Free Christmas Day transport

MERSEYTRAVEL is once again offering a seasonal present of free bus services on Christmas Day, designed to help people visit their loved ones in hospital or spend time with their friends and family.

Councillor Mark Dowd, chair of Merseytravel said:- “At this time of year we should think of those who will be spending Christmas in hospital, those who are working hard to support them and those with no other means of transport.  We have provided this special service for more than 20 years and even though money is tighter than ever this year, it is a service that we are determined to provide and one, without which, we know it would be very difficult for many people to see their loved ones on Christmas Day.”

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel added:- “We have been working closely with our operating colleagues to ensure that there are services over the Christmas and New Year period for the people who need them. The free Christmas Day transport is our contribution to supporting those people as best we can.  And this year, working in partnership with the bus operators, we have managed to provide a more comprehensive service than in previous years on Boxing Day and New Years Day.”

On Christmas day free buses will operate a limited service on routes including 10A, 20A, 92A, 102, 201 and 212 in Liverpool, 110 and 118 in Wirral and the 10A, 24X and 194/195 St Helens Circulars. Buses will operate from around 12 noon until around 6pm.

Hospitals served include the Royal Liverpool, Liverpool Women’s, Whiston, Walton, Alder Hey, St Helens, Broadgreen, Fazakerley, Clatterbridge and Arrowe Park.

Please note that there will be no other services running on Christmas day.

Buses - A limited network of bus services on all major corridors will run throughout the region on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with most services operating between around 10am – 6pm on both days. There will also be cross river links, various cross river services will operate provided by Arriva and First, check for details.

Ferries - Mersey Ferries will operate every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. On Christmas Eve there will be a normal service until the last sailing which leaves Liverpool at 5.15pm terminating at Seacombe at 5.25pm

Tunnels - The Kingsway (Wallasey) Tunnel will operate normally throughout the holiday period and Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel will be closed in both directions from 10pm on Christmas Eve until 6.30am on Boxing Day.

Trains - No train services will operate on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On New Years Day all City Line services will operate as normal and Merseyrail’s Wirral and Northern Lines will be operating on a Sunday service.

Soccerbus - Due to non-running Merseyrail trains, the Merseytravel Soccerbus service will not operate on Boxing Day for the Everton home tie against Birmingham but will operate normally on all other matchdays throughout the festive period.

Tickets - Getting around Merseyside over the Christmas period couldn’t be easier with a Saveaway ticket – pay once and use the ticket all day to travel on most local bus and rail services in Merseyside, on the Mersey Ferries and beyond the Merseyside boundary (by rail only) to Chester, Ellesmere Port and Ormskirk.

Priced at Adult £3.30 and Child (5-15yrs) £1.90 for One Area and £4.50 and £2.30 for All Areas, Saveaway tickets can be used Monday to Friday any time except for journeys starting between 06.31am and 09.29am and any time Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Terms and conditions apply, check for details.

Information - Full travel and ticketing details are available on the website, a Guide to public transport during the Christmas and New Year holiday is available on the website or from the Brochure Hotline on 0151 330 1066 - or ring Traveline Merseyside:- 0871 200 22 33 for further information.

Traveline Merseyside will be open normally from 7am to 8pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays throughout the holiday, except for the following days:-

Friday, 24 December 2010:- 7am to 6pm

Saturday, 25 December 2010:- closed all day

Sunday, 26 December:- 9am to 6pm

Friday, 31 December 2010:- 10 to 6pm

Liverpool Philharmonic 2011 What’s On Guide revealed this week!

LIVERPOOL Philharmonic’s new brochure, announcing the exciting NEW listings for the first part of 2011 is available this week. Featuring Katie Melua – Russell Watson – The Saturdays – Rhod Gilbert – Stephen K Amos – Andy Parsons – Iron & Wine – Sarah Millican – 10cc – The Dubliners – G*Mania – Jacqui & Bridie’s last ever Folk Club plus the return of an After 8 Series that champions artist such as Miles Hunt and Michael Weston King… there really is something for everyone!

With a successful 2010 programme not yet over, Liverpool Philharmonic has today revealed its line up for 2011. On offer is another diverse line-up of talented artists and quality music of all types from around the world with some top film and comedy shows too.

Bosses say that they are on course to welcome well over a quarter of a million people to Liverpool Philharmonic in 2010 and the line up announced for the New Year will get 2011 off to an equally impressive start.

In the hard-to-miss bright orange-covered What’s On Guide released today, are one of Britain's best female artists Kate Melua, ‘The Voice’ Russell Watson, funny girl Sarah Millican and the nation’s biggest girl-band of the moment The Saturdays. Liverpool Philharmonic welcomes back Anton Du Beke & Erin Boag from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, the fabulous Latin band Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, dance sensation Tango Fire, a charity concert for Help For Heroes and, after last year’s sell out show, legends of traditional jazz The Three B’s.

Developing the folk and roots theme, 2011 welcomes one of the top selling indie artists in the US Iron & Wine, folk song-smith and Grammy award winner (Best Traditional Folk Album ) Loudon Wainwright III, in addition to Jacqui & Bridie's Folk Club 50th Year and Final Night, which celebrates these local heroines in a fabulous one-night-only line up of special guest singers and musicians (including Jacqui herself) from the club's past and present.

2011 also brings a Liverpool Philharmonic debut for the real stars of the film Brassed Off, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and welcomes stars from The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Pop Idol, Pop Stars The Rivals, Grease Is The Word and Last Choir Standing to create reality TV’s Ultimate Pop Group in G*Mania; a spectacular concert of songs inspired by the smash hit TV phenomenon Glee.

The After 8s, a series of concerts in the smaller space at Liverpool Philharmonic called the Rodewald Suite feature some of the most cutting-edge folk, roots, jazz & blues artists on the scene. The likes of Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls, Jim Moray, Troyka, Robert Mitchell’s Panacea, the Gary Fletcher Band and many more will be gracing the cabaret style venue with their innovative, genre-fusing music.

There’s a generous offering of award-winning comedians with the likes of Mock The Week’s Andy Parsons, Sarah Millican, Stephen K Amos and everyone’s favourite, angry Welshman, Rhod Gilbert.

With other highlights including the continuing Film Series featuring new releases Another Year and The King’s Speech and a Valentine’s Day Special showing of the Classic film Dirty Dancing… there’s a wealth of compelling reasons to spend time at Liverpool Philharmonic!

So why not get your hands on our new brochure and see what takes your fancy… Pick yours up at Liverpool Philharmonic or go to their website for full listings and details.  To purchase tickets please call Box Office on:- 0151 709 3789 or order online.

MAN SHOT IN CROXTETH

MERSEYSIDE Police are investigating after a 34 year old man was shot in Croxteth on Tuesday, 30 November 2010.

Emergency services were called to Invergarry Road just before 8pm yesterday to a report that a local man had been shot and had collapsed in the street. On arrival officers found a man with injuries believed to have been caused by a shotgun. The man was taken to hospital by ambulance with multiple pellet wounds to his back and head. He remains in a critical condition in hospital. The area was cordoned off for forensic examination, house-to-house enquiries are underway and hi-visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area. Officers believe this was a targeted attack although the motive is unclear at this time. A 48 year old man was arrested in connection with the incident. He remains in police custody at this time.

Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who may have witnesses this incident or anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police on:- 0151 777 5699 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.