Withering AND dithering in a headline? Must be worth reading. @edwalker86.bsky.social interviews Mo Isap on why the issue of a mayor in Lancashire is turning into one of political capital, rather than what actually benefits the county. lancashire.thelead.uk/p/lancashire...

Senior Lancashire business leader Mo Isap delivers withering assessment of devolution dithering

Lancashire missing out on an estimated £1.4million-a-day in funding due to resistance to the idea of a mayor

lancashire.thelead.uk

The Lead has a strong team of local correspondents in south Wales, Lancashire, Blackpool, Southport, Calderdale and Teesside. We were on the ground covering last week's local elections - and will continue to hold local power to account. Here's a thread of our reporting ⬇️

We are very pleased to share that Adam Bychawski's powerful reporting on the case of Ahmed Adan - published by The Lead - is one of six stories to make the shortlist for this year's Paul Foot Award 2026.

Britain has spoken. The problem is, no one’s quite sure what it’s said. Some votes are in, many still being counted, and every party is already drawing their own conclusions from broadly the same set of results. So what have we learned? national.thelead.uk/p/six-sort-o...

Top tier cricket on the doorstep. Lancashire Cricket confirm the men's side will welcome Kent Spitfires and Notts Outlaws in late July for one-day cup games. While the women are to experience the new Lancashire ground in early September with visits from Surrey and Durham. 🏏

Lancashire Cricket confirm first men’s and women’s team games for Farington – Blog Preston

<p>An additional £300,000 is also being spent on further improvements to the soon to open cricket pitches and centre</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

The Preston Model the economic secret? Or mass housebuilding and new roads? We asked data journalist Claire Miller to dig into the numbers on the city's economy. What she found might surprise you. Big, home to entrepreneurs and a relatively young city. 🏙

Preston’s economic performance and where the city sits in Lancashire – Blog Preston

<p>The Preston Model? Mass house building? We dig into the numbers that reveal how Lancashire without a strong Preston is nowhere really.</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

Ahead of the return of the Tokyo Jo's Reunion at the Easter weekend we've been rummaging in the archives for when the the city went out, out. Before the fire of 2022 there were a number of reunion nights held in the old Tokes. 💃🕺📸

Spot yourself at Tokyo Jo’s reunion nights – part three – Blog Preston

<p>Ahead of the return of the Tokyo Jo’s Reunion in April our latest trip into the archives</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

The overnight closures will see Preston Road at Grimsargh closed in both directions from Monday 27 April for ten nights. It will inch the bridge widening project closer to completion, which is due to be during May. 🚧

Grimsargh Bridge overnight closures confirmed for ten nights running into early May – Blog Preston

<p>Lancashire County Council has confirmed the dates for further closures of Skew Bridge in Preston Road</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

No designs yet so don't get too excited, but the likes of Withy Grove in Bamber Bridge and Park View in Lytham are classed as 'destination play parks'. Hope they let big kids on the rocket slides too! 🏞🙌👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Moor Park children’s play area set to get ‘Withy Grove’ style revamp – Blog Preston

<p>A total of £500,000 has been earmarked for giving the grade-II listed park a ‘destination play area’.</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

Loyal churchgoers were left 'blindsided' by the announcement as the church announced a repair bill of £125,000 would be way beyond the means of the parish. Holy Family has been at the heart of the community for decades. ⛪

Holy Family Church Ingol closes immediately after being condemned in inspection – Blog Preston

<p>Bishop of Lancaster is criticised by parishioners over the swift decision as they vow to campaign to keep their church despite huge repair bill</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

A parade from the railway station to Fox Street marked the official arrival of Lumo in the city. They have chosen Preston as their base for when new London-Stirling services start running. 🚆

Lumo rail officially open their new Preston city centre headquarters – Blog Preston

<p>The open-access rail operator are due to start running new London-Scotland services which will call at Preston</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

Records were set last year for attendance when The MET popped up in Larches, and it returns from Friday 17 July with more than 40 low-cost or free entertainments and activities planned 🎪🙌

Mobile Event Tent brings arts and culture back to doorstep in Larches for second year – Blog Preston

<p>The MET is back for a second run at the St Bernard’s Larches and Savick Community Hub</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

Two weeks ago our petition calling for the city to have a major venue again launched and is approaching 2,500 signatures. Tony Rigg, chair of the Lancashire Music Association, has reflected on what he feels is the way forward on the Guild Hall 🎵🎸

Opinion: Preston’s major venue should be ambitious and flexible space but not an arena – Blog Preston

<p>Preston does not need to outsize the biggest city-region venues; it needs a distinctive, flexible and well-positioned cultural space that can succeed at the right scale for Lancashire.</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

Lancashire residents have until midnight on Thursday to tell the government what they think of the options for the biggest overhaul of the council system in the county for more than 50 years.

