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Give Sailing a go for
FREE with the WLYC
TRY sailing on Saturday, 20 May
2017, between 11am to 4pm, West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC) on Southport's
Marine Lake. The club will be taking part in a national open day event with
the:- 'RYA's Push The Boat Out initiative #PTBO.'
This will be an opportunity for the residence of Southport and further
afield, to come down to the Marine Lake and try your hand at some of the
free activities on offer at WLYC.
With sailing boats and power boats at the ready for you to give it a try
with our experienced club members to show you the ropes. There are also some
model RC dinghies for those who don't fancy going out on the water.
Everyone of all ages are welcome to down at West Lancashire Yacht club for
this fun and exciting event. We ask that any young people under 18 be
accompanied by an appropriate adult. For more information follow the event
on the club's
website.
 Free
Tennis Lesson on Southport's Kings Gardens
ON Sunday, 4 June 2017,
international tennis coaches will be giving free taster tennis lessons on
Kings Gardens, thanks to the Liverpool International
Tennis Tournament. The sessions will be
held on a mini soft ball tennis court and run from 12 noon to 4pm.
Spaces are limited and on a 1st come, 1st served bases. At the
event you will be able to find out more about how to join local clubs and
also about the Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament.
Plus you never know who might also be attending this event, so it might be
worth getting a pen and at the paper ready... Also the Friends of Kings
Gardens will be on hand to give you lots of information about other events
that are due to take place within the Gardens, from Open Air Cinema
Screenings, to car shows and more...
CLA calls for urgent
review of energy efficiency standards
RURAL landlords have called on the
Government to urgently provide clarity on its plans to review minimum energy
efficiency standards (MEES) set to be introduced in 2018.
The CLA has written to Alex Chisholm, the BEIS Permanent Secretary, to say
that the Government is running out of time to make crucial amendments to
energy efficiency rules set to come into force in the private rented sector.
The CLA represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, and its members
provide around 40% of all private rented housing in the countryside.
The Minimum energy efficiency standards will mean that from 1 April 2018 it
will be illegal for a private landlord to let a property with an energy
performance certificate (EPC) rating lower than E to a new tenant and to an
existing tenant from April 2020.
However, the Government is yet to confirm how it will amend the MEES
regulations, which are still drafted as if supported by the Green Deal
despite it being scrapped in 2015, leaving them unenforceable.
In addition, there is still clarity required as to whether those who own
listed buildings or properties in conservation areas must comply.
CLA Deputy President Tim Breitmeyer said:- "The industry has
repeatedly called on the Government to revise the MEES regulations and its
failure to make any progress in 2 years since the Green Deal was scrapped is
not good enough. With less than a year to go and the further delay of the
general election, time looks to be running out. In addition to the problems
with the regulations, around one third of the homes set to be affected by
MEES have been given lower EPC ratings than they deserve, due to mistakes in
the way the Government assesses the energy efficiency of traditional solid
wall buildings. Although the Government has recently consulted on fixing
these mistakes, we have received no assurances these will be rectified
before the April 2018 deadline. We support the principles behind the MEES
regulations, but there are so many errors, delays and uncertainties that it
is almost impossible to advise anyone on how to be proactive and ensure
compliance. This has a negative impact on landlords, tenants and the
Government's own policy objectives. Without the framework in place it is
unjustifiable to ask landlords to act on the regulations when so much
remains unclear."
Visit CLA's
website to read The Retrofit Up; How
Government energy policy is failing traditionally built homes across the
British countryside.
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International Day
Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) Week
THE rainbow flag is being flown at
Merseyside Police HQ from Friday, 12 May 2017, ahead of International Day
Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) next week. On 17 May, 1990 the
World Health Organisation finally removed homosexuality from its official
list of mental disorders and IDAHOT has been celebrated on that date across
the world ever since and for the ninth consecutive year, Merseyside Police
is flying the rainbow flag until Thursday.
Assistant Chief Constable Julie Cooke raised the flag at Merseyside Police
headquarters in Canning Place on Friday with the force's Mini Police,
alongside Navajo In Trust, local Trans+ groups, Mermaids and GYRO.
Merseyside Police HQ will also be illuminated with the rainbow colours.
The 2017 IDAHOT theme is 'families'
with particular focus upon the diverse meaning of the word,
recognising the variety of families in our community and the impact of
family on LGBT people.
After the flag raising, guest speakers from LGBT support groups provided
information to Police Officers and staff on how they help young people and
families.
Chief Constable Andy Cooke and Assistant Chief Constable Julie Cooke said:-
"Flying the rainbow flag is a visible sign of our dedication to eradicating
homophobia, Biphobia and transphobia in Merseyside. This forms part of our
larger commitment to tackling hate crime in all its forms and we want the
message to be clear to victims and offenders that offenses involving
disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity will not
be tolerated by Merseyside Police. I am proud to be representing the force
at the annual Navajo Awards Ceremony, an event the force has been involved
in for a number of years. The Navajo Charter mark, which the force holds, is
awarded in recognition of dedication to improve equality and celebrate
diversity and is built into the foundations of the force's Community 1st
model."
Merseyside Police is continually striving
to raise awareness of hate crime in all of its forms. The force continues to
encourage victims and witnesses of hate crime to report to its dedicated:-
'SIGMA' staff who will investigate each case with
professionalism and sensitivity and provide ongoing support as the case goes
to Court.
Detective Constable Tracy O'Hara Chair of
Police's LGBT network, said:- "Showing our visible support for
International day against Homophobia Biphobia and Transphobia clearly
demonstrates our commitment to eradicate crimes perpetrated against Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. We take all forms of Hate Crime
seriously. Hate Crime continues to be under reported and by flying our flag
we are encouraging people to report all crimes and incidents to us. It is
clear to me that by working with our partner agencies, the PCC, community
engagement teams and the CPS we can bring offenders to justice, provide
support to victims and continue our work. This is the 9th year we have flown
the Rainbow flag and we do this to demonstrate that we are an inclusive
diverse workforce where we can all be ourselves. I am proud to work for an
organisation that has these values."
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