Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

RIBBLE FORUM 08: Q&A

 

This year's Ribble Forum is taking place on Thursday 20th November at the Harris Conference Centre, Garstang Road, Preston. The event will look at a range of projects and developments throughout the Ribble catchment, including:

• The breach of the sea defences at Hesketh Outmarsh 
• The River Douglas Crossing design competition
• United Utilities improvements to river water quality

Throughout the morning there will be opportunities to ask questions of the speakers, and that's where you come in. You can submit your question in advance by leaving a comment below (click on 'Comments'), and we'll provide you with a copy on the day. Of course, if the forum raises a new question for you, you're welcome to ask a fresh question then as well......

Don't forget to leave your name and organisation, so that we know who's asking what!

If you haven't done so already, you can book to attend the forum by CLICKING HERE.

Tony Juniper on climate change

Following on from his appearance at last week's Voluntary Sector Forum in central Manchester, have a listen to this exclusive audio, as the Campaign's Matthew Sutcliffe talks to Tony Juniper, outgoing UK director of Friends of the Earth, about the impact of climate change and the benefits of a low-carbon lifestyle.....

Hear from our winners...

This year's Unilever Dragonfly Award winners were honoured last Thursday at the Mersey Basin Campaign's Voluntary Sector Forum in Manchester. The group, individual, young peoples' and overall winners were presented with recycled glass trophies recognising their outstanding volunteering achievements. The judges also decided to award the Margaret Fletcher award this year. Click here to visit the Dragonfly homepage and read more about the winners. You can also listen to interviews with individual winner Virginia Hunt, Margaret Fletcher award winners St Luke's Church, Crosby, and young peoples' winners Hollingworth Lake Junior Helpers.

Calling all green heroes...

Entries are now being sought for the Northwest Business Environment Awards 2008. Do you know any green heroes who might be in with a chance? Galloping climate change, Batman, there's no time to lose!

Campaign hits the headlines

The Mersey Basin Campaign hit the headlines today with a feature in the Liverpool Daily Post. For those not lucky enough to reside in the soon-to-be Capital of Culture, here's a link so that you can read the story online....

Where now for Castlefield?

A broad consensus on the future of Castlefield in Manchester emerged from a spirited debate last night.

Broadly speaking, the panel and audience alike shared the view that Castlefield could become the antidote to the city centre’s lack of green of space, with tranquil gardens and a children’s play area making the most of its waterside setting.

Daytime events such as farmers’ markets or craft fairs could help to bring people into the area. It should also link into surrounding attractions such as the Science and Industry Museum and Deansgate, and be better signposted. A lick of paint on some of the bridges and railings wouldn’t go amiss either.

There was corresponding agreement that a return to the area’s 1990s heyday as the city’s drinking and party venue is now both unrealistic and undesirable. There are too many trendy new bars elsewhere in the city centre, and too many new residents in Castlefield, who, understandably, are not keen on living amongst drunkenness and excess every weekend.

The debate was provoked by a typically forthright article by local journalist Phil Griffin and published on the equally provocative Manchester Confidential website. Few people argued with his opinion that Castlefield has lost its way in recent years.

The practical upshot was an agreement to create a new partnership of local residents, businesses and the council to steer the area towards a brighter future.

Personally, I’m all in favour. There is huge potential for Castlefield to play a really important role in the life of the city centre. And it was encouraging to see that people have a strong sense that something needs to be done quickly, along with broad agreement on what it should be.

Well done to Manchester Confidential for setting the ball rolling – the task now is make sure it doesn’t lose momentum.

It's World Environment Day!

Hooray!

Today is World Environment Day 2007 - what are you doing to celebrate? Sammy, our River Mersey Relayer is taking a hike, literally, walking with Environment Agency volunteers, ramblers and members of the public from Howley Weir, Warrington to Fiddlers Ferry. It's a beautiful day, so why not hit the riverbanks and see if you can spot Sammy? The walkers are setting off from the Weir Lane section of Victoria Park on Knutsford Road, Warrington at 10:30am today.

If you're stuck in the office, console yourself by checking out World Environment Day's Mend of the World website....

I shot Liverpool

Last week I shot Liverpool. Yes, it's time to come clean. Myself and 97 others are guilty - we shot Liverpool on Saturday 26th May. But we weren't out in the streets with AK47s or anything like that - no, digital cameras were the order of the day as we took part in Shoot Experience's Shoot Liverpool event, based at the Tate Liverpool.

We set out in teams of 2-4 to follow ten clues on a photographic treasure hunt around the city's waterfront. All the clues were tied in to the (highly appropriate) theme of 'WATER', and each team submitted ten photos as their answers after five hours of creativity, daftness and dressing up.

My team and I did everything from staging a tea-party on the Albert Dock, to making friends with a mannequin at the Mersey Ferries ticket office, and recreating the cover of 'Abbey Road', starring a small pirate who looked suspiciously like my boyfriend.

Here's our best efforts:

The photos from the Liverpool event are being displayed at Liverpool's Open Eye gallery between 5th-9th June 2007. Can't wait to be an exhibited artist!

ship canal drama

There was drama in Trafford Park on Wednesday when a 44 tonne lorry plunged into the Manchester Ship Canal! Thankfully the driver managed to jump clear before the vehicle hit the 30ft deep water, and the container was carrying plastics which shouldn't cause any environmental problems, but it must have been a heck of a surprise.......

Check out what the Manchester Evening News has to say about the episode here.....

Support your Local Biodiversity Record Centre

There is an uncertain future regarding the level of funding of Local Biodiversity Record Centres and if you would like to support future funding of LRCs a petition to the Prime Minister has been set up on the 10 Downing Street website.

Take a look at the petition, and if you would like to show your support please sign it.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/LRC-Funding/

Pass this message onto anyone who you think will be interested or at least willing to take a look