Final deadline to tell government how local politics should work in Lancashire – Blog Preston

<p>The change will involve Lancashire’s 14 boroughs merging, to varying degrees, depending on how many new authorities are created</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

The crash, which left a man in his 30s dead, took place on the M61 on Saturday evening but was not found until 28 hours later. An MP is now demanding answers after our questions went from pillar to post from the organisations responsible for road safety.

How does a fatal crash at the M6, M65 and M61 junction go undiscovered for 28 hours? – Blog Preston

<p>Lancashire Constabulary and others face pressure from Ribble Valley MP after refusing to offer explanation after Monday’s M61 shutdown</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

Well that was just superb. Well done to everyone who was on the shortlist, all the winners and everyone involved. Proud Preston right there!

Blog Preston@blogpreston.co.uk · 5mo ago

A massive well done to everyone who picked up an award at the first ever Proud Preston Awards. But as Mayor of Preston councillor Sue Whittam said 'just by being a finalist and in this room, you're a winner too'.

Looking forward to these tonight. Good luck and well done to everyone on the finalists list. And great work by the team behind the awards too. Proud Preston right there!

Blog Preston@blogpreston.co.uk · 5mo ago

It's the Proud Preston Awards tonight! We're looking forward to celebrating people and organisations doing fantastic things across the city. We'll have live updates this evening from the ceremony - good luck everyone

I was fortunate to meet Lucie as part of our Blog Foxton project. No surprise to see her recognised, an articulate, driven and inspiring young lady. A star of the future in whatever she decides to do.

Blog Preston@blogpreston.co.uk · 5mo ago

A massive congratulations to Lucie Grove who is the Young Citizen of the Year. The 15-year-old was given the accolade for her work with the Foxton Centre and young people in the city. 👏👏👏

Elton John, David Bowie and Led Zeppelin kicked off proceedings in 1973, and there's been plenty of famous names and eclectic acts to have played the city down the decades at the Guild Hall

Preston Guild Hall’s musical and comedy heritage – all the acts to have played since 1973 – Blog Preston

<p>Queen (three times), David Bowie, Victoria Wood, A-Ha, Pixies, Van Morrison, The Ramones, Peter Kay – we could go on. All the acts we’ve been able to find so far.</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

See the petition, sign it and share it with anyone you think might want to back it

Sign the Petition

Preston Guild Hall: Let's get the show back on in Preston, Lisa Nandy

change.org

Let's show Lisa Nandy (the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport) the appetite there is in Preston.

Petition launches urging Lisa Nandy to back Preston having a major venue again – Blog Preston

<p>Preston Guild Hall’s future remains far from clear. We’re calling on the government to support Preston’s major venue ambitions.</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

We've been without a major entertainment venue in the city since 2019. Tonight we launch our call for the government to pledge their support - whether it's repair or rebuild - to getting the issue resolved.

Bad queues yesterday. Had one job, where's my facepalm emoji etc

Blog Preston@blogpreston.co.uk · 6mo ago

The contractor is due to manually control the lights from first-thing in the morning, but they failed to show and then became trapped in the gridlock they had caused 🤦

A deal to save Guy's Thatched Hamlet as a hospitality destination has been confirmed.

Plan to reopen Guy’s Thatched Hamlet and begin major rolling refurbishment set out as sale confirmed – Blog Preston

<p>A deal to acquire Guy’s Thatched Hamlet has now been concluded.</p>

blogpreston.co.uk

Sitting through two-and-a-half hours of back and forth, and making sense of it all for you

Blog Preston@blogpreston.co.uk · 6mo ago

See all our coverage from the full budget council meeting as the future of the Guild Hall was discussed

Some really good comments on this already - it is and will continue to be the biggest story in the city (and one we'll keep covering in depth)

Blog Preston@blogpreston.co.uk · 6mo ago

Today's Guild Hall announcement failed to answer the questions that Preston wants answering.

A piece of modern Preston history has gone

Blog Preston@blogpreston.co.uk · 6mo ago

Avanti West Coast said the change is to try to introduce a consistent look and feel across all stations.

Well, what a response that was! More than 100 people and organisations were nominated in the first ever Proud Preston Awards. The official finalists list is out this morning and well done to every person who is on it.

A damp morning at Deepdale, brightened by firming up plans for the return of the Big PNE Sleep Out. More than 300 people signed up to take part and help raise funds to prevent female homelessness in the city.

The Valleys Lead has launched (!!!!!!!) and we at @theleaduk.bsky.social are over the moon to start sharing stories from the South Wales Valleys. If you've got a story for us, please do send a message here or email valleys@thelead.uk. open.substack.com/pub/valleysl...

Welcome to The Valleys Lead

Going behind the headlines to share stories from people in the South Wales Valleys

open.substack.com