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Green light for
£5.5bn Liverpool Waters plans
THE MAYOR of Liverpool has
welcomed the news that the Government has given the go-ahead to the
£5.5 billion scheme to regenerate 60 hectares of dock land in the
City, creating tens of thousands of jobs.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles MP on
Monday, 4 March 2013, approved the
ambitious Liverpool Waters scheme. Following careful consideration
of the plans, he has decided that the scheme can proceed without the
need for a Public Inquiry.
It means Peel Holdings and the City Council can now officially begin
work on the plans. Over the next 30 years, Liverpool Waters is
expected to:-
► Create more than 20,000 jobs.
► Deliver 9,000 homes and 3 million square feet of commercial
development. ► Include hundreds of offices, a cruise liner terminal, hotels,
shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, said:- "This is fantastic
news for Liverpool. I'm absolutely delighted that the Secretary of
State shares the confidence we have in our ability to deliver this
vitally important regeneration scheme, while protecting our
architectural heritage. This announcement marks the start of a new era for Liverpool,
paving to way to us delivering a world class development which will
transform a part of the City that has been in desperate need of
investment for decades.
Liverpool Waters will create thousands of jobs and opportunities for
local people, as well as providing new housing and attracting new
businesses and visitors.
It's a huge boost for our City and yet more evidence that despite
the recession, regeneration is forging ahead here. We can now look
forward to the plans moving forward on this once-in-a-lifetime
scheme which will bring huge, lasting benefits to future generations
in this City. It's vital that Peel delivers these plans in a way
which meets the conditions set out by the planning committee and
we'll be working closely with them to make sure this is achieved."
Liverpool's planning committee initially granted planning permission
for the scheme in March 2012, with a number of conditions; including those relating to timescales, the heights of buildings and
phasing of works.
The City Council and Peel Holdings worked together to address these
conditions, before officially submitting the plans to the Government
in October 2013.
In March 2011, the Government established four areas in the country
as "Enterprise Zones", including "Mersey Waters" which
consists of Peel's Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters schemes. The
additional support and benefits these zones will receive include a
business rates discount for 5 years, a simplified and improved
planning regime and superfast broadband.
The go-ahead for the Liverpool Waters scheme adds further momentum
to regeneration in the City, with a recent audit finding that
hundreds of millions of pounds worth of projects are active in the
City, despite the recession.
Figures show that there is £800 million worth of ongoing
regeneration projects in the City. Major schemes on-site include
four new hotels, the refurbishment of the Cunard Building, the
rebuilding of the Everyman Theatre, the restoration of Liverpool
Central Library which re-opens in May 2013, 3 major health schemes and
2,515 new homes, including the £25 million Anfield Village
development.
More information about Liverpool Waters is available at:-
liverpoolwaters.co.uk. |
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Liverpool
student organises local charity music event to help tackle poverty
in India
A Liverpool student is
holding a local charity music event in a fortnight, to support a
project that tackles poverty in India. Camille Chappell, age
21, will travel to India in June to work on the development
programme for 10 weeks. Camille will team up with Indian
volunteers to tackle some of the problems facing the local
community, after getting a place on the government funded
International Citizen Service (ICS).
ICS allows young people aged 18-25 to contribute to long-term
development projects in countries like Nicaragua, India and
Tanzania. The scheme offers young people the chance to develop
personally and learn about team working and leadership on projects
that are of genuine value to communities around the world. On return
to the UK, ICS volunteers undertake an 'Action at Home Project',
ensuring that their new skills also benefit their local communities.
Camille said:- "My music event is a way of making sure
developing countries can continue to benefit from the work of future
volunteers, so it's vital I reach my target. I have been contacting
local venues, bands and businesses (to help with raffle prizes) to
organise the event- which is all coming together nicely. I'm hoping
everyone will come along on the night and give generously as a
result of my effort! The project I will be working on is run
by the development charity, Raleigh International and aims to
improve access to sanitation and educate people about health and
hygiene. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside people from
a different culture who have requested help from young volunteers to
fight poverty and make a difference where it's needed most. I'm
really excited to get out there."
To sponsor Camille visit:-
justgiving.com/Camille-Chappell
or text:- CAMI91 with the amount you wish to donate to:- 70070.
To find out more about ICS or to apply, visit:-
ics-uk.org.uk or call:- 0208 780 7400.
Liverpool man jailed for
'vicious and sustained' Lime Street attack
A Liverpool man who kicked and stamped a rail
passenger he had knocked to the ground has been jailed for 12
months. Conor Joseph Deakin, 23, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court
on Thursday, 28 February 2013, for sentence having pleaded guilty to
actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing. The court was told Deakin,
of Stamford Street, Liverpool, was at Liverpool Lime Street station
at around 2.30am on Tuesday, 31 July 2012 when he began to shout
abuse at a 52 year old rail passenger. When the rail passenger tried
to placate Deakin he became aggressive and pushed the man to the
ground. Deakin then subjected the man to a vicious attack in which
he was kicked, spat at, stamped on and hit with his own walking
stick. Rail staff alerted British Transport Police officers who used
CCTV to locate Deakin and arrested him at the front entrance of the
station. Following the assault, the victim was taken to hospital for
treatment and, despite initially being discharged, was later
re-admitted and was treated as an in-patient for more than a week.
Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm McKinnon said:- "Deakin
subjected the victim to a sustained and particularly vicious attack
which left him requiring significant hospital treatment. Thankfully
violence of this nature is rare on the rail network, but it is as
unwelcome as it is unusual. When violence does occur British
Transport Police will do everything in its power to bring offenders
to justice and, as this case demonstrates, will not hesitate to put
them before the courts."
Report changes, tax credit claimants
told TAX credits
claimants are reminded by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to report
changes in their circumstances; or they may receive more money than
they are entitled to. They would have to pay this back and might
face a financial penalty. From April this year, any income increase
for a household of more than £5,000 for the tax year will reduce a
claimant's tax credits award for the 2013 to 2014 tax year. This
amount has fallen from the previous figure of £10,000, after a
Budget announcement in 2010. Claimants need to let HMRC know of any
changes in their circumstances that they haven't already reported
during the year. The changes could be about their working hours,
childcare costs, living arrangements or income. They need to report
the changes immediately and ensure the details they provide are
correct. HMRC's Director General of Benefits and Credits, Nick
Lodge, said:- "Many people forget or fail to tell us about
important changes – such as having a partner move in or an increase
in income – which will affect the amount of money they receive. This
could mean that they don't get all the money they are entitled to.
Or they could receive money that they have to pay back. We therefore
urge them to report changes promptly, and make sure all details are
accurate." |
