Mereja

Author: jrb

  • Carling Cup semi Final Special: 34 Years That Rocked Manchester

    The time is fast approaching when one team from Manchester and another team from Gtr Manchester lock horns in the semi final first leg of the Carling Cup.(what’s that?)

    Obviously this is a ‘Massive’ game for both clubs and their fans. More so for the United followers as they require passports and at least a 4 hour journey to get to the City of Manchester Stadium. City fans won’t have to worry too much as the roads and traffic to and from Stockport should be pretty free, up to and around Middle Eastlands.

    Quickly on to the teams.

    Bacon Face brings his wounded team and cash strapped club to God’s own at a low ebb. Having been recently knocked out of the FA Cup by the still mighty Leeds United from the Unibond League, Taggart will be determined to emulate the famous ‘7 added minutes of extra time’ victory over City earlier on this season. It’s not clear if Tiny Tim will be playing as Whiskey Nose has promised to stick with his aging youth team.

    Bobby Manc has no such problems. High on confidence, pasta and red wine, the Manc as he’s now called, has to make the difficult choice of what scarf to wear and which knot to use. Apart from that, the only other problem Bobby faces is which Italian restaurant to use in the city centre.

    Obviously with games only happening like this once in a lifetime, the fans of both clubs have geared themselves up accordingly.

    The MIBs and the Rats will be out in force dodging Rent A Kill. The normal Cock-knee Reds, Norwegians and South East Asians will be coming down a day early as usual and booking into Mary D’s, so they can take in the stunning architecture of East Manchester and mix with the friendly locals at Grey Mare Lane Police Station.

    The City fans will once again come in fancy dress, dressed as blue plastic seats and take their positions in the ground 24 hours before kick off as usual. Many will be carrying out of date yellow plastic bananas that last saw the light of day in the mid 80’s. Being a superstitious lot, each and everyone one of them will be carrying a tin of Duraglit and a 34 year old millstone around their necks.

    However, a big lovin is expected before and after the game. MB games have asked if they can sponsor Uniteds firm and both events. The eventual winner will pick up a free game of Twister and get a free ride to the MRI in the back of an ambulance.

    On to the serious stuff and may the best team win. (feel free to add your own snippets)

  • City Centre Strategic Plan 2008-12

    And once again. You know the script. 😆 For those who have, you know. For those who haven’t like me, it’s interesting. (link below preface)

    Phew. Time for a brew and a good read.

    Manchester City Centre Strategic Plan 2008-2012

    Preface

    “Manchester’s city centre has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last decade. High quality new buildings and strong urban design have helped create a distinctive and emphatically contemporary city centre which embodies the wholesale renaissance which is swiftly evident to the increasing numbers of visitors flocking to Manchester. There is a discernable buzz about the city – a sense of confidence and ambition, and a bolstering of the already strong pride in being Mancunian.”

    “This re-making of our city centre has already brought many benefits to Manchester and its surrounding city-region. We have worked hard to ensure balanced development, and shaped growth to make sure that there is compatibility of supply with demand in all retail, commercial, residential and leisure ventures. We have sought out and captured new investment, thereby retaining market dynamism, and ambitious but realistic objectives are being delivered through a wide range of effective partnerships with city centre stakeholders”

    “We invite you to see how your enterprise fits in with our vision and how it can benefit from synergy with the plans of other partners”.

    “This Plan
    • looks forward to 2012,
    • sets out a long term vision for how we want the city centre to be,
    • highlights the specific keys to the development of particular localities, and,
    • identifies what needs to be done to make the vision a reality.”
    “We now challenge you to join us, and ask yourself, ‘what can I contribute to the next chapter of the success story that is Manchester city centre?’ ”

    http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloa…c_plan_2008-12

  • Transport Strategy for Manchester City Centre (Consultation Draft)

    Once again, don’t know if this PDF has been posted or not, as I don’t follow the Transport threads that much in all honesty. Apologies in advance.

    However, there is some pretty exciting and interesting stuff in the PDF, so if anyone hasn’t read it yet, here’s your chance. 🙂 Link below the Manchester Confidential Article.

    Quote:

    City centre transport strategy unveiled

    If you’ve got time to read it, you can send the council your feedback on the new transport strategy for the city centre

    By 2020 it is expected that an extra 50,000 people will be working in the city centre. Manchester City Council and GMPTE have been busy working out how we’re going to deal with that extra demand. They’ve just unveiled their draft city centre transport strategy – and they want to know what you make of it.

    Improvements to the public realm in places like St PeterÂ’s Square and Mosley Street are also part of the plans.

    The strategy sets out plans to boost the capacity and efficiency of public transport and improve facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. It also supports a number of the key schemes in the Greater Manchester Transport Fund – including the Cross City Bus package (which would enable bus services from Middleton, Salford and Parrs Wood to run across the city centre and along Oxford Road) and the proposed second Metrolink line across the city centre. Improvements to the public realm in places like St Peter’s Square and Mosley Street are also part of the plans.

    Manchester City Council and GMPTE have put the draft strategy on their websites for your perusal. They’d like you to send them your feedback before 26 March 2010.

    The strategy is a 40-page document with no contents page to point you towards the sections you might be interested in – a cruel and unusual decision. But if you have a few spare evenings to fill, you’ll find it here .

    Send your comments on the strategy to: [email protected] or write to Transport Strategy Consultation, Transport Policy Unit, Manchester City Council, Room 308, Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA.

    http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloa…er_city_centre

  • Stadium Point: 16,000 Standing Concert Venue-Old Trafford

    Don’t know if this has been mentioned or posted about yet? Doesn’t ring any bells.

