Super fast High Speed Trains will be arriving in Manchester six years earlier than planned following a government pledge.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening has given the go ahead for the first section of the high speed link between London and Birmingham which will open in 2026 and its Y shaped extension to Manchester and Leeds that will open in 2032.
When making the announcement Ms Greening promised that the specially designed 200mph trains will start travelling to Manchester as soon as the line to Birmingham is built.
High Speed Trains going to Manchester will leave the high speed line near Lichfield and travel at a slower speed on the existing West Coast Main Line.
A New Zealand newspaper, The Otago Daily Times (10th January, 2012) reports that two spot fires were started on January 9th by a South Island heritage steam train, the Kingston Flyer.
These fires were swiftly put out and both fire officials and the train’s owner say there is no cause for concern.
A spark from the train is belived to have caused a 3 to 4 hectare vegetation fire on December 23rd, which took firefighters and a helicopter more than seven hours to put out.
The train’s owner, David Bryce, is reported to have said that he and his team were doing all they could to avoid further fires.
Since the December fire, mesh has been fitted to the top of the locomotive’s funnel, the ash collector has been regularly maintained and a spray nozzle which spreads water has been fitted underneath the train.
Mr Brice believes these measures have eliminated 95% of the risk. Although aware that the fires were inconvenient for the local volunteer fire brigade, he said everyone in the community was happy to see the train running again.
Southern Fire Communications shift manager Brent Dun said railway fires, were “relatively common” and are not a cause for concern.
Last year several fires were started by steam trains in the UK. If you live near a heritage railway or your property has been damaged by a fire caused by a steam train, visit our Discussion Forum at www.northstaffordshire.co.uk/discuss and let us know if you agree with Mr Dun.
A stunning collection of period clothing from Staffordshire University’s Betty Smithers Design Study Collection goes on display in Newcastle next week as a tribute to Betty, a fashion designer and historian.
The exhibition – entitled ‘Out of the Wardrobe – Fashioning a Life’ opens at Newcastle Borough Museum and Art Gallery on January 14th and features outfits from the collection.
Betty studied fashion at the Royal College of Art. When her family moved to North Staffordshire, she taught at the Sutherland Institute in Longton before moving to Stoke-on-Trent College.
Betty taught at Stoke-on-Trent College for 22 years and then lectured at Burslem School of Art until her retirement in 1995 when she was 70.
Before her death in 2008, Betty donated her extensive clothing collection to Staffordshire University.
In recognition of the gesture, the University’s entire design collection was renamed the Betty Smithers Design Study Collection.
Liz Allen, keeper of the Betty Smithers Design Study Collection, said: “The collection is an Aladdin’s cave of objects spanning 20th century design history and is a regular source of inspiration for our students, whether for a photoshoot or to merely browse through some of our magazines and periodicals.”
In addition to Betty’s costumes and original designs, the exhibition will include work by the Midlands Textile Forum which has been inspired by the Collection.
Betty’s daughter Rebecca, a Guardian journalist, described her mother as an “inspiration” who was very much part of the community. “She was a lively local figure and was often called upon for her opinion and ideas about fashion and design.”
The exhibition at Newcastle Museum and Art Gallery runs until March 4th.
The last two two consultation events on Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s budget proposals for 2012/13 take place this week on Wednesday, January 11th between 10am and 12pm in Tunstall Market and Longton Market.
Views of people attending these events will be added to the responses already received from members of the public, partner organisations, the fire and police services, local businesses, schools and voluntary groups.
Councillor Mohammed Pervez, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Since December we have been seeking feedback from all sectors of our community and we are still pressing for more. To have over 800 views submitted shows just how passionate the people of this city are about making sure these proposals are correct.
“We are listening to the concerns raised and answering the questions. We want to know what people think and if they have any alternative better options than the proposals we have presented in our ‘Mandate for Change’ budget proposals.
“We are committed to our Mandate for Change to make our city a great place to live and bring business. Last year we were faced with making £36m worth of cuts, and this year we are faced with another huge task.”
Residents unable to attend either of these events can still send their comments online via the city council’s Facebook, www.facebook.com/groups/stokebudget2012.
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