This month’s semi-quarantined window on the shop windows Has normality resumed? Well, in the last six weeks, there was some liberalisation of the lockdown conditions. Then, stricter conditions of our lockdown were imposed – announced only hours before coming into force. Our neighbours in Oldham had even stricter conditions imposed, some 300 yards short of…
Category: North West
Retail Comings and Goings in Tameside, August 2020: The Ashton Review of Shops
This month’s semi-quarantined window on the shop windows Have you seen any signs of the New Normal, or would this New Normal be a mere interlude in advance of a possible second wave? Whatever happens, August 2020 will be a world away from August 2019, never mind August 2009. Shortly after the publication of last…
Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 26 July 2020
Diamond diversion sees 217 route extended to Wythenshawe Hospital Tameside gains direct bus link with Manchester Royal Infirmary and Wythenshawe Hospital; Stagecoach takes over evening journeys of Stockport – Ashton 7 route. For the first time in over a decade, there will be no summertime retiming changes for Greater Manchester’s principal bus routes. Since 2008,…
Retail Comings and Goings in Tameside, July 2020: The Ashton Review of Shops
This month’s semi-quarantined window on the shop windows By the time you have read this, you may have had your first pint in a pub in 14 weeks. Instead of celebrating this, your first pint in a pub since lockdown might be your last for a while because of recent redundancy announcements. You might be…
Shopping With Confidence, Tameside Style: Ashton Review of Shops Extra
Ashton Review of Shops Extra looks at the reopening of ‘non essential’ retailers For some commentators, the 15 June 2020 would be seen as the day when normality returned to the High Street. With the reopening of ‘non essential’ retailers, it has been represented as part of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Back By Unpopular Demand: Northern’s Pacer Units
Nodding Donkeys ‘home’ till Christmas Today, East of the M60 has learned that a small number of the universally derided Class 142 Pacer units will be making a comeback on Northern rail services. Thirteen of the units will be reinstated to provide extra capacity, and to ensure that social distancing practices will be maintained.
Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 19 April 2020
The latest, more permanent (?) service charges in Tameside and Glossop Demise of MCT Travel operations sees Stagecoach gains; Withdrawal of 387 route sees severance of north-south connections with Stalybridge – and direct route with Hattersley; Super-size 356 given go-ahead. With the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be forgiven for thinking “Not again” with timetable changes…
Thornton-Cleveleys Brass Band, 02 February 2020: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club
A neat concert with a good mix of old favourites and modern classics Over the last week, the village of Thornton and its neighbouring town has been in the news. That being the small matter of a railway line which saw its last passengers in 1970 and its last freight train in 1999. If successful,…
Retail Comings and Goings in Tameside, February 2020: The Ashton Review of Shops
This month’s window on the shop windows Retirement leads to closure of popular Stalybridge shop; Iconic Audenshaw public house faces demolition; Plus all the usual retail movements from the Half Way House to Arnfield Towers. Welcome to the second Ashton Review of Shops for 2020, which would also be the first one since leaving the…
Northern Nationalised: Franchise Transfers from Arriva Rail North to DfT
Northern franchise taken over by DfT as Operator of Last Resort from the 01 March After several rumours and persistent lobbying by Northern English political figures in the last six months, it was announced today that Arriva lost its Northern rail franchise. Under the Anglo-German company’s tenure, the rail franchise was dogged by poor service,…
