NEW ECO-FRIENDLY PRIMARY SCHOOL TAKES SHAPE

PUPILS who helped design their own eco-friendly school added the finishing touches to the first stage of its construction recently.  The youngsters from Park Primary School in Wallasey, Wirral, joined staff from construction company Morgan Sindall and Wirral Council’s in-house design team, for a bolt-tightening ceremony at the site in Love Lane.

The occasion marked the completion of the steel work phase of the £4.3 million pioneering project, which will see the pupils’ school life transformed with the introduction of outdoor learning spaces.  The schoolchildren have been heavily involved in the design process and even helped interview and select Liverpool-based construction company Morgan Sindall to deliver the project.

“The pupils had a say in whether we were chosen for the job in the first place and since then continue to be heavily involved in what we are doing.  We are constantly looking at ways to engage the children in the project.  We have a fantastic team who will continue to deliver a high-quality learning environment which meets the needs of a modern school.” says Ryan Jones, Morgan Sindall site manager.

The 2-storey building has been designed by the Council’s in-house design team from its Technical Services department. 

The new school will feature a biomass boiler to heat it, rainwater harvesting used to flush lavatories and a pond with a landscaped boardwalk area. There will be outdoor learning areas outside each classroom and views over nearby Oxton Park.  It will accommodate pupils attending Park Primary School which is temporarily housed in Alderley Road and follows the closure of Poulton Primary School.

“We wanted to create a world-class learning environment for every child with innovative and flexible indoor and outdoor spaces which will complement our creative curriculum,” says Hilary Ryan, headteacher of Park Primary School.

Wirral’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning Councillor Sheila Clarke, comments:- “The Council’s in-house design team has clearly risen to the challenge of designing a brand-new 21 century school which incorporates our aims for sustainability.   The design of the school allows it to sit in its own landscape on the edge of the public park and take full advantage of the views for both indoor and outdoor learning. The building itself provides modern, flexible spaces for the school to be able to maximise the learning opportunities for the pupils over time.”

The scheme is funded from the Government’s National Capital Programme supported by local additional funding.

Usdaw backs David Miliband for Labour Leader

THE shopworkers union Usdaw announced they are backing David Miliband in the race for the Labour Party leadership.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary said:- "Usdaw is backing David because we believe he is the best choice for our members, the best choice for Labour and the best choice for Britain.  David is a long-time friend of Usdaw and is someone who really understands the needs and aspirations of our members. He supports our campaigns against violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers and for the extension of workplace rights to help working parents. Usdaw's Executive Council had an excellent debate about the merits of each candidate and reached the decision that David Miliband is the best person to stand up for working people and lead Labour from an effective opposition to a Party ready to govern again.  The lay-members of Usdaw's Executive Council are particularly impressed by the fact that David emphasises the positive progress made during Labour's 13 years in office.  Our members have benefitted greatly from measures like the National Minimum Wage, Tax Credits to help make work pay and of course the massive improvements to our health and education services.  While Usdaw will continue to campaign for further improvements to help our members and their families, we should remain proud of the achievements of the Labour Government.  The Labour Party is blessed with a very strong field of candidates for leader. That is a position of strength that will enable the Party to rebuild and provide an effective opposition to a Coalition Government that is already taking measures that will hit our members hard."

David Miliband, Shadow Foreign Secretary said:- "I am honoured and delighted to have secured the support of Usdaw, the UK's 4th biggest trade union which represents hundreds of thousands of members in retail and many other private sector trades and workplaces.   Usdaw is a modern, forward looking union that campaigns on key issues of concern for their members and is increasing its membership as a result.  Usdaw has always been a leading voice in promoting rights and support for working families. They worked closely with Labour in government to deliver tax credits for working parents, extended paid maternity leave, the introduction of paid paternity and adoptive leave and much more besides.  I believe that a real test of government is what is achieved for working parents and their families. That is why it will be a priority for me to stand up to the Coalition's attacks on working people.  The Tory-Lib Dem Budget is a hammer blow to families and all workers. A price will be paid in higher unemployment and lower living standards for the poorest and those on middle incomes.  When they asked for your vote at the last election, David Cameron and Nick Clegg said they would reduce the deficit without hitting frontline services or hurting the poorest and most vulnerable in our society. It is clear they have already broken that promise.  I would tackle the deficit differently and would make reducing unemployment a top priority. We must oppose the Tories' decision to scrap Labour's job guarantee, which provided work to the long term unemployed. The Tories are making the same mistake they made in the 1980s, letting unemployment devastate lives and communities because they still believe this is a 'price worth paying'.  I would not increase VAT, which is a regressive tax that hits the poorest hardest. And I would not deprive working families of valuable tax credits, freeze Child Benefit or scrap the Child Trust Fund..  I will fight the Tory-Lib Dem cuts every inch of the way and pledge to work with Usdaw members and all trade unionists against this regressive government."

Usdaw is the first Trade Union to announce which candidate they are backing in the Labour leadership contest and they will ballot their members in September.

NEXT OF KIN APPEAL - JAMES NEIL CRIBB

LIVERPOOL Coroners' Office is appealing for the next of kin of James Neil Cribb to come forward. Mr Cribb, 64, died at his home address on Shelton Close in Old Swan on Saturday, 26 June 2010. His death is not suspicious and he died of natural causes. Anyone with any information of Mr Cribb's next of kin, or of how to trace his relations, is asked to call the Liverpool Coroner's Office on:- 0151 233 4705.