Uncategorized – Page 8 – Made In Preston

Parliament debates BAE redundancies

On November 24^th a debate was held in parliament on the redundancies at BAE SYSTEMS primarily at the Warton and Samlesbury plants in Lancashire and the closure of the Brough site in Yorkshire. The prime mover was David Davis, the MP for the Yorkshire seat containing the Brough site. Also Alan Johnson, the MP for Hull West. The debate was poorly attended with only those from threatened sites turning up. These included North West MP’s: Ben Wallace, Mark Menzies, Jack Straw, Mark Hendrick, Lorraine Fullbrook Graham Jones. With Nigel Evans sitting in as Speaker. The government was represented by Peter Luff, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Equipment.

The main speaker was David Davis who raised points about the betrayal of a long history successful work at the Brough plant. That the Hawk still has prospects for sales and that much of it is being offered to overseas companies in ‘offset’ deals to gain more sales. Also the point was raised that BAE had made the error of selling off its commercial aircraft interests which had often taken up the slack when defence orders are slow. A plea to slow the rate of redundancies at Brough was raised.

There was also talk about the terms in the ‘yellow book’ which represents the trading agreements between government and industry. This relates to guaranteeing jobs to maintain capability and covers who pays for redundancy costs. It seems the government pays in this case. Some MP’s think BAE is exploiting this.

Others mentioned large overspends that need to be reduced and ensuring the ability to satisfy future projects.

Each MP spoke. It seemed reading the debate that very little was said that hasn’t been said a dozen times. It is perhaps unusual for redundancies at one company to secure so much time for discussion and it left me wondering what was achieved. At the end there was a resolution which might mean more in politics than it does when reading it. This says;

That this House urges BAE Systems to act to preserve the UK’s defence production skills base and, as a recipient of enormous resources over many years from the UK taxpayer, to deploy those resources in such a way as to protect the nation’s manufacturing capability.

Or it seemed; Carry on as planned, if what you make costs more and what you can offer is limited by inflexibility then you reduce the chance to sell it, and so could lose more jobs.

It could be argued that to preserve jobs the government should place contracts that pull work forward or create new research. In the current climate this seems unlikely.

An overview of defence as a whole could read as follows. Over the years the UK aircraft industry has consolidated to a few plants and BAE has changed from an aircraft company to one that delivers systems with a large part in the US. Also the number of projects has declined and it appears that the UK is likely to become an aircraft ‘part’ manufacturer. With UAV’s potentially creating work but it isn’t clear how that will evolve. The alternatives come with large bill. Perhaps a measure of the UK’s decline over the years coupled with increased complexity and the range of military options from tanks to submarines, UCAV’s and very expensive electronics, counter-measures, surveillance and cyber-warfare. Where to focus? Which elements to play a major part in? Off the shelf, licence build, direct purchase? A lot to consider. Let’s hope we can maintain a viable aircraft industry producing whole aircraft rather than a bit player. Today we might not be optimistic. Only the French put national glory and maintenance of capability on an equal pedestal to financials e.g. Renault, Airbus, TGV, Nuclear Power, Ships.

The aircraft industry has been recognised as one that generates large export earnings through products and services over long periods of time. Aircraft also contain a wide range of sophisticated equipment that provides high technology business and employment all over the country and these items are also exported. The business fosters close relationships and partnerships with other countries of all sizes that often leads onto other business, particularly infrastructure, as well as demonstrating a capability to participate in future high technology international ventures. Investment in aircraft projects provides the likes of BAE, Rolls Royce, Martin Baker, Marconi with the foundation for their products. There is a lot to lose without care.

Read the full debate on the website ‘they work for you’.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2011-11-24a.472.1&s=speaker%3A11668#g475.0

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 second nature.

One solution to this irritation is to stop voting in local elections because no-one asked for this and yet here it is. To let us know we are in the 21st Century and consistency is a thing long forgotten the motorway speed limit is expected to go up to 80mph and red tape and regulation is to be reduced. Obviously a significant number of these incidents aren’t on roads that will be part of this exercise.

