Preston

Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 September
www.heritageopendays.org.uk – fully events listing and details

Later this week properties across England will throw open their doors for free as part of the country’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture.

Supported nationally by English Heritage and run locally by an army of volunteers and community champions, Heritage Open Days takes place on people doorstops and is the country’s leading grassroots cultural event.

One million people are expected to take advantage of the four day event, exploring more than 4,000 properties of every style, period and function, many of which are normally closed to the public or usually charge an admission fee.

Participating properties in North West England include:

Barrow – Dalton Castle (Dalton-in-Furness)
Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Priory, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Blackpool – Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens
Bolton – Bolton Steam Museum
Burnley – Gawthorpe Hall (Padiham), Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Bury – Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Peel Tower
Carlisle – High Head Sculpture Valley
Chester – Chester Racecourse, Grosvenor Museum, Little Moreton Hall (Congleton)
Kendal – Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Museum of Lakeland Life, Sizergh Castle
Lake District – Beatix Potter Gallery (Hawkshead), Blackwell (Windermere),
Liverpool – St George’s Hall, Cunard Building, Liver Building,
Macclesfield – Quarry Bank Mill
Manchester – Victoria Baths
Morecambe – Morecambe Town Hall
Oldham – Saddleworth Museum
Penrith – Acorn Bank
Preston – Samlesbury Hall
Rochdale – Healey Dell, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones,
St Helens – World of Glass
Stockport – Hat Works, Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall
Warrington – Norton Priory (Runcorn)
Wigan – Museum of Wigan Life, Trencherfield Mill Engine

Preston City Council is busy gearing up for this year’s annual Riversway festival, which returns to the docks on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July.

The festival is set to be the biggest to date, with a weekend packed full of free entertainment for the whole family.

For the very first time The Little Brig Sailing company will take to the city’s waters on ‘the world’s smallest tall ships’, offering free trips around the docks every 45 minutes across the weekend.

There will also be a full stage programme packed with local artists, whilst world class street theatre acts will entertain the crowds with some maritime-themed fun.

A full creative workshop programme for people of all ages will include art, craft, and drama, with a special session from a group of local bollywood dancers who will be on hand to show you some moves. Local arts company Bluestreak Arts will be providing decorations for the illuminated cruise, which will take place on Saturday evening before the sparkling fireworks show.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the sounds from the ‘Sing the Docks’ tent, a Guild project working with singers to create music inspired by the water, which is working towards surrounding the docks with singers during the 2012 Guild.

A whole host of food and exhibition stalls will be on offer, whilst trips on the Ribble Valley steam train will be available every hour.

Runners will also descend on the docks on Sunday 25th for the 1k fun run and first ever Riversway 5k run.

Visit http://www.preston.gov.uk/events/ for more information.

The 2010/11 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards took place yesterday at the Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel, near Accrington. The event was hosted by TV wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan.

The winners and highly commended were announced as follows:

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year – Sponsored by VisitBlackpool
Winner: Number One, South Beach, Blackpool
Highly Commended: Langtry’s Blackpool

Access for All Tourism Award – Sponsored by Tourism For All
Winner: Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho

Sustainable Tourism Award – Sponsored by Business Link
Winner: Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Bashall Eaves
Highly Commended: Caldertop Cottage, Garstang

Small Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Lancashire County Council
Winner: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe
Highly Commended: The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping

Large Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Welcome to Excellence
Winner: Best Western Premier Leyland Hotel

Best Tourism Event of the Year – Sponsored by Fat Media
Top Three voted by public vote
Winner – 1940s Wartime Weekend, East Lancashire Railway
2ndPlace – World Fireworks Championships, Blackpool
3rd Place – Festival Bowland

Online Marketing Award – Sponsored by New Mind
Winner: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool
Highly Commended: The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Taste Lancashire Award – Sponsored by Made in Lancashire and Food North West
Winner: The Highwayman, Burrow
Highly Commended: Greens Bistro, Lytham St Annes

Best Tourism Experience of the Year – Sponsored by Blackpool International Airport
Winner: Go Ape! Rivington
Highly Commended: Martin Mere Swan Spectacular, Nr Ormskirk

Caravan Holiday Park and Holiday Village of the Year – Sponsored by KPMG
Winner: Newton Hall Holiday Centre, Blackpool

Business Tourism Award of the Year – Sponsored by Virgin Trains
Winner: Stanley House, Mellor
Highly Commended: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe

Self Catering Award – The Northwest Regional Development Agency
Winner: The Old Shippon at Mellor
Highly Commended: Martin Lane Farmhouse Holiday Cottages, Burscough

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by Workhouse Marketing
Winner: Clitheroe Castle and Museum

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by University of Central Lancashire
Winner: Blackpool Zoo
Highly Commended: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool

Today sees the start of the public inquiry into the Preston Tithebarn development.

