THING OF THE WEEK

HE’S A KEEPER… If you ever marvelled at BDP principal Ged Couser’s ability to handle the architecture firm’s major projects and distribute his team’s resources wisely – turns out he’s had some practice doing just this – but on the pitch. The gloves are off folks! It has come to our attention that Couser is an ex-Salford City player and used to score a very lucrative £30 a week for his skills. Looks like Gary Neville isn’t the only property professional with some football cred.

Credit: Taylor Rooney on Unsplash

STICKY SITUATION… It seems like Warrington has an extra issue on its hands, with the Chewing Gum Task Force awarding the council £10,500 to clean up gum and reduce littering. As a result of the finding, a new ‘gum buster’ will be acquired into the council’s orbit. This appliance will act as a trident to vapourise unsightly remnants from the town centre, and Warrington is not the first to try this.

Ran by  Keep Britain Tidy, the force has granted funding to 56 desperate councils across the country. And who can blame them when estimates state that around 77% of England’s streets are stained with gum with an annual clean-up cost of £7m? Hubba bubba.

Credit: via Cartwright Communications

THE BEES KNEES… Lovell and timber-frame contractor FrameTech have reached hive mind status, as the two partnered together to save a colony of bees who had swarmed due to weather. FrameTech’s Ken Boughey is an avid beekeeper and when he heard of the bees’ plight reached out to Lovell’s Adam Farbon to see if there was a suitable site to rehome the bees. The two were buzzing when they realised Lovell’s recent site at Saxon Square in Miles Platting was the perfect place, loaded with gardens for the bees to pollinate. In Ken’s words, “The bees are essentially on holiday from Cheshire in Miles Platting”. Who knew East Manchester was such a holiday hotspot?

Credit: via planning documents

NATURE’S CALLING... New plans lodged for Thurstaston Hall Farm will have you grabbing for your favourite pair of Hunter wellies and running down to Wirral. With proposals featuring five glamping pods offering a bedroom, living area, and even a shower room, it isn’t hard to be an outdoor person and enjoy some peace and quiet in the countryside.

Outside each pod would be a large decking area in the perfect spot for overlooking the Dee Estuary and North Wales. Who says there is no such thing as a happy glamper?

Credit: via Roland Dransfield PR

ON TARGET… Only one month to go until Trafford Palazzo’s NERF Action Experience opens with its five indoor arenas and the UK’s first retail store dedicated to the brand.

For those unfamiliar: action seekers will have access to Sports @ NERF AX and Training Ground, where they can play sports and test their NERF blasting skills before heading to three blaster arenas – Chaos City, Mission X, and Project Stealth. And just when you thought you couldn’t fit in any more excitement, restaurant chain Archie’s will also be there to provide the much-needed fuel for the adrenaline-packed experience.