News Archive

CONSULTATION ON MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy is asking local people and other agencies for their support in making the region’s road safer.

Today she has launched a region-wide consultation asking people for their views on her existing policing priorities for Merseyside and is specifically asking whether they back her proposal to make ‘improving road safety’ a new priority for the region.

Since 2010, Merseyside has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads. In 2015, more than 11 people died or were seriously hurt every week on Merseyside’s roads. The region also saw more pedestrians killed or seriously hurt than anywhere else in the country.

Her existing priorities are to:

• Prevent crime and anti-social behaviour
• Provide a visible and accessible neighbourhood policing style
• Tackle serious and organised crime
• Support victims, protect vulnerable people and maintain public safety

She is asking local people if these are still the right priorities for the region or if there are any other emerging issues that they feel should be addressed. She is holding a six-week public consultation which will run until Monday 16^th January 2017, with the aim of seeking the views of local leaders, partners and members of the public on her existing priorities and asking whether they believe improving road safety, or any other issue, should be added as a fifth priority.

Jane said: “Merseyside’s Police and Crime Plan is a really important document, so it’s vital I take everyone’s views into consideration before changing it. I want to make sure it reflects the views and concerns of people across the county.

“My existing priorities were based on the consultation I did before and after being elected in 2012 and the ongoing consultation which I carried out continuously during my first term of office. This feedback provided the foundations for the Police and Crime Plan for Merseyside. Now I have the mandate from the public to serve a second term, I believe it’s the right time to take a fresh look at the Plan and make sure these priorities still echo the expectations and wishes of local people.

“I have become increasingly concerned about road safety in Merseyside. More pedestrians die or are seriously hurt on the roads in our region than any other part of the country.

“Last year 585 people either lost their lives or suffered serious injuries on our region’s roads – that equates to more than 11 people every single week. Any death or serious injury on our roads is one too many and 11 a week is simply unacceptable. Each and every one brings suffering and misery to those who are involved, their families and friends. Lives are broken and futures destroyed, yet many of these collisions are avoidable.

“I believe it is time that, in conjunction with all my community safety partners, we concentrate on tackling this issue to prevent other people needlessly losing their lives on our roads.

“What I want is to hear the views of local people – is improving the safety of roads a priority for you too?”

Jane added: “I would urge everyone to join the conversation and help to finalise the priorities I’m setting for policing and community safety in Merseyside.

People are asked to visit www.merseysidepcc.info/my-priority.aspx to share their views by Monday January 16^th, 2017. Alternatively feedback can be emailed to info@merseysidepcc.info or sent to Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, Rose Lane, Allerton, L18 6JE.

PLEASE BE ON YOUR GUARD

One of our Town Councillors recently received a telephone call from a person purporting to be from the Tax Office (HM Revenue and Customs) claiming that they owed a large amount of unpaid tax and that having ignored letters a warrant had been issued for their arrest.

THIS WAS A SCAM

Please be on your guard for such calls,

DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION 

and if you do receive such calls

IMMEDIATELY TELEPHONE THE TAX OFFICE ON 0300 200 3300

HM Revenue and Customs will not telephone you they will always write to you.

Thank you.

This years Christmas Concert, THE PIRATES OF HALEWOOD, featuring the Brass Ensemble from the world famous Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a massed choir from our Primary Schools, Halewood Academy and Halewood Community Choir, takes place on

Monday 5th December at Halewood Academy starting at 7pm.

Tickets priced £5 (inc concessions)

are on sale via the Town Council. Please call 0151 443 2063 for details.

Elected Members and staff from the Town Council, joined a packed congregation at St. Nicholas’ Church on Remembrance Sunday to recall all those from Halewood  who have given the ultimate sacrifice in times of conflict.

Cllr Clare Rose, Mayor of Halewood, whose paternal grandfather took part in the D Day landings, lays a wreath on behalf of the Town Council. At the going down of the sun and in then morning, we will remember them.

Following the introduction by the National Association of Local Council in 2015 of the Local Council Award Scheme, Halewood Town Council has become the first Local Council in the Liverpool City Region, Merseyside and in Lancashire to be awarded Quality status.

The award is evidence of the council’s commitment to good governance, effective community engagement, council improvement and to providing a proper framework for its services to the community of Halewood.

Members of the accreditation panel congratulated the Town Council on the amount and quality of work that went into the evidence submitted and to our involvement in a wide variety of activity in the support of our community.

Cllr Clare Rose, Mayor of Halewood, commented that ‘the Members and staff of the Town Council, which is also a Living Wage Accredited Employer, are immensely proud to receive this Quality award which is an acknowledgement of our determination to live out the Town Council’s motto to ‘seek the best.’

Work is scheduled to start on 3rd October on the long awaited refurbishment of the children’s playground in Hollies Road.

In partnership with FirstArk, a successful funding bid was made to Cory Environmental Trust which will see all of the existing equipment replaced with stat of the art new equipment, suitable for a variety of ages.

Here’s an image of what the new playground will look like when work has been completed.

Hollies Road Children’s Playground

The upgrade of Elwyn Gardens is nearing completion. Following a successful bid to the Nation Lottery and working in partnership with Vivark Ltd, a new pathway and been laid, the perimeter fencing re painted, a new sign will be going up shortly and new planting will be supplied.

Our picture shows Cllr Tina Harris, Deputy Mayor of Halewood with staff from Vivark Ltd and the Town Council applying the finishing touches to the newly painted railings.

Many students were celebrating their GCSE results recently, none more so than those from our own Halewood Academy which, based on the results, is the highest performing provider in Knowsley.

Provisional analysis of the results show that the Academy achieved the highest increase in GCSE results this year with 43.5% of pupils gaining five A* – C including English and Maths, an improvement if 18% since 2014. In English alone, 71.5% of pupils achieved a pass at C or above.

There will be many stories of individual student success, amongst the best ever achieved in Knowsley’s history, some quite staggering.

Many congratulations and well done to all the students who have worked so hard throughout their Academy career  and our grateful thanks to Gary Evans and all his staff for their dedication to our young people.

Our picture shows high-flying students Amy Silker, Alex Watson, Elle Hughes and Charlie White together with Academy Principal, Gary Evans and Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Gary See.

Cllr Clare Rose

Mayor of Halewood