Exciting New Finds Highlight Importance of Marine Act

TWO sponge species – one previously unknown to science and one new to the UK – have been discovered during a diving expedition in UK waters.

The Wildlife Trusts are celebrating the exciting finds the same week new legislation – the Marine and Coastal Access Act – is expected to be passed, which would be great news for marine life off the coast of Lancashire and North Merseyside.

The marine sponges were discovered in the Isles of Scilly and examined by Dr Claire Goodwin, from National Museums Northern Ireland, who has done much work surveying in the Irish Sea near our region, and found an incredible 29 new species there in 2002.

Marine biologists and recreational divers found these newest exciting discoveries during a week of exploratory diving as part of a Seasearch survey. More than 260 sponges were sampled during 12 dives. Sponges are important components of marine habitats; simple animals which attach themselves to rock.

A rare species of hydroid (a type of feathery-looking animal related to anemones) (Polyplumaria flabellata) was also recorded by expert Dr Keith Hiscock, from the Marine Biological Association, along with a new site for the rare and beautiful solitary sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti).

Seasearch divers David Kipling, Sarah Bowen and Emily Priestley discovered the sea slug, Discodoris rosi, crawling over the rocks. This bright orange sea slug has only ever been recorded twice before in the UK. It is usually normally found further south in the Atlantic.

For the last 20 years the marine environment has not been sustainably managed. The Marine and Coastal Access Bill, if effectively implemented, will provide the chance to conserve these rare and threatened species, many of which can be found off the coast of the North West of England.

Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts’ head of Living Seas, said:- “These finds are incredibly important and come as we celebrate the passage of the Marine and Coastal Access Act. Although some sites are well dived, there is still much we don’t know about the rich and diverse marine life we have around the UK. All the data collected during dives builds a better understanding of the unique and special marine environment, creating a stronger foundation to help conserve it for the future. We will continue to press for strengthened provisions for marine wildlife conservation as our challenge now is to achieve real change. New legislation is only the beginning. The decisions made, and actions taken, over the next five years will determine the future of the UK’s seas. This is a unique opportunity and we must seize it.”

The Wildlife Trusts’ chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, added:- “We are indebted to our many thousands of supporters and members, who have helped us to champion the Marine Bill over the past decade. We have a vision for the future of the UK’s seas – Living Seas. In Living Seas, wildlife thrives from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows.”

The Wildlife Trusts – including the Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Trust - have campaigned for many years for new laws to provide better protection of marine habitats and wildlife, as well as improved management of activities at sea. In 2007, The Wildlife Trusts gathered more than 170,000 petition signatures in support of a Marine Bill, presented on fish scales and passed them to the Secretary of State for the Environment at a campaign event in the House of Commons.

Salvation Army Band and carol singers launch Christmas Present Appeal

THE Prescot Salvation Army Band and carol singers are to launch the Corps (church) annual Christmas Present Appeal which is once again this year being held in association with Superdrug and the Prescot Shopping Centre.

Members of the Corps, in Warrington Road, are urging town folk to turn out in force at the launch of the appeal on Saturday, 21 November 2009 between 10.30am and 12 noon in the Prescot Shopping Centre.

Shoppers are being invited to buy an extra gift to donate to the Christmas Present Appeal, which runs from 21 November 2009 to 18 December 2009, to support the needs of children and families at Christmas. Good quality new gifts suitable for all ages including young and teenage boys and girls as well as adults.

Lieutenant Annette Booth, leader of The Salvation Army in Prescot, said:- “We’re delighted that Superdrug and the Prescot Shopping Centre is supporting The Salvation Army this year as we appeal for Christmas present donations for people who would otherwise not have a gift to open on Christmas Day.

Santa arrives at the shopping centre the week after the launch so people can leave their gifts with him or Superdrug – safe in the knowledge that these will be passed on  of children and families in Prescot this Christmas.”

Prescot Salvation Army is also extending a warm welcome to everyone who would like to join their Carol Service at its church and community centre on Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 2pm.

