Blackpool rock elimination threat, candidate's charity investigated, and victory for hopeless junior football team
The Lancashire Lead - April 28, 2024
If you can forgive the self-indulgence, I’ll start this week’s Lancashire Lead with a big thanks for the response to last week’s edition. It’s been brilliant to see the new sign ups throughout the week so let me welcome you all.
I really do value the thoughts and feedback of people who are choosing to read this so if you do have anything you’d like to say, contribute or see featured, you can use the contact form or email me on jamie@thelead.uk
"The quality and integrity of British confectionery is unparalleled, built upon generations of craftsmanship and expertise”
Blackpool rock is the rarest of things - an actually iconic snack. Beloved by families (including mine) for generations, could its future now be under threat? Yes, according to 10 manufacturers who want to see the treat given an official designation to ward off the impact of cheap knock-offs imported from China.
The manufacturers also said a shortage of skilled workers is a major problem with only 30 people in the country able to add the distinctive lettering through the rock.
The nation will be looking to the Fylde Coast for other reasons next week as Scott Benton’s successor as Blackpool South MP is elected. In yet another tough by-election test for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the seat is widely expected to be won by Labour’s Chris Webb.
But it seems the area is still not short of issues. On Thursday, The Blackpool Lead broke the news of an investigation into Amazing Grace, the charity founded by Reform UK candidate Mark Butcher. Kevin Gopal reports the issue relates to the use of the soup kitchen’s facilities in his by-election campaign while both Mr Butcher and the charity deny any wrongdoing.
Don’t forget to sign up to the Blackpool Lead here to ensure you see articles like this before anyone else (and keep subscribe The Lancashire Lead because who else will direct you to music videos featuring the candidates)?
There was exciting news for Preston this week as Moor Park was announced as the location for this summer’s BBC Radio 2 in the Park. The line up announcement and ticket sales are expected in June, though 40 people who ripped up their morning plans to head to Deepdale have already guaranteed their entry.
Finally, it may have a smaller profile but another broadcaster looked over to Lancashire and its unique charms this week. Adam Richman, best known for Man Vs Food, brought his new series - Adam Richman Eats Britain - to the Red Rose County to sample goods including Lancashire Hotpot and Lancashire Crisps (which are always a recommendation from me). Discovery Plus subscribers can watch the episode here.
🍫 We start with a sticky situation in Skelmersdale as police hunt thieves who made off with £134,000 worth of Kinder Bueno chocolates (ITV).
💣 A huge police cordon was erected as bomb disposal experts descended on Darwen on Saturday when a grenade was donated to a heritage centre (LancsLive).
🏖️ A positive mention for Morecambe from Debbie Butler (Lancaster Guardian) who picked up on TimeOut ranking its beach among the best in the country - it really is a glorious spot. ⮑ Separately, the Express has been singing the praises of Fleetwood beach.
🚨 Tragedy struck in the Yorkshire Dales when a paraglider from Lancaster crashed and died. It is thought a medical episode may have caused the crash (ITV).
🍕 A Chorley takeaway boss who hid vapes in pizza boxes and was filmed telling a 13-year-old boy to tell his friends to visit was handed a suspended sentence (LancsLive).
🧑⚕️ The family of a man who died in secure mental health unit while nurses “played on their phones, did each other's hair and vaped” have described a compensation offer as ‘shameful’ (LancsLive).
"We had a meeting this week where they told us the offer. £12,000. That's it. Is that all my son's life was worth?
⚽ Big planning news as Preston City Council approved much-contested plans to redevelop Ashton Park with a sports pavilion and 3G pitches. Paul Faulkner has typically in-depth coverage of the decisive meeting and objections raised in a bid to defeat the plans (Lancashire Post).
📋 Staying in Preston, there’s an interesting piece from Ed Walker on what the city needs to do to become an innovation powerhouse (Blog Preston).
“Preston has the heritage, the stable base layer of businesses and the right ingredients to create something special when it comes to innovation”
🧑🏫 Baroness Massey of Darwen, a Labour peer, died at the age of 85 this week. Read Bill Jacobs’ article (BBC) to see not only the heartfelt tributes but also a snapshot of a truly extraordinary life.
🍽️ You might think of St Anne’s as a well off place but nowhere is fully protected from the cost of living crisis. Volunteers from Wesley's Community Cafe and Larder are now giving out more than 100 free meals a day (BBC).
🚧 A public inquiry into plans to build a new prison in Ulnes Walton, near Leyland, has resumed and this week heard evidence from a highways expert who described suggestions a roundabout could have too many exits as ‘bizarre’ (Lancashire Post).
