Woodhouse Colliery

Woodhouse Colliery has become a political hot potato. Credit: planning documents

THING OF THE WEEK

CAN-KICKING… Strap in, folks. A decision on West Cumbria Mining’s £180m plan to mine coal off (well, underneath) the coast of Whitehaven has been put back once again, with reports now suggesting the government won’t announce a decision until November – this is after the original date of July slipped back to August. Officials need more time before they’re in a position to advise ministers, apparently. Approved three times locally, the scheme was called in by housing and communities minister Robert Jenrick, considered by his successor Michael Gove, and now rests on the say-so of Greg Clark. For now, anyway.


CONSTRUCTION (FOR THE) BLUES… It has been one year since Everton FC and contractor Laing O’Rourke started work on site for the Toffees’ new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Things are moving right along, with recent drone footage showcasing all the work that has been done on the site. Couple that with the release of the new stadium’s website and even the most cynical of Evertonians might be starting to look forward to hearing the strains of Z Cars by the waterside. Can it be 2024 already?


Zumuku is already a favourite in Wilmslow, Copyright: Georgie Glass.

NICE ONE CENTURION… Everyone loves a food hall, even if THING can no longer keep up with how many there are and where they are. Manchester’s New Century Hall, that jewel in the Noma crown, is the latest off the blocks, and has this week announced its second wave of traders. Stevenson Square favourite Ply will bring its A-game to the arena with “elevated pizza concept” Wild by Ply, while Zumuku Sushi and Tallow, an offering from classically-trained chef Tom Lowe, also join the fun. We’re talking sustainable sourcing, we’re talking seasonal stuff. It all opens on Friday 26 August. The food court is part of a wider project announced in February, also including an 800-capacity venue and a creative college.


BUILDING BRIDGES… Literally. We were big fans of National Highways’ video showing how AmeySRM is helping replace the A533 Expressway bridge in Cheshire. When it is complete, the bridge will be 67-metres with a single two-lane carriageway and combined cycleway and footpath.


Credit: Liverpool City Council

EUROVISION SONG NORTH WEST… Liverpool and Manchester have officially made the shortlist to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the stead of Ukraine, which won the last competition. Manchester has said that if it wins, Eurovision would be held at the AO Arena. Liverpool has kept mum on the details of its bid, but has promised to wow audiences. “No region in the UK has had more number one hits – and nowhere can throw a party quite like us,” said Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram. “I can think of nowhere more qualified, more experienced or more fitting to host Eurovision than the Liverpool City Region.”


 

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POPLAR-ITY CONTESTS… Every now and then we like to branch out from buildings to landscapes. And we know it can be sappy, but we love a good Tree of the Year contest. We’ll even go out on a limb and say the North West has a good chance of claiming the Woodland Trust’s prize this year, with both the Burnbanks Oak and Hedgerow Hawthorn in Cumbria in the running. As far as we’re concerned, the oaks from Herefordshire and Devon might as well leaf right now. If you want to vote fir our Cumbrian trees, head over to woodlandtrust.org.uk.

Your Comments

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Manchester and Glasgow are favourites for the Eurovision which means it will end up in London. Manchester deserves it though, all of the media are based here and with a music scene second to none the Northern Capital may just do what it so often does and pull it out of the bag. Bring it on!

By Mick

@Mick

London isn’t on the shortlist so that won’t happen.

By SW

The whole process of these contests is so unedifying. Strange thing is London never seems to have to jump through hoops to stage major events. We are all expected to be performing monkeys, grateful for any scraps while we dance.

By Tom

To be honest they should have held it just over the border in Poland at the nearest big city to Ukraine.

By Anonymous

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