Record £3,500 for special children in Wirral

MERSEY Tunnels staff and tunnel users have helped raise £3,500 for some very special children at a school in Wirral.  The record donation, from fundraising Tunnels staff (£2,000) and a slice of the overpayments made at the tunnel tolls booths (£1,500), has been made to Foxfield Special School in Moreton, Wirral.

It will fund a group of children who are hoping to achieve Duke of Edinburgh awards, develop the school’s sensory garden and help build a new shelter in the school playground in memory of a former pupil.  3 young people from the school, Joshua Crane (18), Daniel Lee (16) and Katie Guinness (12) joined staff at the Wallasey depot of the Mersey Tunnels to collect the money.

Acting Headteacher Paul Howley made an emotional speech at the presentation.  He said:- “This is an amazing amount of money that will help to support us in so many ways.  I am choked but delighted to accept this money.  The support we have received from all the staff at the Tunnels over the years has been nothing short of amazing.  The LEA funds all the necessary things, but this money has enabled us to give the children the lovely things that they really do need, such as smart boards, touch screens, the sensory garden and much, much more.”

The funding will help buy tents and other equipment for four pupils who are aiming to achieve Duke of Edinburgh Bronze awards.  It will support the development of the school’s sensory garden, which gives the children a range of experiences, textures and smells to relax and stimulate them.  The money will also help build a hexagonal shelter, for shelter and lessons for pupils, in memory of former pupil Jason Martindale, who passed away in June this year.

Staff right across the Mersey Tunnels, including the Tunnels Police, maintenance, tolls, admin and systems teams, raised the £2,000 through a series of monthly prize draws and raffles throughout the year.

Councillor Alan Dean, Chair of the Mersey Tunnels Board, said:- “Our staff have supported the school for more than 20 years, and I can see why.  The children and teachers are an inspiration to us all.  We know that the school will put this money to very good use.”

Surplus money from cash overpayments made at the Tunnel booths is being donated to a range of charities this year, including the BBC Radio Merseyside Charitable Trust and all five of the district council Mayor’s charities.

Foxfield School caters for pupils with severe and complex learning difficulties.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT GEARS UP FOR CHRISTMAS RUSH

MANCHESTER Airport is gearing up for the Christmas rush as passengers start their journey home or visit warmer climes for the festive season.  The airport is preparing to handle around 575,000 passengers between Friday, 19 December 2008 and Thursday, 1 January 2009.  That's down on last year's figures for the comparable period of Friday, 21 December 2008 to Thursday, 3 January 2009 when the airport saw 637,000 passengers fly through.  Manchester Airport's Managing Director Andrew Cornish described the drop in passenger numbers as fully expected and a regrettable sign of the tightening economic climate, but he remained upbeat about the future.

Andrew Cornish explained:- "These are tough times for everyone and we fully anticipated a scaling back in passenger numbers in the short term but there is still plenty of good news.  Manchester Airport is attracting new airlines with the arrival of Air Sylhet flying to Dubai and new routes with jet2.com, Ryanair and Swiss International Airlines.  The long haul routes to the Middle East are doing phenomenally well with Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways putting in extremely strong performances and looking to add capacity in the future.  We are also seeing more passengers choosing destinations outside of the Euro to get the best value for money from their break and the tour operators are reporting a rise in the number of people going for all inclusive breaks so they can budget effectively for their holiday.  Christmas is traditionally a busy time for the airport and although this year we are not seeing the growth in passenger numbers, we are confident about the future and looking forward to the New Year."

The most popular warm holiday destination for Christmas travellers from Manchester is Tenerife with Egypt, Mexico and the
Middle East also proving popular.

World Heritage Plan Considered

PUBLIC consultation is to start on a key document which sets out the framework for new developments and the conservation of
Liverpool’s World Heritage Site.

The Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site addresses planning
and conservation issues currently being faced by the site.

It will provide a framework for protecting and enhancing the World Heritage Site while encouraging appropriate development and investment to support regeneration.

Among the issues it covers are:-

► Design:- providing guidance on designing buildings to ensure developments are of high quality

► Tall Buildings:- providing guidance on preferred locations and design for future tall buildings.  It advises that there will be a presumption against bringing forward high-rise development within the site but identifies areas within the buffer zone at the Commercial District and Southern Gateway where clusters of high rise buildings could be appropriately located.

► Replacement of existing buildings by providing guidance on where the replacement of buildings will be encouraged

► Re-use of Historic Buildings: providing guidance on the sustainable re-use of historic buildings and encouraging high standards of conservation and management

► Redevelopment Opportunities: Identifying redevelopment opportunities throughout the World Heritage Site and buffer zone

The need for the SPD was established in the Site’s Management Plan and emphasised at subsequent UNESCO World Heritage Committee meetings.

It aims to bring clarity to developments in the World Heritage Site and achieve balance between conserving the city’s architectural heritage with high quality new developments.

The SPD will also be a key document in protecting views of landmark buildings, as well as encouraging high standards of conservation and identifying development opportunities.

Cllr Peter Millea, Liverpool City Council’s Executive Member for Assets and Development said:- “This is a vital step forward in the management of our World Heritage Site.

It not only provides a framework to ensure we get the right balance between development and heritage considerations but is
aimed at boosting investment, tourism and regeneration.

The World Heritage site and its buffer zone is not an area which can be devoid of new buildings in a dynamic and changing city.  We already have many recent developments which are enhancing the area and stimulating the city’s regeneration including the Arena and Conference Centre, the Museum of Liverpool, the Mann Island Development, Mersey Ferry Terminal, Liverpool One, the Canal Link, City Lofts 2 and the Bluecoat extension.

It is vital the benefits of the World Heritage Site continue to be maximised, and we must be able to use opportunities in an area such as North Shore to have appropriate developments.  The SPD will be of immense help in doing so.”

Henry-Owen John, North West Planning and Development Director at English Heritage, said:- “World Heritage status brings with it serious responsibilities to ensure that the ‘outstanding universal value’ of maritime mercantile Liverpool is protected for present and future generations.

The SPD will guide how this can be achieved in a way that enables much needed regeneration, the heritage of tomorrow, to take place without compromising what makes Liverpool such as special place.

The release of the SPD for consultation is a welcome step along the way to achieving this.”

Jim Gill, chief executive, Liverpool Vision, said:- “Liverpool Vision welcomes the release of the consultation draft of the SPD for formal consultation.  The SPD provides guidance on areas that have significant development potential and this provides a challenge and an opportunity.  It is important that Liverpool’s World Heritage Site status is used to encourage investment and development and to enhance the economic strength of the city.”

The SPD has been prepared by Atkins (Heritage), who carried out consultation with stakeholders, developers and heritage groups.  The consultants work was funded by the NWDA and English Heritage.

The City Council’s Executive Board will be asked to approve a full public consultation on the SPD at its meeting on 19 December.  There will be a six week period for consultation when all views will be sought and the Board will then consider the results and recommendations on views expressed.