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Supercar to be
made in Liverpool
LIVERPOOL'S automotive
industry is receiving a major boost with the announcement that the
world's 1st road legal, single seater production car is to be
manufactured in the City.
The Mayor of Liverpool has completed a deal with motoring pioneers
Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) to move production of their ground
breaking, award-winning BAC Mono car to the City. It is set to
create almost 60 local, high end manufacturing jobs by 2014,
including apprenticeships, as well as new regional supply chain
opportunities.
In a major coup for Liverpool, the deal will see Speke Hall
Industrial Estate in South Liverpool, becoming the new home for the
specialist, high-performance vehicle.
BAC Ltd's relocation to Liverpool has been made possible thanks to
support from the City in facilitating the move and identifying a
site. It will further strengthen the City region's reputation in
automotive production, following the success of Jaguar Land Rover's
Halewood plant.
The BAC Mono has earned a string
of accolades, including the coveted BBC Top Gear 'Stig's Car
of the Year' award and will gain further national
recognition when it is featured on the show this 7 July 2013, with
Jeremy Clarkson putting the vehicle through its paces.
The car will also serve as an ambassador for Liverpool all over the
world, with the City brand emblazoned on the vehicle's body as it
takes part in high profile international racing events.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said:- "This is great news
for Liverpool. BAC is an ambitious, visionary company, and their
desire to relocate to our City speaks volumes for our business
offer. The support we have provided will help create new jobs and
apprenticeships and further build our reputation as a City of
automotive excellence. The Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood has
been a real success story for our City in creating jobs in
commercial car production; I'm confident that this deal with BAC
will prove to be another success, in creating opportunities at the
specialist end of the market. BAC-Mono is a prestigious brand, and
it's fantastic that motoring and racing enthusiasts alike will know
that a car which is turning heads wherever it goes; whether on the
road or on the track; is made in Liverpool."
BAC expects its new production site in Speke to be up and running by
the autumn, and projects that it will be producing more than 100
cars a year by 2015.
The company is now looking to recruit to its team, with a mixture of
jobs on offer for local people. There are employment opportunities
for people with experience of working on high-performance and new
model launch cars, as well as apprenticeship opportunities. For more
information and to apply, please contact BAC via sending an
email.
BAC Ltd is also looking to source components locally and is in talks
with a number of suppliers from the region over potential
opportunities.
Managing Director at BAC Ltd, Neill Briggs, said:- "We are
thrilled at our relocation to Liverpool. The City has a rich history
in the motor industry and we look forward to adding our own chapter
to this success story. We would like to take this opportunity to
thank Mayor Anderson and his team for their support. Liverpool is a
great place to do business, and with the wealth of highly skilled
individuals in the region we believe we are perfectly positioned to
take the company to the next level. This expansion and job creation
will allow us to meet sales demand around the world, and build on
the fantastic interest Mono has received since it was launched. We
are all extremely proud to say that 'Mono is built in Liverpool'"
Safe walk
to school jeopardised in North West by lollipop decline
IN a press report issued by
Living Streets on 4 July 2013, they say that a cuts in road safety
budgets could be putting children's lives at risk. "In wake of
cuts, a 63% increase in the number of children killed or seriously
injured on the walk to school" said the group. A Freedom of
Information Request (FOI) issued by the charity found that the
number of school crossing patrols shows that the lollipop men and
women who help children to cross busy roads safely at peak times
near schools has decreased in 71% of the local authorities in the
North West, which responded.
Living Streets' Chief Executive, Tony Armstrong, said:- "4
children are injured or killed, on their way to or from school every
day. A safe passage to school is a child's right and it is the duty
of the local authorities to safeguard it. The number of children
walking to school has been in decline for several decades. Living
Streets runs the national walk to school campaign which has
delivered a reversal in the trend in the last year, but speeding
traffic is cited by both parents and children as a barrier. Lollipop
men and women not only help our children to navigate busy roads, but
are a reassurance for parents that their children can walk to school
safely. When we want to encourage young people to be more physically
active, it seems ridiculous that a simple, cost effective safety
measure may be in jeopardy. Any further cuts to budgets will only
yield small savings, but could have a devastating impact on the
lives of families across the UK. Government should be prioritising
the most vulnerable road users; pedestrians."
The charity which campaigns for safer streets is asking people to
support its campaign by writing or emailing their local authority;
via its
website; asking them to
maintain current numbers of school crossing patrol officers. This
year is the 60th anniversary of the appointment of the first
lollipop person.
Katie Goldthorpe is a Safe and Sustainable Travel Assistant for her
local Council and says she feels comfortable allowing her 11 year
old son Alfie walk to school independently because of their local
school crossing patrol.
"Knowing that Pete the lollipop man was there to see the children
safely across a busy and dangerous road, meant I was happy for Alfie
to walk to school on his own or with his friends. Taking that next
step to walking to school independently is a rite of passage for
children and important to build their confidence and social skills.
