineering awareness. 

The Greens also support the EU, but not as a nation, and support international co-operation, who doesn’t.

As you’d expect, some big changes would result and I was a bit surprised that they seem quite left wing when out of the major elements of the ‘green zone’.   I’d support a ‘greener’ track in many aspects and use of local producers and local workers appeals. There’s always a downside to this type of social engineering in that if basic stuff becomes more expensive you’ve less to spend on enjoyment. In conclusion they won’t get my vote but have my support as a pressure group.

1 Year Old

Missed my blogs birthday on February 6th 2010.

The Made In Preston Blog is 1 year old and has about 180 posts. I thought it’ll only last a few weeks but it’s still hot. So tonight I’ll pop a bottle of wine and some bottles of beer and to cap the excitement watch Question Time at 10.30.  It’s either that or Newsnight.

What happens when a blog is a year old?  Are it’s teeth growing and a bit of hair. Sometimes it’s like a vent. Richard Wilson comes into mind as you find some ridiculous thing on the news and decide it’s a topic to rage about or maybe strongly agree with.

The most enthusiastic commenters are Russian, probably 10 a day. Their mail comes in the form of long stories with certain words spread about in them.  There is one person in East Europe who keeps writing about Grand Pianos although it has a strange link.  The fixer divides mail brilliantly and with one click the rubbish is gone.  I’ve switched off comments on old ramblings for a while.  You can make contact via the Made In Preston website.

The other good thing about the blog is a bit of deeper thought on matters.  Also the stuff doesn’t drop out of thin air. Sometimes Preston is a bit limited so for that reason the blog Origin North West has been started for broader topics.

So it’s upwards and onwards for another year.

National Football Museum goes to Istanbul

What a shock!  We all thought it was going to Manchester. Having a quick look at the NFM website – it seems it’s gone to Istanbul.  Closer look shows it’s a few pieces for a while.  Istanbul, Manchester perhaps hard to tell them apart and the driver wasn’t used to GPS.

Urbis is closing its doors for 18 months from 27th February 2010 to transform itself into the new NFM.  Difficult  to know what they’re doing all that time. One month to remove the old stuff out. A couple of months to move the new stuff in. A few shirts and boots, M&S would crack it in days and that leaves 15 months spare.

Although they’re going to spend a few million pounds so quite a bit of time will be spent designing a new format. More interactive it is said and good enought to attract 400,000 visitors a year. With Harvey Nichols and Selfridges only a stones throw away the smart set must be getting excited.

Then there is some kind of handover and an on-going negotiation about what,  if anything, remains at Preston.  The museum is only just at critical mass in one location so the idea of having equal status at two locations seems far fetched.

My own plan is that some elements of the NFM and some special exhibitions should be at Preston.  There should also be a Lancashire football and sport exhibition for Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Accrington, Wigan and maybe Bolton.  It could include other sports like Lancashire rugby and cricket. Lancashire needs somewhere to celebrate it’s sporting past and future.

That Preston attracted 100,000 visitors a year isn’t a bad number. I wonder how many visit other museums in the area and what a target for a reduced museum would be.

I think the museum a bit difficult to take in, maybe it’s bad attention span. Maybe football is too club oriented. Personally I’d rather look at stuff about PNE than Bobby Moore’s shirt, without meaning to be disrespectful. The Tom Finney exhibition and view over the Deepdale pitch are the highlights for me.

So how about a PNE and Lancashire Sport Museum with view over the pitch and a cafe worth going into.

H.J.Berry in administration

The old furniture maker in Chipping went into administation this week. A blow to a way of work, skills and manufacturing as well as the staff and village. Last year it featured on Gerry Robinson’s TV programme and he offered to put in some funds in exchange for a majority share. However it seems he didn’t take it up. It is thought the factory will now be used for another industry.

All isn’t lost in manufacturing. Not directly related, an old weaving company in Wellington, Somerset, Fox Bros. founded in 1772, has been saved by Deborah Meadon of Dragon’s Den fame. She sees a future for the top end of manufacturing quality as at this flannel maker. Would be nice if she looked at Chipping but she has some association with Somerset.

Angel of Preston

There is a flurry of commentary about placing a statue next to the M6 to symbolise Preston.  One is a semi-buried soldier denoting the historic battles that took place in Preston and the other is a statue symbolising a military aircraft to relate to one element of the local industry.