This independent public inquiry, which is being held at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, will decide on whether planning permission should be granted for this retail led mixed use re-development of the eastern part of Preston City Centre.

Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council and developers Lend Lease are submitting a strong case in support of Preston Tithebarn as Council Leader, Councillor Ken Hudson explained:

“Tithebarn is a much needed development for Preston and Central Lancashire. Tithebarn has wide ranging support from Lancashire County Council, the North West Development Agency and others and we look forward to making our case at the inquiry. We hope the inquiry will rule in favour of Tithebarn so that Preston can fulfill its undoubted potential.”

The Tithebarn development is a retail led regeneration of part of Preston City Centre. It includes a new bus station, revitalised Preston Markets, a new cinema, cafes, bars as well as new offices and homes. Tithebarn also includes a new John Lewis and Marks and Spencer anchor stores, as well as other improvements to shopping in the city.

In July 2009, Preston City Council resolved that it was minded to grant planning permission for the Tithebarn development.

However, the planning application was “called in” by the Government and a public inquiry was ordered.

The public inquiry is now taking place and is expected to last around six to seven weeks. The inquiry is chaired by two independent planning inspectors who after hearing all the evidence, will make a recommendation to the Government. The City Council is expecting to learn the outcome of the public inquiry around the end of 2010, when a final decision on the scheme will then be made by Government.

Following a meeting yesterday between the Lancashire County Council consortium, Manchester City Council and the Trustees of the National Football Museum (NFM), the public galleries in Preston will close as planned on 30 April.

Despite the best efforts of all parties the NFM was unable to meet Lancashire County Council’s requirements to join them in the partnership. However, the door remains open to further discussions on the development of a new NFM in Preston once the Manchester move has been completed.

The National Football Collection and the Museum’s international research facilities will remain in the present site in Preston.

While the move will result in the unfortunate redundancy of eight valued members of staff, 12 others will be part of the NFM team that will develop the exciting new galleries at Urbis in Manchester in partnership with Manchester City Council. The new Museum is due to open in autumn 2011.

Chairman of the Trustees of the National Football Museum, Paul Dermody, said: “We are obviously disappointed that negotiations with Lancashire County Council have reached an end. We had hoped to be able to meet their requirements so they could work with us in partnership. It is sad that our public galleries in Preston will close after so many people have enjoyed the facilities there. But we now have to focus on the exciting future that the National Football Museum will develop in Manchester that will benefit even more people and safeguard the collections long-term.”

Preston’s Guild Wheel project has been given a huge boost following the news that Lancashire County Council is to invest £1.5m in the scheme.

The ambitious scheme will create a 21-mile greenway around the city which will be used by thousands of cyclists, walkers and runners each year. It is the idea of local man Peter Ward and is being led by Lancashire County Council with support from Preston City Council.

County Councillor Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “The Guild Wheel promises to be one of the best cycling routes in the country.

“Not only will it provide a more environmentally friendly way of getting around the city, it will be a place where people can take in Preston’s historic sites, keep fit and use purpose-built play facilities. The Guild Wheel will also be lined with trees and hedges attracting a variety of wildlife.

“The 2012 Guild promises to be a spectacular celebration of Preston’s history and heritage and I’m pleased to work with the city council on this scheme.”

The aim is to provide a route that can be used by people of all abilities for recreation, accessing the countryside, and getting to work and school. It will help people to lead a healthier lifestyle through exercise.

This scheme will also develop a green corridor, and bring wider environmental benefits such as an improved habitat for wildlife, upgrading play areas, and planting of trees and hedgerows.

Peter Ward, chairman of the Preston Cycling Forum, explained: “The idea is to create a fantastic cycling and walking route that thousands of people can enjoy year in, year out – a place for people to relax, exercise or just get from A to B easily no matter what their age or ability.

“I’m pleased this project is moving forward and the £1.5 funding, together with support from other partners will help make this idea a reality.”

Preston’s Guild Wheel Cycling project was launched four years ago. Although exact route details have not been finalised, the general course of the path has already been confirmed as follows:

From Avenham Park, the route will run along the river to the docks. It will then connect with the Ribble Link, running via existing cycle paths and quiet lanes to Brougton. It will then travel through the east side of the city and is likely to run via the Midgery Lane Cycle Track and Preston East Employment Area, before joining the riverside cycle path near Brockhole’s Bridge.

