Latest news with #QuesirMahmood
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Giant 50m Ferris wheel to visit Blackburn town centre
A 50m (164ft) observation wheel is coming to a Lancashire town centre following the success of a similar attraction. The Big Wheel will be arriving in Blackburn's Cathedral Square next month, giving guests panoramic views right across the town. A similar giant Ferris wheel attracted crowds in in height to 11 stacked double-decker buses and the largest transportable such device in the UK, Blackburn with Darwen Council's Quesir Mahmood said it would be a "spectacle" for the town. The councillor said: "The views from the top will be incredible – especially over Blackburn Cathedral."The wheel, which will be opposite Blackburn Railway Station, is the largest the Bolton-based The Giant Wheel Company owns. The company's Evan de Koning said: "With fully enclosed gondolas, this is the largest transportable observation wheel in the UK."Riders will be able to visit the wheel from Saturday 3 May until 8 June. The wheel has previously visited Manchester's Trafford Centre, with the company also supplying wheels for events such as the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and the Isle of Wight are 36 gondolas available on the 50m wheel, each with space for six people with an adapted gondola with wheelchair access also will be available for the attraction, which is open from 12:00 BST to 22:00 Sunday to Friday, and 11:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Darwen Town Hall to close for £350k revamp
Darwen's Victorian town hall is set to close next month for several weeks for a £350,000 refurbishment.A contractor has been appointed and the work will start in the middle of 1882 neo-classical building will shut for three to four weeks for the renovation, which includes improving the building to facilitate the relocation of the joint council and NHS services from Darwen Resource front reception desk will relocate to the adjoining market hall for the duration of the closure. Blackburn with Darwen Council has appointed Thomas Kershaw Builders Ltd from Littleborough as the refurbishment works will include internal alterations and improvements to nearly all areas of the town hall. 'Serve community' There will also be repair works to the building's fabric identified as part of a Quesir Mahmood said: "This investment ensures that Darwen Town Hall can continue to serve our community effectively while making the best use of council-owned assets."The refurbishment will enhance the building's functionality without impacting its historic character."To minimise disruption, services currently provided from the ground floor of Darwen Town Hall will be relocated to a nearby alternative location which is currently being assessed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service West ward councillor Dave Smith said: "It's good to see works are being undertaken to improve the town hall."It is an important part of Darwen and the front desk is really well used."Hopefully the works will be completed on time." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Arts grant drives culture drive 'from strength to strength'
Blackburn with Darwen's drive to become a North-West artistic and creative hub has been hailed as 'going from strength to strength' by its growth boss. The remarks were made by Cllr Quesir Mahmood as the borough's executive board formally accepted a £760,000 grant towards its Cultural Investment Plan from the Arts Council England. The cash will boost the borough council's £1,216,800 campaign to maximise its cultural assets including King George's Hall. It will help pay for the recruitment of 250 volunteers and 12 paid workers as the authority bids to keep creative young artists in the area. The grant will also strengthen the Creative Alliance partnership involving National Festival of Making, The Making Rooms, Super Slow Way, Culturapedia, The Bureau, Chip In volunteering and British Textile Biennale Cllr Mahmood told Thursday's meeting: "This is a really good news story. "The continued expansion of the cultural offer in Blackburn with Darwen goes from strength to strength from year to year." Cllr Mustafa Desai, leader of the 4BwD opposition group, said: "Well done to all the people responsible. "This is a great opportunity." Council leader Cllr Phil Riley said: "This is terrific. It's a really great, great story." The Arts Council award is for £760,000 to spend by the end of March 2027. Proposed improvements using the cash include: expanding the Creative Alliance programme with two new organisations and providing 12 new paid placements allowing for a diverse selection of candidates; addressing historic gaps in creative and cultural provision; developing creative learning and skills by recruiting 250 young cultural volunteers; exploring the narrative of the borough's industrial and post-industrial past for young people; piloting co-designed pop-up programmes in various spaces.
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blackburn and Darwen £760k arts grant to help young creatives
A £750,000 grant has been awarded by Arts Council England to help a borough retain its young creative fund will help pay for 250 volunteers and 12 paid workers in Lancashire, which has a historic reputation for with Darwen Council said it wanted to avoid "creatives having to move away to further their careers".Labour executive member Quesir Mahmood said: "This is an excellent opportunity for the borough to maximise the capital investment in cultural assets, including King George's Hall, and deliver the cultural vision for the borough." Darwen-born Gary Aspden is one of the area's success stories after designing the popular Adidas Spezial trainers but the opportunity only emerged after he took work in previously told council magazine The Shuttle that "growing up in Darwen, I never even considered working in a job like I do now"."I realised that there were jobs in clothing and trainer design but it's like they were for other people and not for working class kids from East Lancashire," he said. 'Historic gaps' Mr Mahmood said there would be "indirect benefits for everyone" from the grant but "the key focus is on nurturing and retaining the creativity of the borough's young people… rather than creatives having to move away to further their careers".The money would be used to develop skills and improve employability, and to set up pop-up events and school initiatives, he would be spent on the annual National Festival of Making in the town, he fund would also address "historic gaps in creative and cultural provision" and be used for "exploring the narrative of our industrial and post-industrial making", he plan to use the grant between now and March 2027. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- BBC News
Giant wheel to give visitors bird's eye view of Darwen
A giant observation wheel, set to open this weekend, will offer a bird's eye view of a Lancashire town - but only for a couple of 35m-high (115ft) big wheel will open in Darwen's Market Square on Saturday, and will be in place until Sunday 2 can buy tickets to ride in one of the 24 gondolas - one of which is adapted for wheelchairs - and enjoy views across the town, from midday to 20:00 GMT every day until the end of the month. Councillor Quesir Mahmood, who has responsibility for town centres, hailed the wheel as "a great addition" to the town's sites: "I'm sure the views over to Darwen's beloved Jubilee Tower and beautiful moorland are going to be fantastic." "It's certainly going to be an exciting spectacle in the town," said Mahmood, describing a ride on the wheel as "a perfect memory-making opportunity"."I hope it's going to bring more local residents and visitors into Darwen, who can see what the town has to offer, particularly over the February half-term holiday."Fingers crossed for some clear skies."A trip on the wheel will cost £6 for an adult ticket and £4 for a child ticket; a family ticket (two adults and two children) will cost £17. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
