The great Northern Powerhouse will join up the Mersey and the Tyne

CUTTING journey times between Liverpool and Newcastle from 3 hours to 2 hours will be a key part of the:- 'One North' proposals for improved transport links in the region say the leaders of the 2 Cities. On the day that the Transport for the:- 'North Project Board' meets for the 1st time to discuss the plans for a new 'High Speed Route' across the Pennines, Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson and Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council, have teamed up to back the case for coast to coast transport improvements which will genuinely unlock the potential for economic growth across the North. 'The One North Plans' will link the West and East Coast mainlines greatly improving connections between the North's 2 great port Cities.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool said:- "If we want to rebalance the economy, we also have to rebalance transport spending. Government has invested billions on Cross Rail in London and continues to spend significantly more per capita in London than it does across the entire North. In Liverpool, our port is busier than ever and we are investing to grow it significantly over the next few years. We have to make sure we have the transport infrastructure in place to be able to carry freight and passengers across the north if we are to maximise the benefits. It's only with this approach that the whole of the UK economy will benefit.  We are ready to go, we are ready to provide, we are ready to thrive, but we simply can't do it without the long term commitment of government to invest for a whole Northern future."

Leader of Newcastle City Council Cllr Nick Forbes said:- "The One North proposals are hugely important to the economic resurgence of the North of England. The plans will join up the North from the Mersey to the Tyne; reducing journey times from Newcastle to Liverpool from 3 hours to 2 hours. Just as the great Geordie genius George Stephenson helped unleash the industrial revolution when he built the 1st railways across the North, a joined up North from the Mersey to the Tyne can once again be the economic powerhouse which will transform the UK's economy. And it is not just rail; this is an integrated plan which will see the extension of motorway networks and a recognition of the hugely important role played by regional airports as vital transport hubs.  The whole of the north stands united behind this plan with clear governance, a strong proposition, and a sound business case. We hope that the government will work with us to make the most of this exciting opportunity."

North West Ambulance Service launches 'PTS' awareness campaign across Lancashire

THE local Ambulance Trust, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is working hard behind the scenes to further educate members of the public on its 'Non-Emergency' offering. The service has this week launched a new campaign in Lancashire to increase levels of awareness for its Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service, following an increase in requests for information. In a recent survey of patients and non-patients, the Patient Transport Service found that while 60% of the public was aware the service existed; there was still a job to be done to improve understanding of the eligibility criteria. The research also revealed that ¾ of the remaining 40% were in the dark as to where to look for more information should they require it, presenting an opportunity for NWAS to promote the organisation’s website, information leaflet and patient charter further. The Patient Transport Service provides transportation to hospital appointments for those who are unable to make their own way to hospital due to medical or clinical needs.  Speaking of the campaign, Sarah Smith, Associate Director at North West Ambulance Service, said:- "The North West Ambulance Service prides itself on listening to patient feedback and improving our services where possible. The eligibility criteria is set to ensure those individuals who genuinely need help with transport because of their medical condition can access the service, and we are keen to improve understanding of this."  The Patient Transport Service provides Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport in the 4 counties of Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire and Merseyside. The Go PTS campaign is running from January to March 2015 and more information can be found online.

Deafblind charity calls for Merseyside runners

SENSE, the national deafblind charity, is offering budding athletes from Merseyside the opportunity to take the challenge of a lifetime and run this year’s London Marathon.  The charity that supports and campaigns for people who are both deaf and blind across the North West, has guaranteed places for the iconic race in April 2015.  Tara Hamdi from Sense, said:- “The London Marathon is 1 of the world’s greatest but getting a place can be difficult, so Sense wants to give local runners the chance to run for a cause close to home. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a novice we’ll support you every step of the way, from training and fundraising to the big day itself.”

If you would like to run for Sense, you can register online at:- Sense.Org.UK/LondonMarathon, call the Marathon Hotline on:- 0300 330 9257 or email:- marathon@sense.org.uk. The closing date is 23 January 2015.