Roads 'Tarmacademy' to get 1,000 unemployed into work

A 'Tarmacademy' to train unemployed people in road laying is to be set up in Liverpool.  Kings Construction plans to open the centre; which would be the 1st of its type in the North West; and would support 1,000 trainees into jobs and apprenticeships over the next 5 years. The aim is to tackle a shortage of qualified staff with the necessary skills to take advantage of an estimated £250 million of highways work taking place in the City over the next few years. Tarmac company Cemex would also build an asphalt plant on the same site; saving time, money and helping the environment by cutting out the need to transport them to its base in Manchester which it has to do at the moment.  Trainees would gain necessary qualifications such as an NVQ in highways skills and reinstatement, as well as the necessary certification (cards) to secure employment with local businesses. A report to the Cabinet, on Friday, 11 December 2015, was recommending that the City Council supports the firm to find a suitable site close to North Liverpool Docks on a 20 year lease which would provide training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities.  Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "This is a really exciting and innovative opportunity for us to partner with the private sector and come up with a scheme which will get a significant number of people into work. There are around a quarter of a billion pounds of major highways infrastructure projects in the pipeline in the next few years as we tackle the backlog of road repairs and invest in improvements to the network. We must make sure that people from the City are best placed to get work on these projects.  By creating an asphalt factory in the City we will also be helping the environment by making sure that the raw materials can be made 'road ready' on site rather than being transported to Manchester and back."

In addition to the traineeships, the Tarmacademy would create 25 jobs for trainers and administrators while the Cemex plant would employ 20 people. If the report is approved by Cabinet, the next stage would be to identify a suitable site and agree lease arrangements.

Closure Order against a house in Bootle issued

ON Thursday, 10 December 2015, Merseyside Police, in conjunction with Sefton Council and Plus Dane Housing, were successful in obtaining a Full Closure Order on 17 Salisbury Avenue, Bootle, at South Sefton Magistrates Court. Neighbourhood Sergeant Kate Young said:- "We can confirm that a Closure Order has been put in place at an address on Salisbury Avenue. The order was applied for by the local Neighbourhood Policing Team in response to numerous calls being received from members of the public who had experienced a prolonged period of anti-social behaviour by the resident and visitors to the address. The complaints received included incidents of anti social behaviour, drug dealing and drug taking linked to the address, as well as people calling there with connections to gang related activity. The order was approved at Sefton Magistrates Court and means that from 21 December 2015, the house will be closed to all persons for a 3 month period. Once the order expires Plus Dane Housing will ensure that any new tenant in the property is appropriately vetted to prevent any issues recurring. The Closure Order is put in place in an effort to reduce the level of crime reported in the area and to allow the local residents of Bootle to enjoy the quality of life that they are entitled to. The property was associated with anti social behaviour in the area and appeared to have become a hub for local gangs in the area who were using it to use and sell drugs. We will continue to target offenders and any properties associated with them who continue to cause problems for the community, and we will do this using all lawful powers available to us in order to make Bootle a safer and more peaceful place to live. This Closure Order was only made possible due to the assistance of the local community and our Council and Housing partners and we will continue to be robust in tackling criminal activity and anti social behaviour. I would encourage any members of the Bootle community who have any information to call our dedicated neighbourhood team on:- (0151) 777 3 041, via our 101 number or through Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111."

Cash box robbery, at Waitrose, Formby

POLICE Detectives investigating the robbery of a cash box at Waitrose in Formby, are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the vehicle and/or people who are believed to have been involved. At around 9.00am, on Wednesday, 9 December 2015, Merseyside Police Officers were called to Waitrose on Three Tuns Lane, following reports that a male had approached the crew of a cash in transit van and stolen a cash box.  The male offender, is reported to have been wearing a high visibility jacket and had his face covered with a mask. He then is said to have made off in a silver Mercedes C220. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Watchyard Lane, Formby. Detective Inspector Simon Vaughan said:- "Any sightings of this vehicle around the time of the offence, however insignificant they may seem, could prove vital in our investigation and I would urge people to come forward."  Police have stressed that no one was reported to have been injured during the incident. Enquiries are ongoing and CCTV and all forensic opportunities are also still being explored.  Anyone with any information is asked to contact Merseyside Police Major Crime Unit on:- 0800 230 0600 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on:- 0800 555 111.