THING OF THE WEEK

DO THE CARLTON… A historic building in Maryport is being brought back into use by Allerdale Council with the help of Buttress Architects. The Cumbrian council acquired The Carlton recently and has now lodged a planning application to convert the vacant former cinema into a performance space and community hub. Cue plenty of exuberant dancing.

One more point needed until we return to the Promised Land of the @EFL #stockportcounty @StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/hmVQLMEPG7

— Cllr David Meller 🌹 (@cllrdavidm) May 11, 2022

STOTTPORT COUNTY… Stockport County could secure a return to the Football League on Sunday after a tense victory over Torquay United during the week. The council’s portfolio holder for economy and regeneration (above middle, looking pleased) was among those at Edgeley Park as County, owned by Select Property Group’s Mark Stott, moved a step closer to leaving the doldrums.

The job is not yet done, though. Wrexham could still beat Stottport to automatic promotion, depending on how things go on the final day of the season. Wrexham are enjoying a rich run of form, thanks in part to the ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Everyone seems to be behind the club these days. Even the local paper the Daily Post is in on the act, leading a campaign to secure Levelling Up Fund cash to redevelop the Racecourse Ground.  

Credit: via planning documents

SEA LEVEL SCULPTURES… A trio of sculptures commissioned by Liverpool Biennial, the city’s contemporary visual art festival, and the Liverpool BID Company are to be installed outside the Royal Liver Building. Artist Alicja Biala is creating three steel sculptures that “will visualise statistics related to climate change and its effect on sea-level rise and the impact this will have on Merseyside and the Liverpool City Region”, according to planning documents lodged with Liverpool City Council. 

Credit: via Rumpus PR

A WALK TO REMEMBER… Seddon MD Peter Jackson is preparing to lace up his walking boots and walk 125 miles in five days for The Christie. The fundraiser, which will see Jackson walk from Birmingham to Manchester along the canal network, coincides with Seddon’s 125-year anniversary. Nobody can accuse Jackson of living a Seddon-tary lifestyle…  

The Cove resort in Southport is one of WWA’s North West schemes. Credit: via Andrew Brown Media

ROYAL APPROVAL… Congrats to the team at Ward Williams Associates, which has earned the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its efforts in sustainable development. Senior partner Andy Snapes said: “We believe in using ‘business as a force for good’ and in considering the impact of our decisions on the wellbeing of our staff, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. We are proud to be a catalyst for real and lasting change in our industry.” As winners, Ward Williams can now fly the Queen’s Awards flag at the company’s main office. The firm will receive an award from one of the Queen’s representatives and an invite to a Royal reception. Very fancy.