Local Nature Reserve Status for two new sites

Two green sites in Manchester have been designated as Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) by Manchester City Council’s Executive Committee.

Boggart Hole Clough in Charlestown and Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme are the fifth and sixth LNRs for the city, joining Chorlton Water Park, Blackley Forest, Clayton Vale and Chorlton Ees and Ivy Green. Declaring the sites as LNRs offers increased benefits not only to wildlife but also to residents and visitors to the city. The reserves can offer protection to wildlife and their habitats, increase community awareness of their local environments and provide opportunities to learn about nature.

LNRs are simply great places for people and wildlife. The key to these awards has been the hard work of the Friends of Parks groups and other local organisations and schools in looking after the city’s wildlife. These designations also outline the Council’s commitment to become the greenest city in the UK.

Boggart Hole Clough on Rochdale Road contains the largest woodland Clough in the city. Parts of the woodland are classed as Ancient (over 400 years old) providing a valuable habitat for a wide range of animal and plant species.

Highfield Country Park is a hidden oasis of urban countryside in Levenshulme comprising of different grasslands, woodlands and aquatic habitats.

Manchester City Council intends to increase the number of Local Nature Reserves across the city as part of Wildabout Manchester, the wildlife plan which aims to conserve, protect and enhance its biodiversity.

Greater Manchester Councils are Good Guys

Manchester City Council is joining forces with other councils in Greater Manchester to combat firework danger in the run up to bonfire night.

The council’s Trading Standards Service has signed up for the Good Guy Scheme - an initiative aimed at encouraging retailers to be responsible in the run-up to 5 November.

The scheme involves retailers following a code of conduct that will restrict firework nuisance in the weeks leading up to bonfire night.

The campaign is a partnership between Trading Standards and the Fire and Rescue Service, with support from Greater Manchester Police. The other councils taking part are Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.

Good Guy retailers will refuse to sell fireworks before 15 October and after 10 November and will make sure all buyers are aware of their responsibilities. The only concession will be to the few retailers who have a year-round licence to sell fireworks.

The law

It is illegal to:

• Set off fireworks after 11 pm, except on 5 November (until midnight), New Year’s Eve, the Chinese New Year and Diwali (until 1am)
• Throw fireworks/let them off in the street
• Possess fireworks unless you are 18 or older
• Sell fireworks to minors
• Sell fireworks without being registered
• Fail to comply with storage requirements.

The Police, Fire Service and Trading Standards are responsible for enforcing the law on fireworks.

For more information on firework safety visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/FireSafety/DG_064665

Manchester City Council seeks views on revised licensing policy

Manchester City Council is seeking the public’s views on its revised draft licensing policy covering pubs, clubs, off licences and other outlets.The new policy promises to focus efforts on tackling irresponsibly managed premises which allow drunkenness, underage drinking, public nuisance or which compromise public safety.

The leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, underlines the revised document by saying they will not tolerate premises that sell alcohol to drunk or underage people.

Also included in the draft policy are plans to set up licensing forums in the north, south and centre of the city to encourage clearer communication and collaboration.

These forums will encourage dialogue between licensed premises, local residents and businesses and will allow any concerns to be shared with Manchester City Council.

The revised strategy recognises that Manchester can have a vibrant night-time economy without compromising its stance on public safety and nuisance, crime reduction and child protection.

The City Council is legally bound to review its licensing policy which came in under the Licensing Act 2003, freeing up pub opening times among a raft of other changes. This is the first of a series of three-yearly reviews, but the policy may be reviewed at any time.

The City Council regulates more than 1900 licensed premises and its licensing policy covers pubs, bars, nightclubs, members’ clubs, restaurants, shops, supermarkets, off licences, takeaways, restaurants, late night cafes, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, sports arenas, church halls and streets and squares including the popular Christmas fares in Albert Square.

Now the draft document is going out for public consultation in a 12-week period between now and November 1. The draft document is available on the City Council website, www.manchester.gov.uk/licensing/act, and will also be available at local libraries.

The City Council will also take in the views of licence holders, the police and fire authority as well as businesses and residents.

The deputy leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Jim Battle, said: “Those who manage their premises well and play a purely positive role have nothing to fear from this policy. However, we will not tolerate premises that damage our communities through selling alcohol to drunk or underage people, who compromise the safety of our citizens or who fail to prevent their premises causing a nuisance to the communities in which they are based.”

The City Council’s policy supports the Government’s national strategy on alcohol and works alongside its own strategies on crime reduction, regeneration, transport, culture, planning and tourism. The new licensing strategy will cover the period 2008 to 2011.

Big Lottery Funding for Manchester Healthy Living Centres

The North West Network for Healthy Living Partnerships has been successful in obtaining £7m of funding from the Big Lottery’s Wellbeing fund. Debra Person Co-ordinator for ZEST in North Manchester and Val Little Health Improvement Manager for South Manchester Healthy Living Network have been working with a small planning group lead by Stockport Resource Consultancy for the past year to put the bid together. The money will help to deliver a range of projects across 27 Healthy Living Centre Initiatives across the North West region over the next five years.

