THING OF THE WEEK
COMPARISONS… Every now and then we like to see how accurate planning CGIs are compared to the finished product. The image on the left is a CGI from when LTE Group revealed its vision of City Campus Manchester nearly three years ago. The second is from the completed building, which will welcome students from September. How do you think the dream compares to the reality?
Credit: Sander Sammy via Unsplash
SNOOZE… A mammoth four-hour Cheshire East Council planning meeting saw more than 700 homes and 1m sq ft of industrial space approved this week. It was a long and drawn-out affair, featuring a 20-minute soliloquy on the importance of green travel plans. The excitement was too much for one councillor. Around three and a half hours into the event, a voice could be heard over the live stream asking “is councillor X* asleep?”. The reply of the committee chair: a solemn “yes”.
*name withheld to protect the identity of the snoozy elected member.
Credit: Martin Magnemyr on Unsplash
BIKE FRIGHT… Research by Claims.co.uk into how safe the UK’s streets are for cyclists has revealed bad news for Manchester. The city was ranked as the 7th most dangerous in the UK with a rating of 6.63 out of 10 based on analysis of more than 500 routes. That score was calculated by collating information on various issues that make life difficult for cyclists. These included the condition of the roads, how well-lit they are and how many accidents occur. The dubious honour of being the most dangerous city for cyclists belongs to Birmingham, with a danger score of 7.38, according to Claims.co.uk. Based on this study, cyclists taking part in the upcoming Commonwealth Games road race will be pleased the event is being held in Warwick and not the city centre.
Credit: via council documents
LOGO LOCO… The newly formed Westmorland and Furness Council will officially replace a clutch of other Cumbria authorities next year in an effort to streamline governance in the county. It all sounds fairly important and procedural but we are now getting down to the fun business of branding. Two potential logos are to be debated by the shadow authority before a final decision is made in September. Which do you prefer?
Rainford Junction was one of the four former stations. Credit: planning documents
ALL ABOARD… The 21-acre Rainford Linear Park is getting a new addition. Or should that be four new additions? The park runs along part of the former St Helens to Ormskirk railway line and Rainford Parish Council has decided it is about time this was recognised. Four signs, one for each of the former stations on the line, will be installed to let visitors know they are on the right track.
The photo of the cyclist has been changed.
Cheers for showing a picture of a cyclist being negligent. As a contentious rider I love like being lumped in with red light jumpers and aggressive riders so motorists can feel entirely justified in bullying me as I simply ride to and from work in Manchester. Great work
By Luke
I presume the decimal point on the Rainford sign should have been one space to the left? 09.17 metres would make it around 30ft long (in old money).
By Decimal point pedant
Not great choice of photo to represent cyclists in Manchester for sure!
By Valerio
Surely it works both ways? Your picture shows a cyclists no hands on the handlebars looking down at a mobile phone . This sums up the selfish attitude of cyclists ! Also note the lack of high vi’s clothing the cyclists isn’t wearing !
By Manc
Thank you Manc – you proved our point. People see that image then jump to conclusions about all cyclists. Happy to take you for a bike ride and show how you how practical safe and enjoyable commuting by bike can be if you are contentious.
By Luke
Luke and Valerio – we have changed the photo of the cyclist – for the reasons you pointed out. The point of the survey was to focus on infrastructure causing problems for cyclists, not on the behaviour of the cyclists themselves. Best – Julia
By Julia Hatmaker