🏠 Another place that could soon see major development in Lancaster. Plans have been outlined for Persimmon Homes to build 930 homes and a primary school (Lancaster Guardian).
🌊 A woman who was saved from drowning in the sea is asking for help to find the man who rescued her (Blackpool Gazette).
🎉 Finally, I loved reading this story from Douglas Whitbread (Lancaster Guardian) of the junior football team who picked up their first win in three years. Congratulations to Trimpell and Bare Rangers Football Club Under 11s.
Elections in focus
Blackpool South will undoubtedly dominate the headlines this week so be sure to sign up to the Blackpool Lead for in-depth coverage of what happens there. You can also check out Kevin Gopal’s overview here before the vote takes place.
Across the county, voters will be asked to elect Lancashire’s next Police and Crime Commissioner, while ballots will take place in 10 of our council areas. LancsLive has compiled lists of all the candidates in each election here and Robbie MacDonald spoke to voters in Skelmersdale - an all too often forgotten town - ahead of the local elections.
In Preston, Paul Faulkner oversaw a debate with the Labour, Consevative and LiberaI Democrat leaders which was turned into this piece by the Lancashire Post. Maybe it was just the novelty, but in an age of so much content being video first, I quite liked this old school approach and would be interested to hear what you make of presenting it this way.
I’ve written pretty extensively about the Eden Project Morecambe plans in the past but I must say even I find it difficult to imagine exactly what it will look like once complete. The Eden Project team gave more insight at a Rhythm Makers event at Winter Gardens this week and that includes the first CG images of the inside - Greg Lambert of Beyond Radio shared some of those images along with interviews with key players here.
Local Democracy reporter Robbie MacDonald also spoke with chief transformation officer Si Bellamy who gave a very promising update on funding.
“We are looking at activating the Morecambe site at the end of this year, with an initial opening in late 2026 and main opening in 2027.”
Si Bellamy, chief transformation officer for Eden Project Morecambe
One of the biggest issues that remains a concern for many surrounding Eden Project Morecambe is transport. It was raised at a Lancashire County Council meeting this week, with Green party group leader Gina Dowding calling for funding to electrify rail lines. Paul Faulkner covered that matter and a debate on the future of Midge Hall station in this piece.
It was a simple choice when deciding what to include as this week’s selection as we mark the anniversary of the power-loom riots which swept across Lancashire almost 200 years ago. Job cuts, falling wages and rising food costs had left handloom weavers across the county either out of work or failing to make ends meet. Rioting broke out on April 24, 1826 in Whinney Hill, near Accrington.
The riots continued for days, saw 21 mills attacked and more than 1,000 looms destroyed. They led to the involvement of the army, protesters being shot dead, and dozens being arrested in the following weeks. A total of 41 were handed the death penalty for their involvement but were later reprieved.
Lancaster Castle’s website is a useful place to read more about what happened and the wider context and includes this particularly unfair case of one woman who was caught up in what happened.
Mary Hindle’s case was tragic. She had gone to find her small daughter who had run off to watch the riot at Helmshore. A spy in the crowd had cut a piece from her skirt to prove she had been there, and on this evidence she was convicted. Despite pleas from her vicar and William Turner, the mill-owner, she was sent to Australia. For many years her fate remained unknown until the recent discovery of a letter in a family Bible which suggests that, unable to accept her fate, she may well have taken her own life while in the female factory at Paramatta.
I’ve been particularly pleased to see some positive news involving live music events this week. The industry, like many others, has struggled in the post-covid era with all sorts of venues closing down across the country so it’s important to support those who are battling to retain it.
Among those is Preston’s DJ Connie Von D who is planning a series of alternative events, including the Emotional Damage Festival which will take place on the May bank holiday weekend. She spoke to Blog Preston’s Kate Rosindale about the plans.
“This new venture is about bringing a generation back together. We’re only in April and I have hosted multiple events, with three of them sold out.
“Elder Emo UK has become a small and successful little world, which I now call my full-time self-employment. It’s truly a dream come true.”
Some final bits before I sign off this week’s edition:
Michelin star chef to headline Accrington Food Festival (Lancashire Telegraph)
Ale trail returns to East Lancashire Railway as drinkers invited to taste best of Irwell Valley (LancsLive)
First-ever Lego exhibition on its way to Blackburn - and will include fully-working funfair (LancsLive)
New shop opens in Blackpool this weekend - selling new craze 'freeze-dried' sweets (Blackpool Gazette)
Thanks again for reading this week’s edition of The Lancashire Lead. I’d love to hear from you at jamie@thelead.uk and if you enjoyed reading it, please be sure to share it so others can too.
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