FOR the 2nd time within a week, Liverpool John Lennon Airport has received another top industry accolade and recognised as being the best UK airport of its size. At the recent Airport Operators Association (AOA) Annual Conference held in London, Liverpool John Lennon Airport was announced as the winner of Best Airport (3 to 10 million passengers) at the 2019 AOA Annual Awards!

The award was voted for by Airlines UK, a trade organization that represents UK airlines and awarded to LJLA in recognition of the Airport's success in offering a best in class passenger experience and becoming the Faster, Easier, Friendlier Airport of choice for passengers from across the Region.

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of the AOA said:- "The AOA Awards showcase the sector's vibrant and innovative work that is globally leading. The Awards were a sample of that best in kind work, from improving aviation's sustainability to continuously improving our passengers' experience of airports and aviation. Congratulations to them all!"

The Airport's award entry focused on a number of achievements including more destinations and more passengers whilst maintaining the highest levels of customer service. Queue times to pass through security for 97% of all passengers is just 10 minutes or less and Liverpool is the only UK airport to receive a 5 Star Airport Rating by the world's leading air travel intelligence company OAG for flight punctuality, confirming its status as the UK's faster, easier, friendlier airport.

John Irving, CEO of Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented:- "This is a special award for the Airport as it demonstrates how well respected we are not only by passengers from across the region but within the aviation industry too. This award is a testament to all the hard work put in by our employees and business partners here at the Airport to ensure the highest levels of service to both our passengers and airline customers."

Funding for Local bus services down by a 3rd in North West since 2010 - TUC analysis

FUNDING for Local bus services in the North West has been cut by a ⅓ (-34%) since 2010, according to new TUC analysis that has been published on Friday, 6 December 2019. The analysis shows that in 2010 spending on bus services in the Region was ₤92 million. But by 2018 this had fallen to ₤61 million as a result of Conservative cuts to Local Government funding. Halton and Cumbria the worst affected travel areas. Halton (-94%) and Cumbria (-91%) have experienced the sharpest fall in funding for Local bus services followed by Warrington (-71%). The only travel area to have seen an increase in funding is Merseyside, which bucks the Regional trend. In 2010, Merseyside was ₤20,656.42 (₤000s) and in 2018 it was ₤21,429.90 (₤000s), a change of just ₤773.48 (4%) according to the TUC analysis of Department for Transport figures.

Analysis published by the Union federation this month revealed that Council funding for key Local services; including transport; have been slashed by ₤1.2bn in the North West since the turn of the decade. Campaign for Better Transport research shows 47 Local bus routes in the North West Region have been lost or reduced this year. This is despite the fact that almost 60% of journeys on public transport in Britain are made on buses. Private bus companies have continued to pay out dividends, despite cuts to services The TUC says that despite cuts to Local services private bus operators are still paying large sums to shareholders. In 2017 more than ₤17 million was paid out to shareholders of the 5 biggest private bus companies operating in the North West Region.

TUC Regional secretary Jay McKenna said:- "Local bus services are a vital lifeline for communities across the North West. People use them to get to work, see friends and family and take trips to Town. But Conservative cuts to Local Government have led to thousands of bus routes being cancelled or reduced. If that wasn't bad enough private bus operators have continued to pay out dividends as services have been cut back. Working families deserve a bus network fit for the 21st century. Not 1 run on the cheap for the benefit of shareholders."

So what are your thoughts on these findings? As we are meant to be going 'green' should we not look at investing more in our Bus Network and getting more people to use it? Please email us via:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com with your thoughts on this ever emotive transport issue.

Delivering help to keep foodbank van on the road

THE number of people in South Liverpool turning to foodbanks in times of crisis is expected to increase by 10% for a 2nd year running. Part of the UK wide Trussell Trust network of foodbanks, the South Liverpool Food Bank issued almost 5,500 parcels in 2018. In an application to Redrow's Allerton Community Fund, the charity revealed it fed a total of 11,382 people from April 2018 to March 2019; a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Foodbank coordinator and project manager Nicola Hawkes said:- "We are currently feeding more than 1,000 people per month, so expect a similar overall rise this year. Many clients are desperate when they reach us. Some have not eaten for 1 or 2 days or have gone without food so that their children can eat, and all still have financial worries to contend with. Changes to the welfare support system mean that many are facing a wait of several weeks with no income at all, through no fault of their own; however we also see clients who are in work but struggling to manage price rises."

The charity received a donation of ₤500 from Redrow, enough to cover 6 weeks' of running costs for the delivery van it shares with North Liverpool Foodbank, plus a further ₤250 towards essential food items for food parcels. The foodbank van delivers up to 2 tonnes of food each week for distribution across South Liverpool. It also makes weekly collections from 8 supermarkets, fortnightly pick ups from 3 churches and many other collections, particularly from September to December 2019. Nicola explained:- "We provide 3 days' worth of nutritionally balanced food parcels to clients in food crisis, referred by partner agencies helping to sort out underlying financial difficulties. Although we receive many tens of tonnes of donations, we often run short of particular items, for example tinned fruit, long-life milk and juice, whilst having an excess of baked beans and dried pasta. By September this year we had spent more than ₤2,000 buying essential items to ensure our parcels are complete."

Redrow's support for South Liverpool Foodbank was via a ₤10,000 community fund shared between Local groups and good causes. The voluntary fund is in addition to Redrow's statutory obligations linked to the 100 home Allerton Gardens development, off Woolton Road, in Allerton. Elaine Mounsey, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (NW), said:- "No 1 should have to go without food, but it's heartening to know that in times of need there is help available. Keeping the van on the road is vital to enable South Liverpool Foodbank to provide essential food parcels for those who need them. Projects like this are why we launched our voluntary community funds, to give something back."

Find out more about South Liverpool Foodbank, including where to donate food, via:- SouthLiverpool.Foodbank.Org.UK.