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Spruce up the Mersey Tunnels!
THE Mersey
Tunnels are gearing up for a giant makeover as the city gears up for
European Capital of Culture. A huge programme to spruce up the
tunnels in advance of the yearlong celebrations is now underway.
King George V (pictured) and Queen Mary at the Liverpool entrance to
the Queensway Tunnel were the 1st to receive that extra bit of TLC
before the big event. An original Mersey Tunnel inspector’s
tollbooth housed at the Queensway entrance has also received a
makeover, being painted the familiar Mersey Tunnel green.
Further painting, cleaning and land works will take place over the
coming months at the plazas, portals, approach roads and inside all
tunnels. The east face (facing the Strand) of the stunning art
deco George’s Dock Building will also be cleaned in time for 2008.
Most of the work will be completed by January 2008.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, which owns and operates
the two tunnels, said:- “Capital of Culture year is a chance
for us all to showcase Liverpool and Merseyside in the best possible
way. We were already planning these works but have brought them
forward in time for 2008. We are doing what we can to ensure
lasting memories of our facilities are good ones. Hundreds of
thousands of visitors will come through the Mersey Tunnels so it is
important they see them in all their glory.”
Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel
added:- “The tunnels are a vital part of our transport network
and this is part of a programme of works we have accelerated across
the transport network in time for 2008. These works are in addition
to the £2million we have invested inside Lime Street station, the
work we are doing at James Street, Sandhills and Bootle Oriel Road
stations and the work we have completed at St Helens Central station
and Liverpool South Parkway.”
Up to 95,000 vehicles per day cross under the River Mersey via the 2
Mersey road tunnels. Merseytravel, which owns and operates the
Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels, has invested heavily in the safety
and security of the two tunnels, which are regarded as the safest in
the country. Queensway Tunnel is the safest tunnel in Europe
for its age.
In 2006, Merseytravel
launched a series of regular Tunnels Tours, which has seen thousands
of people visit the inner workings of the tunnels. The number
of tours were recently doubled to cope with public demand and
include a visit to the newly constructed escape refuges deep under
the Mersey, unique access to the Engineering Control Room and one of
the six giant ventilation stations. |
Taxi trainees top a tonne!
100 taxi and
private hire drivers in Wirral can now boast new qualifications, as
part of pioneering training drive. The major milestone now
reached means every one of taxi and private hire drivers taking part
in the training scheme has achieved a bespoke BTEC Level 2
qualification in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire.
Some of the learners have gone on to develop themselves as TGWU
unite union learner representatives, enrolling learners, giving
guidance on professional development supporting assessments and
training and working towards NVQ assessment qualifications.
The training covers issues including customer service and equality
and disability awareness and has been developed so drivers can train
using distance learning, glove box books and audio tapes, as well as
taught sessions.
Tony Norbury, a former taxi driver who is co-ordinating the project
on behalf of Merseytravel’s training arm, Merseylearn, said:-
“We’ve done it this way to give the drivers flexibility in the way
they are training so they can tailor it around their work schedules.
It’s very difficult for many drivers to fit learning into their
lives, without meaning time off the road and losing money.”
Merseytravel, Wirral Council and the Logistics College North West
launched the training programme locally in 2006. The training
comes as the region prepares for hundreds and thousands more
visitors for Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture Year in 2008
and Wirral continues on its own drive to boost tourism in the area.
Councillor Alan Dean, Chair of Merseytravel’s Personnel Committee,
said:- “Taxi and private hire drivers are often the very first
people visitors meet and they are a vital part of any successful
transport network. They are ambassadors not only for Wirral,
but for the whole of Merseyside. This training is an important part
of our joint commitment in the latest Local Transport Plan to
improve all types of public transport.”
Taxi driver Nigel Brierley (pictured) said:- “For some of the
drivers it was the first qualification they have ever taken, so this
is a great achievement. The drivers are putting their own time
aside for this and its great that we can get our teeth into
something that reflects our jobs as taxi drivers.”
Such is the success of the scheme, Wirral Council now makes it a
licensing requirement for new taxi and private hire drivers.
The Wirral project is part of wider training programme across
Merseyside, involving more than 400 drivers. It is a key stream of
the Local Transport Plan, a five-year countywide £230m delivery
programme of transport investment and service improvements running
until 2011. The Local Transport Plan aims to give Merseyside a
safer, sustainable, efficient and integrated transport network,
accessible to all. The Merseyside LTP Partnership consists of
Merseytravel and the five district councils of Merseyside;
Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral. |