While supporting art forms both modern and traditional, it seems both of these are unimaginative ideas on a major scale.  It joins the race to create ‘angels of the north’ all over the country with a horse being built at Ebbsfleet which seems fairly pointless and unimaginative.  The Angel of the North was fairly controversial when it opened but now represents something unusual and dramatic, something no corporate design company could create.

It’s also seen as an opportunity to make a name for individuals and corporate designers.

Is a large public artwork the answer or would this amount spent on the Harris make it a bigger attraction. Why shouldn’t the Harris celebrate local business and build up to the Guild. Preston is known for cotton, trams, buses in Leyland, planes and now call centres.

It isn’t clear where the funding for implementing these ideas comes from. The council is offering money to the Football Museum and maybe, with that almost certainly going to Manchester, then there is some spare. Although I’d imagine that to make a good job of such a feature would cost at least £3m.  There are examples of art being bought apparently expensively such as Bolton Museum buying the imitation sculpture, Preston buying Pauline in the Yellow Dress during the war, and Trinity Hospice spending £50k on 7 commissioned artworks this year. So money for art is available, sometimes when you don’t expect it.

Then you might say who judges what should be built.  An example is Blackpool Promenade where a number of large public art pieces have been built that many people seriously dislike. Yet over time they are becoming established features and wearing well with time.  So there is a chance that the only art worth getting is that most disliked at the time. In general, and it may sound pompous, it could be that the public shouldn’t be trusted to judge on what makes good art, otherwise the shops wouldn’t be full of kitsch and more people might go into PAD. So I’d support a reputable artist deciding. Keep the corporates and local representatives well away or a paper aeroplane with no lasting appeal will result.

Combined Heat and Power from Baxi

Baxi say they are geared up to deliver up to 20,000 combined heat and power units a year from their Preston, Bamber Bridge, plant. 

The government is issuing contracts worth billions of pounds for green energy but the great majority of the manufacturing work is expected to go overseas.  Combined Heat and Power (CHP)  isn’t regarded as a ‘green’ technology in government terms although it gives the capability to return power to the grid or for use in the building reducing dependence on the grid. It’s downside being that it is still using gas. So no government green manufacturing contracts are coming to Preston for this.  They’re going to Germany and Denmark, perhaps China.

Micro-CHP sounds an interesting solution but I don’t know a lot about it.  Is it more efficient to generate electricity in small generators, does that adequately offset the distribution costs and need to import?  Baxi claim their domestic unit, the Ecogen, is 90% efficient compared to 35% efficiency for grid electricity. 

Security of supply is a good point, as we did have an electricity black-out for one hour last month and for several hours 2 years ago, in the final stages of X-factor as well, but I don’t think I’d spend much to reduce the risk. You’d need a smart meter as well I’d think.  At the end of the day I’d be looking at how much the boiler costs and how much my gas and electricity bill will change. That’s why green often doesn’t get bought, it’s not cost efficient and a government grant is needed.

Baxi also supply a Ground Sourced Heat Pump although it isn’t known where that is made, probably not Preston.  I’ve read good things about these and might take a further look.

Perhaps we could take advantage of the governments £400 boiler scrappage scheme.  Notice that B&Q are selling a boiler for £399 so do you get a pound back and find you’re own fitter. Surprising that I read that a new boiler typically costs about £2000 to install.  The pipes are there and so is the gas,  if that is the case it costs £1600 to remove and fit the boiler, then adjust a couple of feet of pipe. Should take under a day.  Nice work if you can get it.  Our house has warm air heating and the previous owner bought a new boiler that cost a lot more than £399.

Found this on the Baxi website. Quote:

What is mCHP?

Combined heat and power (CHP), or cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of useful heat and electricity from a single source. Large scale CHP, suitable for industrial and commercial applications, has been around for some time.

Micro or Mini-CHP (mCHP) refers to the small-scale production of heat and power for  individual commercial buildings, apartments and individual homes. These units meet the demand for space heating and hot water whilst providing electricity to supplement or replace the grid supply.

Why mCHP?

mCHP is a true low (or zero) carbon alternative to a gas boiler.

