LGA responds to Covid19 vaccination changes

COMMENTING on the Government's announcement that the Covid19 booster will be moved forward due to the new variant BA.2.86, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board said:- "It is clear that the success of the vaccination programme has allowed us to live with Covid19. But the threat of new variants still remains a concern, particularly for those who are more vulnerable in our communities. Councils and their directors of public health will be doing all they can to work with NHS partners to support the take up of the booster vaccination rollout. As well as this, providers in the domiciliary care and care home sector are also being encouraged to communicate the benefits of the flu vaccine and Covid booster to care home staff, residents and those receiving homecare. If you are eligible, please do get vaccinated for flu and Covid-19 to protect yourselves and your families."

THE train operator Northern has released details of the most popular routes on its network for student commuters, using routes in:- Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire are riding high with large numbers of stations being used by students for their commute to School (highlighted in green on the map), while:- Merseyside, Tyne and Wear, South and East Yorkshire have far fewer (shown on the map in red). Derbyshire and North Yorkshire have individual pockets of high student usage, but the trend isn't widespread in those counties.

The train operator has released the data as part of its campaign to encourage more students to switch from road to rail by investing in an U16 Education Season Ticket before the new School term starts next week. The scheme, which Northern runs in partnership with 166 Secondary Schools and University Technical Colleges across the North of England, offers students 75% off the cost of their commute. For more information and details of how to apply for a ticket, parents should visit:- NorthernRailway.Co.UK.

Mark Powles, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, said:- "It's interesting to see just how much a difference there is between the counties of students that use the train to get to School. We want to encourage as many as possible to make the switch from road to rail; and with 75% off the cost of their commute, U16 Education Season Tickets offer one of the most generous discounts of any ticket scheme in the country."

The most popular stations for student commuters are:-
  County Cumbria Lancashire Greater Manchester West Yorkshire Cheshire

No: of popular stations	Stations / locations
38	Arnside, Grange Over Sands, Kents Bank, Cark and Cartmel, Ulveston, Dalton, Roose, Barrow-in-Furness, Askam, Kirky-in-Furness, Foxfield, Green Road, Millom, Silecroft, Bootle, Ravenglass, Drigg, Seascale, Sellafield, Braystones, Nethertown, St. Bees, Corkickle, Whitehaven, Parton, Harrington, Workington, Flimby, Maryport, Aspatria, Wigton, Dalston, Carlisle, Windermere, Staveley, Burneside, Kendal and Oxenholme Lake District.
23	Southport, Meols Cop, Bescar Lane, New Lane, Burscough Bridge, Hoscar, Parbold, Appley Bridge, Gathurst, Wennington, Silverdale, Carnforth, Morecambe, Heysham Harbour, Bare Lane, Lancaster, Clitheroe, Walley, Langho, Ramsgreave and Wilpshire, Blackburn, Darwen and Entwistle.
23	Broadbottom, Hattersley, Godley, Newton For Hyde, Flowery Field, Guide Bridge, Bromley Cross, Hall i' th' Wood', Bolton, Westhoughton, Wigan, Newton-le-Willows, Patricroft, Eccles, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Piccadilly, Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Navigation Road, Altrincham and Hale.
20	Steeton and Silsden, Keighley, Crossflatts, Bingley, Saltaire, Shipley, Frizinghall, Bradford Forster Square, Baildon, Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, Apperley Bridge, Kirkstall Forge, Leeds, Burley Park, Headingley and Horsforth.
20	Chester, Mouldsworth, Delamere, Cuddington, Greenbank, Northwich, Lostock Gralam, Plumbley, Knutsford, Mobberley, Ashley, Crewe, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Goostrey, Chelford, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Styal and Handforth.

The most popular stations within North Yorkshire and Derbyshire are:-