Donate unwanted Christmas presents to PDSA

DID you get 2 identical CDs this Christmas? A jumper that you would never wear, or a perfume that you don’t like? Rather than let these unwanted gifts gather dust on a shelf for the next 12 months, why not donate your unwanted Christmas presents to PDSA, and help raise funds for sick and injured pets instead!

PDSA has 181 shops that all rely on the generosity of the public to bring in donations, which can then be sold to generate funds enabling PDSA to treat the sick and injured pets belonging to people in need in the local area.  Even if you liked all your Christmas gifts, why not have a clearout while finding new homes for your new items around the house and donate any unwanted objects to PDSA!

Hilary Barrett, PDSA Head of Trading, says:- “The New Year is a great time to have a sort out and de-clutter the house, so why not donate any good quality items to PDSA.  All funds raised from sales at PDSA shops enable the charity to provide free veterinary treatment to the sick and injured pets of people in need. So please support pets in need of vets by visiting your local PDSA shop and dropping off your unwanted gifts.”

PDSA receives no government funding and is entirely reliant on the generosity and goodwill of the public.  For further details about PDSA PetAid services please call 0800 917 2509 or log on to www.pdsa.org.uk.

Traffic Speed Reduced to Make Travelling To School Safer

WORK is set to start on traffic calming measures to make travelling to St Julie’s High School in Woolton safer.  Speed cushions will be introduced on a section of Speke Road between Manor Road and High Street and the speed limit will be cut to 20mph from its current 30mph limit.

To enable the work to be carried out this stretch of Speke Road along with Woolton Street will be closed to traffic between 15 January and 2 February.  A diversion route will be in operation and information signs have been erected along the route. However, road users may need to consider using an alternative route during the construction period.

Cllr Peter Millea, Executive Member for Regeneration and Transport, said;- “This work is part of the Safer Routes to School Initiatives which is aimed at encouraging pupils to cycle or walk to school rather than go by car.  Reducing the speed of traffic is an important step in ensuring this initiative is a success.”

This project has been designed by 2020 Liverpool Ltd and will be constructed by Enterprise Liverpool Ltd.

Police stop 1,700 vehicles, arresting 6

MERSEY Tunnels Police stopped more than 1,700 vehicles during the Christmas and New Year period as part of their commitment to a multi-agency anti-drink and drug drive blitz.  Of the 1741 checks, carried out between December 1 and January 2 as part of the wider Operation Nemesis, Tunnels Police breathalysed a total of 158 drivers.  Of those breath tested, 120 showed no signs of drink or drugs, 32 showed signs but were within legal limits and 6 drivers either refused or failed tests.  All 6 of these drivers are now facing legal action.

Throughout the Christmas and New Year period, Tunnels Police distributed more than 1,000 leaflets warning of the risks associated with drink and drug influenced driving and large banners were erected on the key tunnel approach roads.

Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel, said:- “We are pleased the test failure rate is so low as it shows that the campaign carried out by the Tunnels Police has proved to be a deterrent. It is impossible to analyse the driving of every single one of the hundreds of thousands of drivers using the tunnels over the Christmas and New Year period. We always ask people if they spot potentially dangerous drivers, whether that’s tailgating or possible drink driving, to stop at the tolls and advise either the Police or our toll staff. We can then check our CCTV, find the vehicle’s registration number and take action where necessary. The Mersey Tunnels are some of the safest stretches of road in the UK and a vital element of this is the proactive approach adopted by the Tunnel Police, whose prime responsibility is to maintain the safety and security of the tunnels for all of its users.”

ENGLAND LEISURE VISITS SURVEY 2005

TOO busy to go out? 37% of adults surveyed hadn't made a leisure trip in the last week, according to the England Leisure Visit Survey, with 40% saying that they were too busy working or studying to go out. Poor health was cited as the 2nd most common reason (22%).  The survey also shows that people in the north west are amongst England's most regular day trippers and are also some of the country's highest spenders when on a day out.

Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, the body which led the consortium that commissioned the research said:- "People are missing out on the wide range of benefits that the natural environment offers, particularly to their health and wellbeing. This is why we have launched our health campaign to encourage more people to enjoy the health benefits that the natural environment provides."

There were an estimated 3.6 billion leisure trips in England in 2005, down from 5.4 billion in 2002/03, although some of this reduction may have been caused by changes in survey methodology. Trip numbers were growing modestly in the early 1990s, but since 1998 there appears to be an underlying downward trend for all visits, including trips to the countryside.  The north west's 6.9 million residents make it one of England's top 3 regions for making leisure trips, with people in the south east making 598 million trips, London 506 million and the north west 457 million. England's biggest spenders are London residents with an average of £31.87 per day trip but north west day trippers were the 2nd highest spenders with an average of £26.35 per day trip.  Despite fewer visits across England overall, the value of trips is growing with people spending more money per outing. The overall average spend per trip is £25.09 with higher levels of spend in towns and cities and at seaside resorts.  The estimated total value was £90 billion with £9.4 billion of this in the countryside where the average spend per trip was £13.38. (north west average spend on rural day visits £18.16 - 2nd highest regional spend in England).

Although fewer people are going out overall the ones who do are more likely to be walking than leisure shopping! 18% said this was the main reason for their trip compared to 12% in 2002/03. The other most popular activities were eating/drinking 18%, leisure shopping 13% and visiting friends/relatives 11%.

For the 1st time the 2005 survey measured trips to land mapped by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The right to access this land was rolled out across England throughout the 12-month survey period and during this time 21.2 million visits by people living in England were recorded.  Of the north west's 457 million leisure trips, visits to the town or city are most likely to be taken by residents (337 million) followed by trips to the countryside (84 million).

The average trip duration for all leisure visits was 3.11 hours for north west residents and time spent at destination was 2.11 hours. The car was the main means of transport used by 59%, but 26% of trips involved walking (joint highest with south west). 

For rural visits, leisure trips to the countryside or seaside/coast totalled almost 90 million trips in the north west, with almost 78m trips to the countryside and 11m to the seaside/coast.  Average expenditure per day on rural visits was highest on trips taken by Londoners (£23.45) followed by the north west (£18.16). Across the year, total expenditure on rural day visits was £1.6 billion in the north west.

For the north west the car accounted for 56% of rural trips with 34% involving walking (south west highest - 36%). The main activity undertaken in the north west was the category walking/hill walking /rambling - which was the highest of any region.

Richard Leafe, Natural England's North West regional director added:- "It's good to see that people in the north west value their leisure trips. I'd encourage those not getting out and about on a regular basis to take stock as the new year begins. We can all realise the many health benefits that come from getting out and enjoying the natural environment, especially that which is on our own doorstep."

The north west region spans from Carlisle in the north to Crewe in the south, with its eastern boundary running down the Pennines to the Peak District.  The region covers an area of approximately 14,000km2, with 6.9million inhabitants. 80% of the region is rural but 58% of the population lives in the Greater Manchester and Merseyside conurbations. 29% of the region is designated as a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the region has a coastline extending over 1000km.