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New
Green Index
shows Liverpool City Region ranks top, but has highest number of deaths
attributable to air pollution
THE new Green City Regions Index compares the
environmental performance of the Liverpool City Region, with the 5 other City
Regions, who will be electing new Metro Mayors, in May 2017. The index,
published by the leading environmental organisations:- Campaign for Better
Transport, the National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, the Campaign to Protect
Rural England, and Green Alliance, measures the City Regions against a range of
green indicators, such as air quality and green infrastructure, as well as
sustainable housing and transport. To achieve their economic goals Cities will
need to be attractive places to live that are easy to get around, with clean air
and high quality green space. They will need to be resilient to climate change,
with future proofed plans for housing and transport. Liverpool City Region
performs better than other City Regions on:-
► Green spaces and water quality - Liverpool City Region has the highest
expenditure on open space per person at ₤28 per year. It was also ranked second
after Greater Manchester on the quality of water bodies with only 10% rated
'poor' or 'bad.’
► Transport - Liverpool City Region has the 2nd highest bus use out of the
City Regions, and also has easiest access to services by public transport or
walking.
But it faces a number of green challenges:-
► Recycling - Liverpool City Region has the 2nd lowest recycling rate of the 6
City Regions at 35%.
► Nature conservation - Liverpool City Region has the 2nd lowest percentage of
Local Wildlife Sites in positive conservation management at 41%.
► Low carbon transport - It scores the lowest for
electric vehicle infrastructure; with only 1 charging point per 100,000 people.
► Air quality - Like all City Regions in the index,
Liverpool City Region is breaching air quality limits for toxic NO2 and has the
highest number of deaths attributable to long term exposure to particulate
pollution among the 6 City Regions
The new mayor of Liverpool City Region will have a range of opportunities to
improve the City Region's local environment including through strategic housing
and transport plans, and increasing funding for:- clean and green transport,
housing and green spaces through investment funds and consolidated transport
budgets. Leah Davis, acting director at Green Alliance said:- "As
this index shows, Liverpool City Region has some significant green challenges to
face, not least tackling its poor air quality and improving conservation
efforts. But it also has some strong green credentials to build upon. The
mayoral election, on 4 May 2017, can bring a new source of environmental
leadership for the West Midlands, helping it to build a resource efficient,
resilient and competitive City Region for its citizens and businesses."
Stephen Joseph, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said:-
"Merseytravel's work has demonstrated the positive change that high quality
public transport connections can bring. The challenge for the new Mayor is to
extend and sustain that across the City Region, delivering high quality local
transport that connects people to jobs and services, regenerates Town centres,
and helps tackle the region's lethal and illegal levels of air pollution. With
the election of its 1st metro Mayor, Liverpool City Region has a chance in a
generation to deliver a high quality, low carbon future." The new Green
City Regions Index is the 1st of a 2 part analysis. The 2nd part will be
published in a report:- 'Greening the City Regions; opportunities for new
Metro Mayors' and will set out the actions the new Metro Mayors can take
to make their Cities greener, cleaner and more resilient. |
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2 sentenced for fraud
offences in Formby and Birkenhead
MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives have urged people to look out
for vulnerable friends and family after 2 men were jailed for fraud and theft.
Andrew Donnie Lovell and Charles Smith pleaded guilty in Liverpool Crown Court
to fraud by false representation and were jailed for 3 years, 4 months. Smith
received an additional 8 months for insurance fraud, to run concurrently.
Their victims were elderly women in Birkenhead and Formby.
On 5 January 2017, the pair demanded a 75 year old woman, on Manor Hill,
Claughton, pay them ₤3,500 cash in order to seal her garden path, but the work
was never done.
On 9 January 2017, an 84 year woman with Alzheimer's disease was
targeted on Altcar Lane, Formby, where Lovell and Smith claimed there were
problems with missing roof tiles which needed replacement. The work was
not carried out.
Detective Constable Chris O'Connor from Merseyside Police's Economic Crime Team
said:- "Andrew Lovell and Charles Smith won the trust of 2 elderly women
and ruthlessly exploited that trust by taking large sums of money for work they
had no intention of ever carrying out. It's hard to believe that anyone would
stoop so low as to try and defraud elderly people out of money. It can be
absolutely shattering for the victims who perhaps are elderly or have health
issues which render them particularly vulnerable or who are naturally trusting,
to fall victim in such a way."
DC O'Connor added:- "There are a number of general steps everyone can take
to help prevent falling victim to fraud. If you want building work or repairs
carried out on your home, never agree to it being done by a stranger who turns
up on your door step. Always use a reputable company and, if you are in any
doubt, speak to a relative to help you or take advice from Trading Standards. Do
not open your door if you are unsure who the caller is. Always make sure you
know who visitors are by asking to see their identification, genuine callers
won't mind you doing this; if callers haven't got valid identification, don't
let them in. Don't keep large quantities of cash at home. It's better in the
bank where it's safe. Finally, I'd appeal to the friends and relatives of anyone
who is elderly to take the time to speak to them and re-iterate these messages.
Advice like this often comes best from someone people trust and, if you do this,
you may just stop someone you love becoming a victim of crime."
Detective Chief Inspector Craig Sumner said:- "We have recently launched a
campaign, Operation Signature, to identify and support vulnerable victims who
will receive the support of a dedicated Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer.
Merseyside Police is joining forces with partner agencies such as Trading
Standards to reduce the opportunities criminals may have to access the accounts
of potential victims or persuade victims to part with their money. As a force,
we are determined to protect vulnerable people from offenders such as Lovell and
Smith from the moment they call us or Action Fraud. We are training call
handlers to identify victims at risk of exploitation at the hands of people like
them and ensure they receive the most appropriate service, working with partners
to provide the best support. We regularly visit the victims of fraud at home to
provide additional support and advice to help prevent further offences."
For more advice on fraud go to:-
ActionFraud.Police.UK. |
