J Fishwick and Ribble vintage buses returning to streets of Preston and South Ribble
Vintage buses are set to return to the streets of Preston and South Ribble. It’s the second annual occasion following last year’s event featuring classic buses from the J Fishwick and […]
Free buses will make their way between Lune Street in Preston and the British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland via Croston Road in Lostock Hall.
A second route will run between Chorley Train Station and the Leyland museum via Buckshaw Parkway Station.
J Fishwick and Sons green buses made their final journeys in October 2015 after the firm ceased trading following 107 years of serving the city. All the routes that ran between Preston and South Ribble were handed to Stagecoach to operate.
The heritage event, organised by Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust, will take place on Sunday 25 August between 10.30am and 4.30pm.
This story was made possible by you, our readers, and a host of organisations in the city, through our Crowdfund Lancashire appeal, which unlocked support from the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund provided by Lancashire County Council. You can see all our coverage and, if you know of an arts project or event in the city we should be covering, you can submit it for our event listings and/or send details to contactus@blogpreston.co.uk for us to cover it as a story on the Blog.
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<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-in-ground-pool-in-a-backyard.jpg?id=61482727&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C180%2C0%2C181"/><br/><br/><p>Summer might be winding down, but if you've got a pool in your backyard, now's not the time to tune out! Starting next month, new province-wide <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-outdoor-pool-rules-changing">rules for residential outdoor pools</a> are coming into effect in Quebec, and not following them could land you with a hefty fine.</p><p>As of September 30, 2025, all residential outdoor pools in Quebec — including in-ground, above-ground, inflatable, and temporary setups — will need to meet safety standards that were initially rolled out <a href="https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/S-3.1.02,%20r.%201" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in 2010</a>. </p><p>Although these regulations have existed for over a decade, they previously only applied to new pools installed after 2010. But come fall, that exemption is gone, and every pool will need to be up to code, regardless of when they were installed or bought.</p><p>The change is part of an effort to make pools safer for everyone — and especially kids — in the province. The government wants to <a href="https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/adm/min/affaires-municipales/publications/ministere/securite_piscines_residentielles/GUI_InspecteurPiscineResidentielle.pdf">prevent possible drownings</a> by tightening up regulations, particularly for backyard setups that might seem safe but that actually pose drowning risks.</p><p>Quebec pool owners are encouraged to get familiar with these new rules and take the necessary steps to comply before the deadline, which is fast approaching.</p><p>Exactly what you need to do, however, depends on the type of pool you have at home.</p><h2>In-ground pools</h2><p>For in-ground and semi-in-ground pools, the rules are pretty straightforward: they must be fully enclosed by a fence that's at least 1.2 metres high. The pool's own walls don't count, even if they're relatively tall, and hedges and bushes won't qualify, either.</p><p>In some cases, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6841707">your property itself</a> or existing barriers might qualify under certain conditions. </p><p>Any gates or doors providing access to the pool area also need to close automatically and have a functional latch. Plus, they must be designed in a way so that they can't be climbed.</p><p>These pools are also required to have an easily-accessible ladder or steps for getting in and out of the water.</p><h2>Above-ground pools</h2><p>When it comes to above-ground pools, you might be off the hook for a fence if the pool walls are at least 1.2 metres high and difficult to climb — these can count as a natural barrier. If not, the pool must be surrounded by a fence.</p><p>Plus, if your setup includes a ladder or deck, those parts must be secured or appropriately blocked. </p><h2>Inflatable or temporary pools</h2><p>As for inflatable or temporary pools, if they're deeper than 60 centimetres (around two feet), they still need to be surrounded by a fence, no matter how long they're set up for. In some cases, you may even need a municipal permit, even if the pool's just for the summer.<br/></p><p>In all cases, keep anything that could be used to climb away from the pool fence — so no grills, picnic benches, trash bins, or planters within a metre of it.</p><p>And if your pool has a diving board, there's one more rule: it must meet <a href="https://hudson.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NAP_ReglPiscineResi_EN-VS.pdf">BNQ safety standards</a> to reduce the risk of serious spinal injuries, so double-check that your setup is compliant.</p><p>Some cities may have extra requirements, too, so it pays to check in with your municipality to see what exact rules apply where you live.<br/></p><p>Ignore this, and you could be hit with a fine: $500–$700, possibly hitting $1,000 if you've already been warned and haven't fixed things.</p><p>So, if you want to splash around without stressing, now's the time to double-check your setup. Call your municipality, inspect your pool's safety, and make sure you're ahead of the change!</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