The three Manchester healthy living centres including ZEST, South Manchester Healthy Living Network and BLOOM in central area will be funded up to £50K per year for five years to deliver a range of local initiatives including:

Healthy eating programmes, weight management programmes, developing fruit and veg growing opportunities and supporting local families in South, North and central Manchester. They will also work closely with statutory and voluntary sector building on existing projects and supporting the work which has already been going on.

They will work in partnership by sharing good practice both across Manchester and the North West. Work has already started within the PCT, a planning group consisting of PCT and statutory and voluntary agencies will be steering some of the projects for the next five years and beyond.

If you would like any further information or would like to get involved please contact;
Val Little 0161 217 3667 or Debra Pearson 1061 655 7889

North West at the heart of strategy for rail growth

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has announced a capacity increase of 41 per cent for peak hour commuter trains serving Manchester to meet the expected demand for rail travel.

Extra carriages will be provided to lengthen many trains through Manchester and Liverpool operated by Trans Pennine Express, with a 30 per cent increase in capacity on the north Trans-Pennine route. The enhancements are planned from 2009, with all the extra capacity in place by 2014.

Network Rail has been asked to tackle bottlenecks affecting the region by 2014. As a result, journey times between Liverpool and Manchester will be reduced to 40 minutes and fast services between Manchester and Leeds cut to 43 minutes.

Bolton and Chester stations are likely to be among a list of 150 stations nationwide that will be refurbished to become more accessible and attractive to passengers, at a total cost of £150 million.

The announcement is part of the Government’s plans to ensure that the national rail network can carry at least 180 million more passengers a year.

Ms Kelly also announced that the Government will continue to limit fare increases under its control (including standard season tickets and savers) to no more than one per cent above inflation. A new simplified fares structure will introduce just four basic ticket types across the country, ticket retailing will be streamlined to reduce ticket office queue’s and station access and passenger information improved.

The White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, is published by the Department for Transport and available from its website at http://www.dft.gov.uk

CN4M Grants panel members needed

CN4M are looking for panel members who maybe interested in joining a pool of people working with Community Network 4 Manchester’s new grants program CN4M Grants.

They are particularly keen to get representation from the different communities of interest as well as from different geographical areas within the City of Manchester reflecting the diversity within the area.

You will have the satisfaction of helping distribute significant amounts of European money to support worthwhile community and voluntary activity across the City.

It will give you a fascinating insight into the diversity and range of voluntary and community activity going on in the City, and an opportunity to learn or develop skills in assessing projects and working as a team to make the best decisions.

Panel meetings are held centrally, in an accessible building and refreshments will be provided. Out of pocket expenses will be paid for travel, childcare etc.

If you are interested, please contact Sajida Sabir at the CN4M Grants Office on 0161 234 2905 or sajida@cn4m.net

Unique Manchester parking scheme gets green light

Manchester City Council and NCP Manchester Limited (NML) are launching the UK’s first ‘Green Badge Parking’ (GBP) scheme that offers a substantial discount in parking fees to drivers who use more environmentally friendly vehicles. From Tuesday 10 July commuters who run low emission cars will be able to take advantage of a special offer giving a 25% reduction in the cost of an annual season ticket in all NCP’s main car parks in Manchester city centre.

Owners of vehicles with emissions of less than 120g/km (CO2) and 0.02 (particulates) will be entitled to the discount – with some drivers saving over £900 per year by using a greener vehicle. The launch of the scheme follows a recent survey of nearly 35,000 cars parked in Manchester, which revealed only 2.2% were classed as low emission.

GBP is the first scheme of its type in the UK to encourage drivers to switch to lower emission petrol or diesel cars rather than simply penalise those that run ‘gas guzzlers’. It is hoped that the scheme will increase the number of drivers choosing to buy low-emission cars by between 2% and 5%.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Environment said: “Manchester has committed itself to becoming the greenest city in Britain and this is just one of many steps we are taking that has a direct impact on climate change.

“While using public transport is the best way to travel, we recognise that this isn’t practical for everyone and we have identified cheaper parking as a positive way to reward drivers that help cut emissions.”

“We hope that this scheme will be the first of many across Greater Manchester, and we are working with the Manchester is my Planet campaign to share our experience across the region”

Paddy Dyson from NCP Manchester Limited said: “NCP Manchester is proud to have joined forces with Manchester City Council to launch this unique scheme. We recognise that it is in everyone’s interest to reduce the impact on the environment, and offering a substantial discount to drivers that choose a low emission car is a simple and effective way that we as a responsible business can help make a difference.”

Driver backing hard shoulder video

A driver from the North West who says Highways Agency Traffic Officers saved his life last week is backing a new video giving hard shoulder safety advice.

Peter Baker, 27, from Didsbury in Manchester, was travelling along the M56 at Junction 3a near Wythenshawe on Wednesday (May 16), when his car broke down in heavy rain.

He had correctly pulled into the hard shoulder when Highways Agency Traffic Officers Dave Smith and Ian Wilkinson arrived to give him typical safety advice. With a drop behind the hard shoulder safety barrier, Dave and Ian, who work from Knutsford Outstation, advised Peter to instead stand well in front of his car on the side of the hard shoulder and look towards oncoming traffic.

