Liverpool City Region COVID-19 Updates

Government takes further action to tackle HGV driver shortage

UP to 50,000 more HGV driving tests will be made available each year thanks to Government action to streamline the testing process and tackle the worldwide lorry driver shortage. HGV driving tests will be overhauled, meaning drivers will only need to take 1 test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry, rather than having to take 2 separate tests (spaced 3 weeks apart.) This will make around 20,000 more HGV driving tests available every year and mean drivers can gain their licence and enter the industry more quickly.

Tests will also be made shorter by removing the:- 'reversing exercise' element; and for vehicles with trailers, the:- 'uncoupling and recoupling' exercise; and having it tested separately by a 3rd party. This part of the test is carried out off the road on a manoeuvring area and takes a significant amount of time. Testing such manoeuvres separately will free up examiner time, meaning they can carry out another full test every day.

Car drivers will no longer need to take another test to tow a trailer or caravan, allowing roughly 30,000 more HGV driving tests to be conducted every year. This new legislation is changing previous EU regulations which the UK is no longer obliged to use.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:- "From Inverness to St Ives, HGV drivers are helping to keep the country running, and have been throughout the Pandemic. The shortage of drivers is a global problem, but we�ve been taking action here in the UK to help industry leaders attract drivers and build a more resilient sector. We've already delivered 50% more tests than were available before the Pandemic, but today's additional measures will deliver up to 50,000 more a year, helping more and more people to kickstart their career as a well paid HGV driver."

The changes follow a public consultation over the summer, which saw thousands of respondents, including:- industry leaders, support the move as a positive step to help the sector tackle the lorry driver shortage currently affecting countries around the world. The standard of driving required to drive an HGV will not be affected, with road safety continuing to be of paramount importance. Any driver who does not demonstrate utmost competence will not be granted a licence. All car drivers will also still be encouraged to undertake training to tow trailers and caravans. The driver shortage is a widespread problem affecting countries across Europe and also the United States, caused by a range of factors, including an ageing workforce. Today's announcement will ramp up driver testing and numbers and help industry leaders build a resilient UK haulage sector which attracts drivers from across society.

What are your thoughts on this? Please let us know by emailing our News Room, at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Revitalise recruiting for General Manager

THE UK's largest provider of respite holidays for disabled people and carers, Revitalise, are pleased to be recruiting for a pivotal role within the charity, which is based in Southport, Merseyside. The position of General Manager of the Sandpipers Centre has become available for an enthusiastic candidate, passionate about providing amazing holiday experiences to disabled people, carers and their families.

The General Manager position requires a high degree of visibility and presence, playing a vital role in making breaks happen, leading the team to develop and deliver a service that offers guests an enjoyable break and gives real confidence that their care and support needs are fully understood and met.

The candidate will have experience leading a team, delivering high quality person centred services, as well as managing the disciplines of hospitality, care and support and facilities. They will come from a hospitality / leisure or a healthcare / care background and will have access to expert in house support on the clinical governance aspects of the role. In return, we can offer a joyful, diverse and inclusive working environment and a competitive salary.

Applicants should email:- Applications@Revitalise.Org.UK with their CV and a covering letter describing how their experience, skills and interests are a good fit for the role. Closing date for applications:- Monday, 27 September 2021.

Reminder about the temporary off peak road closures on Southport's Coastal Road

WORKS are due to resume on the final phase of the Southport Coastal Road Cycle scheme, with contractors returning to the road from Monday, 13 September 2021. The scheme is part of the Southport East West Cycle Link improvement project, with funding from the Liverpool City Region and primarily compromises of the widening of cycle track between Weld Road roundabout and the bridge, at Pinfold Lane. Following a delay due to avoiding any disruption during the summer period and other conflicting works in the Southport area, the final stages of the cycle lane upgrade works will now be completed, with contractors working on the stretch of carriageway between Weld Road Roundabout and Shore Road Roundabout from Monday, 13 September 2021. These works are expected to take around 4 weeks to complete and require a temporary off peak closure of the Southbound Lane, between the hours of:- 9:30am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday.

The Paralympics received of the coverage of The Olympics in the past year

THE Tokyo 2020 Olympics received a 1000% more media coverage in the English language than the Paralympics, with a total of 122,000 articles written about the Olympics, to 11,664 about the Paralympics.

America was the country with the biggest disparity between coverage of the Olympics and the Paralympics. In the USA, the Olympic Games generated 53,000 articles and the Paralympics generated 1800, meaning that for every 1 article covering the Paralympics, there were 30 about the Olympics.

The study, by gaming experts CasinoScores, analyzed English language media in 11 countries on the number of articles written about the Olympics compared to those written about the Paralympics. It also compared the number of articles written about both sets of Games to the number of medals won by each nation�s Paralympic and Olympic teams.

In the UK, for every 1 article written about the Paralympics, there were 7 produced about the Olympics, despite the fact that Team GB Paralympics won 124 medals and Team GB Olympics won 65 during the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Comparing the number of articles about the Paralympics and the Olympics to the number of medals won by Team GB reveals that for every Paralympic medal there were 15 articles, and for every Olympic medal there were 206. This means that, in the UK, the Olympics enjoyed 13 times more coverage per medal won than the Paralympics.

Canada also had a significant gap between media mentions of the Olympics and the Paralympics. Coverage of the Olympic Games was 12 times higher than coverage of the Paralympic Games, and 10 times more articles were written for every medal won by Team Canada Olympics, compared to Team Canada Paralympics.

Nigerian media had the biggest gap when it came to the ratio of articles to medals, producing 50 times more articles in English per Olympic medal than Paralympic medal.

And despite Singapore receiving zero medals in the Olympic Games and 2 in the Paralympic Games, the Olympics still received 23 times more coverage.

Ireland, which earned 7 medals in the Paralympics and 4 in the Olympics, had the smallest gap in media coverage between the 2, producing 5 times more articles for the Olympics.

New Zealand had the second smallest disparity between articles written about the events, generating 6 times more articles for the Olympics, compared to the 29 times more of countries like the USA.

A spokesperson for Casino Scores, which conducted the research, said:- "With growing awareness about the need for equal bonuses and pay between Paralympic and Olympic athletes, it's interesting and important to compare the amount of coverage that both sets of Games receive in different countries across the world. While countries like the US and UK had extraordinary success in the Paralympics this year, the lack of coverage of the Paralympics compared with the Olympics shows we still have some way to go when it comes to recognising the merits of both Games equally."

The research was carried out by CasinoScores, which is dedicated to providing players with live casino statistics, live scores and more.