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Still Time To Join The Southport Leisure Leagues

THERE are just 2 spaces left in the Southport 6 a side league and teams are urged to sign up soon.  The league is to be held at Greenbank School with the match price the most competitively priced around. All matches are refereed by a qualified official and there are giant trophies available to the winning team with medals to each player, with the chance to play for their country on offer to the Player of the Season. Profits from the competition are donated to charities and good causes. Teams can register LeisureLeagues.Net or call:- 0333 1232340 for further information.

Double success for Merseytravel at National Transport Awards

MERSEYTRAVEL enjoyed a double celebration at the National Transport Awards on Thursday, 8 October 2015, as it came out on top in the Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) of the Year and Ferry Operator of the Year categories. The National Transport Awards, bring together the people making a real difference to transport across the UK, attracting over 800 senior transport professionals including Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP who gave the keynote address. In winning the Integrated Transport Authority of the Year award, Merseytravel saw off competition from Transport for Greater Manchester, Centro (West Midlands) and Nexus (North East). When explaining the reasons for giving the accolade to Merseytravel, the judges cited successes in introducing new tickets and in setting out long term plans, with Merseytravel's 5 year Transport Plan for Growth taking a new perspective, seeing transport as a driver for economic growth. They also mentioned success in reducing the cost of bus travel for young people through the introduction of MyTicket as well as the launch of smart ticketing, with Merseyside's smart ticketing scheme already the most active outside of London. For the Ferry Operator award, Mersey Ferries came out on top against DFDS Seaways, MBNA Thames Clippers, Calmac, The Cremyll Ferry and Red Funnel Isle Of Wight Ferries. The judges praised the work done to reduce the subsidy, increasing patronage and the innovative partnership with Liverpool Biennial, 1418 NOW and Tate Liverpool on the "Dazzle Ferry". As well as the success in the ITA of the Year and Ferry Operator of the Year awards, the MyTicket scheme and Merseyrail were also shortlisted in the Most Innovative Transport Project and Rail Operator of the Year categories respectively. Liam Robinson, Chair of Merseytravel, said:- "We are delighted to have received such prestigious awards and it is a testament to the hard work put in by the staff at Merseytravel and across the wider Liverpool City Region. Although it is great to receive such recognition, it is important that we keep the momentum going and look at how we can push our City region on further. We want to carry on being seen as an innovative region which sees transport as key to economic growth."