The leaflet contains no data or targets for improvement. Yet searching the internet it seems that in the last 5 years the number of serious injuries and deaths on Lancashire roads has reduced from about 1100 to around 800 although deaths seem to fluctuate around 60 people.

Who’d deny that saving one life isn’t worthwhile and yet this seems like another handcuff for decent people being spread broadbrush. Let’s face it there are jobs at stake here, jobs creating rules and how proud you’d feel to have brought in such a rule. How proud you’d be that having landed a job in safety you improved it even though the environmental department got a pasting with increased emissions that created a demand for further restrictions and the NHS got more asthma cases in hospital. Bravo!

Goodbye Tithebarn Project

This week John Lewis pulled out of being an anchor store in the proposed Preston major development, Tithebarn. The state of the economy and job losses at BAE Systems were quoted as contributing to the decision. Although one national paper said John Lewis might still be interested in an out of town store and haven’t given up the area completely as a Waitrose is planned in South Ribble.

After over 10 years of debate and delay it is surprising anyone is still in the project. Blackburn must think they won in the end by delaying it with their legal challenge.

What now? A smaller project is mooted with no bus station and containing an M&S. There must be a clue here and with the Winckley Square on-going discussion that the way to get things done needs to be changed. It might be thought that John Lewis would have come into Preston years ago if the first stage had been to build their shop, and perhaps M&S, along with parking. Shrinking the bus station to half its size would have left part of its iconic shape and been big enough while providing car parking space as well.

Grandiose plans have created an all or nothing state similar to Blackpool when the casino dream died. Yet after being badly holed Blackpool has obtained a lot of money to rejuvenate its centre, the tram system and its two best known buildings and is now starting on a Central Business District development. So perhaps Preston can dust off its plans and start a more realistic scheme phased sensibly so not to disrupt the centre for years and not to frighten the neighbours.

Preston’s Old Buildings Departing

This week Preston Council granted planning permission for houses to be built on the land now occupied by the Park School on Moor Park. This school educated generations of Preston females who passed their 11+ exam, including my mother and her sister some 70 years ago. It is granted that the school doesn’t look very interesting except for the tower over the entrance which has some elaborate stonework. To appease conservationists this will be put into storage, including the pieces containing the Preston crest and the words ‘Park School’.

Whether demolishing the building is good or bad is open to question. The attractiveness and potential uses of a building change with time. Many an old hovel was knocked down and now they are classed as characterful and in demand to live in or as tourist attractions. At this time the elaborate stonework contrasting with the red brickwork is the main feature of Edwardian buildings and it could be said there are still quite a lot of them around. Also there is a need to build on brownfield sites rather than greenfield and as travelling becomes more expensive building near town centres is likely to become more popular. On balance the decision seems acceptable.

The other old building in the news is the former Park Hotel, built 1883, a major feature of Preston, having a commanding position over the Grade II listed Miller Park. This building is deemed surplus to Lancashire County Council’s use as offices and staff are being moved into the main Pitt Street offices. The building will then be put on sale. If justice was to be done it would be kept as Council Offices as that is one of the best ways to preserve it. It might be thought that a preservation grant would be available to councils for this. Let us hope that a good use is found although the recession and general cut backs make this unlikely in the short term.

The preservation of buildings is a controversial subject. There are as many opinions as people and we can’t keep every building. Those no longer fit for a purpose have a difficult time. The main bus station and Mount Street Hospital being two buildings at risk. Proposals to modernise buildings and places are often sacrilegious, like the hanging letters on Winckley Square. Careful planning and cash are needed. Of the above buildings it seems the Park School isn’t worth keeping but the former Park Hotel should certainly have its exterior shape preserved at least.

Voluntary Redundancy

Having taken voluntary redundancy 7 years ago I can understand some of the feelings BAE workers will be going through. But this story is for people in their late 50’s. I was the right age and had a reasonable pension and a wife at work so my finances weren’t bad. The biggest concern was leaving somewhere I’d worked for a long time and if I’d be bored.

As far as leaving somewhere I’d worked for a long time. On walking out of the gate for the last time I found that for some reason I couldn’t stop laughing and it carried on for quite a while. Although strangely I dreamed of being at work nearly every night for 3 months. I’ve never been near where I worked and have no desire to. Sometimes I wonder if that’s a psychological condition but if it is I don’t really care.