    Article in todays MEN.

    I’ve found the pdf drawn up by Sankey’s relating to the proposal. Nice bit of info and plans.

    From what I can gather United actually own the warehouse. Not sure if a full planning application has been submitted yet. Can’t find it.(Trafford Council) From comments below the article, it does seem a planning application has already been submitted. CDX.

    See below.

    Quote:

    Standing room only at new concert venue
    Pete Bainbridge

    January 15, 2010

    BOSSES of Manchester nightclub Sankeys are planning to create a massive standing-only music venue aimed at attracting some of the world’s biggest acts.

    With a 16,000 capacity it would be built in a derelict warehouse owned by Manchester United near Old Trafford stadium and the Imperial War Museum.

    The Stadium Point project is set to cost up to £5m and create around 250 new jobs.

    The company spearheading the project, Stadium Point Ltd, says it will also bring £25m to the local economy.

    And they hope to fill the venue by bringing in the likes of Madonna, The Chemical Brothers and Britney Spears.

    David Vincent, director of Stadium Point Ltd has been the boss of Sankeys club for more than 10 years.

    He explained that there was a real gap in the market for such a venue.

    He said: “Artists are holding a lot more concerts now as they are not making much money from records anymore, so arenas are a growth area.

    “People love to dance and in Manchester we only have indoor venues to cater on a regular basis for up to 6–7,000 people standing, but we will have a great floor space for up to 16,000.”

    The company had applied to Trafford council for a 24-hour licence, but has now deferred that application to carry out further consultation with people living nearby.

    The firm’s original licence application would have allowed them to open 24 hours a day and sell alcohol for 20 hours a day, seven days a week at the Trafford site.

    This prompted a backlash from local politicians. Kate Green, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Trafford, said that the project could create havoc for residents.

    She said: “There are serious questions to be answered about adequate transport and crowd control as well as concerns about noise nuisance and public-order offences.

    “But once again the council seems to be bending over backwards for big businesses and ignoring residents’ worries about these issues.”

    Gorse Hill councillor Dave Acton said: “I’m totally opposed to this proposal. People in this area have enough to put up with already with parking and traffic problems on match days at Manchester United and the cricket club.”

    Mr Vincent said that although he believed the comments were politically-motivated, he was surprised that a project bringing 250 jobs was being shot down.

    And he said that while they had initially applied for a 24-hour licence, events would not go on after midnight on weekdays.

    http://www.manchestereveningnews.co…._concert_venue

    Sankey’s Stadium Point PDF. http://www.mikecordingley.co.uk/files/StadiumPoint.pdf

    ‘Sankey’s’ Licence Application @ the Quays. Includes comments by Kate Green, prospective parliamentary candidate who attended a meeting with residents and developers on Wednesday night.http://www.mikecordingley.co.uk/wordpress/?p=55

  • RS2010 – Regional Strategy For England’s Northwest

    Crains.

    Quote:

    Regional strategy consultation starts

    A consultation exercise gets under way this week about the North West’s new regional strategy, dubbed RS2010.

    The consultation is being led by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and 4NW, which includes leaders of councils and people from the private and voluntary sectors.

    The NWDA said the strategy’s aims are to capitalising on the opportunities of moving to a low carbon economy and addressing climate change; Building on the region’s sources of international competitive advantage and regional distinctiveness; Releasing the potential of the region’s people and tackling poverty; and delivering the right housing and infrastructure for sustainable growth.

    A draft consultation document has been prepared, which can be viewed on the RS2010 website.

    Robert Hough, NWDA chairman, said: “The development of RS2010 offers a unique opportunity to bring economic, environmental and social priorities together into a single vision for the region’s development over the next 20 years. The start of consultation on draft 1 is a significant milestone in the development of this crucial strategy and, as the first region to reach this stage, demonstrates the Northwest once again leading the way.”

    Councillor Sir Richard Leese, chairman of 4NW, said: “We have a strong tradition of working in partnership in the Northwest and we are confident that the new strategy will build on this to play a pivotal role in driving investment and development in the region. Our objective must be excellent quality of life for all – and that to do this we must become more prosperous, more equitable and a lot less carbon dependent so that by 2030 the Northwest is a better place to live, learn, work, visit and invest.”
    Quote:

    THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL STRATERGY

    WILL BECOME THE BLUEPRINT FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ENGLAND’S NORTHWEST

    The Regional Strategy for the Northwest provides a unique opportunity to bring together its spatial, economic, social and environmental strategies and build a new long term vision for the region.

    Our goal is to produce an agreed strategy for the region which will guide action and investment by Business, National and Local Government and the Voluntary and Community Sectors.

    Part 1 sets out the high-level framework and outlines the overarching vision, priorities and action areas for the strategy that will enable Northwest partners to work together to maximise the region’s opportunities and address the challenges over the next twenty years. Draft Part 1 of the Regional Strategy is now available.

    Read Draft Part 1

    Part 1 of the Regional Strategy was published on 4th January 2010 and will be open for an 8 week consultation throughout January and February 2010. Part 1 sets out the high-level framework and outlines the overarching vision, priorities and action areas for the strategy that will enable Northwest partners to work together to maximise the region’s opportunities and address the challenges over the next twenty years.

    http://www.nwregionalstrategy.com/fi…0_document.pdf

    The rest is here. (numerous info, PDF’s and link’s)

    http://www.nwregionalstrategy.com/