CONSUMERS ‘ENCOURAGED’ TO CONSOLIDATE LOANS AS BANKRUPTCY RATES SET TO BREAK ALL RECORDS

MANY of you who play our radio station on Liverpool Reporter, will know we do not like these loan and debt management calls. only this week we had one that you can play by clicking here, that phoned our radio line. In this case they where from the Middle East, reporting to be called Net Star. These calls can be a real problem, and often they are cold calling. Information though is given out by the Banks as well as other groups like Credit Card Companies and this information can also be used to focus cold calling. "Often these companies calling up, sound good, but in reality leaded people into more problems." told us some time back. "We have tryed to stop this type of call, but it is hard to stop internationl call centers from calling." They added.

UK consumers over the last year are incressingly being bombarded by telephone calls from loan and debt management companies who are promising to ‘get them through’ the festive period and offering high interest personal loans as an alternative to filing for bankruptcy, according to new findings from the UK’s leading anti-nuisance calls provider, Call Prevention Registry.

The Call Prevention Registry has found that the number of telephone calls made to consumers this year by loan and debt management companies has increased to unprecedented levels - accounting for around 28% of the 1.5 billion unsolicited and nuisance telephone calls made to British households this year compared to just 5% in 2008.

“The significant rise in the volume of calls received by UK consumers is indicative of the testing economic conditions in which we find ourselves. Our findings support recent predictions made by a number of insolvency experts who warn that the number of people being declared insolvent will break all records and exceed 130,000 by the end of 2009,” said Paul MacKenzie-Cummins, head of public relations for the Call Prevention Registry.

As many families seek to strike a balance between income and expenditure a personal loan is often seen as a means of getting through the festive period.

“Those consumers with high credit card debt and those who have seen a reduction or loss of income, combined with rising energy costs, will find it difficult to weather the economic storm that is expected to continue through to the second quarter of 2010 at the earliest. Over the last two years we have seen a sharp rise in the number of telephone calls made by debt management and loan companies in the run up to Christmas but, the volume of these calls has been consistent throughout the year with a notable rise since September.” adds Mr MacKenzie-Cummins.

Call Prevention Registry has seen an influx in new customers registering their details on their ‘do not call’ service to put a stop to the volume of unwanted sales calls they have been receiving.

“A staggering number of new customers have come to us because they were receiving as many as 5 or more telephone calls every day by companies trying to sell personal loans or credit cards.” said Mr MacKenzie-Cummins.

With less than 7 weeks before Christmas which costs the average household £975 with each person spending around £399 on gifts, many families will the pressure to not let the recession spoil their festivities.

And as unemployment climbs closer to the 2.5m mark with more job losses expected in the early part of 2010, more and more families will be feeling the pinch with Call Prevention Registry expecting the number of telephone calls made by loan and debt management companies to increase even higher as we move into the New Year.

“Unfortunately, the end is not in sight and consumers need to act now, to put a stop to all these unsolicited calls and eradicate the temptation to take on more personal debt to pay off existing debts.” said Mr MacKenzie-Cummins.

Call Prevention Registry has the highest success rate in blocking unwanted sales calls than any other service provider in the UK, with around 95% of all nuisance calls stopped permanently. By comparison, the Telephone Preference Service has a 54% success rate which has led to an increase in the number of new customers registering with the Call Prevention Registry.  Customers can register their details by visiting:-callpreventionregistry.co.uk or calling:- 0800 652 7780.

Southport Lyric Singers Concert 2010

THE Southport Lyric Singers are holding a concert in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund on Friday 4 June 2010 from 7.30pm at the Lord Street West, Church Hall, Southport, Merseyside. Tickets only £5.00 including refreshments. Tickets will be available on the door or via calling 01704 227 017.

Arts In Prescot - Latest News

ON Friday 13 November 2009, from 7.30pm, at Prescot Parish Church, Church St, Prescot, Jubilate Praise presents a musical presentation by Roger Jones called 'THE ROCK'. It is the story of Simon Peter. Admission is FREE and for more information go to:- artsinprescot.org.uk.