Would I have anything to do? For quite a few years I’d been building up a couple of hobbies for when I retired. Yet on leaving I found quite a bit to do in addition. I’d also add that I’m not someone who needs a lot of company. So I started by building a new PC, then finished my Open University degree. Stripped the kitchen down to bare bricks and rebuilt it, regularly attend a fitness centre which to me is also a social activity and joined a couple of local societies, there seem to be dozens of these attended mainly by older people. The week goes at a different pace and meeting someone every day and doing at least one of the hobbies seems to give a sense of achievement. Also need to get out and have some exercise. Can’t say I’ve had any bored time although I have met people who hate being retired and go to work as sub-contractors or part-time.

To also pass the time, a few of the injuries of an active outdoor life start to need treatment and after having never attended a hospital for 58 years have had a couple of treatment programmes.

On finances, it seems that with the slowing down of pace your needs don’t seem as much. Also you have time to search out better deals and do things yourself. Going into town during the week seems less hurried and shops seem to have better deals than at weekend. There is no doubt you need to work out what you really need and you might be surprised at what you waste. Heating costs are more being at home but you can limit what you heat. After a while it settles down.

I haven’t regretted it but we’re all different. I’ve always had a lot of interests where new ones took hold as old ones got boring so it never seemed that I’d be short of things to do.

North End move to second place

Worth mentioning that after winning last night at Wycombe, PNE are 2nd in league 1 with a game in hand on the leaders. So theoretically could be table leaders. Not to get over excited at this stage in season. A couple of seasons ago they were top in November and tumbled down the league narrowly missing relegation.

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 the railway station to be linked to the new bus station and then Deepdale and the Bluebell Park and Ride area.

Recently the example of Edinburgh highlights the risks of what appears a relatively simple task. Edinburgh’s tram system is years late, has cost around 5 times more than planned and is going to be under half the original length. In the last week there has been a lot debate about whether the track will reach the city centre at a further cost of £250million. A lot of this seems to be put down to inadequate survey of the route. Most people don’t realise that all utilities under the track are moved so that the track isn’t dug up on a regular basis. In Edinburgh this turned out to be a very major job with unknown tunnels and sewers. It might be thought Preston has less likelihood of unknown under road obstacles. It is also said that Manchester and Nottingham did a bigger survey and had less problems although maybe they wouldn’t have had them anyway.

Tithebarn another step forward

The appeal by Blackburn against the Tithebarn project has been rejected. Blackburn are now considering whether to make a further appeal although most think it’s throwing good money after bad.

Whether the Blackburn appeal has already done its job might be another factor. The delays to the project have put it into a time when retail on the high street is going through a bad patch. Investors now need convincing that there is the prospect of a return. In the last week alone well known retailers like Habitat, Jane Norman and TJ Hughes have called in administrators. The battle between the high street and the internet is one reason, not to mention out of town shopping, and it might be thought that over the longer term the internet can only get bigger.

If it is true that John Lewis are looking to open a store they are one of the few retailers that isn’t doing so badly. Although their business tends to be with people who have a decent level of disposable income, whether Preston can still present many of this type of customer might be questioned.

The government is also looking to steer the economy away from the consumer led boom and high borrowing. Also the cost of Chinese made goods is increasing. Whether this means retail will no longer be a growth area and growth will come from other businesses might tip the balance of the project away from retail and towards business premises. It has seemed possible that Tithebarn is expanding Preston’s retail area more than might be sustainable if you add in out-of-town supermarkets and retail areas. A watch needs to be kept on potentially conflicting interests; developers, builders, retailers, businesses and the council, to ensure that a white elephant doesn’t appear in the heart of Preston or that it compromises the rest of the centre which is looking quite smart now.

PNE 2011 / 12 fixtures released

Yesterday the Football League released Preston’s League 1 fixtures. The first game is at home against Colchester on the 6th August. The last time PNE played Colchester it was in the cup and PNE scored 7 goals. The second game is at fellow relegation club Scunthorpe on 13th August.

