Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

plugged in

Time for an update on the progress of our book Mersey: The river that changed the world. I've just spent a couple of days editing some of the recorded interviews that we've done with our Mersey people. I thought editing text took a while, until I started doing this project...I think I managed to edit down the transcripts of all the interviews so far in about a day and a half, whereas it's taking at least a day each to get the audio recordings organised.

In exhibition news, it looks likely that we will be able to launch the book next year at Liverpool Cathedral, which would be extremely festive. Meanwhile, Colin has been over in Cheshire, photographing Dave Hall, landlord of the Jackson's Boat pub, which is on the riverbank. It makes a change for Colin to have a photograph that isn't at the mercy of our lovely Northwest weather - well, it's a Christmas treat I suppose.

That's all for now, I'll be off to Liverpool in the first week back to meet some members of Sefton Sea Anglers..........

we can learn from other places

lyon: fetes de lumieres 2006...an inspiration...we must develop the river of light proposal for Liverpool as well as the manchester canals and the river irwelll through manchester city centre

Mersey renewables for breakfast!

Tomorrow's the big day of the Campaign's annual conference, and you can get in the mood early by tuning into the Radio Merseyside breakfast show to hear Professor Peter Guthrie talking about the Mersey renewables study. Prof. Guthrie will be addressing Conference with the initial findings of the study later in the day, but if you'd like to hear about water wheels with your orange juice, or tidal power with your toast, listen in to 95.8 fm / 1485 am from around seven o'clock on Tuesday morning.

seal of approval

Flipping heck. A seal created huge excitement on Friday morning when it appeared in the pond at Woolston Park in Warrington. Apparently the unexpected guest chased ducks and fish around the pond, much to the delight of a gathering crowd on the banks. It seems that the creature must have swum up the Mersey to reach the park, and the authorities believe he (or she) is still loitering in the area.

If you saw the seal, let us know, or send us a picture at [email protected]

Blogging in our own backyard?

It looks as though Manchester could become the Northwest's (and Britain's) first digital city as early as next summer. A scheme has been launched to give Mancunians free WIFI access across 400 sq miles of the city, with a possible pilot in place by summer 07. Such a mammoth WIFI network would bring free wireless internet access to about 2 million Mancs (90% of Greater Manchester), and would be the biggest in the UK.

The idea has been modelled on cities like San Francisco, Seattle and Amsterdam, and could see a network of small transmitters hidden in things like street lamps. Who said that Manchester's days as a city of revolution were behind us?

And will that mean a proliferation of new Mancunian blogs as more and more residents get online? You can find out more about the proposed plan by reading this article at Times Online.

a Northwest blog in the media spotlight...

Campaigning blog Save The Ribble has hit the headlines with an article in the Guardian. The blog is receiving 2000 visits a day, and was recently voted number 13 in the UK's Top 100 green blogs. What's your opinion on the development along the Ribble's banks? Why not leave a comment telling the Save the Ribblers what you think..........?

What's it all about?

Mersey: The river that changed the world - what's that when it's at home? Well, this time next year it's bound to be the first item on your Christmas list. MTRTCTW, as people are calling it (which people?) is a book that's being produced by the Mersey Basin Campaign, in conjunction with Bluecoat Press, photographer Colin McPherson, United Utilities and a selection of the Northwest's finest journalistic minds. The book will be published in 2007 to coincide with Liverpool's Capital of Culture year in 2008.

So why am I telling you this now? Well, I've been out and about in the last few months interviewing a fascinating collection of people who work, play or live on the Mersey, for a section of the book known as the Mersey People. I've been having some interesting adventures, and it struck me that I should record them for posterity. Maybe we'll all learn a little something about the process of putting a book together.

My task for last week was to edit the transcripts of the interviews I've done so far, and by the end of it I was suffering from a severe case of square eyes. Thankfully this week I'll be on the road again (as Willie Nelson would have it). I'm heading over to Liverpool to interview Louise and Kelsey from the Sefton Sea Anglers. Meanwhile, Colin, our intrepid photographer will be sailing off into the sunset aboard the Merseyside & Cheshire police divers' boat. Simon, the diver who's featuring in the book, is going to model his finest wetsuit / aqualungs, and no doubt Colin will be bringing back some stunning images as usual. Shall we demand documentary evidence from beneath the surface of the river? Or shall we let Colin keep his feet dry for once?

Conference 06 update

There's just over a week to go until our 2006 conference, so things are busy here at Campaign headquarters. Every seat in the house is taken, and the agenda's looking packed. Here's just a taste of what's on offer...

• The initial findings of the Mersey renewables study - the latest wisdom on sustainable energy options for the Northwest
• An insight into plans for the Irwell City Park, and MediaCity:UK
• The lowdown on the SCAMP project and the rural environment
• A look at the ARTERY project and riverside regeneration
• An exclusive sneak preview of Mersey: The river that changed the world - the publishing sensation of 2007/8?

You can see the whole programme HERE.

If you've got any thoughts about the issues that are going to be discussed, leave us a comment here on the blog. Perhaps you're unable to attend the conference and would like to ask a question about one of these subjects? Leave your question as a comment here, and we'll do our best to answer it in the course of the day.

Thanks.

MBC blog gets a new look

Welcome to the new-look Mersey Basin Campaign blog. We had such a good time this summer blogging about our activities around Mersey Basin Week (click here to see the MBW06 BLOG) that we decided to get a new, more permanent blog. Think of it as an early Christmas present for everyone. And here it is. Have a look around and make yourself at home.

 

Our other blogs, Speke and Garston Coastal Reserve and Save the Gormleys will stay where they are and carry on the good work, but this blog will cover lots more subjects, and hopefully it'll do just as well as its older brothers. If you like what you read, do leave us a comment, and if you work with us and would like to write for the blog, send an email to [email protected], and we'll see what we can do.