WATER CHARGES INCREASE IS "OUTRAGEOUS"

LANCASHIRE'S Labour Euro MP Brian Simpson has criticised a decision taken by the water industry regulator, OFWAT, that will see the average household's annual water bill rise to over £370.

Labour's Brian Simpson has written to OFWAT's Chief Executive, Regina Finn, asking her to justify the "outrageous" pricing changes. 

In the changes that come into effect from April 1, OFWAT has allowed water companies to use a higher inflation measure for water pricing, with the average household's yearly water bill now set to increase by £16.

Whilst the Government uses the lower Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate to determine increases to benefits and pensions, OFWAT has allowed water companies to increase charges by using the higher Retail Price Index (RPI) amount.

"This sounds like double standards to me and is outrageous at a time when hard-pressed families are already dealing with VAT rises, higher fuel prices and the prospect of job losses thanks to the policies of the Tory-LibDem government", said an angry Mr Simpson.

"If the water regulator is happy to allow price increases at the higher level, then regulators in the gas, electricity and transport industries are likely to do the same", added Labour's Mr Simpson who sits as Chairman of the European Parliament Transport Committee.

Water bills in Lancashire will rise by 4% in April and will continue rising with the higher RPI until at least 2015. In some areas, such as the North East, the rise will be 8%; a precedent that alarms Mr Simpson.

International Women’s Day 2011

WOMEN from all walks of life in Liverpool, from high court judges to cleaners, doctors to shop assistants, will be gathering en masse by the Liverpool Discovers installation of Mary Bamber, suffragette and social reformer, to celebrate the centenary of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2011. Organised by Liverpool City Council, this is one of thousands of events held throughout the world on the Day to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. Liverpool has such a rich and important history within the women’s movement and this is the perfect way for women throughout the city to celebrate the life and work of such influential women as Mary Bamber, Bessie Braddock and Kittie Wilkinson through to modern day inspirations such as Julie Walters, Cilla Black and Melanie C. Liverpool Discovers is a public art trail in Liverpool that runs until the 20th of March. It tells the remarkable story of Liverpool, its greats, firsts, lesser known history and current day stories – through a quirky fun trail of outdoor installations. The Mary Bamber installation celebrates the life of the socialist, trade unionist, social reformer and suffragist described by Sylvia Pankhurst as the “finest, fighting platform speaker in the country”. Her statue is also inscribed with the names of Liverpool women who have fought for women’s rights throughout history.

Southport schools gear up to pedal big

ON Monday, 7 March 2011, at least 7 schools from Southport will begin an exciting cycle race called The Big Pedal, competing against around 260,000 children from 800 schools across the UK, to be the fastest school.

The race, powered by UK charity Sustrans and funded by the bicycle industry through its Bike Hub, will last for 3 weeks and follows a similar format to the Tour de France; each day is a different time trial, with different stages, from long flat sprints to hillier mountainous climbs. The more children, parents and teachers that cycle in to school on each day, the quicker time the school is awarded for each stage. The school with the lowest time overall will be declared winner.

Over 2,500 children from the local area will get the chance to be involved with The Big Pedal, which aims to inspire and encourage pupils, parents and teachers to cycle on a regular basis. The race is open to any school within the UK and it is free to take part. Schools can sign up to take part in the entire 3 week challenge, or register for the special 1-day stages that will take place in the last week of the race – which is also Bike to School Week (21 March to 25 March 2011). Registration for the race is open until 4 March 2011 so there’s still time to enter.

Mary Kelland, Sustrans Bike It officer for Southport, says:- “I’m really pleased with how many schools have signed up to the race, and there’s still time to register, so I hope that even more schools will be competing by the time the race starts.  The race will act as a great way for the whole school community to join together as they take on other schools from across the country – it’s a really great competition.”

First prize for national winners of the race is a spectacular day with the M.A.D cycle stunt team, who have performed for people all over the world, from Pepsi-Cola in Saudi Arabia to Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve at his birthday party. National runners up win a Minipod bike and scooter storage system worth over £1,000 for their school. The fastest school in each region will win an amazing bike workshop kit consisting of 78 bike tools, a shadow board to hold them all in and a bicycle work stand for all your school's cycle repair needs supplied by Fisher Outdoor and Weldtite. Fisher Outdoor has also provided 5 cycle repair tool kits and floor pumps that can be won in the daily challenges in the last week of the Big Pedal.

The Big Pedal, delivered by Sustrans and funded by the cycle industry, celebrates the fun that cycling brings children. Learning to ride a bike is a key milestone in children’s lives, and the thrill of getting about independently is an important part of growing up. Bikeability, backed up with other wider skills programmes, gives them the confidence to ride safely, and the Big Pedal shows that children everywhere can cycle safely to school.

To see up-to-the-minute information on which schools in your area have registered to take part, go to the Big Pedal website. 

SCHOOLS INVOLVED:-

Birkdale Primary School; Churchtown Primary School; Farnborough Road Junior School; Larkfield Primary School; Shoreside Primary School; Birkdale High School; Stanley High Sports College