Eyesore no more
Finally some excellent news!The Government have today announced that they will not grant listed status to Preston Bus Station. See the full report in the Lancashire Evening Post.
I for one can't wait to see the back of this eyesore, it's been Preston's shame for too long.
This decision should kickstart the rebirth of our city and give us back some pride.
Published Date:
28/01/2010
Modified Date:
28/01/2010
What a mess!
You might know my views on Preston's bus station, but incase you don't I'll just make them clear. The sooner that so-called `iconic building` is demolished the better. It's the embarrassment of our city.
I didn't think it was possible to make the concrete carbuncle even more unattractive, but in recent weeks it's grown new ugly boils in the form of `pedestrian safety`.
Obviously I don't want people to be hit by a bus and the fact people are now allowed to cut across the bus apron is most welcome. Lets face it, people have been doing it for years, and if this keeps them safer, then brilliant.
The eyesore is now surrounded in a steel fence, tall and thick enough it's seemingly being been drafted in from the Prison Service construction team. Large concrete barriers have also appeared stopping bus and funnelling pedestrians to safety. They've also taken on an unintended role in collecting all the litter, dead leaves and general mess. It looks horrible.
This area seems to be stuck in a time-void, a forever interactive 1960's museum experience.
It's served Preston well in the past but please open your eyes and see. It's run-down, dirty, neglected, unsafe and too big - It's out of place, it needs to go and make way for a new Preston that once again we can be proud of.
Published Date:
19/09/2009
Modified Date:
19/09/2009
Ketih Macklin
I was sadden to learn of the death of my friend and former colleague, Keith Macklin.
I had the pleasure of working with Keith during my time at Rock FM / Magic 999 in Preston, the station he set up as Red Rose Radio in 1982.
He's worked as a reporter for local newspapers, national newspapers, was one of the first presenters of the BBC's regional TV news programmes `Look North West`, worked for Border TV, Yorkshire TV, presented on national radio, and of course Red Rose Radio.
He was the first Programme Controller of Red Rose, and was influential in establishing a strong commercial radio station that exceeded all expectations.
In the newsroom, Keith was the voice of reason, so well respected. Seemingly everyone in the sporting world knew Keith, and Keith knew them. His descriptive commentaries for Red Rose Sport were a joy to listen too, especially his partnership with the late Preston North End manager John McGrath who acted as his summariser.
Keith was a joy to be around, the calm voice of reason, thought and experience. Thanks for the memories, you'll be sorely missed.
Published Date:
04/08/2009
Modified Date:
04/08/2009
Sony Radio Award Winner!
Sorry for the lack of updates recently.
I have some amazing news, I am a Sony Radio Award winner!
I was a key part in the BBC Radio Manchester team that last night won a Gold Award in the 'Breaking News' category.If you don't know, Sony Radio Awards are the equivalent of the radio Oscars.
Our entry featured 'The Rangers Riot' - It features the night Scottish Rangers football fans came to Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final against Zenit St. Petersburg in May 2008. Unfortunately one of the big TV screens in the fan zones broke, and combined with a day of drinking in the sun, it led to violence and riots.
Published Date:
12/05/2009
Modified Date:
12/05/2009
Preston Bus Station
I was outraged to read that the London based Twenieth Century Society are to launch a bid to list Preston's controversial bus station.
I say; "Save your time and effort, go and List something more culturally important elsewhere."
I understand people have strong feelings about the structure and its proximity to certain shops and the markets, but it needs to be demolished and the sooner the better.
It is run down, unsafe, cold, dirty, smelly and over sized.
With the greatest respect, I suspect it's the older people of our city most upset at it's removal as part of Prestons Tithebarn transformation. To these people, and to the Twentieth Century Society particularly, I would appeal that you do not leave the dirty eyesore as your legacy to the next generation.
You need to think about the bigger picture, it's about more than a bus station. Preston is slowly rotting, slowly dieing. Preston Bus Station needs make way for a revitalised city for the next generation of proud Prestonians.
(please note: these are my personal views and are not those of my employer)
Published Date:
02/01/2009
Modified Date:
02/01/2009
A new Preston
I've just been to see the plans for the new Preston. The sooner the building work gets underway the better!
The plans are forward thinking and yet equally reflect the past and retain Prestons heritage. Careful consideration has been given to controversial issues like the location of the bus station. Locating it on Manchester Road, only a couple of hundred yards away from the current location, demonstrates to me that planners have listened to local concern. Parking problems have been thought about too, and a light rail link to the docks can only help.
