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Issue:-
Tuesday,
19 July 2016
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reports on this page = 3 news items. Page - 3.
Merseyside Housebuilder
Pledges to Help Retirees Move for Free To Encourage Downsizing
MERSEYSIDE retirees want to downsize
from their large family homes and release valuable equity, but feel unable to do
so in the current market, according to a recent report. The research, conducted
by McCarthy and Stone, shows that 30% of homeowners in the North West region
over the age of 55, are considering or expect to consider downsizing but a lack
of suitable housing options is preventing them from moving.
The research highlights that in the North West region, 28% expect to release
more than £100,000 in equity when downsizing, but there is currently little
incentive or choice available to help them make the move. Added to this,
concerns over costs associated with moving home, such as stamp duty fees,
removal costs, estate agents and legal fees, mean many are not taking advantage
of the downsizing opportunity.
To overcome these barriers and help retirees realise the benefits of downsizing,
the North West region of McCarthy and Stone, which is set to deliver 600 new
purpose built retirement homes in the North West over the next 18 months, is
launching its 'Move For Free' limited time offer.
The Merseyside retirement housebuilder is offering to pay stamp duty on all new
reservations for single bedroom apartments between now and 31 July 2016, on its latest
site, Brunlees Court in Southport. The incentive will see stamp duty costs
deducted from the price of an apartment at the point of completion, saving
retirees thousands of pounds when downsizing. In addition, hefty estate agent
fees which can also be off putting when making the decision to downsize will be
covered up to the value of £12,000, as well as removal costs and any legal fees
not exceeding £2,000+.
Other offers are available for 2 bedroom apartments, which can be found on the
McCarthy and Stone website. Those interested are urged to check online for more
information on the Summer Offers.
The company hopes this latest scheme will encourage the take up of more
specialist retirement housing in the region, and therefore increase the number
of people downsizing, which will in turn free up under occupied housing for
first time buyers and families and keep things moving for the housing market
more generally. It will also help retirees to make the most of the many
lifestyle benefits of moving to a McCarthy and Stone development. Existing
home owners stress positives such as lower household maintenance, as this is
taken care of by the on site Management team, thus leaving more time to spend
with friends and family. The opportunity for companionship, and to be part of a
thriving community of like minded people, with the independence of having your
own apartment and a range of local amenities right on your doorstep, encourages
an active lifestyle with help and support at hand if needed.
Fiona Brooks, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for McCarthy and Stone North
West, commented:- "We're introducing the 'Move For Free' offer to a key
development in Southport on apartments with one bedroom, to alleviate some of
the financial barriers preventing older people from moving, while encouraging
retirees who are perhaps thinking about their future health and social care
needs and how they will pay for this support, to proactively consider the
different housing options and lifestyle benefits available to them in later
life. It is essential that we have the right infrastructure and services in
place to cater for the specific needs and requirements of our ageing population,
and this includes the provision of retirement housing and housing with care that
keeps people healthier, happier and active for longer. By helping retirees to
overcome some of the financial barriers to downsizing, this will enable them to
realise the proven benefits of moving to a McCarthy and Stone development such
as reduced property maintenance, comfort and security, releasing equity, and
improved physical wellbeing as a result of greater independence whilst being
part of community of like minded people."
For more information on the Move For Free offer and the sites McCarthy and Stone
currently has under construction in the North West, please visit their
website.
Water Way to Raise Money!
MERSEYSIDE Police Officers from Bootle
Neighbourhood and local partners from Pierhead Housing Association took part in
the X-Runner Water Wipeout, UK's wettest and muddiest fun run, last weekend,
raising over £1,500 for charity. A 11 strong team completed the gruelling 10k
course, on Saturday, 9 July 2016, at Nottingham Watersports Centre, raising
money for Sefton Older Persons Enabling Resource and Action (O.P.E.R.A) and the
PC Dave Phillips Memorial Fund. Obstacles on the course included river rapids,
oozing mud and water slides. Sefton O.P.E.R.A is a charitable voluntary
organisation base on Stanley Road, which provides Health and Wellbeing
activities to older persons in Sefton, including:- Residents of Nursing Homes,
Sheltered Accommodation, Care Centres and Hospices. Volunteers provide an
array of free and reduced activities including:- arts and crafts, massage
therapy, meditation, computer and music sessions, a walking group, and tea
dances, at both Bootle Cricket Club and the Atkinson Centre, in Southport. A
full schedule of activities can be found at the charity's website
and Facebook Page 'Sefton OPERA Older Persons Project.'
Sefton O.P.E.R.A Organisational Manager Vikki Martlow said:- "I would like
to say a big thank you to all who have taken part in the event and put a lot of
time and effort, not to mention blisters, to raise funds for both causes. Last
year Sefton O.P.E.R.A had nearly 17,000 participants to our activities and this
year looks like it will be the same. As we are an ageing population activities
like ours are a much needed service to alleviate some of the social isolation
and the health inequalities of our residents and it is due to fundraising
activities like this that enables us to continue. Once again thank you to all
the officers for their support."
Bootle Neighbourhood Inspector Ian Jones said:- "As the photos show, the
course took its toll on our kit but clearly did wonders for our complexions. We
are really grateful to everyone who has contributed to the total so far, as
every penny means so much for these two brilliant causes. Sefton O.P.E.R.A
provides vital services to many of Sefton's older people, but relies on
donations to support their trained volunteers and instructors."
Anyone who wishes to contribute can call Bootle Neighbourhood officers on:-
(0151) 7773858 or send a cheque to:- Marsh Lane Police Station, Marsh Lane,
Bootle, L20 5HJ c/o Inspector Jones.
