PHOTOGRAPHERS CHALLENGED TO PUT MERSEYSIDE IN THE FRAME

Photograph above by Chris Howe

NETWORK Rail has thrown down a challenge to photographers on Merseyside; beat the rest of the country with a winning local photograph. Not one photograph from the area featured in last year’s Take a View competition.

The search to find the best photography of the British landscape and that of the rail network is on. Entry for the Take a view - Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards 2011 is now open.

For the second year, Network Rail is supporting this national competition where amateurs and professional photographers can showcase the very best imagery of Britain’s beautiful rural and urban scenery and compete for the top prize of £10,000. The competition, now in its fifth year, is the idea of renowned landscape photographer, Charlie Waite, and the best images will be showcased at an exhibition at the National Theatre in London.

An additional prize will be given for the best photography of Britain’s rail network – The Network Rail ‘Lines in the Landscape’ Special Award. The winner will receive a weekend break and a guided tour of the Severn Rail Tunnel’s Sudbrook Pumping Station, including travelling down the 180ft lift shaft to the complex of underground culverts, sub -tunnels where you can safely observe the trains as they pass.

David Higgins, Network Rail chief executive said:- “Every day for over a century the railway has helped people travel across the length and breadth of Britain. Those journeys can take people across spectacular structures such as the Forth Bridge and Ribblehead viaduct and where people can experience truly amazing views of the countryside and our cities. Network Rail has the special duty of protecting and promoting this legacy as well as building a modern rail network for the 21st century. We are proud to continue to support this competition, and even more so to have a special award for the best photography of our rail network. Travelling by rail is becoming ever more popular, and we hope that, through this competition, even more people will recognise its importance in Britain today.”

Awards founder, Charlie Waite added:- “Train travel really is one of my favourite things. The longer journeys give you time to think and reflect, very like the quiet time that you can experience when creating a photograph. The ever -changing and inspirational views from the window provide the perfect break from daily life and the constant maintenance needed to keep the infrastructure in good repair is easy to forget. Looking through the railway images last year was a great pleasure and I am really looking forward to seeing this year’s entries.”

Last year, the Lines in the Landscape award received over 500 entries from all over the country, and Network Rail is keen to encourage more interest this year. The winner of the 2010 award was Chris Howe from Hitchin in Hertfordshire with a photograph of a speeding train going through Grindleford station in the Peak District. the picture is the one at the start of this report.

Entrants have until midday on the 15 July 2011, to enter the 2011 award by submitting their photographs of the British landscape. The competition is open to everyone and, for the first time this year, you can enter up to 25 photographs across the four categories. There is an exciting prize fund worth £20,000, including £10,000 for the overall winner. There is also a special class for those under 16.

All entries to the award must be uploaded via the competition website  and the closing date is 15 July 2011. Entry fees apply. Full terms and conditions can be found on the site.

The exhibition of the winning and commended entries will be on show at the National Theatre in London from 5 December 2011 and will also appear in a coffee table book.

The prize

The prize for the Network Rail ‘Lines in the Landscape’ Award will be a unique opportunity for the winner + one guest to visit the Severn Rail Tunnel’s Sudbrook Pumping Station. This historic station was built to pump water from the tunnel, including that from the Great Spring, which was discovered during tunnel construction in the late 19th century. The pumps now remove an average of 15 million gallons of water each day. The winner will receive special guided tour of the facility (not open to the general public) including travelling down the 180ft lift shaft to the complex of underground culverts, sub-tunnels where you can safely observe the trains, as they pass.

The trip will include first class rail travel to Bristol/South Wales from within the UK and accommodation in twin/double room on a Saturday night.

(Date restrictions apply depending on availability. The trip may not be taken on Bank/Public Holidays and must be taken by 30 June 2011). Meals and transport to & from stations are not included.

The Severn Rail Tunnel’s Sudbrook Pumping Station Tour will be provided by Network Rail and the travel and accommodation by Take a view.

If the winning image is from a ‘Youth’ category, the prize will be arranged via the winning photographer’s parent/guardian.

Time running out to complete Census

TIME is running out for people in Liverpool to fill in their Census forms and avoid the risk of prosecution. The deadline for filling in the document is Friday, 6 May 2011.  Forms can be returned by post, or online at:- census.gov.uk. The message to the public is:- “Don’t be the one who forgets – or you could face a court appearance and a fine.”   Census investigators have started hitting the streets targeting households who have still not returned their form, and will be conducting interviews under caution with those who are refusing to fill it in.   ONS Census Director Glen Watson said:- “We are now in the final phase of follow-up and people need to act straight away to avoid the risk of a fine. We realise people lead busy lives and completing their census might not be top of their ‘to do’ list, but the time to act is now. Where people refuse to complete their form a formal investigation is undertaken and they can be interviewed under caution, evidence gathered and those details passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. A court hearing, a criminal record and a fine of up to £1,000 may follow.”  Over 3 quarters of the population in England and Wales have already completed and returned their census questionnaires, but there are still householders in Liverpool that have not done so.  During the last Census, only 89% of households in Liverpool returned the document, compared to a national average of 94 percent. It is estimated that the city’s population was underestimated by over 10,000 people – meaning it lost out on over £150 million in funding over the decade. The amount of money that public services such as the police, fire, ambulance, the NHS and the council receive is based upon the city’s population, so it is vital it is as accurate as possible.  Anyone who has not yet received a questionnaire, or needs help, should call the helpline on:- 0300 0201 101.

