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Full steam ahead for new Community Police Station in Ainsdale Railway Station

IT'S full steam ahead for Sefton's second Community Police Station as it officially open its doors within Ainsdale Railway Station, on Tuesday, 28 May 2019.

The Community Police Station is designed to make Officers and PCSOs, from Merseyside Police's Local Policing Team, more accessible to people living in and visiting the village and is part of the Police Commissioner, Jane Kennedy's 10 year strategy to update the Force's ageing estate and save money to the frontline.

The proposal to co-locate the new Community Police Station in the Train Station was 1st raised with the Commissioner by Ainsdale Councillors in 2015. Since then, Merseyrail has agreed to house the new Station free of charge, within the Merseyrail Northern Line Railway Station, as part of its Corporate Responsibility Programme, meaning there are no costs to Merseyside Police for re-locating to the site or on going rent charges. Work began on site in March 2017.

Today, the Commissioner will be joined by Merseyside Police's Superintendent Graeme Robson, Local Policing Inspector Graham Fisher, Ainsdale ward Councillors, representatives from Sefton Council and Merseyrail to officially declare the Station open for business.

The Community Police Station in Ainsdale will be open on a regular, but not continuous basis and includes a private interview room and facilities from which Officers can parade on. It will not house any custody suites or cells. Surgeries will be publicised at the Station, on local billboards and through the Force's website and social media channels.

Community Police Stations are designed to be accessible, visible centres which are co-located with partners in busy neighbourhood hubs which are already well used by the communities they serve. They are a key part of the PCC's strategy to transform Merseyside Police's Stations with the aim of saving ₤2.5m on running costs every year, money which can be redirected straight into frontline policing.

Jane said:- "I'm delighted that we are now in a position to open the doors to Sefton's 2nd Community Police Station here in Ainsdale Railway Station. This an excellent place for a Community Police Station and I'm very grateful to Ainsdale's ward Councillors for proposing this location and for getting on board with my plans to make Merseyside Police more accessible. Thanks to Merseyrail's kind offer to house this Community Police Station for free, we will also be saving money every year on our annual running costs. This is money which can be put straight back into Merseyside Police's budget to be spent on policing our communities. Merseyside Police has experienced some of the biggest cuts anywhere in the country since 2010, but the Chief Constable and I want Officers to be visible and accessible to local people. It's what people tell me all the time when I attend events and meet the public. This new Community Police Station will put the neighbourhood team right at the heart of the community in a busy location which is well used by the community. I hope it will be a valuable asset to the people of Ainsdale."

Merseyside Police's Community Policing Superintendent Graeme Robson said:- "Community Police Stations are designed to be accessible, visible centres which give local people access to their neighbourhood Police team in a busy, centrally located base. They put our teams right at the heart of the communities they serve. Our local policing Officers will be on hand to listen, and to provide advice and reassurance. By holding regular surgeries, members of the public have the opportunity to pop in and discuss their concerns and share their views with their local team in a convenient location."

This launch follows on the from the opening of Sefton's 1st Community Police Station, in Maghull Town Hall, on Westway, that opened in March 2018, at an event attended by MP Bill Esterson and Town Council leader Cllr Patrick McKinley and Deputy leader Cllr John Sayers.

By replacing inefficient and expensive old Police Stations with new Community Police Stations, the Commissioner is working to reduce the annual running cost of Merseyside Police's estate in order to protect 65 Police Officer jobs.

Some have pointed out that the very Public location of the Station might put people off going to it. So what are your views and thoughts on this new Police Station? Please email them to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

The former Deputy PCC, Emily Spurrell, to run for Merseyside PCC

Merseyrail stops printing receipts for customers in pledge to reduce paper waste

MERSEYRAIL have announced that it will stop automatically printing receipts for customers in a bid to cut down on waste; saving up to 600km of paper each year. Since in May 2019, ticket offices will no longer print out lengthy receipts for customers, as the rail operator, which has won multiple awards for its environmental and sustainability initiatives, continues its commitment to being more environmentally friendly. Customers who need a receipt will still be able to get one by asking the ticket office staff.  By 'World Environment Day,' on 5 June 2019, ticket offices across the network will be receipt free, however automatic ticket vending machines will still provide them, and staff will issue receipts when requested by a passenger.

Each year Merseyrail uses 12,000 rolls of till receipts; enough to stretch from Liverpool to Paris; and most of these are not wanted by the customer and are discarded.  These changes are part of an ongoing commitment to reducing waste and increasing sustainability at Merseyrail, as multiple initiatives are taking place across the network. A 'Carbon Cup' competition has encouraged staff to save energy across the network in a bid for their Station to be crowned Carbon Cup Champion, resulting in huge energy savings.  LED lights have been introduced in several Stations across the region, saving energy in areas of higher consumption.

Speaking of the removal of receipts, Head of Sustainability, at Merseyrail, Cath Johnston said:- "As part of our vision to deliver a world class railway, we are committed to providing an affordable, greener and connected transport system. This latest move to remove automatically printed receipts contributes towards reducing our carbon footprint, and helping our passengers to be more environmentally conscious also. Passengers have been letting us know that they often buy the same ticket each day and don't need a receipt, which they immediately put in the bin, so we knew we needed to act on this. Being 'green' is an integral part of our business, and we are always looking at ways that we can protect the environment that we operate in."