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Royal Mail to maintain Liverpool Air Operation
THE Royal Mail has today announced that following lengthy discussions with management at Liverpool John Lennon Airport they have reconsidered their previous proposal made in September to close their current operation at the Airport and have agreed to include operations from Liverpool in their new simplified air network.
Some 150 airport, airline and Royal Mail jobs were at risk as a consequence of this planned closure and it is now hoped that the majority will be maintained. Details of the Royal Mail’s future operations are still to be clarified, however Airport management are delighted that they have been able to turn round this initial proposal in order to maintain a Royal Mail presence at the Airport and importantly to safeguard the majority of related jobs as a consequence.
The Airport has been working closely with the local MP Maria Eagle and the North West Development Agency who have given considerable support to argue the strategic importance of maintaining this operation. In particular, they have been instrumental in highlighting that if the operation had disappeared, this would have left the North West as the only UK region without Royal Mail air deliveries and the resultant negative impact on the region’s business community.
Neil Pakey commented, “This is tremendous news. I am delighted that all the hard work by the Airport, plus the support from Maria Eagle, the NWDA and also the Communication Workers Union has paid off.”
We greatly appreciate that from the outset the Royal Mail were prepared to reconsider their proposal, if a way forward could be found that enabled operations at Liverpool to be commercially viable for them. There has been a great deal of effort and commitment on their part to listen to our ideas and to work with us to agree maintaining operations at Liverpool.”
Maria Eagle MP commented “This is a brilliant victory for the airport, the postal workers there, and for common sense. It is also a tribute to the support of local MPs and other agencies who have rallied round. I know a lot of hard work has gone into making the case for Liverpool and turning round the original announcement that Royal Mail wanted to pull
out.
I am very pleased that Royal Mail has now been convinced of the benefit of keeping an air operation in Liverpool and I hope they will even expand it in the future. Before not too long I am sure Royal Mail will be glad they stayed at Liverpool John Lennon
Airport", she continued.
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FREEDOM OF LIVERPOOL FOR MERCHANT NAVY VETERANS
LIVERPOOL
is to bestow its highest honour on Britain's forgotten heroes of World War II. The Merchant Navy Veterans Association is being granted the Freedom of Associations of Liverpool.
On December 8, Liverpool will acknowledge the role of those who sailed the western approaches and maintained supplies for the people of Britain to survive. During the WWII, tens of thousands of Merchant Seafarers sailed from the port of Liverpool, carrying supplies and troops throughout the world and to all of the major Allied landings, from North Africa to Normandy. The Merchant Navy lost 2,476 ships and more than 35,000 sailors, many from Merseyside, in the war and the pivotal Battle of the Atlantic in 1943. In all, at least 400 Liverpool-registered ships,
totaling over three million tons, were lost during the war - more than a quarter of all British tonnage lost. Around 200 veterans will arrive at Liverpool Town Hall for the ceremony, which takes place in the year of the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Ron Gould, said:- "This honour reflects the vital role played by the Merchant Navy and their associates during World War II. I'm proud that our city is repaying its debt to these heroes and publicly acknowledging their bravery and sacrifice." Bill Anderson, Regional
Organizer of the Merchant Navy Association, said:-
"The Merchant Navy Veterans faced mortal danger in the service of others and they did not waver, even in the darkest days of the war. Their efforts and sacrifice ensured the supply of food and necessities, without which our population would have perished. They were truly the forgotten heroes of the war, and I warmly welcome and appreciate this honour bestowed by the city on the Battle of the Atlantic veterans."
Amnesty International:- Formby & Southport Group
THE meeting in December will be on Monday 8th in Birkdale, Southport at 7.45pm. The speaker will be Graham Jones, the Amnesty International UK Russia Co-ordinator.
Amnesty members are going to be busy this month about the area, as following the success of last year’s Dickensian Day in Formby we will be having a stall with lots of Xmas gift items again this year. We are also having our Tree of Hope stall in front of Christ Church on Lord Street, Southport as always. 
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