Installation of mCHP appliances – in existing or new buildings – can be more cost-effective and less disruptive compared to other renewable and low carbon technologies, as installation and servicing relies largely on current skills required for heating installation.

What are the benefits of mCHP?

  • Carbon emissions are reduced by generating electricity at the point of use – avoiding the system losses associated with central power production.
  • Economic savings are generated for the user, by reducing imported electricity and by selling surplus electricity back to the grid.
  • Security of supply is greatly enhanced by reducing reliance on centralised power production

End of quote from Baxi website.

Winckley Square facelift

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 square or its character by a great deal. It opens it out and uses modern materials and features to give a more interesting  and welcoming look. 

One of the objectives is to make the area more welcoming after dark and lighting features are used. I would be a bit dubious about that aspect and it makes the square high maintenance, especially the fountains, although water is a nice feature and many other places use it, including Blackpools new square.  You can’t fault the council for ambition on that. Maybe after visiting one of the restaurants nearby a stroll on a nice evening would be good, although I think I’d walk round it rather than in it and I haven’t been in Preston centre at night for 30 years.

Will the design still look good in 10 years?  Is the design too similar to many others?  Should the design reflect an earlier time?  It isn’t clear whether something really great should have been done for Prestons finest green square or if it should just be returned to an as was state. On the other hand creating something great can be a very expensive route.   A novel design can be controversial and playing it safe with a return to an earlier date can be unimaginative.  Maybe this is a good compromise as it isn’t too extensive or modern, is interesting with small features and doesn’t detract from the overall character of the square.

When I was last in Preston we went into a cafe in Winckley Street and there was a postcard showing a photo of the square with a space for objecting to the redesign on the back. Unfortunately it didn’t say what was being proposed as an alternative but there was a photo of a rather tired looking path through heavy trees that didn’t look too good. Over the years I’ve read that many of the parks in Preston have later additions that are now treated as ‘original’, for example the Japanese Garden in Avenham,  yet there seems to be a demand to preserve Winckley Square as it was without anyone being told what it was. For that reason I didn’t fill in the form, although I’m open to changing my mind.

Borders closing

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 its Starbucks, Game, Calendar Club and Paperchase and having easy parking.  A loss.

What happens to the other places does it all close?  Bad time for the staff just before Christmas. Probably the other bookstores don’t like a big stock of 20% off books being available just before Christmas. So it’s bad news all round except for other coffee and game stores.

On the other hand the Deepdale centre seems to be doing well. Can’t say I’ve been a lot but the car parks always seem pretty full, if that means anything. It looks smart, probably one of the best centres of its type in the area. Borders is quite prominent so hope something worthy comes in.

Blackpool v Preston North End

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 played. North End have a habit of a bad home score and then making it up in the next away game. The forwards havent’ been scoring much lately and the defence has been a bit squeaky so time they made up.  Blackpool have moved off their peak in the last few weeks.

Forecast: Blackpool 1 PNE 2.

Queueing for the 2012 Preston Guild

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 in that year.  

It’s not long since the Royal Lancashire said it wouldn’t go to Preston for it’s annual show for reasons un-said,  but now the show has no home.  It sounds a good idea to have it in Preston and Moor Park has been suggested.  The show organisers say the show takes 150 acres of land – about 100 football pitches.  Moor Park has been suggested before but I once read it was 100 acres. Another 50 acres is needed, how much of this is car parking?  Deepdale is across the road and there are a couple of small parks nearby and maybe a park and ride can be set up. If the show is looking for a home it could scale down a bit. The show is normally in July which is well before the Guild which starts in early September and the Olympic Games which start on 27th July 2012.

The Corporate Games announced yesterday that an event could be held in Preston in 2012 and this is supported by Preston Council and the North West Development Agency. This is for company teams to compete and is held all over the world organised from a base in Peterborough.  I’d imagine that large local employers like BAE SYSTEMS and Leyland Trucks could have teams although the impression given is that teams from outside the area will be expected. Liverpool is hosting a games in 2010 and it will be interesting to see who is there.

Noticed that Preston Council website has dates for civic events in the Guild as shown below, the Guild Court starting the main festivities. The Council are consulting with local people about their own contributions.

