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City vigil to
remember Hillsborough
MAYOR of Liverpool, Joe
Anderson has announced that a city vigil will be held on St George's
Plateau, on 12 September 2012, for people to come together to support the
Hillsborough families.
People are being invited to gather from 5pm on the day that all
documents related to the disaster are released and the Hillsborough
Independent Panel publishes its report.
There will be a period of quiet reflection before the vigil
commences. The formal proceedings will be led by Mayor Anderson from
6pm and there will be prayers from faith leaders, readings and a
performance by a choir.
The vigil has been organised with the support of representatives of
the Hillsborough family groups following meetings with Mayor
Anderson, who welcome the opportunity for the City and the families
to come together in memory of the 96 who lost their lives.
Mayor Anderson said:- "This is a day the Hillsborough families
and the city has waited 23 years for, and it is going to be an
extremely emotional and traumatic occasion. The people of Liverpool
need to show our full support to the families and let them know that
we are with them at this very difficult time. All people have
wanted was that the truth be known and for justice for the deceased.
We hope the Panel's findings will finally reveal what actually
happened on that dreadful day. The whole city has been
affected for 23 years by this disaster. Everyone in Liverpool knows
someone who was touched by the tragedy. People will want to not only
remember the 96 who lost their lives but also, having waited so
long, to share their sadness together as a city and support each
other through this emotional time. It will be a sombre and
respectful service which allows us to come together as we digest the
contents of the report, and remind ourselves why we must never, ever
forget those who died. It also gives us the opportunity to pay
tribute to the Hillsborough families who have worked so hard to get
answers and have been relentless in their pursuit of the truth.
This will be a moving event which is a fitting way to mark a
momentous and significant milestone, and anyone who wants to come
along and be part of it is welcome."
During the vigil, the names of all the 96 Liverpool FC fans that
died will be read out and 96 candles will also be lit.
More details will be released nearer the time about the order of
service. It is expected to finish at around 7pm.
Motorists are being advised that Lime Street and St John's Lane will
be closed from 4:30pm on 12 September 2012, and diversions will be in
place.
Parks Swing Towards Equality
CHILDREN who use
wheelchairs can now get into the swing of things at 2 Liverpool
parks. Special wheelchair swings have been installed at the
playgrounds in Croxteth Country Park and Sefton Park. The swings are
designed so that the whole wheelchair is attached to the swing,
removing the need for lifting and transferring the users. Additional
work has also been carried out to extend and adapt the play areas to
ensure that children can use the special swings alongside their
friends on the conventional versions. The £40,000 cost of the
project, which includes safety railings, has been funded through the
government's Short Breaks initiative
Councillor Tim Moore, cabinet member for transport and climate
change, said:- "We want our parks to be available to all and
for everybody to able to use all the facilities there. Yet for too
many disabled children the simple pleasure of using a swing, which
should be part of everybody's childhood, has been denied and we now
correcting that."
And Councillor Peter Mitchell, Mayoral Lead on parks and open spaces
said:- "The new swings are an important part of a programme of
improvements for disabled people in our parks so that they provide
better access and greater enjoyment."
Feedback from a recent consultation on this issue included the
following comment:- "I am so glad that at last people have
thought about disabled children who, like all children, want to
enjoy themselves" (Joan Melling, Walton)
The improvement programme has also included the introduction in
three parks of 'high-dependency' specialised
'Changing Rooms' toilets, improved access at a number of
parks and a Sensory Garden at Calderstones Park.
CCTV APPEAL IN CONNECTION TO
STUART SMITH'S MURDER
MERSEYSIDE Police have
released a CCTV image of a man officers are keen to speak to in
connection with the murder of Stuart Smith in Liverpool City Centre
on Sunday, 2 September 2012. Officers were called to Back Colquitt
Street at about 2.45am following reports that the victim, who has
been identified as, 33 year old, Stuart Smith, from London, had been
assaulted. He was taken to hospital where he died a short time
later. A Home Office Post Mortem Examination, that concluded,
established that Mr Smith had died as a result of serious neck and
head injuries.
In relation 3 men, all from the
London area, have been charged. They are:- Joseph Walker, 27 years,
of Pintail Way, Middlesex; Mark McEwen, 39 years of Angel Park
Gardens, Brixton, South London, and Michael Samuels, 39 years, of St
James Road, Croydon, were all charged with murder. They appeared at
Liverpool City Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 4 September, 2012.
A 4th man, aged 33 years, was
released without charge.
