THING OF THE WEEK
NATURE… Tuesday night saw hundreds gather at Aviva Studios in Manchester for the first anniversary celebration of CyanLines, which aims to create a continuous 10-mile walking, wheeling, and cycling route connecting waterways and parks in Salford, Manchester, and Trafford. The project has some influential supporters, including Tony Juniper, the appropriately named chair of Natural England, who spoke eloquently and with great passion about the importance of access to nature. CyanLines co-founder Pete Swift, in a bid to underline Juniper’s stature in a way that was inclusive to all, described him as “the David Beckham or Erling Haaland of nature”.
Middletonians gathered to hear about the future of their town. Credit: PNW
HECKLING… Public consultation is an important part of any major regeneration project. In Middleton, where a mayoral development corporation co-chaired by actor and Middletonian Steve Coogan is seeking to overhaul the town centre, efforts to involve the public have been placed on steroids.
The people of Middleton have been given a voice and on Monday night at an event updating townsfolk about the emerging plans, one attendee felt comfortable enough to use hers to interrupt proceedings. A woman delayed the event by complaining from her seat a few rows from the front about the threat of Green Belt development – an issue that falls well outside the scope of those at whom she directed her ire – and ended up leaving with a promise from Coogan to meet with her to discuss the issue. “I will hold you to that,” she said. “You can hold me to it, love,” Coogan replied.
Flood assessments are the issue. Credit: Google Earth
MASTERPLAN… It’s not every day Place sees a planning committee item recommended for refusal – when the council itself is the applicant. But that’s exactly what’s happened in Conwy, where a council plan for 17 “grasscrete” parking spaces to extend the car park at Llanfairfechan has been given a “minded to refuse” tag ahead of committee on 16 September. The sticking point is flood potential, with Natural Resources Wales raising concerns. There are some finickity planning points, but the nub is that under the previous Technical Advice Note, there should be a flood consequences assessment, and there isn’t. Officers recommend that the development and building control manager be authorised to determine under delegation, which seems sensible.
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THE EVERYMAN GAMES… Hated the bleep test? So did the founders of Superlekka, a new venue coming to Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle that promises to provide plenty of competitive fun for those without athletic prowess or skills. Conceived as a retro-style stadium complete with a running track, the venue will host a series of challenges inspired by founder Kip Piper’s childhood antics and gameshows like Supermarket Sweep. So whether you’re a trivia champion, a beer pong guru, a shopping maverick, or none of the above – there’s a challenge for you. Superlekka is due to open soon. We’re ready.
Nude protests are nothing new. Credit: Philip Halling via CC BY-SA 2.0, bit.ly/3MVQefT
MODERN DAY LADY GODIVA… It’s not every day a councillor states their willingness to strip during a council meeting, but such was the case during Wirral Council’s gathering on Wednesday when Reform UK Cllr Kathy Hodson was so opposed to the Peak Cluster pipeline that she said: “I am prepared to lie on a piece of land, naked, covered in mud, and get a JCB to take me away.” Labour Cllr Steve Foulkes joked later that he had no intention to strip naked (“you will be all glad to hear,” he told the room), but he would also do his utmost to stop the pipeline.
