ARSENAL NUMBER 4 SUPPORTS FOOTIE 4 IRAQ

ARSENAL Captain Patrick Vieira is to give his support to Footie 4 Iraq, an initiative aimed at providing equipment and resources to football-loving children in Iraq.

The initiative includes an auction of dream football prizes and signed memorabilia and a national 5-a-side football tournament in association with Power League Centres. 

Footie 4 Iraq is the UK's biggest sporting event dedicated to helping the people of Iraq. It aims to raise £1 million and collect football kit for teams, schools, and community groups across the country.

The campaign has the support of the Football Association, Scottish FA, FA Premier League, Football League and Football Conference as well as the vast majority of their member clubs.

"Football has a unique ability to lift spirits and bring people together," said Vieira. "Footie 4 Iraq will help the kids to feel good once more and will be a positive impact on their lives." 

JAZZ AT THE BANDSTAND IS BACK

SOUTHPORT'S fourth International Jazz Festival is getting closer and the artists have now been announced for the popular bandstand concerts. 

The 'Jazz at the Bandstand' concerts bring Southport town centre alive with the sounds of jazz music as shoppers, workers, visitors and residents enjoy relaxing lunchtimes listening to a superb selection of free concerts.

Concerts take place daily from the Lord Street bandstand throughout the festival which this year runs from June 24 until June 27.

Lord Fearn, Sefton's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism said:- "The bandstand concerts always attract a lot of people. They provide a fantastic program of easy afternoon listening and the atmosphere in the town centre is incredible when the concerts are taking place." 

The Sophie Garner Sextet plays swing jazz and will open the festival with a two-hour performance from the bandstand at 12 noon on Thursday, June 24. Sophie was runner-up in the prestigious Perrier....

continued ....  Young Jazz Vocalist of the Year in 1998 and has two CDs already released. She has appeared on the BBC, Carlton and has just returned from a music festival in Italy.

The weekend sees two concerts on both days. On Saturday the Merseyside Police Band will perform from 12 noon until 2pm while the Tom Sykes Quartet will take to the stage from 2.30pm until 4.30pm. On Sunday Sefton Youth Jazz Orchestra take the earlier slot while Jazzology perform later.

New car park shows Liverpool is recycling more than tin cans

A NEW car park in Liverpool shows recycling initiatives in the city aren't limited to glass bottles and tin cans.

The car park at Enterprise-Liverpool's operational depot in the Old Swan area of the city has been built using almost 1,200 tonnes of recycled material, including damaged tarmac from an exit slip road on the M62.

Material from the old concrete and stone car park on the site was removed, but instead of being transported miles by road for re-processing, it was moved just 100 metres for recycling, reducing transport costs and the impact on the environment.

This recycled product was used as a base and coated with a new 15cm layer of material known as foam mix, made from damaged fragments of motorway tarmac, recycled fuel ash and bitumen.

Just half of the usual amount of bitumen, made from crude oil, boosting the environment.

The new 30,000 sq ft car park, on Newton Road, will be used by social services ambulances.

Kevin Earle, Highways and Lighting Manager at Enterprise-Liverpool said:- "In all, the project saved 1,200 tonnes of quarried material being transported into Liverpool for the new car park. That's a great boost to the environment and shows Enterprise-Liverpool's commitment to recycling and sustainability."

As well as the new car park, Enterprise-Liverpool is using recycled products for other innovative projects in the city.

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