It would be easy to be complacent but PNE had a bad season last year and ended quite a few points behind the team above. There is no reason to suppose that League 1 teams will be overawed, clubs like Sheffield Wednesday and United have big histories. MK Dons, Huddersfield and Bournemouth won’t be easy to beat. There is a good standard of play in the top half of league 1, PNE will do well to be in the top 6.

The Street That Cut Everything

Out of thousands of streets in the UK the BBC selected a street in Preston for ‘The Street That Cut Everything’ broadcast last week. Meant to highlight the difficulty of providing public services with a limited budget it seemed to score more on Big Brother personal trials and conflict.

In this world the council empty your bin onto the street and then turn off the streetlights, some might say what’s new. Then at night when it’s completely dark mindless graffiti, fly tipping and a mass dog fouling exercise occur. What’s new? This being TV, solutions must be found immediately, wrong ones are penalised and conflict dramatised.

Novel solutions like storing waste in the lounge and filling your garage with fly tipped junk are used. A spotlight is hired for street lighting. But these are just an inconvenience.

The most contentious part is social care. One family needs extra financial help because of low income. An old lady had previously been taken by council supplied bus to the shops and residential centre. As the final twist a lady wanted help from this street for her father who lived somewhere else.

We all had opinions but you couldn’t help admire Mr Can do, the caravan salesman who arranged the lights and generally kept upbeat. A lot of people put in a lot of elbow grease. Some were good at talking but weren’t seen doing a lot. Some seemed to want more than they appeared to be putting back, although in the limited time you couldn’t get a full picture. Overall it seemed as good a range of sensible and decent people as you’d find.

The success appeared to be with the old lady who was an invisible street member until the show, whether this lasts beyond the show time will tell. The most interesting was the resident who expressed entitlement, an idea that often causes strong feelings, and you might wonder if this scene was set up to stir the pot for the show. The residents voted to provide all the needs even though they had no money left but not without it causing bad feeling from those who felt they didn’t have much but managed.

One case thrown in seemed to test reality. Whether to support a residents disabled father who lived elsewhere. Wouldn’t the street where the father lived pay for his help in reality? Yet it was agreed, with some being in no doubt it was right, and some seeming to have given up.

In the end Mr Can Do said the programme had created divisions that may never heal and the lady who wanted benefits said she’d move. That’s what you get when your personal life is laid open to those nearby to judge. It made decision making look difficult and recognition for council services. Yet, if you’re thrown in the deep end with no training it will look difficult and as councils have more than council tax for income it wasn’t clear that the refunded tax was all they were entitled to, so their budget was probably low.

Overall it scored on entertainment and gave some perspective of decision making, but didn’t give a broad or deep insight or have any after programme discussion into what was learnt. Some people expressed more sympathy with the council, and why not. In general councils do a good job in a very civilised way, but it might be you think it could be done even better or cheaper.

University of Central Lancashire £9,000 fee ripples

Following the announcement last month that UCLan will charge £9,000 a year for students enrolling in 2012, Blackburn FEC is to break its association with UCLan as it has proposed to charge £7,000.

UCLan is well down the performance tables of universities and it was a surprise when it announced it would charge the maximum fee. The government didn’t intend that universities such as UCLan would charge so much. Yet universities can ask for the fees they need to develop their institution subject to approval of plans to accommodate certain students.

Perhaps it’s similar to the BBC who seriously expected license payers to accept a very large increase to fund their dreams of expansion. The government limited the BBC and now they are being restricted even further by the new government.

Did the government misjudge how much universities need or are the universities making the most of what is possible. Ultimately the taxpayer pays until the loan is paid off. Yet as it’s likely to be 2015 before the smallest repayments are made, there is no government saving for a long time. On the other side it appears some universities will be raking it in from 2012.

Preston Council May 2011 Labour Gain Control

On May 5th the local elections were contested in 19 out of a total of 57 council seats in Preston. Of these 4 changed hands giving Labour a narrow gain with an overall majority of 1 councillor.

The full council now comprises: Labour 29 (+4), Conservative 21 (-1), Liberal Democrats 6 (-1), Others 1 (-2).

