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Hospital chuffed with £19,500 steam fair gift
ORGANISERS of the
successful
Steam and
Vintage Fair have donated £19,500
to help patients who use the Medical Day Unit (MDU) at Southport and
Formby District General Hospital. A cheque for the money was
presented to Chief Executive Jonathan Parry and unit manager Sister
Julie Marshall by three of the event organisers, William Hunter,
John Johnson and George Harrison. Jonathan
said:- "This is a very generous gift and will be put to good
use in what I know is very highly valued unit.”" The
Riverside Steam and Vintage Fair is held annually in April at Banks,
near Southport, and all the money raised goes to local charities and
good causes. This year £37,500 was raised and altogether the fair
has raised £206,885 over the past 6 years. The medical day
unit provides therapies and treatments, including chemotherapy, to
patients across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire.
CLA supports
calls for improved food security
THE CLA has welcomed
recommendations to improve food security in a report published on 1
July 2014, by the House of Commons Environment Food and Rural
Affairs Committee. CLA North Regional Director Dorothy
Fairburn said:- "Our changing climate is likely to reduce the
availability of productive agricultural land so every hectare will
need to produce more. We need to be able to produce more food to
feed a growing population and we welcome the positive stance in
today’s report on innovation and technology, particular on GM. As
the report rightly states, the EU decision making process is too
restrictive and will leave the UK and the EU trailing behind the
rest of the world. The report supports our view that farmers should
have access to longer term weather forecasts to enable better
preparation for extreme weather. The anticipated reduction in summer
river flows could severely restrict availability of water for food
production, which would have a devastating economic impact on food
businesses." The CLA is backing the call made in the
report for a more co-ordinated approach to food security within UK
government. Miss Fairburn said:- "Producing sufficient food to
feed our growing population is a huge challenge and it is
encouraging to see the committee identify that there is much more
that can be done to achieve better yields. More sustainable farming
will only be possible through a more equitable share of risk and
profit along the food supply chain, rather than farmers being
continually squeezed." The EFRA Committee report can
be found
online.
Tax credits online renewal form launched
WITH the tax credits
renewal deadline of 31 July 2014 less than 1 month away, HM Revenue
and Customs (HMRC) has launched a new online service for the vast
majority of claimants to use. Just over 1.5 million claimants still
need to renew their claims by the 31 July deadline, or their
payments might end. Last year more than 650,000 failed to renew on
time. This year, as well as being able to renew by post and phone,
claimants can renew online, on GOV.UK, or via the HMRC app. So far
135,000 people have submitted their tax credits renewal online, with
a consistent 96% satisfaction rate. Nick Lodge, Director General of
Benefits and Credits, HMRC, said:- "Loads of people have already
renewed their tax credits claim online, and have found it quick and
easy to do. We've now made it even better and are encouraging
everyone to renew online if they can, at a time that suits them. The
most important thing is to renew before the 31 July 2014 deadline,
so as not to risk losing your money." HMRC asks all claimants to
check the accuracy of the information in their renewals pack, and to
inform the department about any changes to their circumstances that
they haven't already reported, such as to their working hours,
childcare costs or pay. Our newsroom would like to hear your views
on Tax Credita and if you have any issues regarding Tax Credit
renewals. Let us know your views by emailing us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
A firearms has been discharge on
Percy Street in Bootle
MERSEYSIDE
Police have issued an appeal for information following a firearms
discharge in Bootle in the early hours of Wednesday, 2 July 2014.
Merseyside Police
have told us that:- "Following a call reporting that shots
were being fired at a house we sent patrols were sent to Percy
Street, in Bootle, at about 1.30am. Upon arrival our Officers found
damage to the front of the house and upon examination by Crime Scene
Investigators, found the damage consistent with that of a shotgun
discharge. A man who was in the house at the time received minor
injuries following the incident and received treatment at the scene
for cuts caused by glass. Forensic examinations of the area have
been carried out and CCTV from the area is being checked to identify
the individuals responsible."
At this stage the
Police say they:- "We believe that the house was targeted and
an investigation into the full circumstances of the incident is
underway."
Chief Inspector
Helen Corcoran, add:- "We take incidents of this nature very
seriously and thankfully no one in the house was seriously injured.
I would like to reassure the community that officers are working to
identify those responsible for this wreckless act and searches of
the area are being undertaken. I would appeal to anyone with
information to contact police. We look into all information provided
to us, no matter how small you might think it is, the information
could be really useful for our enquiries."
Anyone with
information is asked to call the Matrix Serious and Organised Crime
team on:- 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555
111.
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Help find
Charity Ride Stolen Bikes
MERSEYSIDE Police are
continuing to appeal for information about the theft of 5 bikes
stolen from a van parked near to Anfield football stadium on
Saturday, 28 June 2014. The bikes had been placed in the van
pictured below, as a group of charity fundraisers during a visit to
Anfield Football Stadium.
Above JFT96 @DebiMcMillan96 posted
on
Twitter this photograph
of the lads outside the broken-in van just before start of
@rideforthe96.
The 5 cyclists from the Justice For The 96, Hillsbough campaign
group had the white van parked at the Walton Breck Road End of
Venmore Street, at around 10.15am while they went on a tour of the
stadium. Sadly when they returned to the vehicle shortly, at
around 12 noon, they discovered that a window had been smashed and
the driver's side door was forced open.
The offender/s stole 5 bikes that the group had brought over from
Ireland in order to take part in the 'Ride For The 96'
charity bike ride, that took place the following day, on Sunday, 29
June 2014. Also stolen were the group's luggage, including a number
of t-shirts with the charity's name on them, passports, the van's
Sat Nav and a quantity of cash.
Full descriptions of the stolen bikes and other items have been
circulated to all mobile and foot patrols in the area and Officers
are appealing for anyone who is offered bikes or belongings matching
the following descriptions to call the Police immediately.
► Red and black Verenti bike.
► Black,
red and white Giant 'Defi X2'.
► Red
and white Giant 'Defi X2'.
► Blue
and white Giant composite.
► Pink
and black Turas with the name "Sophie" on the frame.
Crime scene investigators have also examined the vehicle and
detectives are carrying out CCTV enquiries from the area.
Chief Inspector Chris Hitchell from Liverpool North command team,
said:- "This is an absolutely terrible thing to happen to
anyone visiting our city but it is made worse by the fact that this
group are here to raise money for charity and a cause which is dear
to so many Liverpudlians' hearts. Everything possible will be done
to identify the offenders responsible for this despicable theft and
I would call on people within the local area to help us get these
bikes back quickly. All 5 are very distinctive and I would urge
anyone who knows where they are being hidden or offered for sale to
do the decent and honourable thing and call the Police or
Crimestoppers. The victims have travelled all the way over from
Ireland to raise money for the families of the Hillsborough victims
and they are understandably distraught at what has happened."
Stuart Fitzgerald commented on Twitter:- "Still fuming over
this. 6 bikes disappearing that quickly with nobody noticing... My
****!"
Lets help them catch the one or ones responsible for the 6 bikes
disappearing bikes. Call St Anne Street CID on:- 0151 777 4065 or
Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.
Photographs of 4 of the missing bikes, that have been supplied by
Merseyside Police to the media are below:-
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