Freemasons to raise funds for charities supported by Prince Philip

TO honour Prince Philip, who passed away last week, West Lancashire Freemasons, along with Freemasons from around the country, have launched a campaign inviting their 200,000 members to raise funds for charities that the Prince dedicated his life to. His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was himself a Freemason, having been introduced to Freemasonry in 1952 at the age of 31 by his Father in Law King George VI. Throughout his 99 years, he was associated with some 992 charities, either as president, patron or as an honorary member. The Prince supported charitable organisations in the fields of scientific and technological research and development, the encouragement of sport, the welfare of young people, conservation and the environment.

Dr David Staples, Chief Executive of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), said:- "Prince Philip was well known for his charity work, having been involved with numerous organisations. He was devoted to philanthropy and therefore the best way to celebrate his life is by supporting the charities that the Prince himself supported. For us, this was an easy decision as Freemasonry�s core values are charity, integrity, respect and friendship. The Freemasons have been quietly getting on with making society and the lives of those less fortunate better for more than three centuries."

Freemasons worked some 18.5 million hours each year as volunteers in a range of different areas, including driving vulnerable people to hospital, preparing meals, taking care of people at risk, organising care packages, and producing scrubs, personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitiser.

They also donated more than �1m last year to the Covid effort, with the funds being used to help communities in various critical areas, including:- foodbanks, support for unpaid carers, PPE, supplies for hospitals and hospices, support for women�s refuges, and funds for NHS workers, ambulances and equipment.

As a Freemason, the Duke of Edinburgh was initiated into Navy Lodge, No 2612, on 5 December 2021. On 6 March 1953, HRH Prince Philip progressed to the Second Degree of Freemasonry, before advancing to the 3rd Degree, on 4 May 1953. The UGLE issued his Grand Lodge Certificate on 7 May that same year and he remained a member up until his death.

The Duke of Edinburgh was born in Corfu on 10 June 1921, the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg. He therefore also held the title Prince of Greece and Denmark.

Freemasons can also count other members of the Royal Family among their number, including HRH the Duke of Kent, who is the longest serving Grand Master of the UGLE.

Beer garden warning for designated drivers

WITH beer gardens set to be packed this weekend across England as people enjoy the 1st taste of freedom and the spells of sunshine set to sweep the nation, insurance giant Admiral is urging drivers to:- "think twice" before getting behind the wheel and consider how they will get to and from the pub before setting off. The insurer warns that anyone convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol could find their insurance premiums increasing by more than 250%; if they can get insurance at all. "Weight, age and metabolism all play a part in alcohol tolerance, meaning it is virtually impossible to know if you are safe to drive" says Admiral's Head of Motor, Clare Egan in part of her statement.

UK's best small planning firms to be recognised at RTPI Awards 2021

THE best small planning consultancies from across the UK have been recognised in the list of finalists for the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2021. Finalists in the Small Planning Consultancy of the Year category, at this year's RTPI Awards, are:-

► AEC... Planning consultancy AEC has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its community-led approach to planning, with stakeholder consultation a key element in all its applications. Highlights of its recent work include the Brent Cross West train station development during which the team at AEC hand delivered regular newsletters to the homes of local residents, and liaised directly with the local Consultative Access Forum to shape the designs and planning application for the station's accessibility objectives.

► Collective Planning... Specialist planning consultancy Collective Planning has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for a range of innovative and high quality planning solutions, including the successful insertion of a new planning policy in the London Plan that supported the 'meanwhile' use of sites for housing. Over the past year, Collective Planning has also worked on a new sustainable model for delivering high quality modular housing and has established a new 'warehouse living' planning policy, in Haringey, North London.

► HTA Planning... Niche consultancy HTA, based in London, has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its work on a range of projects which have demonstrated both technical expertise and creative thinking, specialising in complex 'infill' sites and airspace development. HTA works at the forefront of new technologies to deliver buildings in a more sustainable manner, including off site manufacturing and modular construction; recent highlights include an 800 home modular co-living scheme, in Croydon.

► Hybrid... Hybrid Planning, a female owned and managed practice based in London, has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award. The team at Hybrid are assigned to projects based not only on experience and workload, but also personality and compatibility with both the client and local authority; this innovative approach has led to a positive outcome in Harlow, Essex where Hybrid has secured permission for the redevelopment of Wych Elm House into a mixed use scheme.