The seats were last contested in 2003 so it isn’t easy to compare like for like, but Labour achieved an increase in vote of 6000 votes or 40% compared with the seats contested in 2007 while the Liberal Democrats lost 2000 votes or 48% compared with 2007. The Conservatives breaking even.

It could be concluded that results followed a northern trend where the Liberal Democrats lost votes to Labour, whereas in the south the LD’s lost votes to the Conservatives. While the Conservatives maintained a national trend of not losing voters. The LibDems are said by some to be suffering for being a party in government rather than a protest group for disaffected voters from other parties. This could be an honest position for true LibDems, if unpreferable.

PNE Relegated 25th April 2011 – back for the Guild?

After being promoted to the Championship in 2000 and reaching the play-offs 4 times: 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009 Preston lost at home today while teams above won, and so PNE were relegated.

During the time in the Championship North End had some good strikers, Healy, Macken, Nugent, Cresswell and for a short time Fuller. Quite a few good defenders and half backs as well, Alexander, Etuhu and McKenna. Lonergan has been around a long time but only broke through more recently.

David Moyes and Billy Jones were the most successful managers while the unfortunate Phil Brown inherited a squad that was well down and has the worst record ever of any Preston manager. For that reason he must stay to improve it. He’s got a tough job as League 1 is no push-over although the current squad must surely be good enough for the top half. That is assuming they all stay or can be afforded and several will leave. Trevor Hemmings has kept the club afloat and watching him on TV at the Grand National he came over as someone who likes to be in charge.

A little prayer. We await the guidance and hopefully the largesse of Trever Hemmings. We also hope for Phil Brown to stay and find some new talent un-noticed by other clubs.

Now bring on 2011/12 and what unfolds before next August. Guild year 2012 PNE back in the Championship.

Recession Blues

Not sure if the recession is making things quiet or that there is a feeling that even if people have plans the lack of money will stop them. Or is it just that PNE aren’t fairing too well and it reflects in the image of the city.

The Tithebarn plans are now waiting for a legal objection by Blackburn and how confident of it going ahead in good time would we be without the legal objection. There was mention of knocking down the bus station a couple of weeks ago but you might think they’d build a new one first. There is also mention of building a tramline and Trampower have drawn a plan for a line along Fishergate linking the bus station with the railway station. Winckley Square refurbishment and the Flag Market update seem to have gone quiet as well. One thing going ahead is the Preston Guild but it doesn’t depend on any of the above.

It is easy to say we don’t need these changes but it might be short sighted not to plan ahead and start to create what Preston will need to look like in 10 and 20 years. Is fuel going to continue to get more expensive, will we be using more public transport and electric vehicles. Will shopping move to the internet and city centres focus more on entertainment, eating and leisure or will that move out of town like in the US where many city centres are just office blocks and sandwich bars.

High Speed Rail challenge

Today the public consultation begins on the High Speed 2 rail link from London to the North, and campaigners who live near London are rallying support. The campaigners are mainly those who won’t get direct benefit from the line and are objecting on environmental and economic grounds and claiming the current track can be improved.

Being close to London these groups are getting a lot of publicity and even the BBC on this morning’s Today programme took sides with the opponents.

It is understandable that you wouldn’t want a new rail line building close to your house but the project has national implications such as: shrinking the size of the UK, creating additional capacity and relieving existing track, reducing domestic flights, creating an outlet from the pressure on the South East while bringing the north and midlands onto the pan-European high speed routes.

The government is getting used to people objecting to all their many changes mixing the good with elaborate spurious and exaggerated claims. Sometimes the government hasn’t got it right but in this case there is a lot of support and both major political parties support the line. The main negative is that it is taking much too long.

Super Fast Broadband in Lancashire by 2014

Lancashire County Council have announced that they are putting together plans to roll out Super Fast Broadband to almost every place in Lancashire by 2014 to attract new businesses and benefit domestic customers. A partner will be selected by competitive tender to implement the work and a number of funding sources identified. The council is expected to pass the plans on the 3rd February.

