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£2m
on menu for healthy schools
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LESTER Preston Jr has been
crowned the first “Merseytravel Busk Idol”, after
battling it out for the title at the world famous Cavern Club.
Lester, from the Croxteth Park area of Liverpool, was chosen from
more than 20 talented musicians for the title and receives the first
of Merseytravel’s coveted busking permits allowing him to perform at
official ‘Busk Stops’ at key rail and bus stations.
Lester, who performed two of his own songs at the event, said:-
“I’m really pleased to win. There were some really talented people
so winning makes it even more special.
I’ve been busking and singing for years. I can’t wait to get out
there and let more people hear what I can do.”
Lester was chosen from a final short list of ten buskers, vying it
out for top spot. All of the ten short listed will now get licences
to play at sites across the transport network.
Atomic Kitten’s Liz McLarnon and Radio City’s Kev Seed stepped into
the shoes of Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell as part of the Busk
Idol 2008 judging panel.
Hundreds of people turned up for the event at the Cavern Club to see
the buskers perform a variety of acts, including duets, solo
artists, a one-man band and a penny whistle player.
Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel,
an official partner of European Capital of Culture, said:-
“The talent performing at Busk Idol was certainly varied! The event
was great fun, we’re delighted that so many buskers took part,
joined in the spirit of things and that so many people came to
support them.
This was one small part of our commitment to European Capital of
Culture but also, we hope, a legacy of this special year.
We are sure all of those who took part will bring more life and soul
to our major rail and bus stations.”
Local legend Phil Jones and The Pool made a special guest appearance
and performed their current single The Pool of Life, the winning
song from the Radio City ’08 anthem competition. |
Homes of the 70s and over in Liverpool could be insulated for FREE;
is yours one of them?
EACH year, many older people in
your local towns and villages dread their winter fuel bill and sit
in cold, draughty homes struggling to keep warm.
Are you in this category and worried about heating bills and the
cost of making your home more energy efficient?
The National Insulation Association
(NIA) can help cut those fuel bills for far less than you think; and
it could even be FREE.
Simply by picking up the phone to an NIA installer operating in the
Liverpool area, you can find out about the wide range of
grants available to reduce the cost of insulating your walls, loft
and for draught proofing, which can typically cut the cost of
installation by around 50%. Plus, with the Government’s introduction
of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) on 1 April 2008,
anyone aged 70 and over and those on qualifying benefits could get
their home insulated totally free of charge.
CERT is a Government obligation on energy suppliers to promote
improvements in household energy efficiency; ensuring that over the
next three years, millions of people, including those on low incomes
and in vulnerable households, will benefit from warmer homes and
lower bills whilst reducing carbon emissions.
Mervyn Kohler of Help the Aged commented on the introduction of
CERT:- "This new scheme has the potential to offer help to all
householders over 70, previously, free insulation and
draughtproofing was only available to households in receipt of
specified means-tested benefits.
Older people in cold, draughty
homes suffer unnecessary illness and misery in winter, and even
deaths which could be avoided; plus, of course, the cost of the
extra fuel they use.
If you, or anyone you know, might
benefit, now is the time to find out more."
But will insulating my home really save me money? In a word,
yes! Huge energy savings can be immediately realised and it’s clean,
safe and quick to install. What’s more, with the spring weather on
the way, now’s the perfect time to think about home improvements.
Importantly, for your peace of mind, by using an NIA member you’re
safe in the knowledge that you’re employing a fully qualified
installer who abides by a strict Code of Professional Practice and
is able to offer the best possible advice on all the latest grants
available, provide a survey of your home and let you know which type
of insulation is best suited to your property.
Find out NOW what you’re entitled to and how to find your NIA local
installer by going
online. There’s no cost
involved in finding out, and you could soon be on the road to lower
fuel bills and a warmer home. |