► NTR Planning... Independent planning consultancy NTR, based in London and Bristol, has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its work on a variety of projects which have brought together multi disciplinary teams to understand impacts and effects. Among the complex projects it has co-ordinated have been the Black Rock rejuvenation scheme in Brighton, a 16 unit residential block in:- Hither Green, South East London, and a 30 bed extension to the Raithwaite Estate Hotel, in Yorkshire.

► Planning Insight... Planning Insight, a town planning consultancy based in central London, has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its work over the past 12 months, including the delivery of the HS2 Curzon Street project in Birmingham which included positive and early engagement with the local council's design and conservation teams. Planning Insight also developed an impressive downloadable guide to new:- 'permitted development' rights which clearly explained the various rights using diagrams and easy to understand language.

► P4 Planning... Independent consultancy P4 Planning, based in Manchester, has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its work on projects across the North West of England and for a 100% success rate for planning application approvals. Among the projects it worked on in an adaptable and collaborative way in 2020 were two blocks containing 270 apartments at:- Central Docks, Liverpool Waters, and an estate masterplan for the University of Liverpool's 40ha City Centre Campus.

► Aurora Planning... Based in Aberdeen, Aurora Planning provides planning advice to clients across Scotland. It has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its work with individuals, small business owners, professional developers, and public sector and community-led organisations. It also regularly carries out pro bono or reduced fee work to support all sectors of the community to participate equally, confidently and independently in the planning process.

► Hyas Associates... Town planning, master planning and placemaking consultancy Hyas Associates, based in Milton Keynes, has been shortlisted for the RTPI's Small Planning Consultancy of the Year award for its work in 2020 which has included:- several visionary and ambitious new garden communities in North Essex. The Hyas team has also been strong advocates of building design into strategic planning projects such as the 10,000 home St Cuthbert's Garden Village in Carlisle, the largest Garden Settlement in North England.

The RTPI's annual Awards for Planning Excellence are the longest running and most respected in the UK planning industry. The awards celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society not just throughout the UK, but internationally.

The climax of the ceremony, which will take place on virtual platform, The Awards Room by Evessio, on 29 April 2021, will be the presentation of the Silver Jubilee Cup, awarded to the project adjudged best overall. In total, 93 projects, teams and individuals across 15 categories have been selected by the independent judges this year. A new category for this year is Planning Heroes in a Pandemic, recognising the innovative work of planners in response to Covid19. The judging panel in 2021 will be chaired by Dyan Currie HonMRTPI, chief planner at:- Brisbane City Council, Australia and immediate Past President of the Commonwealth Association of Planners.

RTPI President Wei Yang FRTPI said:- "For more than 40 years, these prestigious awards have celebrated the exceptional work undertaken by Town planners. In the middle of a global pandemic, I believe they are more relevant than ever before as we showcase the very best of our profession from all the RTPI's Regions and nations and from countries around the world. I'm particularly pleased to see this year a new category has been created to recognise the incredible commitment and dedication of planners who have risen to the challenge of responding to the impacts of Covid19 on the planning system. I wish all the finalists the very best of luck at the ceremony.�

Sarah Elliott MRTPI, UK&I Town Planning Lead for Buildings and Places at headline sponsor AECOM, said:- "AECOM is proud to once again be a headline sponsor of this year's RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence. The finalists are a diverse mixture of outstanding examples of planning, including new responses driven by the pandemic and climate change. Once again this demonstrates the breadth of the impact the profession has on quality place making and delivery in the built environment, alongside our resilience to evolve and adapt."

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 2,206 cases and the total number now stand at:- 4,385,938 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 35 within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 127,260, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 150,419.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 2,186. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 332 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 179.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,832,788 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 603,453 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-
Liverpool City Region

Nation Lockdown

National UK Restrictions

► Liverpool, 48,366 confirmed cases.
15

► Halton, 11,921 confirmed cases. 1

► Knowsley, 17,339 confirmed cases. -- ERROR --

► Sefton, 23,825 confirmed cases. 6

► St. Helens, 17,025 confirmed cases. 9

► Wirral, 24,211 confirmed cases.
2

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 100 100 to 199 200 & over

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of Covid19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected Covid19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.

Total UK people who have received Vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

32,693,527 9,416,968

Jab Stats correct as of:- 16 April 2021

The Vaccination programme began on 8 December 2020 with people receiving the Vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech, and people began receiving the Oxford University / AstraZeneca Vaccine from 4 January 2021. Both Vaccine s are given as 2 doses, at lEast 21 days apart, for a full Vaccination course.