But it's more than just a new bus station and parking and people need to see past that. The project breaths life into our dieing city centre, righting a wrong caused by town planners decades ago. This will bring people into Preston, bring big name stores, regenerate the markets and importantly create jobs. The multiplex cinema and restaurant area will bring a new dimension to the nightlife, moving the focus away from problem drinking zones.
I only hope provision will be made for small independent retailers who might not be able to afford large rents. One of the only good things about Leeds city centre is an undercover street full of these kinds of shops.
If you have time it really is worth seeing the plans for yourself.
Our city has been on life-support for far too many years, and this is the re-birth.
Published Date:
17/05/2008
Modified Date:
17/05/2008
So different
If you work in the newsroom at a commercial radio station you get to do a bit of everything. From reading the bulletins, reporting, sport and getting involved in the main shows on-air. I found it very different in the BBC.
I started at BBC Radio Leeds in January 2001. My job was to read the news bulletins in what was called the Night Network, my shift started at 4.30pm until half past midnight, reading the bulletins on Radio Leeds, Sheffield, Humberside and York four days a week. It wasn't a very social shift, as I was starting work everyone else was winding down and getting ready to go to the pub.
In hindsight I really regret working the unsociable hours, but I don't regret getting a staff job at the BBC. This was my first time away from Preston and from my parents. A couple of weeks earlier we'd been driving around Leeds looking for a suitable place to live. I ended up renting a room in a house owned by the son of a presenter who worked on Magic 999. Tracey would end up being my housemate for around the next 18 months. She worked for a company in city centre Leeds, formerly she operated the autocue at breakfast television stations TV-am and GMTV.
There was lots of learn, different computer systems, different studios and very different ways of working. I enjoyed the challenge of learning about the areas I would be broadcasting to, and trying to get to know some of my new colleagues.
Published Date:
11/05/2008
Modified Date:
11/05/2008
On the wrong side of the Pennines
(Sorry for the delay in updating the blog, I've been moving house to Fulwood and dealing with all the problems that come with it! From leaks with the central heating, trying to get telephone lines connected, people digging up the paths in the middle of the night, seriously! and missing furniture. It's taken me a couple of months to get sorted.)
I had heard many things about BBC job interviews, or "Boards" as they call them. Boards summons up the impression of a great panel of suited men around a big table making you feel very small.
Acquaintances talked of interviews lasting hours, spending time searching out an exclusive story, being grilled on journalism law, showing knowledge of the local area and explaining which stories you would include in one of their news bulletins. Needless to say, I spent hours researching the recent history of West Yorkshire, its industries, communities, politicians.. you name it! I'd come up with what I thought were original news stories and a plan on how I would cover them.
My interview was at 1130 at the BBC North, Leeds building on Woodhouse Lane in the city. I'd left Preston and set off with plenty of time, allowing for bad traffic on the M62. This was January 2001, and a time when satellite navigation was the preserve of the military and mega rich. I had never travelled to the wrong side of the Pennines before. Naturally I was armed with maps, directions and hastily scribbled directions from people who had a knowledge of the city.
Getting to Leeds was fine, and I don't know if you've ever been there, but trying to understand the spaghetti like ring road was another thing. By now I was starting to panic that I would be late, I didn't want to give the impression that I couldn't keep to deadlines. I abandoned my car in a supermarket car park and set out on foot.
I arrived a little breathless at BBC Radio Leeds, eager to impress. I was taken to the Managing Editors office expecting the aforementioned suits and table, but was surprised to learn it would be just him and his assistant. Phew! We chatted about how I would cover a news story and how it would develop throughout the day, and a little about journalism law. Then they wanted to hear what I sounded like and I was taken to the studios. At Rock FM (Red Rose Radio) I had been used to a pretty modern set-up, and expected the same at the BBC. The studio looked like something from the BBC Home Service during the war, with big knobs and switches and huge faders. I constructed my news bulletins while another member of staff recorded it.
That was it. I was sent on my way, all that worry just for an hour. Three hours later I got a call asking if I wanted the job and if wanted to join the BBC.
It was hard decision to make. I had never lived away from Preston before. I had good friends at Rock FM and had good times, but things were changing and thought it would be best to move on.
Published Date:
26/04/2008
Modified Date:
26/04/2008