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Liverpool's
Turnaround cruises boost
PLANS for a turnaround cruise facility in
Liverpool have taken a major step forward. The city council’s
Cabinet has given the green light to a proposal to award contracts
to create a temporary building and parking and drop off facilities,
subject to approval of a planning application. It means that by the
end of May 2012, the first cruise liners will be able start and stop
in Liverpool; rather than it just being a port of call. Each vessel
is worth up to an estimated £1 million to the local economy. The
first turnaround cruise vessel will be the Ocean Countess who is
scheduled to use the facility on 29 May 2012. The interim
facility will be created on a vacant plot of land that is currently
owned by Peel Ports, opposite the current facility on Princes
Parade, by the end of May 2012.
Council Leader Joe Anderson, said:- "This is a huge moment for
Liverpool and means for the first time in decades we have the
prospect of big liners starting and ending their voyages in the
city. I pledged when I became Leader that this was a top priority,
and we are now on the verge of delivering on it. Cruising is big
business because it means tourists who come here and spend money in
the local economy. The cruise liner terminal has already been a huge
success; but this will allow us to take it to the next level because
we anticipate huge demand for people to start and end their holidays
in Liverpool. For far too long, holiday makers in the north west
have had to travel to and from other ports to start their journeys.
This move will return Liverpool to its rightful place as a major
cruise port."
The city council has already agreed to abide by an independent
ruling on how much of the UK public subsidy should be paid back for
the building of the existing cruise liner terminal. This is because
the original terminal was funded on the basis that it would be a
‘call in’ facility. A decision is awaited on how much of the £9.2
million will have to be repaid.
The temporary building will be leased during the
cruise season from 2012 to 2015 to provide check in, baggage drop
and reclaim, as well as customs and border facilities, and a new
internal road will also be created. Councillor Malcolm
Kennedy, Cabinet member for regeneration, said:- "We are
grateful to the Government for giving us a fair hearing on this
matter and are getting everything in place so we can take advantage
of turnaround as soon as this issue is resolved. We have a proud
maritime heritage and there is no better feeling than being able to
sail in and out of your home city."
The city council forecasts that when up and running it will at most
reach a 5% share of an expanding UK cruise market; comparable with
the percentage of the market enjoyed by the Peel owned Langton Dock
facility at its peak. Southampton currently has a market share of
over 65%. In addition, a total of 20 'day call'
vessels are already confirmed for Liverpool’s 2012 cruise season
with around 30,000 passengers expected, generating an additional £6
million for the local economy. |
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Colleagues at
Sainsbury’s Southport go the extra mile in their fundraising for
Sport Relief
SAINSBURY'S Southport are going the extra mile in their
fundraising for Sport Relief this year!
On Friday, 23 March 2012 and
Saturday, 24 March 2012, colleagues at the store, situated on Lord
Street Southport, will be raising funds for this year’s campaign by
holding a "Zumba for Sport Relief" dance outside the
store on Saturday, 24 March. Sessions will start at 10am, 11am and
12pm. Customers can participate in this exhilarating, Latin-inspired
and easy-to-follow dance for just £1 with a fully qualified Zumba
instructor. A cake sale will also be run outside the store between
10am and 3pm and the local YMCA cheerleaders will be giving a
display at 3pm.
It is one of a number of fundraising activities which colleagues at
Sainsbury’s Southport will be taking part in to raise funds for
Sport Relief, before the main weekend of 23 March to 25 March.
Other sporty activities which
colleagues are gearing up for include; an indoor boat rowing
marathon whereby the popular high street chain store JD Sports will
be bringing in an indoor rowing machine for the staff at Sainsbury’s
Southport to keep going all day long and a tombola where every
ticket will be a winning ticket, taking place on Friday, 23 March
2012.
Finally on the 25 March 2012, staff at Sainsbury’s Southport will be
trekking up Pendle Hill in hopes to raise more funds for Sport
Relief 2012.
Nicky Plaistow, a PR ambassador at the Southport store will
literally be going the extra mile for Sport Relief by running with
Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Justin King. Nicky Plaistow was
nominated by colleagues to take part in Justin’s Sport Relief Mile
Challenge, which will see the supermarket boss run 32 miles across
the country from 14 March to 17 March. One colleague from every
Sainsbury’s store will get to run with Justin, meaning over 1,000
colleagues will have run with Justin by the end of the 4 day
challenge.
Customers can also make a donation to Sport Relief through the
available merchandise on sale at Sainsbury’s Southport. One of the
trendy items available are the Sport Relief Socks. Fans Gary and
Danielle Lineker said:- "We love our Sport Relief Socks! At
just £2.50 they’re a real treat for your feet and with at least
£1.25 going to Sport Relief you’ll be helping those in desperate
need across the UK and the world’s poorest countries. Get a pair
from Sainsbury’s Southport or
sportrelief.com."
Katherine How, Sport Relief Sponsorship Manager at Sainsbury’s
added:- "Fantastic projects like the ''Standard Royal British
Legion'' in Southport have benefitted from previous Sport Relief
funding. In such a landmark year for sport, we hope customers in
Southport can support our fundraising efforts and have fun in the
process. The campaign gives us the opportunity not just to transform
lives in some of the world’s poorest countries but also a means of
helping our local community."
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