Crime on Merseyside’s railway stations

Liverpool Lime Street Station at night.

The Liverpool Echo has the article on its website – see link below

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/revealed-merseyside-railway-stations-youre-15699984

A Virgin Trains Pendolino train at Liverpool Lime Street Station.

There’s every danger with looking at crime stats and trying to interpret them that folk become more fearful of crime than they need to be. But the positive side of talking about railway stations where crime is an issue is to make travellers more aware of what is going on around them on busy stations. It’s a question of balance as with most things of course.

Southport Station.

Metro Mayor Tax – Another call on your pocket

The Liverpool Echo has the article on its website – see link below:-

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/steve-rotheram-going-charge-you-15694713

Now I don’t recall amongst all the hype from Tories in Government and Labour locally who backed us having a Metro Mayor, on what I called at the time a 3rd rate devolution deal, that there’d be an addition to all the Liverpool City Region council tax bills, do you? But then again it was probably always the case that there’d be more mouths to feed and such has come to pass.

I’d be much happier if the powers devolved to our Metro Mayor had made it worth us putting our hands deeper into our pockets but I’ve been consistent in saying it was a poor deal that should not have been embraced so lovingly by Labour leaders across Merseyside.

It’s not that I’m opposed to devolved powers, indeed as a Liberal, I’ve championed such moves for as long as I can recall when both Tories and Labour nationally and locally would have none of it. It’s just that I’m far from convinced that the limited powers that our Metro Mayor has makes the post worth having (and us paying for) and I’d hold that view no matter who was our Metro Mayor.

And where’s the detailed plan and the vision for say the next 20 years to take our City Region forward, you get the impression that at least initially our money will be going to put that together whereas it should have come before the plea for cash.

Tell us what you are going to deliver – then ask us to chip in not the other way round

Hall Road Station – A rare railway accident in 1961

I came across this accent via a report in the Daily Telegraph which had been posted on the Mersey Railways Facebook Group and found it interesting not least because railway accidents are thankfully so rare and this one was in the present Borough of Sefton.

Here’s the cutting:-

And here’s a link to the official report into the accident:-

www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=746

It seems remarkable that so few injuries particularly serious ones were recorded especially when you look at the photo of the damage to the 2 trains in the Telegraph photo.

Credit for the cutting – Phil Hilton

Please click on the newspaper cutting to enlarge it

Southport – Sainsburys’ Meols Cop development troubles

Cllr. John Pugh

Southport’s former MP is still on the campaign trail as a Sefton Borough Councillor for Dukes Ward; here he’s taking on the might of Sainsburys as the link below to a Liverpool Echo article details:-

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/controversial-sainsburys-store-ever-built-15632011

Walking and cycling in the Liverpool City Region (LCR)

Via my good friend Sefton Councillor John Dodd I have become aware of a web site called Arrive Happy in the past few days:- Here it is via the link below:-

www.arrivehappy.org/our-cycling-and-walking-masterplan

As I understand things 31 walking/cycling routes were previously identified across the City Region/Merseyside and now 9 of them are to be progressed towards a funding bid.

Liverpool City Region Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) – I’m told that the LCR Transport Partnership, have identified, using the evidence collected, a total of 31 potential cycling and walking corridors. The previously agreed and approved methodology used for the Active Travel prioritisation process has identified 9 corridors to be developed in more detail with a view to submitting a bid for Transforming Cities Fund funding.

I understand that these 9 corridors will form the basis of the next phase of the LCWIP and will be subject to formal engagement with stakeholders across the LCR which started on the 17th December with an engagement meeting with key stakeholders in the morning and the launch of an online survey into cycling and walking in the city region – www.arrivehappy.org/our-cycling-and-walking-masterplan

The two diagrams below show firstly the 31 identified potential corridors and then the 9 to be taken forward for more detailed design work. More detail will be shared, I understand, as the plan develops.

BUT if you live in Sefton Borough

Now I don’t know about you but if you live in Sefton Borough north of Bootle then there’s little to cheer about as no routes have made it into the 9 to be taken forward! I hold no information as to why this is the case although above you will see reference to an ‘approved methodology’ for choosing the routes to take forward. However, to say the least, I’m at best disappointed. On the ’31 map’ Maghull, despite being a large community, does not even get a mention!

Note:- Click on the two graphics above to enlarge them

Fire cover in Sefton Borough – Searching questions from a Melling resident

Below is a letter which was emailed to prominent Sefton Councillors and the Sefton Central MP on 20th December regarding fire cover in parts of Sefton Borough. Clearly, this is a matter of local significance so it will be interesting to see what replies are received:-

‘Dear Councillors,

Are you aware that the fire station that covers Waterloo/Crosby/Litherland has two fire engines, both available with crews from 08-30hrs to 20-30hrs. At 20-30hrs the crews then go off shift and are then on a thirty minute recall to duty system. The station does give the impression that the staff are there 24hrs every day and the two fire engines are both available. The lights are on, but there is no one in. Surely it would be more beneficial to the residents of Crosby and Waterloo to have one fire engine fully staffed until 20-30hrs, and then the other covers 20-30hrs to 08-30hrs. Thus giving the residents of the areas mentioned a fully staffed fire engine cover. Better still, have both fire engines available 24hrs for immediate response. There is an Integrated Risk Management Plan that has been issued by the fire service. Unfortunately, this is only what they hope for and not what actually happens in reality. This Integrated Management Plan must not only be monitored by the Fire Service to check standards are being met, but by all other public bodies that represent their residents. The questions to be asked of the Fire Authority are listed below. I look forward to your responses to this very important matter of safety for residents. And more importantly, what response is received by yourselves from the Fire service.

Questions

> A. Can you please confirm that the fire cover levels as set out in the IRMP have been complied with, in that fire cover levels have never fallen below what is required within your IRMP.
> **IRMP = Integrated Risk Management Plan**

> B. Can you confirm that the DCWTR duty shift system is a lawful duty shift system that complies with the law and the Working Time Regulations.
> **DCWTR = Day Crewing Wholetime Retained.**

> C. Can you confirm that LLAR system is a lawful duty shift system that complies with the law and the Working Time Regulations.
> **LLAR = Low Level Activity Risk**

I thank you for your time, and I look forward to your earliest reply please. Thank you.’

With thanks to Cliff Mainey and Mal for the lead to this posting