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MORE RAIL SEATS
INTO LIVERPOOL!
AS of Monday, 12 December
2011, rail passengers through Liverpool will see more seats on peak
time trains as Northern Rail introduced 50 additional carriages
across its network.
Lee Wasnidge, Area Director for Northern Rail and Cllr Mark Dowd and
Neil Scales of Merseytravel, waved off the 16.31 Liverpool Lime
Street to Wigan North Western service as it departed with 73
additional seats.
The carriages are the result of the Department for Transport’s
rolling stock programme, which has secured a total of 60 additional
carriages for Northern, meaning more seats on 20% of the rail
operator’s major urban centre peak time trains. Lee Wasnidge
comments:- "Overcrowding has been one of the biggest
challenges we have faced and one of the biggest causes of complaint
for our passengers. Thanks to the additional carriages we will be
providing 84,000 extra seats per year for Merseyside during the peak
hours. We know that these extra carriages will not eradicate
overcrowding, but will certainly provide significantly improved
journeys for our customers from their introduction this morning."
Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said:- "These
extra carriages are great news for passengers. The Government is
determined to tackle overcrowding and provide better, more
comfortable journeys, which is why we are funding this extra
capacity.“We are now embarked on one of the biggest programmes of
rail capacity expansion since the Victorian era. In total we plan to
introduce 2,700 new rail carriages on to the network by May 2019.
These vital improvements will support economic growth and make life
better for passengers."
Councillor Mark Dowd, chair of Merseytravel added that:- "Any
additional capacity on the route is good news, and we continue to
work hard with all our partners to secure better services into and
out of this area. Reducing overcrowding on trains is a clear
priority and these extra carriages will help in the battle. To
manage the maintenance requirements of its enhanced fleet, Northern
has worked with Network Rail to reopen Allerton depot in
Merseyside."
Pride in Princes Park
THE Princes Park area of
Liverpool on 12 December 2011 has had a makeover in time for
Christmas. Residents, students, church members along with city
council workers and staff from registered social landlords all took
part in an event for environmental week of action, organised by the
council’s South Central Neighbourhood Team.
The events included litter picking by Regenerate, a group of
university students some of whom are also involved in the Leave
Liverpool Tidy Campaign which aims to cut the amount of reusable
items sent to landfill. They had been joined by members of the Love
Assembly Church on Myrtle Parade to carry out the litter pick in the
Canning area.
Other activities included a tidy-up of vacant sites which have been
the target of fly-tippers. This work was carried out by Include
Environmental Services who have been funded through the councillors’
Neighbourhood Fund.
Fly-tipping, waste and dog-fouling hotspots will also be given
special attention by the Street Nuisance Team over the run up to
Christmas.
10 new litter bins, again paid for out of the Neighbourhood Fund,
are had been installed and waste skips for the use of residents had
been provided during the week. The skips were provided by the
Liveerpool City Council, Plus Dane, Riverside, Liverpool Mutual
Homes and LHT.
Just before the event, Councillor Tim Moore, cabinet member for the
environment and climate change and a ward councillor, said:-
"This event will show the community pulling together to make their
neighbourhood cleaner and brighter! We are giving the Princes Park
neighbourhood a facelift in time for Christmas! I’m very pleased
that different sections of the community intend to join in. The
students who are talking part are also leading the Leave Liverpool
Tidy Campaign which we funded as a pilot programme last year and is
now involving other areas of the city with high student populations.
We all have a part to play in taking care of our city and this week
will bring together people to show that they are proud of their
neighbourhood."
The art of Christmas shopping
MORE people will find Santa
leaving a big square parcel around the tree this year as gift givers
see art as the added value present of Christmas 2011. Art is
overtaking the popular investment presents of gold and wine
according to one north west gallery owner who has seen a 37% rise in
the number of pieces purchased between 20 November 2011 and 9
December 2011, compared to the same period in the run up to
Christmas last year. The Mei Moses All World Art Index which
provides analysis of the financial returns of the art market
reported a 4.15% rise at the end of September this year. Bill
Clark, owner of Clark Art Gallery in Hale, Cheshire said:-
"Buying a gift of art for your nearest and dearest can give them a
real return on investment. You’re buying something of quality and
value. It’s best to wait until an artist is established before you
splash out on a piece of art if you want to guarantee a good return.
Investing in the work of rising talents is fun and potentially more
profitable if you’re willing to take a risk. In the current economic
climate, people want to give presents that will be valuable in the
future."
The Winter Show at Clark Art gallery is now running and on until 28
February 2012. it offers a mixed show of modern British art.
Bill Clark offers tips for those investing in art for the first time
this Christmas:-
1. Go for typical subjects by well known artists
2. Do your homework and buy the best you can
3. Artists from the north of England are seeing an amazing surge in
value
4. Make sure you buy from a reputable dealer
5. Art as a gift to your children is free of inheritance tax
provided you live for 7 years after the gift is made
6. With values increasing dramatically, keep replacement values
updated at least annually and inform your insurer
7. Northern artists to look out for are Helen Bradley, Theodore
Major, William Turner, John Thompson, Reg Gardner, Peter Brook and
Harold Riley 8. Remember:
art can be a sensible investment, but above all, enjoy it. |
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MP visits Southport
Resident Helped By N'Power's Health Through Warmth Scheme
AS the winter cold begins
to bite, Dr John Pugh MP for Southport has shown his support for a
local warmth scheme, npower Health Through Warmth, by visiting a
local couple who have received help.