Pete doesn't just see the children across the road; he's a trusted
adult presence. The kids all know him and it's reassuring to know
he's there. He's an essential member of the community." said
Katie Goldthorpe.
Beryl Newton has been a lollipop lady in St Giles for 15 years and
is now reluctantly hanging up her stick at the tender age of 90.
Beryl said:- "This road serves as a cut through for cars,
heavy vehicles and all sorts. It's like Brand's Hatch. I'm now
helping children across the road whose mums and dads once crossed
the road with me. Knowing there's a lollipop person there not only
makes the children feel more secure, but parents can feel more
confident about their children being more secure on their way to
school."
CLEANING UP THE COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY groups and
charities in Southport are being given the opportunity to win
thousands of pounds worth of cleaning products as part of a
nationwide campaign. Cleaning products firm Vileda is giving
away Big Clean Bundles to one charity or community group every week
until 25 August 2013 and all they have to do is be nominated.
Vileda is appealing to individuals to nominate not-for-profit
community or charity organisations they would like to see benefit
from a variety of Vileda's most popular products. Items in the
Big Clean Bundle include the 1, 2 Spray and SuperMocio 3Action Mop,
Micro & Power cloths and Power Scourers, all of which can help keep
a Community Centre or office sparkling clean. One winner will
be picked at random every single week, and the person who nominated
their local charity or centre will also be rewarded with a Mini
Clean Bundle. The campaign will last for eight weeks, and will see
Vileda donate more than £1,000 worth of products to 8 charities or
community groups and eight individuals. Lindsey Taylor of
Vileda said:- "This year we've been helping UK community
centres in a variety of ways and our next step is to give away some
of our most-loved products to groups which need help the most. We're
dedicated to supporting local causes and helping local people
continue their good work, whatever the focus may be. We're looking
forward to hearing from people from Southport about which community
groups or charities in the area would most benefit from this
opportunity." Anyone who would like to nominate a
not-for-profit organisation and also be in with a chance of winning
products for themselves should visit the Big UK Clean-Up tab on the
Vileda UK Facebook page by 25 August 2013. |
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Traffic Police cuts could
mean deadly, drunk and drugged drivers get away with it, says
charity
TRAFFIC Police numbers
across Great Britain have been cut by 12% in 5 years, with some
forces suffering 30% to 40% reductions, according to data released
on Tuesday, 9 July 2013 by the road safety charity Brake and
webuyanycar.com.
While traffic Police in Scotland increased by 4%, numbers were down
by 31% in Wales, and 13% in England. Brake and webuyanycar.com are
warning the cuts leave some parts of the country dangerously short
on vital frontline roads policing, which could put the public at
risk from dangerous, law breaking drivers.
The largest cuts have been in:- Bedfordshire, where roads Police
have been reduced by 44%; South Wales and Dyfed Powys, where cuts
are around 40%; and West Mercia and Hampshire, where reductions are
more than a 3rd. Read the full results broken down by Police force
area.
Brake and webuyanycar.com are concerned the resulting lack of roads
Police Officers will lead to forces struggling to enforce vital
safety laws, such as on drink driving, speeding and mobile phone
use, and could potentially undermine an important new drug driving
law expected to come into force in 2014.
International evidence shows enforcement is a key part of keeping
roads safe, preventing devastating crashes and casualties by
providing a deterrent against risky driving and ensuring dangerous
offenders are taken off the public road.
Brake and webuyanycar.com are calling on the government to act to
stem these severe cuts to life-saving traffic policing. It is urging
the government to make roads policing a national policing priority,
and ensure traffic policing is sufficiently resourced to tackle
drunk, drugged and other dangerous driving.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive at Brake, said:- "It is
desperately worrying such large cuts continue to be made to traffic
policing, just as progress is being made to improve the law on
deadly drug driving. Roads Police officers do a vital job enforcing
important safety laws and protecting the public; their work is
proven to save lives and prevent injuries and suffering. Cutting
traffic Police is a false economy, because the crashes and
casualties they help to prevent inflict such devastation and are a
huge drain on public services. These cuts also undermine important
progress being made by government to tackle drug driving; because as
much as we need a new drug driving law and screening devices, we
also need the officers out there to enforce it. We urge the
government to make roads policing a national policing priority, to
make sure we have a strong deterrent against the risk-taking on
roads that can easily cost lives."
A spokesperson from webuyanycar.com added:- "It's imperative
that the Police have the resources to protect all road users from
the drivers whose criminal behaviour puts us at unnecessary risk. We
urge the Government to heed the warning of our report and stem the
cuts before we witness a hike in needless incidents; incidents that,
without road policing, are waiting to happen."
Also the government is bringing in a new offence against driving
with illegal drugs in your body, including limits for drugs in the
bloodstream, similar to the drink drive limit, and provision for
Police to use roadside drug screening devices. Currently,
prosecutors have to prove a driver is 'impaired' by
drugs, which is difficult and means prosecutions are relatively few.
Driving with drugs in the system can be deadly. For example, smoking
marijuana before driving can more than double crash risk, and
methamphetamine can encourage speeding and poor lane discipline.