Sat 18 August 1st Proclamation (announcement)
Sat 25 August 2nd Proclamation
Sat 1 September 3rd and Final Proclamation
Sun 2 September Guild Mayor’s Civic Procession and Divine Service at Minster
Mon 3 September Opening of the Guild Court
  Guild Inaugural Ball*
Wed 5 September Guild Mayoral Ball*
 Thur 6 September Mayoral reception for Oversees Visitors
Fri 7 September Guild Mayoress’ Church Procession
  Carnival Ball*
Sat 8 September Formal Adjournment of Guild Court
  Grand Firework Display and Final Reception
Sun 9 September Guild Mayor’s Church Procession to service of Thanksgiving

http://www.preston.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/guild-2012/

Tithebarn Syndrome and Blackpools Casino

Is Preston heading along a cul-de-sac with the Tithebarn Project?  For many years the Casino was going to be the saviour of Blackpool, the ‘Las Vegas’ of Lancashire.  When the rug was pulled Blackpool had a spell of total loss of confidence having been frozen in anticipation for years. It seems Preston is going through a spell when the Tithebarn Project is it’s main development and until it is resolved then the bus station and buildings in that area are probably getting less maintenance than they would normally receive and who knows what else, a sort of Tithebarn Syndrome.

Blackpool did eventually have more plans and received a lot of cash for promenade extensions, new tram system, shopping malls and repaving the centre but this has happened late and its main conferences have been lost.  So what options are Preston exploring if the Tithebarn Project is lost or watered down and does it matter?

At present the council are not admitting there any unsurmountable problems and this is understandable.  Behind the scenes other options must be considered. For example the bus station is an impressive building but maybe it doesn’t need to be an island and maybe M&S would like a store on the west of the building using the car park as its drive in.

On the other hand I don’t know what M&S thinking on this is. Are they looking for an additional store or is this a drive in store.

The bus station / railway station location continues to be a big negative for Preston, not to mention where any high speed line, if it arrives, might be. Surely this needs an improvement.

Then there is the loss of face of admitting defeat to the glee of Blackburn and Blackpool. This should be discounted, although easily said.  Lend Lease the remaining Tithebarn contractor seem to be an adaptable company who have been involved in developments of all kinds the world over and maybe as a single lead developer they can offer a plan that doesn’t appear as threatening but over time will become as big as Tithebarn.

Grosvenor pull out of Tithebarn

Grosvenor pulled out of the £700m Preston Tithebarn development today saying they want to focus on smaller developments.  Lend Lease the other developer say they are staying in. It had seemed Grosvenor were the major developer but on looking at the Land Lease website they have involvement in a lot of large projects worldwide.

The project has been on the boards for a long time, is very ambitious, faces opposition from everyone not in Preston, is subject to a planning inquiry and there are attempts to list the main building to be knocked down.  Maybe this is standard fare in such developments and developers just keep chipping away and re-structuring their portfolios, but to the uninitiated it sounds like a story of continuous obstacles.  Grosvenor have spent quite a bit of money already buying up properties and in the planning process so there is a risk of making a loss on work to date and you might have thought that their commitment would have assured their continuation.

I’ve never been fully pro or anti-Tithebarn and my opinion changes as I read different articles. There is no doubt that Preston is a strange design overall and Tithebarn isn’t going to help.  Other factors such as; will a new high speed line go through Preston or round it or maybe not go this far north, will Preston be a stop for High Speed Trains, should the bus station and railway station be closer and link better to the motorway. Why is the shopping area going to be split between the railway station end of Fishergate and the Tithebarn area. The bus station is one of Preston’s most commented buildings and it is to be knocked down. Tithebarn doesn’t seem to help these.  On the plus side probably from the council’s view if someone is willing to put in money all these issues are the lesser of the evils of running down and unemployment.

Preston FM your community radio

Driving round Preston the other day a radio station I hadn’t heard of popped onto my radio. Preston FM 103.2MHz. Sounded a bit ‘localish’ although I’ve listened to a couple of their music programmes and they’re OK. So I’m giving it a go through their on-line feed at the moment. The schedule says ‘chat’ show but it’s been uninterrupted music.  As a volunteer and charity funded station it’s worth a go.

If you’re living overseas and want to hear some homely Preston voices then maybe there’s a good reason to listen on line.

Maybe they should do some traffic announcements as that seems to be how most stations get listeners although for me it also can cause hostility. comm

Preston FM website:

http://www.preston.fm/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/