Dr John Pugh MP was joined by Elaine Midwinter, npower Health
Through Warmth scheme manager, David Colbourne, Sustainable Energy
Officer, Sefton Council, Councillor Hill, Sefton Council, Phil Povey,
Affordable Warmth Worker, Sefton Council and Robbie McAndrew, local
Health Through Warmth co-ordinator, to see first-hand the difference
the scheme has made.
The visit was hosted by John and Kathleen Campion, who benefited
from npower Health Through Warmth when their 30 year old boiler
broke down as they both have health problems which can be made worse
by cold living conditions.
When their boiler broke down an engineer advised that the parts were
so corroded they could not be replaced and they were left without
heating or hot water. The couple contacted Sefton Council for help
and were referred to the local npower Health Through Warmth
co-ordinator, Robbie McAndrew, based at Energy Projects Plus in
Wallasey. Robbie visited their home and arranged for a quotation and
funding so a new boiler could be installed.
The boiler was part-funded from the unique npower Health Through
Warmth Crisis Fund and Sefton Council’s SEARCH scheme and the
remaining balance was paid by Mrs and Mrs Campion.
John explains:- "When I found out my boiler
couldn’t be fixed, I thought I would not be able to afford a new
one. Thankfully Health Through Warmth was able to help me replace it
and now I can put the heating on without worrying about my boiler
breaking down."
Dr John Pugh MP comments:- "npower Health Through Warmth is a
valuable scheme which has helped thousands of Merseyside residents
so it’s important for me to see first-hand the difference that it
makes for people like Mrs and Mrs Campion on a day-to-day basis.
With the winter weather arriving, now is the time to be thinking
about these issues and residents in need of help should consider
getting in touch with the scheme."
The npower Health Through Warmth scheme aims to help residents in
Merseyside whose health is made worse by cold living conditions as a
result of inadequate heating and insulation in their homes.
The scheme was set up in 2000 by npower, in partnership with
National Energy Action (NEA), the national fuel poverty charity, and
the NHS and operates in 15 areas of England and Wales.
Elaine Midwinter, npower Health Through Warmth scheme manager,
adds:- "We are delighted that Dr John Pugh MP was able to show
his support for the scheme today by visiting the Campions with us.
I’d urge anyone who has a cold related illness who doesn’t have
adequate heating or insulation to get in touch with the local
co-ordinator to see if they are eligible for help."
Health Through Warmth launched in Merseyside in 2003 and is managed
locally by Energy Project Plus in partnership with Knowsley Council,
Sefton Council, Wirral Borough Council, Liverpool City Council and
Halton Borough Council.
To date, nearly 6,000 local vulnerable residents have been referred
to the scheme for help with heating and insulation measures. Over
£5.2million has been levered to secure funding for the measures
required, including more than £114,000 from charitable
organisations. In addition, over £717,000 has been accessed from the
unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.
Each Health Through Warmth case is assessed on an individual basis
and funding can be accessed from a variety of sources,
including the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund,
government grants and charitable funds.
For more information about npower Health Through Warmth or Sefton’s
SEARCH funding, call the local Health Through Warmth
co-ordinator on:- 0151 637 3671 or visit their
website.
The npower Health Through Warmth (HTW) scheme operates in the
following areas:-
► Birmingham
► Dudley
► East Riding
► Leeds
► Leicester
► Merseyside
► Newark & Sherwood
► Newcastle/North Tyneside
► Staffordshire
► Swindon
► Telford & Wrekin
► Vale of Glamorgan
► Walsall
► Wolverhampton
► Wrexham & Flintshire
also did you know that in 2011 the Health Through Warmth scheme was
re-accredited with a Big Tick award; by Business in
the Community in the Building Stronger Communities category of their
Annual Awards for Excellence? This award recognises the company’s
continued commitment to responsible business practice and the
positive impact that the Health Through Warmth scheme continues to
have on the lives of vulnerable people with cold and damp related
illnesses who require assistance with installation and funding for
heating and insulation measures.
The npower Health Through Warmth scheme operates in 15 areas of
England and Wales, listed above, and works in partnership with
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and local authorities within the areas.
Vulnerable residents in Health Through Warmth areas can be assessed
for help through the scheme, regardless of whether or not they are
an npower customer, provided they have a cold or damp related
illness and they are referred by a community worker who has attended
a Health Through Warmth awareness session. For further details about
the areas the scheme operates in or more information about Health
Through Warmth please visit:-
healththroughwarmth.com. Join
the energy industry discussion on npower's interactive debating
website the brighter energy debate where you can post your
questions, views and comments.
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