Mixing drugs and alcohol is even more dangerous than simply taking
drugs, or drinking, before driving.
Traffic Police play a vital role in keeping us safe on roads. A
proper deterrent is vital for sending out the message that road
crimes are incredibly dangerous and will be taken seriously by the
criminal justice system. Drug drivers state that a lack of
enforcement is a reason they continue to offend, knowing they are
unlikely to be caught.
According to Brake's research, a 3rd of drivers (31%) think there is
a less than one in ten chance of being caught if you drink and
drive. Senior Police officers have expressed their frustration at
the lack of priority given to roads policing by successive UK
governments, stating the 'second tier' status of roads
policing leads to forces being unable to properly enforce driving
laws.
Examples of this are as follows:-
In June 2010 Lillian Groves, 14, was killed outside her home in
Croydon by John Page, who had been smoking cannabis. He was
convicted of causing her death by careless driving and sentenced to
eight months in jail, reduced to four months for an early plea. He
was released after just eight weeks. Lillian's family went on to
campaign successfully for improved laws and enforcement on drug
driving. Natasha Groves, Lillian's mum, said:- "Lillian was a
wonderful young child who did not deserve to die. She lit up rooms
and gave warmth to everyone she met. A child being so suddenly
killed, in such a needless and destructive way, is something that
tears a hole in the heart of your family. We have successfully
campaigned for Lillian's Law to make it an offence to drive on
drugs, but this won't have the impact that is desperately needed
unless there are enough Police officers enforcing this new law.
Specialist traffic Police are vital to detecting and stopping
dangerous drug drivers that cause carnage on our roads, so we plead
for action to stop this decline in their numbers."
In October 1998, 18 year old nursery nurse Emma Greathead, from
Worcestershire, and her friend, accepted a lift from a young man
they knew when their car broke down. He overtook another car at more
than 90mph on a 60mph road and they crashed into an oncoming
vehicle. All three of them died, along with the driver of the
oncoming vehicle. The driver of the vehicle he was overtaking was
charged with causing four deaths but was acquitted of all charges.
Emma's mother Sarah said:- "I find it horrifying that traffic
Police are being cut in such great numbers, when they do such an
important job in stopping people being needlessly hurt or killed. I
can't even begin to explain the mental confusion, the physical pain
and emptiness of our life caused by Emma's death. Any parent would
understand the devastation of losing a child and the difficulty of
dealing with the aftermath. Time makes no difference; your hopes and
dreams are gone, you never escape it. Emma was a bright, beautiful
18 year old. We all miss her so much."
What are your views on this topic and is this correct? Let us know
by emailing us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com and
voice your views!
Click
here to see the Full Results on a
PDF file.
Pothole Peril for Cyclists
CYCALISTS are facing
greater risk of injury and damage to their bikes and themselves
because of potholes on British roads, new research has revealed.
The poor condition of the highways has been blamed for three deaths
this year alone and annually causes over 1,000 injuries to bike
riders and thousands of pounds worth of damage to cycles.
Latest figures from national charity Cycle Touring Club show more
potholes reported to local Councils in the 6 months since January,
than throughout the whole of 2012.
The research reveals huge scale of the work that is urgently needed
and comes after the Government promised enough money in the spending
review to fix an estimated 19 million potholes
Cycle retailer Halfords backs up these findings after seeing a
soaring increase in damaged bikes coming into its branches for
repairs. Demand for its popular bike repair service has risen by 33%
over the past year from cyclists seeking repairs to wheels, tyres
and forks.
Karen Bellairs, Halfords Head of Cycles said:- "We welcome the
Government commitment to resolving this problem and making sure the
roads are safe to ride on, now all road users would like to see some
action. Potholes are a problem for everyone but particularly
cyclists and especially at this time of year when people like to get
out on their bikes. Our mechanics report a significant rise in the
number of cycles coming in for repairs which owners are blaming on
potholes or disintegrating and uneven highway surfaces."
Potholes are a particular danger to cyclists as they are often at
the side of the carriageway where riders cycle. Swerving to avoid
the holes is an added danger for cyclists because it causes a sudden
movement that motorists may not anticipate.
The peril caused by potholes to cyclists has even led to riders
creating their own warning signal, dropping their hand down the side
of the bike, so others behind are aware of the potential hazard.
Latest Department of Transport figures reveal that 1,110 out of
13,000 reported cycling accidents, included "loss of control",
"swerving" or "sudden braking" as
contributory factors. A British Cycling survey by its members showed
that 12% of accidents were caused by a "defective stretch of
road," or "spillage" or "obstruction in
the cyclist's path"
"The danger of coming off of a bike and risking serious injury is
all too evident. The roads should be safe for cyclists and motorists
alike. We're asking The Highway Authority and Councils to pay
particular attention to repairs at the side of the road where
cyclists travel and also cycle paths which have been the subject of
complaint." says Karen Bellairs.
1 in 5 roads is now classed as being in a 'poor condition'
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