PUT A BRAKE ON SPEED THIS MAY

MOTORISTS are being urged to cut their speed this May as part of a campaign to reduce road deaths and casualties in Merseyside.  In the last five years 244 people have been killed or seriously injured on the roads in May compared to 222 people in April and 231 people in June.  Last year was the first May since 2006 that saw a reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads with 23 casualties compared to 59 in 2009, 56 in 2008, 51 in 2007 and 55 in 2006.

Sergeant Paul Mountford said:- "The month of May often sees an increase in the number of casualties on the roads of Merseyside with the two bank holidays and warmer weather so we were delighted to see a fall in casualties last May, which we believe was due to a combination of enforcement and education. This May we will have a high number of officers policing the roads to try to continue this reduction and ensure our message of safe driving is heard."

Each May the force sees a rise in collisions involving multiple passengers in the cars of young drivers aged between 17 and 25.  Sgt Mountford added:- "We have been doing a lot of work with young drivers who are at the highest risk of being involved in a collision due to their lack of experience and their perception that they are invincible. This month we will be speaking to young people and their parents as well as handing out information leaflets in a bid to educate them further about safe driving and the importance of not becoming distracted while at the wheel, in particular when their friends are in the car. Just one moment's lack of concentration can result in catastrophic consequences."

May's campaign by the Road Policing Department forms part of the monthly campaigns carried out to make Merseyside a safe place for all drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

Hot-spot roads for collisions have been identified as:-

Poulton Road, Borough Road and the A41 in Wirral,
A565, A5191 and the Coastal Road in Sefton
A580 in Knowsley
A580, A58, A570 and Crank Road in St Helens
A5036 in north Liverpool
A561 in south Liverpool

Advice to Motorists

Make sure you know the limit on the road you are using - missing the sign is no excuse.

Look for the signs - if there is none but there are streetlights, the speed limit is 30mph, and that includes dual carriageways.

Keep glancing at your speedometer at regular intervals throughout your journey - regular checks will not affect your concentration.

Remember that speed limits are a maximum, not a recommendation. In some conditions the safe speed will be less than the limit - amend your speed accordingly.

Built up areas can be especially unpredictable; children or animals might run into the road, or a car might pull out in front of you - stay alert and check your speed.

Remember that it is every driver's responsibility to know the speed limits and remain within them at all times.

Parents should be reminded of the vital role that they play. If they exceed the speed limits then their sons and daughters are likely to do the same.

Latest - Whats On At The Southport British Armed Forces Weekend 2011

SOUTHPORT'S British Armed Forces weekend will be hold on Princes Park on the 25 June 2011. So far we know that the event will have the following in attendance:- RAF CAREERS; RAFBF; RAF POLICE ASSOC; SOUTHPORT ST JOHN AMBULANCE; SOUTHPORT ATC; SOUTHPORT ARMY CADETS; SOUTHPORT SEA CADETS; SOUTHPORT LIFEBOAT; SOUTHPORT FIRE BRIGADE; SOUTHPORT ROTARY; SOUTHPORT ROUND TABLE; SOUTHPORT ROYAL BRITISH LEGION; FORMBY BRITISH LEGION; RBL RIDERS BRANCH; CROSBY FIRE ENGINE MUSEUM; RNLI; ABF PAINTBALL; ROYAL MILITARY POLICE; 4 PARA RECRUITMENT; IRISH GUARDS; 108 FIELD HOSPITAL; ARMY CAREERS TEAM; REME RECRUITMENT; DUKE OF LANCASTERS; 103 ROYAL ARTILLERY; 156 TRANSPORT REGT; THE RIFLES; ARMY VINTAGE VEHICLES; BAND (ALOCATED); CHORLEY ATC BAND; SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS; HELP FOR HEROES; GURKHA WELFARE TRUST; BROUGHTON HOUSE; ROYAL ARTILLERY PARACHUTE TEAM; RA LIGHT GUN DISPLAY; MERSEYSIDE MOUNTED POLICE PAT AND CHAT; CENTRAL STUDIOS; CHILDREN’S FAIRGROUND RIDES; INFLATABLES; PAINTBALL; ARCHERY; FOOTBALL SHOOTOUT BY SOUTHPORT FC; RED CROSS; BANDS; DANCETROOPS; MD TRAVEL VEHICLES; TINY TANKS.