Trials are underway by BT for a national scheme on a much slower timeframe. Super Fast Broadband is often defined as up to 100MB and uses fibre optic cable either up to the cable cabinet on the end of your road or to your house. The Lancashire scheme is said to include a variety of technologies appropriate for the areas to be covered.

This sounds a great scheme, not sure how much it will cost users though, and might guess it will be expensive, say £50 a month, for a domestic user. BT are polling areas on their website and only those places with enough registered potential users are likely to get early roll out.

The LCC website says: ‘Lancashire has a population of 1.16m, 468,868 homes and 40,100 VAT/PAYE registered enterprises.’ That will exclude Blackpool, Blackburn and other unitary councils.

Read Lancashire County Councils plan on their website:

http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/news/press_releases/y/m/release.asp?id=201101&r=PR11/0043

PNE’s big game at Scunthorpe

We’re all waiting for the lift off and the 6 pointer at Scunthorpe is the place to start. Defeat will leave PNE at least 5 points adrift, pschologically damaged although perhaps theoretically little further away from safety, and with only 2 points from 3 games under big Phil Brown. A draw will still leave the axeman smiling. Scunthorpe have a bad home record with some big defeats of late whereas PNE are showing signs of bouncing back off the bottom.

In the last week another forward has been loaned, 6′ 2″ Leon Cort from QPR. As the weeks go by signs of change should be more obvious, so here’s to 5pm, 3 points and a bit less tension!

Scunthorpe Update: Noon, cancelled due to a frozen pitch. Away to Barnsley on Tuesday, no six pointer and without a potential win under the belt.

Alston Hall 2010 course programme issued

For those with an interest in the area the new course programme has been issued by Alston Hall, the day and residential college for adult learning near Longridge.

Local historian Stephen Sartin will be speaking about the history of Preston to be found between Ringway and the River Ribble. While other local history talks feature local parishes as well as farther afield, Liverpool, Manchester, West Midlands and Lancaster. Other more general talks on Cotton, Victorian life and canals. There are courses in many other subjects but these might appeal to anyone interested in this website.

For more information look at the Alston Hall website. Alston Hall is quite a cosy place with beautiful views over the Ribble Valley, the meals are good and the bar quite amenable.

http://www.alstonhall.com/

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 with their garage in Deepdale Road.

Birmingham based Rotala are an Alternative Investment Market (AIM) listed company who operate a number of bus fleets in Birmingham, Bristol and around London. Rotala shares are at 28p. The Chairman of Rotala is John Rudd who is a venture capitalist and enjoys developing businesses. He views the bus industry as 5 large players and one small one, Rotala, and seems to see it as a challenge. Let’s hope Preston is the first of others in this area and that Preston becomes a regional Rotala hub.

Darren Ferguson sacked

Yesterday PNE lost 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough and a win for either team would have been a good lift up the relegation area. That PNE lost and Scunthorpe won cemented PNE well down in the relegation spots. Overall PNE had been showing some signs of improvement but cancelled games lost some momentum and yesterday was the key result where the owner must have thought Darren had taken as much rope as he could have, and it had been generous.

It seemed like PNE might be going to stay with Darren Ferguson this season whatever happened although Trevor Hemmings doesn’t seem like someone to risk an asset too much. It must have been difficult with the reported relationship between him and Alex Ferguson but it can’t be said he wasn’t given a decent run in the face of such results. PNE have paid a lot of compensation in the last few years to managers that could have been spent on players so lets hope who-ever takes over lasts at least 4 seasons. You might also ask what sort of contract are they going to offer, would someone come without a compensation clause, unlikely and as a finisher they often expect a transfer budget. There are so many big name managers about it’s nice to fantasise, and PNE aren’t a bad prospect, but it seems unlikely any top managers like Sam Allardyce are going to take pity on PNE’s financial plight, unless Mr Hemmings is a negotiator magnificent. You never know, and maybe just for a few weeks or months or maybe longer, Sam, go on.

Disappointing for Darren Ferguson, he can be sure that no-one at Preston wanted it to end like this. Unlikely to be the end of the road for him as he has known good success in divisions 1 and 2 and maybe a bit more time there will give him more edge.