Green light for environmental buses

LIVERPOOL city centre is set to benefit from a new fleet of low carbon buses from spring 2010.

A total of £1.2million, made available through the Department for Transport’s (DfT) £30million Green Bus Fund, will support a fleet of 13 new eco-friendly buses for the region.

Operators Cumfybus Ltd worked with Merseytravel on the cash bid and will operate 11 low carbon emission buses across Liverpool city centre’s ‘City Link’ routes – the C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 services.


The two more buses will be operated by Cumfybus in Ormskirk and Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said:- “We are always looking to find ways to support more sustainable transport and we are delighted that the region has been successful in its bid. The new buses will be more fuel efficient and help to reduce bus C02 emissions in the city centre. It’s a good way to celebrate the end of Year of the Environment and welcome 2010, Liverpool’s Year of Health and Wellbeing.”

Alan Stilwell, Merseytravel’s Director of Integrated Transport said:- “Greener transport is key to a healthier environment and projects such as these help us deliver a low carbon future for Merseyside. We’ve innovated in this area for years and will keep looking to support ideas that will lead to cleaner air and a better environment.”

Marshall Vickers, Managing Director of Cumfybus, added:- “We are pleased to have been successfully selected as one of only 20 operators in the country to benefit from this grant and we look forward to running the new buses throughout the city centre.”

Low carbon buses are defined as using at least 30% less fuel and emitting nearly a third less CO2 than an equivalent conventional bus.

Funded buses will be required to meet stringent air quality standards.

The DfT says that the fund will support the purchase of 349 vehicles which will operate in most of England's main cities and some rural areas by March 2012.

The fund enables bus operators and councils in every region across England to fund the up-front cost of buying low carbon buses. As more low carbon buses are produced and sold, costs are expected to fall.

This aim is to encourage the introduction of new bus technology and stimulate the market for low carbon buses, an industry in which the UK is a world leader.

Missing From Home - Sarah Jane Lewington

MERSEYSIDE Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of 15 year old Sarah Lewington who has been missing from her home in Buxton since Sunday, 20 December 2009.

Sarah travelled to Merseyside to visit family and is believed to be somewhere in the Bootle area.  Sarah is described as white, 5ft 4in tall, of slim build, brown eyes and shoulder-length light brown hair and she speaks with a Liverpool accent. She was last seen wearing black baggy trousers, a white top with black felt and a short white bomber jacket.  She is known to frequent Bootle and Southport town centres.

Anyone who has seen Sarah or who knows of her whereabouts is asked to call:- 0151 777 4100.

RICS warns house price rise may be unsustainable in 2010

RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) has warned that house prices could hit pre-Credit Crunch highs in 2010 if demand from buyers continues to outstrip the number of houses being put up for sale.

The warning came from RICS senior economist Oliver Gilmartin who was commenting on the latest figures from the British Bankers Association (BBA) which shows that the number of mortgage approvals is rising steadily.

Mr Gilmartin, said:- "On 24 December 2009, BBA numbers added further weight to our view that house prices will continue to move higher during early 2010. Lending from mainstream banks has returned to levels last seen two years ago, although remains around 30% below the levels predating the credit crunch. The rise in demand continues to outstrip supply, although recent indications are that potential vendors that became 'reluctant landlords' at the start of the downturn, may be taking this improved pricing environment to place properties for sale. There are growing concerns that current momentum in the market will see house prices move close to pre-crisis highs in 2010 stretching affordability further. However, RICS expect the market to take a reality check in the second half of 2010, as longer term borrowing costs start to rise pushing the costs of funding for fixed rate mortgages upwards. But, despite some moderation in the second half of the year, house prices could well end the year marginally higher."

Jennifer Welch, operation director for RICS North West said:- “While on the face of it a rise in prices would seem to be good for home owners in the region, what we really need a period of stability and to avoid falling back into the unsustainable situation where buyers need 100% mortgages of five times joint salary to purchase a home.”