News in Brief
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| Libraries stay open longer
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Following on from our report last September that
Blackpool's two largest libraries would be opening on Sundays, Your Blackpool
is delighted to report that the initiative has so far proved a huge success.
Blackpool Central Library began the new arrangement in
September and now regularly attracts 200 people every week who want to use the
facilities on a Sunday.
Meanwhile, Palatine Library and Learning Centre - which
started opening on a Sunday in August - is proving to be a hit with families
with an average of 150 people attending for the three hours it is open.
One of the key attractions is the free use of the computers,
which have Internet access.
If the Sunday opening continues to prove so popular then it
is likely to become a permanent fixture. |
| Raising a glass to its former glory
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The Blackpool Civic Trust and Blackpool Council are
celebrating after a £31,000 Heritage Lottery Fund windfall, which will allow
the restoration of a part of the historic Town Hall to its former glory.
The 'Your Heritage' grant will allow renovation of the George
Wragge stained glass window in the Town Hall, which is situated in the Council
Chamber on the staircase to the public gallery, and depicts rare images
relating to Blackpool's maritime history.
The window was originally put into place in the very early
20th Century but at some point was painted over (probably for blackout during
the war) and never subsequently restored. The new project will see the window
fully restored, as well as educating the people of Blackpool about the window's
history and its construction. |
| Upcoming exhibitions
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If you are looking for something different to do during
the winter months why not pop to the Grundy Art Gallery or Solaris Centre to
see an art exhibition?
The Grundy Art Gallery on Queen Street will be hosting an
exhibition from contemporary artist Tanya Axford from January 28 until March 4.
Pupils from Blackpool schools will be able to see their work showcased from
March 17 to April 22 in the Young Seasiders exhibition.
The Grundy is open Monday to Saturday 10am until 5pm.
The Solaris Centre on New South Promenade has a full calendar
of exhibitions for 2006. From February 1 until February 28 Harold Bird and
Molly Edwards will have their work on show at the Solaris. The Blackpool Art
Society will be exhibiting its work in March.
Entry to both venues is completely free.
For details of all other exhibitions ring the Solaris Centre
on 01253 478020 or the Grundy Art Gallery on 01253 478170.
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Hat-trick for Kincraig
play group!
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 he
Kincraig Neighbourhood Play Steering Group is celebrating three recent
successes. One of their projects has been judged to be one of the most
successful of several national pilots organised in 2003 by the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation and the Children's Play Council. In addition to this, they have been
awarded First Prize in the Nature Watch category by the Blackpool Environment
Action Team (BEAT), and to cap it all, they have been successful in a bid for
£25,000 from Living Spaces to continue work on a local pond.
The group was set up in 2003 to develop and pilot a
'Neighbourhood Play Toolkit'
- a practical and comprehensive set of resources for
improving public neighbourhood play spaces and services for children and young
people. Local children and adults were consulted for their views on their local
environment and what was needed to improve it for the community. The toolkit
will be published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation early next year.
One of the main issues raised was that of improving and
maintaining the natural environment in the area. To address this issue, the
local pond and surrounding area is being restored and replanted to preserve
natural habitats for plants and animal species. Naturewatch, Kincraig School,
Blackpool
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