The route will feature a good surface with access for people with disabilities, monuments depicting Preston’s rich and diverse history and activity, adventure and play areas for children.

This is one of the many projects which will mark the 2012 Preston Guild. Preston’s Guild dates back to around 1179, when King Henry II granted the town its first royal charter, and is celebrated every 20 years. The Guild Week celebrations planned for 2012 are likely to include carnivals, processions, dances, firework displays, sporting events and much more.

Seven interactive galleries along with new visitor facilities such as a shop, café and improved access for disabled people are just some of the new facilities that will be on offer at the Museum of Lancashire when an extensive renovation is completed in May 2011.

The refurbishment, which will also include improved lighting, new windows and cleaning of the stonework, is expected to get underway in April 2010 and to be completed in May 2011. As a result, the museum will close next week and reopen once the work is finished.

The upgrade to the Preston-based museum has been made possible following a successful application for funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Fund has awarded the museum a grant of £919,400, which will be matched by investment by Lancashire County Council of £811,147.

CC Mike Calvert, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for Adult and Community Services is looking forward to visiting the museum when it reopens: “The refurbished museum will be a superb facility which the people of Lancashire can be proud of.

“The plans for the museum are truly inspiring: I am particularly looking forward to the new atmospheric walk through the World War 1 trench with its sounds, smells and film.

Other plans for the museum include developing community engagement opportunities. A new community outreach officer will be appointed to work with local community groups to enable them to contribute directly into the new displays and to interpret objects that have meaning for them

It is also planned for the museum to act as a means of signposting heritage sites across Lancashire, such as the theme of Lancashire at work. This will tie in with Helmshore and Queen Street Mill Textile Museums, Lancaster Maritime and Fleetwood Museums and the British Commercial Vehicle Museum.

Three rail routes in North West England are to be electrified, slashing journey times increasing reliability, and reducing pollution.

The elecrification programme, announced today by Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis, includes:

• 17 miles of track between Preston and Blackpool North, allowing electric trains to run between Blackpool North and Liverpool/Manchester
• 15 miles of track between Huyton and Wigan, allowing electric trains to travel between Wigan and Liverpool, via St Helens
• 25 miles of track between Euxton (near Chorley) and Manchester, allowing electric trains to operate between Preston and Manchester, via Bolton

Electrification will also increase capacity as electrified lines can accommodate longer trains.

Work begins today on phase two of Preston’s Avenham and Miller Parks restoration project, with work due for completion in November 2010.

Following the securing of £2.35 million pounds in funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Heritage Lottery Fund, phase two of the project will see the parks restored to the original designs of Edward Milner drawn up during the 1860’s.

The work will see the planting of almost 500 new trees and 32,000 plants as well as the removal of 73 hazardous diseased trees which will be replaced with disease resistant elms. 19 trees will be removed for design reasons.

Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council said: ‘Avenham and Miller Parks are city gems and restoring them to the original vision of Edward Milner will ensure that the people of Preston are able to boast two of the most beautiful parks in the country for generations to come.

Once completed, this project will enhance Preston’s environmental credentials making it an even more attractive place to live and visit.

With the Guild in 2012 fast approaching, the parks will be a wonderful venue for staging events and showing Preston off in a fantastic light.’

The National Football Museum is to move from Preston to Urbis in Manchester in 2011.

The trustees of the museum made the controversial decision today, after commissioning an independent report on the move last month. They hope that a museum can be maintained at Preston until 2012 and beyond, providing funding is secured.

Paul Dermody, Chairman of the National Football Museum said, ‘We are delighted that the partnership with Manchester City Council will ensure an exciting future for the Museum. We also hope that further discussions with Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and the University of Central Lancashire will see this national treasure remain open in Preston into the future. Importantly, the museum’s future in the North West has been secured. We firmly believe this is a win-win situation’.

Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of Preston City Council, responded, ‘We are bitterly disappointed that the trustees of the National Football Museum have decided, in effect, to move the football museum to Manchester. We put forward an excellent funding package that guaranteed the future of the museum in Preston. Now they are talking about having some sort of ‘publicly accessible’ museum in Preston until 2012 – as long as Preston taxpayers fund it. In other words they want us to baby sit the museum until they open a new one in Manchester. Together with Lancashire County Council and the University of Central Lancashire we will now consider our options.’