Safety and Journey Planning Advice in Highways Agency’s Busy Weekends

THE Highways Agency staff will be out and about meeting road users across the region this weekend and next.  Safer driving and journey planning will be high on the agenda of Highways Agency Traffic Officers and their colleagues at events in Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.  And there will be plenty of free copies of the Highways Agency’s popular journey planning guide, Think Ahead, Move Ahead, available for anyone popping along to chat to staff at the events.

The programme kicks off in Blackpool with a two day visit by the Agency’s National Exhibition Team – who visited Cumbria last year - on Saturday, 22 August 2009 and Sunday, 23 August 2009.

The Highways Agency’s mobile exhibition unit will be located near South Beach outside Waterworld between 10am and 5pm each day. The visit is part of the Highways Agency’s ‘holiday destination’ events this summer with three key themes:-

• Raising awareness of the Agency’s journey planning services such as the Traffic England website and the Think Ahead, Move Ahead booklet.

• Promoting the Summer Getaway leaflet to those people who may also be holidaying in the South West.

• Raising safety awareness among children with reflective merchandise.

People can pick up plenty of free literature from the exhibition unit which features a large plasma screen for visitors to try out some journey planning for themselves on the Traffic England website and even check out traffic conditions before they head home.

There will also be some fun for the children with a face painter providing glitter tattoos and body art.

The other events include:-

* Greater Manchester Police’s Community Funday in Manchester city centre on Saturday, 22 August 2009. The event, between noon and 6pm at Cathedral Gardens near the Urbis museum, includes Highways Agency Traffic Officers from the Milnrow outstation near Rochdale with one of their yellow and black chequered patrol vehicles and a display of the equipment they use to help keep drivers on the move across the local motorway network.

* A journey planning event at Charnock Richard services (northbound, between junction 27 and 28) on Sunday (August 23) between 10am and 4pm and featuring Highways Agency Traffic Officers from the Samlesbury outstation, officers from Lancashire Police and staff from the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety.

* A Highways Agency safety event next weekend (Friday, 28 August 2009, 10am to 4pm) at the northbound Tebay Services between junctions 38 and 39 of the M6. The event will promote safer driving and respect for roadworkers.

* A Highways Agency and Cheshire and Fire and Rescue safety presentation on Sunday, 30 August 2009, at Pickmere Caravan Park at Knutsford with Traffic Officers from the outstation nearby. As well as a vehicle and equipment display free copies of Think Ahead, Move Ahead and a new magazine Hitched – packed full of advice for better, safer towing – will be available to people staying at the caravan site.

David Grunwell, the Highways Agency’s regional director, said:- “It is always nice to get out and about to meet our customers face to face but this is an especially busy period and we are hoping to speak to hundreds of road users about the work we do to keep them safely on the move and the things they can do to help themselves.”

 CONFRONTATIONAL BURGLARY DOVEDALE ROAD

MERSEYSIDE Police Officers investigating a robbery and assault on Saturday, 15 August 2009 are appealing for information following the incident in Southport.

Police were called to Tithebarn Road, Southport opposite the Blue Anchor Pub, when a 25 year old man was assaulted and had some cash taken by three men. The attack happened some time between 12 and 1pm. The man was taken to hospital and has undergone surgery for a shattered jaw.

The main offender is described as white, 6ft tall, 26 to 28 years old with dark brown or black shaven hair. He had what has been described as a "boxer's nose" which appears to have been broken in the past. He was wearing dark clothing and had a black Rottweiller mixed breed dog with him. He was also with two youths, aged between 15 and 18 years, who were both wearing dark clothing.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was driving down the road at this time. It is thought that a number of cars stopped at the scene and may have witnessed the attack.

If you were driving past and witnessed this incident or if you have any information about it, please contact:- 0151 777 3110 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION - THEFT MOOR LANE, CROSBY

MERSEYSIDE Police are now appealing for information following a theft from a 65 year old man in Crosby on Friday, 31 July 2009.

The man had withdrew a quantity of cash from a Barclays Bank ATM machine in the Moor Lane area of Crosby. It is thought that he was followed as he walked through Crosby village area, when a man knocked into him on Endbutt Lane, reaching into his pocket stealing his wallet containing the cash.

The offender is described as white, 45 to 50 years old, 5ft 8" tall, well built with short dark hair. He was wearing glasses, was smartly dressed wearing a suit and carrying a clipboard.

Officers investigating the incident have released CCTV images of a man who may have information about this incident Anyone who recognises this man or who has any information about this incident is asked to contact:- 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.