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PEOPLE ARE URGED TO TAKE A HIKE FOR CHARITY
THERE is less
than 2 weeks for people to pull on their walking boots and sign up
to the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) Hearts First Walk - The High
Peak Trail Winter Challenge Walk. The event raises vital funds
to support the BHF in its fight against heart and circulatory
disease - the nation's biggest killer and takes place on Sunday 18
November.
The 17.5 mile hike through the spectacular Peak District is the
BHF's biggest regional fundraising event and attracts over 1,000
walkers.
Starting from Cromford Meadows, near Matlock walkers follow
a route through stunning Derbyshire countryside, finishing at
Hurdlow, six Miles South of Buxton.
Last year's event raised over £80,000 and all the money collected
will go towards funding further research into the causes, prevention
and treatment of heart disease, life-saving equipment like the 46
defibrillators that have been provided to the rangers in the Peak
District National Park plus cardiac rehabilitation in the community.
BHF Event Organiser Jessica Storer said:- "This is a fantastic
walk which continues to grow over the years and is the biggest
regional event.
I guarantee it will be a great experience and is
suitable for anyone from young people to heart patients. We also
encourage businesses and teams to take on the challenge.
Our
need is urgent, so we're appealing to the community to get active
and join the camaraderie of over 1000 participants on the High Peak
Trail to help us help hearts in crisis."
Entry for the event is £5 if you pre-register and registration on
the day is £15.
Register online today at
www.bhf.org.uk/events
or call free phone 0800 085 2280 or
email for entry forms. |
Operation Otis Lifts Illegal Parkers
PRIVATE hire
vehicles operating illegally and cars parked at taxi ranks have been
targeted in a joint operation by Merseyside Police and Liverpool
City Council.
On 2 recent week-ends plain clothes police and licensing officers
set out to find if private hire drivers who park up in high profile
areas of the city would be prepared to accept passengers without a
booking being made 1st. This is illegal as private hire can
only be pre-booked and all private hire insurance stipulates this.
Drivers accepting bookings are then prosecuted for illegally plying
for hire and the associated insurance offence. Their vehicles are
also seized.
The initiative – called Operation Otis- also dealt with private cars
parked on taxi ranks making it impossible for licensed taxis to ply
for hire lawfully.
A total of 8 private hire vehicles were seized and 9 private hire
drivers were reported for plying for hire and insurance offences,
five from Sefton, two from Wirral and one each from Knowsley and
Liverpool. 2 private hire drivers received tickets for waiting
on hackney ranks. Officers also seized 36 private cars which
were parked on taxi stands and issued 108 tickets for obstruction.
Cllr Malcolm Kelly, Chair of the Taxi Licensing Committee, said:-
“Some of the private hire vehicles are not just causing
congestion by parking illegally but could obstruct ambulances, fire
engines and other emergency vehicles. Taxis operating
legitimately are an important part of our transport system.
Thousands of people rely on them at night, especially at week-ends,
and they must be able to operate properly in the right areas.
People who get into an unlicensed vehicle - and private hire cars
plying for hire are unlicensed – could be putting themselves at risk
and we would urge people to use only properly licensed taxis, either
hackney cabs or by pre-booking a private hire vehicle. Taxi
ranks are clearly marked and there is no excuse for other cars to
park there. We will continue to work with the police to combat
these problems." |