Minutes later another car hit the back of Peter’s Fiat Punto and Peter said this week:

“You could say that the Traffic Officers saved my life - I am very grateful.

“I was standing about ten yards ahead of my car when I saw another car in the main carriageway spin and head towards mine. The back of the car hit mind and both then spun towards me. I managed to jump clear over the barrier and to be honest I think I am lucky to be alive. Those extra few yards probably saved my life.”

Peter is now backing a new Highways Agency video launched this week in time for the bank holiday and featuring popular motoring journalist Quentin Willson.

The Highways Agency is reminding drivers that the motorway hard shoulder is not the place to stop for phone calls, to check the map or even for a bite to eat.

Hard shoulder accidents claimed the lives of 67 people in the five years from 2000 - 2004, and a total of 1,017 people were killed or injured.

The new video called “Keep Safe, Keep Moving” drives home the message that the hard shoulder is for emergency use and vehicle breakdowns only.

A vehicle parked on the hard shoulder is more likely to be involved in an accident than one travelling at speed in motorway traffic, according to Highways Agency research.

Even so, drivers put themselves at risk by pulling over for non-emergencies such as taking phone calls, checking the map or even taking a comfort break.

The new video will be part of a new road safety DVD to advise road users on how they can keep themselves safe. It will be used by the Highways Agency at road safety events and copies will be available to police forces, the fire service and local safety partnerships.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers, who now patrol all of England’s motorways, regularly come across examples of mis-use of the hard shoulder.

“Keep Safe, Keep Moving”, is presented by TV motoring journalist Quentin Willson. “Keep Safe, Keep Moving” will be part of a new road safety DVD from the Highways Agency. Copies will be available to Police Forces, Fire and Rescue Services, Local Safety Partnerships and other bodies involved in road safety education.

If your vehicle breaks down on the motorway:

• Pull onto the hard shoulder and park as far to the left as you can.
• Turn on your hazard warning lights and get out of the vehicle, using the doors furthest away from the traffic.
• Contact the Highways Agency using the emergency roadside telephone.

Sci-fi attraction for Queens Awards

Dr Who and the Daleks will be a major added attraction at this year’s Queen’s Awards awareness event at Manchester Museum of Science and Industry.

The event - on Tuesday 19 June - coincides with the museum’s Dr Who exhibition and provides a chance for those interested in receiving a Queen’s Award for Enterprise to find out more about how to do so.

Past winners will speak of the value of an Award in promoting their businesses, while officials from the Queen’s Awards office will outline the application procedure for the 2008 awards, which can be won by both businesses and individuals. Applications close on 31 October 2007.

There is a free buffet reception for attendees and all delegates at the late afternoon event will also have the chance for a special visit to the Dr Who exhibition.

Applications should be made to Julia Powell at the UK Trade and Investment International Trade Team at Churchgate House, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester M60 7HJ or by e-mail to info@uktinorthwest.co.uk.

More details of the Queen’s Awards can be obtained from the Queen’s Awards website on www.queensawards.org.uk.

From: Paul Brady, Queen’s Awards regional press officer, GNN North West

Salford scheme to cut alcohol fuelled crime

A new initiative to prevent alcohol-fuelled criminals from re-offending by enrolling them in treatment has been launched in Salford.

The Bail Conditions Scheme, which is being overseen by Salford Drugs and Action Team (DAAT), is the first of its kind anywhere in Greater Manchester and is being unveiled as Alcohol Awareness Week starts on 7 May.

It means any adult charged with alcohol-related assault or domestic violence is automatically referred to an alcohol treatment worker as a condition of their bail.

The worker will look at links between the offender’s current drinking patterns and their violent behaviour and talk through the issues that could help prevent a repeat offence.

All offenders are required to meet with their alcohol worker at least twice before attending Salford Magistrates and details of their attendance may be taken into consideration during sentencing.

The programme is being run in partnership with Salford Magistrates Court, Salford Probation service, Greater Manchester Police, the CPS, the Salford Alcohol Service, Turning Point and the Salford DAAT.

Steve Morton, Campaigns Co-ordinator for Salford DAAT, said:

“This is an important and innovative step towards dealing with alcohol-related violent offences in a much better way.

“Alcohol Awareness Week is all about tackling the tough issues surrounding alcohol misuse and its affects.

“This scheme should cut down on the number of re-offenders by helping people to become more aware of their problems and providing the support they need to beat their dependency.”

The Alcohol Bail Conditions Scheme is expected to refer more than 30 people a month into alcohol services.

As part of the on-going fight to improve services, a new type of community order that aims to get dependent drinkers into treatment will be introduced later.

Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATRs) will see offenders required to complete a six-month programme to deal with their drinking.

Any offender not engaged in either of these schemes can also voluntarily access alcohol treatment. Salford Alcohol Service has a criminal justice Alcohol worker who accepts referrals from the police, probation, courts and prisons.

Home Office - press release