|
Southport's new Pier Tram -
the only one of its kind in the world
THE 100-seater custom-built British vehicle will link the end of the
UK's second longest Pier with Southport town-centre, passing the
Ocean Plaza complex en route. It has been funded with a quarter of a
million pounds from Mersey Waterfront, alongside £45,000 from Sefton
Council and a further £30,000 from The Pier Trust.
The 3,600 ft grade II listed pier has already undergone a £7m+
restoration programme, and this modern, air-conditioned tram is an
updated version of an original feature seen on the Pier pavilion
when it was first built in 1860. Estimates suggest the new tram
could attract an extra 70,000 visitors to the resort annually.
Louise Hopkins, Director of Mersey Waterfront, said:- "Southport
Pier tram is expected to generate more than £140,000 for the local
economy in the next 12 months alone, and will help secure the Pier's
future. It will also complement the support Mersey Waterfront has
already given to the award-winning Marine Way Bridge and ongoing
improvements to link Southport seafront to Lord street and the
town-centre."
Cllr Lord Ronnie Fearn, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Leisure
and Tourism and Mersey Waterfront's Sefton board member, said:-
"Following its multi-million pound restoration Southport Pier has
become one of the most popular places to visit in the North West.
The state-of-the-art new tram is not only a fun way for people of
all ages to travel along the pier but a very practical way for
visitors with limited mobility to get to the pavilion and enjoy the
other attractions and of course the spectacular views."
Mike Swift, Chairman of the Southport Pier Trust, said:- "This
complex multi phased Heritage restoration journey, commenced in 1994
in true partnership, has borne considerable fruit, the tram not only
extends the use of the Pier and in all weathers but also includes
those not so able who can enjoy the complete pier experience. We now
have a structure and well used coastal attraction saying a lot about
the confidence, character and charisma of Southport"
Southport Pier Tram is electrically driven by the latest battery
technology to ensure it is environmentally friendly. It is also
fitted with a hydralic ramp for disabled access, and will be running
7 days a weeks, 10am to 7pm, throughout the school summer holidays.
See the opening in next
weeks issue. |
WORKING ON WELL-BEING
CULTURE bosses in Liverpool are asking health experts for help in a
new scheme to cut stress and illness among people in the city. The
Liverpool Culture Company will soon be running a series of workshops
for health professionals to get them thinking about well-being in a
creative way. Experts are now being recruited to run these sessions
and make a real difference to Liverpool people's lives.
Workshops will look at how to maintain health to prevent illness,
and help people with symptoms to manage them. Participants will also
have the freedom to use their imaginations to put together a
creative wish list of healthy ideas which can then be taken forward,
from thinking about the design of buildings, to introducing art
workshops in doctors' surgeries.
Creative Health and Well-Being Manager Julie Hanna is overseeing the
project as part of the Creative Communities initiative at the
Liverpool Culture Company. She said:- "With latest figures
from the Health and Safety Executive finding that illness costs
£200m per year in the North West alone, it is a problem that we
should all address. I'm really optimistic about how helpful these
workshops will be and we're looking for special individuals who can
deliver meaningful, dynamic, memorable and fun experiences for
participants."
People who would be suitable to run the workshops may come from the
artistic, cultural and creative sectors and would help identify
practical and tangible ways in which well-being can be boosted. The
deadline for applications is Friday 9 September 2005 and the contact
is contact Julie Hanna, Creative Health and Well-Being Manager, on
0151 233 6393.
Liverpool Culture Company's Chairman Professor Drummond Bone said:-
"Enhancing people's health, whatever their medical history,
has to be one of our top priorities as we head towards European
Capital of Culture. Health is so strongly linked to well-being and
happiness as well as more specifically to employment and family life
that it would be foolish to ignore this vital area."
12 workshops will run between October 2005 and March 2006. Staff and
patients from the following health organisations will be invited to
become participants in the workshops:-
Liverpool Primary Care NHS Trust, The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen
University Hospitals NHS Trust, Aintree Hospital NHS Trust, The
Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool NHS Trust, Liverpool Women's
Hospital NHS Trust, Merseycare NHS Trust, Mersey Regional Ambulance
Service NHS Trust, The Royal Liverpool Childrens NHS Trust (Alder
Hey), The Walton centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool
City Council and others in the voluntary sector.
|