You can donate to the Merseyside Police Federation Memorial Fund for PC Phillips
in either of the below ways:-
Just Giving
Page or text 'DAVE01 £10' (or
your amount) to:- 70070.
You can also donate directly to Sefton O.P.E.R.A. Further information on the
charity is available on the
website and Facebook Page 'Sefton
OPERA Older Persons Project.'
Delivering investment and
improvements in the Liverpool City Region
FURTHER significant progress in
implementing the Devolution Deal announced last year is expected to be approved
at Friday's Liverpool City Region Combined Authority meeting, with major
improvements and developments set to be agreed.
The schemes are to be funded from the £232m Local Growth Fund, secured by the
Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, which will invest in
transport and skills projects across the City region.
Work on the £4.95 million A570 Linkway improvement scheme (the main route
linking the M62 with St Helens) is expected to be cleared to get under way later
this year. The improvement scheme will improve capaCity, reduce congestion and
address safety issues, and consists of junction improvements to Sherdley
Roundabout and Sutton Hall Roundabout, and safety enhancements to the School
Lane crossing.
The scheme in St Helens is 1 of 7 major transport schemes planned for this
year; the others include:- Silver Jubilee Bridge maintenance in Halton, A565
North Liverpool Corridors in Liverpool, Windle Island in St Helens, and M58
Junction 1 improvements in Sefton.
Work is already under way on other schemes to reduce congestion in Knowsley,
including access improvements to Knowsley Business Park and improvements to the
A5300 Knowsley Expressway.
Investment from the Local Growth Fund to improve college facilities are also set
to be approved. Myerscough College in Liverpool is due to be awarded £1.997
million to create specialist new build facilities at the Croxteth campus for
equine and animal studies, and Wirral Metropolitan College is in line for £2.2
million towards a University Health Campus at the Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone.
These projects are expected to start on site later in 2016.
Plans to develop a technology centre in Halton are also due to be considered as
part of a potential £5 million commitment from the Local Growth Fund to the
project. The funding would support Alstom Transport UK Ltd's plans to create a
major new rail facility for the United Kingdom. The project could involve
approximately 450,000 sq ft being constructed on the HBC Field site at 3MG
Widnes, employing some 600 people and providing a new North West Rail Skills
Academy.
The Combined Authority is committed to bringing empty buildings back into use.
One such project which is also recommended for approval on Friday is the plan to
transform the former Littlewoods building on Edge Lane in Liverpool into film
studios. An allocation of £4.95 million from the Local Growth Fund is being
recommended to support the Littlewoods Studios project. Work on this project
will transform 11,000 sq m into a film studio, studio work and office space as
well as developing a creative and digital hub and Liverpool Theatre school,
which will see the creation of 345 jobs.
Mayor Joe Anderson, Chair of the Liverpool City Combined Authority, said:- "I am really looking forward to Friday's meeting and am proud of the
significant progress we already making. These are just the most recent examples
of the positive work already started by the Combined Authority right across the
whole of the City Region to the benefit of our residents, businesses and
visitors alike. The investments and progress reported show that we are already
delivering our commitments. I have every confidence that we will continue to
secure economic growth, jobs, investment and development in our City Region."
Flash mob delivers forced marriage message to
Liverpool Airport Flyers
PASSENGERS checking in at Liverpool
John Lennon Airport, on Friday, 15 July 2016, were treated to a surprise
rendition of a Little Mix song by performers. The flash mob stunt was organised
by Merseyside Police to raise awareness of the important issue of honour based
violence and promote local women's charity 'Savera.' Lyrics from
Little Mix's song 'Attention' were adapted to reflect female empowerment with
the aim of encouraging people who fear the prospect of a forced marriage or
female genital mutilation (FGM) to seek help from Police or charities like
Savera. The initiative at the airport aimed to capture as wide an audience as
possible with people of all nationalities and cultures flying out from Liverpool
to other parts of Europe and beyond. Passengers in the check in queue were also
given free neck pillows and other freebies promoting the charity Savera, which
supports women who have been the victim of honour based violence.
Detective Chief Inspector John Middleton from the force's Protecting Vulnerable
Persons unit said raising awareness of what honour based violence is and how
victims can seek help was crucial. He said:- "Protecting vulnerable people
is at the heart of what we do and we know that honour based violence is still a
vastly under-reported crime. It is deep rooted in other cultures and traditions
but under UK law it constitutes a crime because it often involves violence,
coercion and victims being made to do things against their will. The Police
service is doing all it can to lift the lid on issues such as forced marriage
and female genital mutilation, but there Is still a great deal of work to be
done. It is our duty not only to build confidence and trust in the Police with
victims, but also raise awareness among the general public about this very
important issue. Today is just 1 of many things we are doing to achieve this and
by aiming it at large numbers of people jetting off abroad I hope that those who
are going on to countries where perhaps these practices are still acceptable
will have been given something to think about on their journey."
A spokesperson for the Liverpool charity, Savera, said:- "Savera is
committed to change and by challenging the status quo we seek to give voice to
those who are silenced by honour based violence. Savera was founded in 2010 to
address what we saw as a glaring social issue; about which nothing was being
done. The victims of this violence are individuals who are most vulnerable. The
lack of a systemic and systematic remedy within the community led us to creating
our own. We have worked since to co-ordinate efforts across organisations
(Police, social services, health providers) to orchestrate a response which is
both timely and can potentially save lives. On top of this, we also work to
raise awareness about what constitutes honour based violence to help people read
the signs. Our mission statement defines what we exist to do: We are dedicated
to tackling domestic abuse within Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee
communities."
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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May
Jackam
Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons
having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian
May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late
of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport,
Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to
send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned
Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate
will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests
of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High
Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:-
'T553015.'
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