Local Primary Schools create history in new Ambulance construction

CHILDREN from 2 local Primary Schools have created pieces of history at a new Ambulance site by planting time capsules as part of the redevelopment of Elm House in Belmont Grove, Anfield.

Princes Primary School and All Saints Primary School have joined forces with North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) and construction firm Wates to help celebrate the development of what will be a brand new state of the art Ambulance base, which will open in the summer of next year.

As part of the build, children from the Schools were invited to create their own drawings and creative writing for the time capsules that they then buried at the site so that in years to come, if unearthed, they can say they're personally linked to the project.

The site has always been an Ambulance base housing the former Mersey Regional Ambulance Service before its merger with other North West services in 2006 forming NWAS. For some years later, it acted as Cheshire and Merseyside area office, housing a 999 and 111 call centre. In 2019, staff based there were moved to a new build site in Speke.

The former property is now being demolished to make way for a new base for the Liverpool Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). The team is made up of specially trained Paramedics who attend incidents across the North West that have the potential to be more dangerous, those which require a more specialised set of skills, or incidents that are declared a major incident, such as:- fires / explosions, unsafe structures, water rescue and those involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or other hazardous materials.

HART Operations Manager James Bateson said:- "We really wanted to get the local community involved in this exciting project, and forging relationships with local Schools is a great way of doing that. We are fully committed to the area by providing excellent care for the community and giving local children the opportunity to be part of the development and learn more about the work we do. The children have written letters to future Paramedics, created drawings of what the future looks like for an Ambulance service and talked a bit about themselves which will be tucked away for future generations to find."

Jane Thomson, social value manager at Wates, said:- "Engaging with local Schools and young people forms an integral part of every project we deliver at Wates; it's so important to us that children feel part of new construction in their community and understand the vital role this build will play. Celebrating the site with the time capsule burial was a brilliant way to involve the pupils, teach them about the importance of the Ambulance service and give them first-hand experience of what construction sites are like. As we progress further with the build, we'll be continuing to support the local community in terms of jobs and training opportunities to ensure that this project benefits as many local people as possible."

Princes Primary Teacher Christine O'Hagan said:- "It was wonderful to be invited to join in with such landmark activities with the Ambulance service today and we look forward to many more opportunities to work together for the benefit of the children at Princes."

All Saints Primary Assistant Head Teacher Stuart Macleod said:- "The children loved the event, and it really is significant that they see the building progress on their doorstep whilst also being part of that journey. It will help them appreciate, in many years to come, all of the benefits the service brings to the community, particularly as there will be the chance for so many more engaging activities in the future for them. It will be exciting to watch the build commence and grow."

Van tastic! Combined Authority's new electric fleet heralded during Net Zero Week

9 new fully electric vehicles are the latest addition to the Combined Authority's (CA) fleet; unveiled during Net Zero Week, the UK's official national awareness week.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has invested over a quarter of a million pounds in 7 zero emission electric vans and 2 pool cars to replace 10 ageing, diesel vehicles in its fleet; helping to slash diesel fuel usage by 50% and remove an estimated 12,000kg of carbon emissions from the air each year.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:- "We have a responsibility to cut our carbon emissions, rapidly decarbonise and, ultimately, to save our planet. We want the Liverpool City Region to be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution, which is why Mayor Steve Rotheram has targeted making our City Region Net Zero by 2035. In the last few years we've made huge strides forward, with £10m funding to expand electric vehicle charging across the Liverpool City Region, dedicated funding to bring dozens of fully-electric double-decker buses to our Region's roads and of course our pioneering fleet of publicly owned, all-electric battery powered trains. But there is still much more that we can do; and that includes:- doing our bit at the Combined Authority to reduce emissions, cut carbon and improve air quality. We are delighted to see our new zero-emission fleet hit the road, ready to keep our Tunnels and estate in tip-top condition."

The cleaner, greener machines are based at the Wallasey depot and will be used to maintain, inspect and carry out work on the Mersey Tunnels and the authority's wider estate of buildings, roads and bus hubs; vital work that takes place 24/7, 365 days a year to keep the public moving safely across the Region's transport network.

Cheaper to run and better for the environment, the new arrivals are also fast to recharge, after new charging points were installed at the CA's depot earlier this year.

The:- 'green renewal' of the CA's fleet forms part of its commitment to net zero. A further £130,000 will be invested later this year, to purchase 3 more vehicles including a new gulley cleaner and road sweeper.

The Liverpool City Region was the 1st in the country to declare a climate emergency and Mayor Rotheram has set the Region an ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2035; the most ambitious target in the country.

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