DI Paul Mann, said:- "At the
time of the incident this part of the City Centre would have been
busy and we would urge anyone who was in the area at the time and
may have witnessed the incident to come forward. People socialising
or travelling through the area may have witnessed or captured part
of the incident on their mobile phones whilst taking photos or even
footage. I am extremely keen to speak to this man as we believe he
may have information vital to this investigation. We do not believe
he was involved in the incident and we would urge him or anyone who
recognises him to contact us as a matter of urgency. I would like to
state that this man is not in any trouble and that detectives wish
to speak with him to help them piece together the full circumstances
of this tragic incident."
Anyone with information is asked
to call detectives on:- 0151 777 4065 or call Crimestoppers on:-
0800 555 111.
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MUMS GO BACK TO
SCHOOL WITH 'NEW SCHOOL YEAR' RESOLUTIONS
UNDER-pressure mums in the
North West have confessed to telling porkies at the school gate to
give other parents the impression they are more organised than they
really are.
60% of mums with primary schoolchildren in the region see the new
school term as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf by being
better organised, but a failure to keep "New School Year"
resolutions makes 40% of them feel like bad parents, viewing other
parents as "better than them". This guilty complex leads them
to pretend they are more organised than they are.
In a nationwide survey of 1,850 mums with young schoolchildren, by
The Co-operative Food, most mums said they plan to get themselves
super organised to cope with the start of the term, saying getting
the kids up and dressed is the most stressful part of the school
routine.
In the North West 37% of mums vow to make their children and
themselves healthier at the start of term, promising to walk the
kids to school and prepare healthier lunch boxes and evening meals.
But, despite their best efforts, these New School Year resolutions
don't last long, with 62% reverting to their old ways in less than
three weeks.
Janet Taylor, Diet and Health Manager, The Co-operative Food said:-
"The new academic year is the perfect opportunity to kick
start a new, healthier routine for you and your family. It seems
being prepared and getting clothes and lunch boxes ready in advance
is the key to a stress-free morning. Our survey shows that
mums are keen to do what they can to improve their child's diet, and
are actively trying to make meals healthier. Just by adding a
handful of strawberries and a tub of cherry tomatoes or carrot
sticks to a lunch box, you've already provided two of your child's
'five a day', helping to make sure they get essential vitamins and
minerals."
The pressure of the work-life balance is apparent, with 53% of mums
feeling they weren't concentrating enough on their children because
of working, and they felt they weren't giving their child enough
quality time. 15% of North West mums said they were going to
use the start of the new term time as an opportunity to chat to
their child more about their day.
Judy Reith, parenting expert and author of "Be a Great Mum",
said:- "Parenting is a tough job and it's important parents
don't let guilt rule. Instead, focus on the simple things you can do
to help your child be healthy and happy. As a parent, there
are lots of ways you can spend with your child that really make a
difference. Setting aside just 10 minutes a day to help with your
child's reading will not only improve their reading skills, but will
also strengthen your relationship as you spend one-to-one, quality
time together."
Although 28% of mums in the region said they were dreading the start
of the new term, almost 70% admitted they were secretly looking
forward to their child being back at school after the long summer
holiday.
Top 10 'New School Term' resolutions:-
1. Wash and iron everything at the weekends so it's ready for the
week.
2. Get school bags packed for the next day with my child before
bedtime.
3. Prepare packed lunches the night before.
4. Make sure homework is completed before evening meal.
5. Laying out school uniforms the night before.
6. Make sure my child gets to bed at a reasonable hour.
7. Doing reading and spellings straight after school and not leaving
until the last minute.
8. Establish a "getting ready" routine in the morning.
9. Make sure my child eats breakfast before going to school.
10. Chat to my child more about their day.
PUPPY STOLEN DURING BURGLARY
MERSEYSIDE Police are appealing for
information following a burglary at an address in Crosby on Monday,
27 August 2012, during which a 10 week old puppy was stolen. A 26
year old man from Bootle has been arrested in relation to this
incident, and has been bailed pending further enquiries. The break
in, at a house in Litchfield Road, happened at about
 5am
and 2 purses containing money and documentation were taken as well
as Alfie, a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, who was in his crate
downstairs. A man was seen on CCTV shortly afterwards with Alfie. He
is described as white, between 20 to 26 years and about 5ft 8in
tall, with short light brown/blonde hair receding at the sides. He
was wearing a black jacket, black trousers and dark trainers with
red laces. He was seen a short time later on Crosby Road North
hailing and getting into a black hackney cab with Alfie, the cab
travelling in the direction of Bootle and Liverpool. Alfie was a
birthday present to his owner, and they are distraught over his loss
and are very concerned for his welfare. Alfie is tan in colour, with
a distinctive dark line of short hair running along its back and a
'liver' coloured nose. Merseyside Police are keen to
talk to anyone with information, particularly the taxi-driver, who
picked up the man at 5.45am. Anybody with information is asked to
contact officers on:- 0151 777 3011 or call Crimestoppers on:- 0800
555 111. |
