Old Trafford stuff appears to have been received/reported as govt rebuilding the ground, probably because the govt’s language was so ambiguous. I’m told this is not the case: it’s about the wider regen programme around it. Although even the commitment to that is unspecified - ThreadSky

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social • 25 days ago

Old Trafford stuff appears to have been received/reported as govt rebuilding the ground, probably because the govt’s language was so ambiguous. I’m told this is not the case: it’s about the wider regen programme around it. Although even the commitment to that is unspecified

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brundallfilimou.bsky.social•25 days ago

It's vague because there will be no budget for the regeneration. Ironic, that when in the EU, it is likely that it would have qualified for funding from their structural regeneration programme.

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

I think it’s more likely to be vague because they haven’t decided what it is they want to commit to but wanted to say a northern thing today. Stated intention locally is to largely not rely on central govt £. Imagine some GMCA resource will be allocated in some form but I have no idea re detail

brundallfilimou.bsky.social•25 days ago

Suppose it will also depend on the timescale for the whole project but which is likely to be upto a decade to come to fruition.

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

Yeah well exactly. It’s not a quick thing and we don’t even know what the club is doing yet

justcallmeol.bsky.social•25 days ago

I know OT is important but I’m surprised it was called out over the Innovation Arc in Leeds given lots of the strategic work has been done. Would’ve had been a solid northern counterbalance to the Ox-Cam announcement

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

People (especially in London) have heard of old Trafford? Guessing. No idea

justcallmeol.bsky.social•25 days ago

Just feels very Network North rather than serious getting on with growth stuff

mokeeffee.bsky.social•25 days ago

Well the joke goes - Man U fans predominantly live in Guildford.

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

“Backing the redevelopment of Old Trafford” could basically mean anything or nothing

andrewlawton.bsky.social•25 days ago

Flagging for @aiannucci.bsky.social and @helenlewis.bsky.social for next #StrongMessageHere podcast.

What does "backing" mean?

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

It means whatever you need it to mean at the time.

See also: levelling up

timmorton2.bsky.social•25 days ago

Will anyone front up to explain?

factory051.bsky.social•25 days ago

Can locals eat regen?

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

But - I think - in practice it’s a signal govt is open to helping reroute freight rail away from the area. Not the same thing as funding a Wembley of the North. Nonetheless would be significant and is what AB wants. Although, as I say, the government hasn’t actually said what “backing” means

oldtrotter.bsky.social•25 days ago

Since rerouting freight makes sense on its own terms, ministers could have chosen to major on that as part of delivering better/more reliable passenger services. I'm sure fans will be impressed by the suggestion that one of the richest clubs gets help whereas others (including in GM) don't.

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

I get the impression this was a relatively last minute inclusion, partly for the reasons I referred to earlier

oldtrotter.bsky.social•25 days ago

Absolutely but given this issue has been discussed at length for some time the unclear comms either suggests it was cleared by someone unfamiliar with local politics or that was designed to be deliberately vague. Neither is that great.

oldtrotter.bsky.social•25 days ago

But thanks, as always, for taking the trouble to reply. Appreciate it (and your reporting).

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

Both sound highly plausible

mokeeffee.bsky.social•25 days ago

Interesting, poor old Portsmouth FC are trying to get a new bridge over rail tracks to all stadium development & are getting no support. Same old same old.

milesplatting.bsky.social•25 days ago

So many potential hurdles to clear before they can even shift Freightliner to ILP North (Parkside). There's a great deal of doubt around accommodating the additional paths on the WCML, despite what Freightliner's planners are saying. Don't expect much quick movement on this front.

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

Northern journalists are, as ever, available for treasury briefings.

blunderball.bsky.social•25 days ago

The Man United press release did specifically say the stadium would not be funded by the government.

jenwilliamsft.bsky.social•25 days ago

The government one didn’t though

alexpartridge87.bsky.social•25 days ago

Burnham pretty clear on Breakfast that the money (never said how much) would for the rail freight terminal to be moved

milesplatting.bsky.social•25 days ago

He's fishing and stating ambition as fact, as always. No hard agreement on scope or level of funding has been reached, other than lots of warm words from.both parties (and MUFC/Ineos, of course)

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