Highways Agency Carbon Saving Scheme to be Extended

MOTORWAY lighting along three carefully-selected sections of motorway in the North West, West Midlands and East Midlands will be switched off between midnight and 5am in a move to reduce carbon emissions and light pollution, the Highways Agency has announced.

Lighting at the following three locations will be switched off each night from midnight until 5am starting at 00:01hrs on 2 February 2011. The motorway junctions and their approaches will remain lit.

► North West:- The M6 in Lancashire, junctions 26 to 27 (approximately 1.2 miles)

► West Midlands:- The M5 to the west of Birmingham between Junctions 2 and 4 (8 miles)

► East Midlands:- The M1 between Junction 16 and Watford Gap Services (6 miles)

These stretches of the motorway have a good safety record between midnight and 5am and, after careful assessment, have been chosen as the latest sites for the Highways Agency’s national programme.

Staff in the Highways Agency’s Regional Control Centres have the ability to override the switch-off mechanism, and will consider leaving the lights on should severe weather be forecast on these parts of the strategic road network overnight.

Targeted switch-offs have been successfully delivered in other parts of the country over the last two years including stretches of the motorway network in Kent, Berkshire, Hampshire, Devon, Avon and Somerset and on an adjoining site on the M6 in Lancashire.

Bob Castleman, Divisional Director for the Highways Agency, said:- "We are continually looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of operating the motorway network and this is another step in that direction, bringing the total number of sites on England’s motorway network to ten. We expect these sites to work as successfully as everywhere else – achieving up to a 40% saving in carbon emissions and energy use as well as giving local communities reduced light pollution of the night sky. The latest sites have been carefully chosen because of their good safety record between midnight and 5am. In fact, using current standards there would be no case for installing new lighting at these sites based on the overnight traffic flow figures alone.”

The Highways Agency has contacted emergency services to ensure they are aware of the switch-off.

MURDER INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED

MERSEYSIDE Police launched a murder investigation following the shooting of a 25 year old man, Joseph Cummins from Fazakerley, on Thursday, 20 January 2011. Officers were Travelling down Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley just before 9pm, when they came across the injured man. The Ambulance Service took the man to hospital and a short time later he was pronounced dead. Forensic examination is on-going in the Longmoor Lane area, between Lower Lane and Copplehouse Lane. Enquiries are on-going and patrols have been stepped up. Officers would urge anyone who witnessed this incident or who has any information about it to contact:- 0151 777 8603 or Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.

MERSEYSIDE POLICE COMES FIRST FOR DEALING WITH CRIME THAT MATTERS MOST TO PUBLIC

MERSEYSIDE Police, in partnership with local authorities, has come first nationally for dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour that matters most to the public, according to the latest official British Crime Survey and Home Office statistics released on Thursday, 20 January 2011.  The Force, along with its partners, has driven down crime by over 10 per cent compared to a national fall of 7%, meaning there were 12,000 fewer victims of crime in Merseyside in the latest 12 month period.  Violent offences like assault and robbery have also fallen substantially, as have acquisitive crimes like burglary and car crime, while more people in Merseyside agree that the police are dealing with local concerns. Moreover fewer people now believe ASB, drug use or drug dealing, and drunken, rowdy behaviour are at high-levels in their communities, than they did in the last 12 month period. The findings come from the Home Office's national crime statistics and the British Crime Survey results.  Assistant Chief Constable, Helen King, said:- "Once again I am pleased to say that overall crime continues to fall on Merseyside and that is testament to the dedication and professionalism of our officers and staff, and the work we do with our partners and communities. By driving down crime by 10 per cent it means there have been 12,000 fewer people who have become the victim of a crime - a significant success. Crimes such as assault, robbery, burglary and car theft, which all have a damaging effect on the victim, have all been reduced by at least 11 per cent or more. The communities that we represent and work for have recognised these successes by agreeing that ourselves and the council are dealing with the local issues and concerns that matter to them. As well as our communities suffering less crime, people are confident in what we are doing to ensure our town and city centres remain safe places to visit. The British Crime Survey shows that we are leading the way in our group of Most Similar Forces in changing the way people feel about drunken, rowdy or anti-social behaviour and that is credit to the way we work with local authorities and businesses to police our night-time economy areas. Of course, we cannot and will not rest on our laurels and, as with any large metropolitan force area, there remains areas where we will keep striving to improve so that we can better serve the people of Merseyside. By continuing to work with our partners and our local communities, and by taking robust action against criminals, we continue to be completely committed to preventing crime, bringing offenders to justice, supporting victims and protecting communities across Merseyside."

GET THE READY FOR READ NOSE DAY 2011

WARNING!!!! Red Nose Day is back on Friday, 18 March 2011 and according to the charity Comic Relief:- "It's going to bigger and better than ever before! If you help us by raising cash, you will help a huge variety of projects that help countless poor and vulnerable people. In the UK, you're likely to be no more than 30 miles away from a project we support. In Africa you could help to save lives, cure blindness, reunite families, educate children and much more. To find out more visit our website." Let us know if you are doing any events and we will try and list them on Southport Reporter for you! Email our news room via news24@southportreporter.com with full information and contact information that we can pass on to other readers!