Aer Lingus return to Liverpool after 14 years and bring back long haul connections

AER Lingus have announced that they will be operating a daily service from Dublin to Liverpool John Lennon Airport at the end of October 2004, making a return on the route after an absence of 14 years.

Aer Lingus were one of the first airlines to operate from Liverpool, having established links with the Irish capital in 1936, almost 70 years ago. However, following the establishment of Ryanair on the route in
1988, Aer Lingus ceased their Dublin service two years later in 1990.

Having seen the transformation in recent years to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with the new terminal building and passenger numbers rapidly rising to over 3 million per year, Aer Lingus have decided to restablish their links with Liverpool, complimenting the three times daily Ryanair service to Dublin. 

Fares will start as low as £13.00 one way excluding taxes, with the airline using a 120 seat Boeing 737 on the route.

What is important to the Airport however, is the ability for passengers to interline with the range of other European and long haul routes operated by Aer Lingus via Dublin. For example, passengers will now be able to check-in at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and connect onto the Aer Lingus flight to New York, without having to re-check-in at Dublin. In addition passengers travelling to America will clear all US
Immigration checks at Dublin Airport, avoiding the delays encountered by other passengers who are processed upon arrival in the US. Such a system
is not available at any UK airport.

This facility will be just as important in helping to attract more international visitors to Merseyside as well, with the potential to grow the important US visitor market which until now has been unable to
interline on flights direct to Liverpool.

Neil Pakey, Liverpool John Lennon Airport's Managing Director added:- "This is tremendous news for the Airport, adding another new name to the list of operators, though in many ways we feel we are welcoming back an old friend.

The ability to offer a hassle free interline capability with Aer Lingus' comprehensive range of destinations from Dublin is very important for the Airport and for the region. I have said for some time that US passengers in particular often ignore visiting Liverpool when the airline reservation systems don't show direct interline connections from the likes of Heathrow or Gatwick. This is now no longer the case
with the link via Dublin, which is very important as we look forward to the City's European Capital of Culture status in 2008"

BP Service Station Robbery in Southport

POLICE on Merseyside are appealing for witnesses to a robbery.

At about 11.45am on Thursday 1 July, a security guard was at the BP Service Station on Scarisbrick New Road when he was confronted by two men
wearing balaclavas. The men took the cash box from the guard and left the scene in a red Honda Civic, which was later abandoned in Ashdown Close,
Southport. It is believed the offenders then left the Close in another vehicle.

The guard was uninjured during the incident.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800
555 111.

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DOWN ON THE FARM WITH BUSINESS LINK

MARK Edwards and his family are celebrating the success of their newly completed children’s educational and activity farm centre, Farmer Teds Farm Park at Ormskirk, thanks to a significant grant from defra, which has been secured by Business Link.

Farmer Teds Farm Park is based at Worrell House Farm, a working agricultural farm, which has been in Mark Edwards’ family for generations. Mark and his family chose to diversify over 6,000 sq ft of original farm land from the total 200 acres of the farm, creating an agricultural activity centre offering great family fun days out down on the farm. 

Mark was signposted to Business Link by his bank. He worked closely with Business Link to create a detailed business plan, which was used to secure the grant from defra. The grant has allowed the family to bring redundant external buildings and land into use, creating a farmyard petting area and turning a 100-year-old barn into a three story soft play area for children with adjoining adventure playground complete with climbing walls and 24ft circular sand pit. School trips are also a large part of the educational plans for the farm. Countryside classrooms have been constructed onsite for school children, teaching them first-hand how farms work, introducing them to Britain’s farming community. 

Children of all ages are welcome. Families can take part in tours of the farm, where they can milk the cows, bottle-feed goats, pet lambs and stroke the farm’s Llamas while watched over by qualified staff at Farmer Teds. Families are also encouraged to use the large picnic area, where they can bring their own sandwiches or purchase homegrown mouth watering meals and snacks from Farmer Teds Grill and Bar. For parents there is an onsite shop and butchers selling homegrown produce. 

Says Mark Edwards:- “We had a vision of what we wanted to achieve creating Farmer Teds Farm Park, and Business Link and ultimately Vic Rhodes our Personal Business Adviser at Business Link shared this vision, working closely with us to complete the business plan. It was a huge decision taking a leap into the unknown and diversify away from our core business. We are thrilled that our work with Business Link has enabled us to create our dream. We believe the farm park will be a success throughout the local community, and plan to establish Farmer Teds Farm Park as a key tourist attraction in the North West. 

Business Link’s support has been invaluable. Our joint efforts on the business plan and subsequent grant application ultimately helped us to secure the funding from defra.”

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