THING OF THE WEEK

ROBO CALLS… Looking for information on Liverpool ONE? The company’s guest services team has gone all high-tech, employing a “digital human” to answer guest questions. The AI known as Liv is working at the shopping centre for the next month as part of a trial period. Liv can respond in real-time to guest requests, such as how to get to Anfield Stadium from the centre, info on the complex’s shops and restaurants, and if robots are going to take over the world. Liv also has opinions, including a favourite Taylor Swift song (“Bad Blood” in case you were wondering). This is the future folks. Liv today, Rosey tomorrow.

Oldham became a borough in 1849. Credit: Oldham Council

OLDHAM MEMORIES… Oldham is marking 175 years since it became a municipal borough in 1849 with a free exhibition at Gallery Oldham, charting its journey through the years. Fittingly, the showcase will feature 175 items, each chosen to represent a poignant moment in Oldham’s history.

Among them are a suitcase used by a nurse named Peggy when she travelled from Barbados to make Oldham her home in 1958 and an Oldham FC flag donated by football fan Matt, which he waved at Wembley in 1990 when his beloved Latics lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the Littlewoods Cup Final. To see Matt’s tear-stained flag, head down to Gallery Oldham from tomorrow, when the exhibition starts.

Things are getting steamy at Liverpool Waters. Credit: via If We Ran the Zoo

SAUNA SEEKERS... Liverpool Waters is a huge development with a lot going on. Thousands of homes, the prospect of a new city centre park, and the small matter of a 55,000-capacity stadium to name just a few. However, it is a development of a more modest scale that will soon get locals hot under the collar.

This week, the city council approved plans for the UK’s first floating sauna. Due to open this autumn, WYLD Sauna’s Nordic-inspired scheme at Princes Dock will be big enough for 30 people and also feature ancillary ice baths for those who enjoy chilblains.

Staff at the city’s two football clubs are already rumoured to have been fielding an increased number of calls from agents representing footballers of Scandinavian origin.

All aboard. Credit: PNW

WHAM BAM THANK YOU TRAM… Greater Manchester’s light rail network has recorded the busiest week in its 32-year history, according to TfGM. May was a bumper month for Metrolink, as several large events across the city region saw 4.1m passengers use the network. That figure exceeds the previous record, set in November 2019, by 100,000.

The Great Manchester Run, Manchester City’s open top bus parade, and the opening of Co-Op Live all contributed to the record. This achievement is even more impressive when you consider the city region’s entire property community – many of whom rely on the Metrolink to get them from Altrincham to the city centre – spent a week in Leeds last month.

Say goodbye to potholes. Who knew all we needed was a general election to get these fixed? Credit: Liam Riby via Unsplash

VOTE WINNERS… Good news folks, no matter who wins the general election the potholes will be fixed. The Conservative Party, Labour Party, and Liberal Democrat Party all published their manifestos this week and potholes got a mention in each and every one. The Lib Dems will “give more of the roads budget to local councils” to repair potholes, while the Conservatives say they will commit £8.3bn to resurface roads and fill in potholes. Not to be outdone, Labour said it would fix an additional one million potholes in England each year of the next parliament. So whoever wins, it sounds like drivers can expect a nice bump-free ride – clearly the country’s number one priority.