Published May 7th, 2008
in Blackpool and Transport.
Blackpool International Airport has been sold to Balfour Beatty. The international construction and investment group has purchased 95% of the regional airport from Mar Properties, a Northern-Ireland based property developer.
The sale is subject to the approval of Blackpool Borough Council, a minority shareholder. The council support the deal and are expected to give the go ahead later this week.
Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said ‘Blackpool International is a well-located airport with the potential to become a thriving international gateway to Lancashire and Cumbria. We will work together with the airlines and our local partners to help increase its penetration within this core catchment area and to play its part in attracting inbound visitors to the region. We believe that our approach will deliver significant, sustained growth in passenger traffic at the airport and will generate important economic benefits for it and for Blackpool. Our aim is to develop Blackpool to be the airport of choice for residents, businesses and visitors of Lancashire and Cumbria.’
Published May 6th, 2008
in Attractions & Activities and Morecambe.
Lancaster City Council is to celebrate 12 months of cycling on the Morecambe’s Promenade with a party on Sunday May 11. It was only one year ago that ancient byelaws banning cycling in the area were lifted.
The celebrations will run from 11 am to 3.30 pm and will include a cycle stunt show, cycling demonstrations, police postcoding, and children’s entertainment.
The Lake District’s famous ospreys have settled in a new nest on the eastern side of Bassenthwaite Lake after spending 7 breeding seasons on the opposite site at a nest in Wythop Woods.
Despite the move, the existing viewpoint at Dodd Wood remains open and gives visitors the change to see the ospreys fishing in the lake and watch woodland birds. The Lake District Osprey Team is hoping to set up a new viewpoint near the new nest.
Graeme Prest of the Lake District Osprey Project said, ‘Over the years we have learnt to ‘expect the unexpected’ when it comes to our ospreys and clearly this year it’s going to be no different, with yet another twist to the tale. However, it’s great news that it looks like it’s going to be business as usual for our ospreys but just at a different nest and it does mean that we’ll need to alter our osprey viewing arrangements for visitors slightly.’
Published April 30th, 2008
in Bolton.
A statue to legendary Bolton steeplejack Fred Dibnah was unveiled in his home town yesterday. The 8 ft tall bronze sculpture, by Jane Robins, stands on Oxford Street next to a working steam engine he loved to visit.
Dibnah shot to fame in the late 1970s after featuring in a BBC documentary Fred Dibhah: Steeplejack. The eccentric character went onto present and feature in a number of TV shows, mainly about the Industrial Revolution.
Fred Dibnah died of cancer in November 2004, aged 66. Yesterday would have been his 70th birthday.
Published April 29th, 2008
in Attractions & Activities and Lancaster.
Leighton Hall opens its doors for its 2008 season this week. The opening on May 1 will mark the 50th anniversary of the famous stately home near Carnforth opening its doors to the public.
Events planned for 2008 include the Lakeland Classic Car Rally on July 13, the Leighton Hall Food and Craft Fair on September 6 & 7, and the Doll’s House and Miniatures Fair on October 12.
The 2008 season runs until 30 September. Leighton Hall is open Tuesdays to Fridays, bank holiday Sundays and Mondays, and Sundays during August. Admission prices to the hall and grounds are £6 for adults, £4 for children (aged 5-12), and £5 for senior citizens. Family tickets (2 adults and 3 children) priced at £18 are also available.
Published April 29th, 2008
in Liverpool and Transport.
A bronze statue of Liverpool legend Ken Dodd is take pride of place at Liverpool Lime Street train station. The statue, by Liverpool-based artist Tom Murphy, has been commissioned by Merseytravel and is set to be unveiled before the end of the year.
Ken Dodd received the news at the 20th annual Scouseology Awards, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel last week.
Previous works by Tom Murphy include the statue of John Lennon at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Published April 28th, 2008
in Attractions & Activities and Manchester.
Tickets for Manchester Pride, the city’s annual gay festival and parade, go on sale Thursday May 1. The Big Weekend, the highlight of the festival runs from August 22 to 25, at the Gay Village. Tickets are available from See.
The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence were held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool last night, the first time they taken place outside London. Winners from the North West were:
Gold Awards:
Tourism Website of the Year – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Tourism Information Centre of the Year – Liverpool 08 Place
Silver Awards:
Large Hotel of the Year – Radisson Edwardian Manchester
Meet England Business Tourism Award – Manchester Central
Caravan Holiday Park of the Year – Sunset Park, near Blackpool
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Tullie House Museum, Carlisle
Several new buildings and landmarks in the North West have been shortlisted for the 2008 Structural Steel Design Awards. The Liverpool Echo Arena, the Halo sculpture in Rossendale, the Singing Ringing Tree sculpture in Burnley, and the Turning the Place Over public art display in Liverpool will compete against the likes of Terminal 5 at Heathrow for the prestigious design award.
The winner will be announced at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on July 8.
Published April 24th, 2008
in Restaurants and Warrington.
Shellys Restaurant on Bold Street in Warrington has been crowned the North West’s best café in a competition organised by builders merchant Roof Shop. Owner Michele Butterworth received the award at a ceremony held in the Belfry in the West Midlands on March 27.
