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RARE BARGE
CRANED OUT OF CANAL FOR CONSERVATION
Picture supplied, with
thanks from the Waterways Archive and photos by Bill Leatherwood
ONE of the largest cranes
in the country, together with a giant purpose built cradle, have
been used to raise a rare surviving boat out of the water for what
is thought to be for the first time, ahead of its planned
conservation. 'Mossdale' is thought to be the last
surviving all wooden wide Mersey 'flat', a type of
barge which was once a common sight across the North West, with
history dating back 150 years. Now volunteers and staff from the
Canal and River Trust's National Waterways Museum have stepped in,
with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, to save the historic
vessel, one of the most important in the Museum's collection.
Mossdale would originally have
been carrying cargoes such as iron, flour and grain; and even sugar
for Tate and Lyle; along the Bridgewater Canal as far as Manchester
and across the Mersey between Ellesmere Port and Liverpool. The
vessel was donated to the National Waterways Museum by Peter Froud
in the 1970s and has been cared for by staff and volunteers, but it
was not until June 2012 that a successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid
for £147,300 gave hope that the boat might be fully conserved.
Lifting Mossdale from the water is an important step towards
securing further funding for the work early in 2014.
John Inch, general manager at the
National Waterways Museum, said:- "Old wooden boats; even
those as sturdy looking as Mossdale; are incredibly fragile, so
everyone was holding their breath when she was first lifted out.
We're all incredibly excited to see her out of the water for the
first time and delighted with how well the operation has gone. Boats
like this would have been a common sight to our ancestors and she is
the last of her kind to survive. She is part of the story of
Merseyside, its waterways and people and we want to keep that story
alive." |
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Knowsley
communities to benefit from neighbourhood funding pot
THOUSANDS of pounds have
been made available to support bright ideas to improve communities
and homes in Knowsley. Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) has made
significant funds available to each of its four area boards in
Halewood, Huyton, Kirkby and Prescot, Whiston, Knowsley Village.
"The money can be used to improve the environment or enhance the
comfort and conditions of residents living in KHT homes. Large and
small value schemes will be considered. For example, schemes
completed to date have ranged from less than £100 to over £20,000 in
value." said Vicky Houghton, Programme Manager for KHT.
Projects that have been made possible by the funding in the last
year include new garden fencing and brick walls at properties on
Manor Farm Road, in Huyton, and letterbox deflectors to sheltered
and vulnerable homes in Kirkby and Huyton.
KHT residents are now being invited to put forward their ideas for
where the money can be used to have the most impact.
Suggestions can be submitted by
KHT's
website. They could include
anything from security improvements and environmental works to
energy efficiency schemes.
Alternatively ideas can be submitted via
email or via writing to:- Homes
Team, Lakeview, Kings Business Park, Prescot, L34 1PJ. Please
include your name, address and contact phone number.
All scheme ideas received will be assessed by the Area Board members
and a decision made as to which should be carried out.
Even if a scheme is not selected this year it will be kept on record
and will be re-considered as more Area Board funding is made
available in future years.
Scrooge employer
warning - pay at least the minimum wage
STUDENTS and seasonal staff
working over the Christmas holidays are being reminded by HM Revenue
and Customs (HMRC) not to accept less than the National Minimum Wage
(NMW).
Temporary seasonal workers; such as students working as bar staff,
shop assistants or warehouse staff; are usually eligible for NMW. If
they are not being paid what they are legally entitled to, they
should contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline, where they can
lodge a complaint, on:- 0800 917 2368,
Michelle Wyer, Assistant Director of National Minimum Wage, HMRC,
said:- "We want to make sure that students and seasonal staff
working over the festive season are being paid what they're entitled
to. HMRC investigates every complaint made to the Pay and Work
Rights Helpline, so whether you're pulling pints or pulling a sleigh
this Christmas, if you're being short changed you should get in
touch."
Employers found by HMRC to not be paying the minimum wage can expect
a penalty, could be named, and in the worst cases, face a possible
criminal prosecution. Last year HMRC action successfully resulted in
over 26,000 workers across the UK getting a share of £4 million in
arrears. After HMRC's investigations, over 700 employers received a
penalty.
Further information about the National Minimum Wage, including who
is eligible, is available
online.
National Minimum Wage hourly rates are:-
1. Age under 18:- £3.72.
2. Age 18 to 20:- £5.03.
3. Age 21 and over:- £6.31.
4. The Pay and Work Rights Helpline:- 0800 917 2368, is open Monday
to Friday, running from 8am to 8pm, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Calls are free and confidential!
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