THING OF THE WEEK

DEANSCAKE SQUARE…Renaker’s Deansgate Square was immortalised in sponge and icing before being promptly demolished by hungry developers this week. The creator of the four-tower cake was local baker Lisa Bochicchio, who managed to produce a showstopper for which TV’s premier cake fiend Paul Hollywood would surely dish out one of his famous handshakes. Here’s hoping Deansgate Square has more structural integrity than Bochicchio’s creation.

Deansgate Square Cake 2

 


LIGHTS OUT…Having announced earlier this year that the Blackpool Illuminations would be extended beyond November, the council has announced that it is pulling the plug on the attraction entirely due to the second lockdown. The showcase usually ends in early November but had been scheduled to continue for an additional two months to make up for lost tourism during the first lockdown. Few places in the North West rely as heavily on visitors as Blackpool – half of its£3.6bn annual economy comes from tourism. But there is bright flashing light at the end of the tunnel as the council confirmed the illuminations could be switched back on in December after current restrictions are lifted.

Blackpool Illuminations (8115636793)

c.William Matthews


SPLASH SCREEN...Manchester-based developer Urban Splash seems to have inadvertently created the perfect environment for pop-up cinema screens across the country. Ingenious residents at the firm’s Port Loop development in Birmingham twigged that the design of Urban Splash’s houses lent themselves perfectly to doubling up as makeshift silver screens. The same houses can be found in both New Islington in Manchester and Irwell Riverside in Salford, so don’t be surprised if a neighbourhood cinema club (complete with blankets of course) become a staple during the winter months.

Urban Splsh Cinema

c.Imandeep Kaur


DAMAGE CONTROL…Manchester City Council has granted permission to the Museum of Science and Industry to create access to and walkways on the roof of the museum’s listed 1830 Warehouse. The work will allow damage to the fabric of the building to be better assessed and managed. Museum staff will be able to access the roof of the warehouse to undertake routine inspections and maintenance, resulting in less reliance on specialist contractors. In turn, the museum hopes to “avoid a serious build-up of damage” like that on the Power Hall, which is currently closed for urgent repair work, according to Studio Downie Architects.

1830 warehouse

The 1830 Warehouse at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester


CARBON HATING…South Lakeland Council has awarded funding to several community projects aimed at reducing the impact of carbon on the environment. Grants totalling £20,000 have been dished out to schemes including Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s efforts to maintain Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve and a cycle training initiative for over-60s run by Kendal Cycle Club. You love to see it.

Foulshaw Moss Peatland C Ian Alexander Waite

Peatland at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve locks away 5,392 tonnes of CO2 a year, the coucnil says


KQ KILOMETRES…Colleagues from Sciontec Liverpool, Sensor City, Bruntwood SciTech and Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, are gearing up to push their bodies to the limit during lockdown as they attempt to cover 500 miles in 50 days. The team will run, cycle, row, hike or walk its way to the target, the equivalent of travelling from Liverpool Science Park to John O’Groats, and hopes to raise money for charity in the process. The two KQ Liverpool-based organisations to benefit from this fundraising activity will be the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity and the Huntington’s Disease Association. Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Sciontec, said: “This challenge will give us all something positive to focus on during lockdown. By supporting these two KQ Liverpool-based charities, we will be helping to fund their critical research, valuable patient support and world-leading treatment during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.” 

Colin Sinclair, Sciontec Liverpool And Colin Forshaw, Bruntwood SciTech (pre COVID 19)

Sinclair (right) and Bruntwood regional director Colin Forshaw

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