Future of Stamford Park’s Conservatory lies in balance After an initial stay of execution, the future of John Nield Conservatory in Stamford Park still lies in the balance. If demolition went ahead this summer, the iconic conservatory would have been replaced by a manicured garden, which would have opened in September this year.
Month: October 2019
The Astley Cheetham Art Gallery: Tameside’s Hidden Treasure?
Why has Tameside MBC’s only art gallery attracted fewer visitors than this blog? Here’s a question for you. In 2018, how many people visited the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery in Stalybridge? Is it: (a) 59,000?; (b) 5,900?; or is it (c) 590? Believe it or not, the answer is (c). That’s right, 590 visitors in…
Tintwistle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (27 October 2019)
Another fine Boarshurst début, and another superb concert In the last few days, the weather gods haven’t exactly been on our side. There was reports of flooding in Derbyshire, Cheshire and the Midlands. Last night on Greenbridge Lane, there was no need to sail to Boarshurst Band Club in a Mirror dinghy. Nor a way…
Private Brass Band Music Tuition in Stalybridge: A Chat with Tim and Dan at Stalybridge Music Academy
Ever wanted to learn a brass band instrument or an orchestral brass instrument in the Tameside area? Now’s your chance. For many brass band enthusiasts, Stalybridge is the birthplace of modern brass band music. It is home to the oldest brass band in the world, formed in 1809. If you fancy learning to play the…
Search for a Stagecoach Star: Passengers’ Vote Introduced for Employee Awards
Is the driver on your local Stagecoach Manchester route helpful to a fault? Now’s your chance to give him or her some recognition. If you get the bus often enough, there’s every chance you might know the driver. You might know his or her fellow colleague who maintains the buses at Hyde Road depot. Or…
Hebden Bridge Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (20 October 2019)
Brindle’s Boarshurst début marked by a superb concert With the nights getting longer and the days getting colder, the warmest of receptions were reserved for Hebden Bridge Band at the Boarshurst Band Club. With their first choice Musical Director David Hamilton in Norwich last night, the baton was passed on to Gareth Brindle. For the…
Put This On a Badge! The Better Buses Badge Making Experience
Show some love for your local bus route in a crafty way Within a week of the launch of Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Bus Franchising consultation, there has been several activities to advance the case for London-style bus franchising. Since this summer, Better Buses For Greater Manchester have stated their case with accountability and improved…
Should Northern Rail Be Nationalised? Be Careful What You Wish For
Or: is the Grayling Curse to blame for Northern’s woes? The rail franchising system is dead. Long live the rail franchising system. In the last year, we have seen a recasting of the rail franchising system in favour of management contracts. Since 1994, rail franchises in Great Britain have mirrored former British Rail profit centres,…
Dobcross Youth Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (13 October 2019)
Dobcross Youth Band dazzle in a truly spectacular concert In the brass banding world, this weekend was dominated by Philip Harper’s successful defence of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain Championship Section title. According to reports from the Royal Albert Hall national final, The Cory Band were unstoppable. Similarly unstoppable, 199 miles north…
Publicly Controlled Buses: A 2020 Vision of Greater Manchester’s Franchised Bus Network
East of the M60 looks at how Greater Manchester’s buses will be franchised On the 14 October (this coming Monday), the people of Greater Manchester will be able to take back control of their local bus network. From this day forward, Transport for Greater Manchester and the Office of the Mayor of Greater Manchester (using…
Bury and Rochdale Bus Service Changes, 27 October 2019
Special Report: Transdev’s radical renumbering of local buses in Bury and Rochdale Bury and Rochdale local services renumbered; Plus tweaks to other bus routes in Rochdale and Bury. For the first time in East of the M60‘s existence, we shall be looking at the service changes affecting Bury and Rochdale passengers. As many of our…
Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 27 October 2019
Welcome return for Hyde – Tintwistle – Glossop bus route 397 service revived after eight year gap; 396 rerouting in Smallshaw and Hurst? Tweaks to 409’s daytime service. If you have read about FirstGroup’s changes for the Oldham and Saddleworth area, you will be happy to find that the latest service changes in Tameside and…