Merseyside Transport Awards 2008

GOING ONE STEP FURTHER -  THE MERSEYSIDE TRANSPORT AWARD WINNERS

The region's 'travel Oscars' - organised by the Merseyside Transport Partnership - were presented at the second annual Merseyside Transport Conference recently.

The Merseyside Transport Awards aim to reward individuals and organisations that are helping to create a sustainable transport future. With categories that actively encourage people of all ages to make more sustainable transport choices, the awards support the vision of an integrated transport network that is accessible to all and helps the economy, local communities, health and the environment.

The awards were presented by Phil Redmond, Deputy Chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, at the conference held at Liverpool Town Hall on October 23. The quality of this year's nominations from individuals, schools and organisations, was outstanding - winners were chosen because they are consistently going that 'one step further' in helping create and maintain a more accessible, affordable, convenient, dependable and environmentally friendly transport network for the city region.

Councillor Jean Quinn, chair of the Merseyside Strategic Transportation and Planning Committee, said: "All the entrants deserve congratulations, as every transport initiative and scheme plays an important role in helping Merseyside to successfully deliver a transport plan of exceptional quality for the people and businesses of the region."

The winners are:

TravelWise Award 2008 - for the best sustainable transport initiative

This award recognises the initiative that leads the way in promoting a sustainable transport system in Merseyside by effectively accommodating people's travel needs and supporting the economy, while simultaneously benefiting the environment by helping reduce congestion and carbon emissions.

Winner - Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) Healthcare Network
Liverpool PCT's scheme will improve access to crucial healthcare services by incorporating accessibility into the assessment for new healthcare locations and securing a 15-minute walk time to these services. The PCT's Accessibility Audit's findings have been incorporated into the development of a new health service plan for the city, which promotes fair access to healthcare services for everyone.

TravelWise School Award 2008 - for the best school travel plan

Initiatives in this category help to encourage and support the use of alternative methods of transport that positively impact on localised congestion, assist in road safety and also help tackle health and obesity problems.

Best Overall School Travel Plan - St Christopher's Primary School, Speke
Staff, parents and pupils at St Christopher's are committed to the school's Travel Plan, with an increasing number of children walking to and from school - the reduction in traffic around the school has created a much safer school community.

Best High School Travel Plan - St Margaret's C of E High School, Aigburth Road, Liverpool
St Margaret's aims to increase cycling to school to 10% by 2011, and decrease the number of pupils travelling to school by single occupancy car. The school has provided cycle storage and road safety cycle training and includes environment awareness and healthy living topics in its curriculum.

Best Primary School Travel Plan - West Kirby Primary School
The school has successfully developed and maintained two walking buses, and recently launched a third.  West Kirby primary school now has the first fully-trained mobile walking bus school crossing patrol volunteers in the country. The school's travel plan has played an important part in the school gaining Healthy School status and a Green Flag from the Eco Schools Scheme. 

TravelWise Organisation 2008 - for best travel plan

This award recognises the initiative that helps promote real alternatives to people who would normally drive, by developing public transport as the smart, convenient and eco-conscious way to travel.

Winner - University of Liverpool
One of the region's biggest employers, Liverpool University has taken a comprehensive approach to travel planning and reduced car use by 7% last year. This has been made possible with the introduction of the university's Travel Plan and car park charging scheme. The university has also implemented a tax-free cycle scheme for staff, provided improved secure cycle storage and a shared-use pedestrian and cycle route. Keen to work collectively, the university has invited neighbouring institutions to establish a Transport Partnership - the first meeting takes place this month.

Outstanding Achievement - National Wildflower Centre, Knowsley
The National Wildflower Centre has increased sustainable travel by visitors through an information campaign and innovative schemes to enable access to events for those without cars. The approach has increased visitor numbers without increasing the number of cars used to get there! The centre has also offered travel bursaries to schools and community groups to encourage them to use public transport or coach hire when visiting.

Freightwise Award 2008 - for the best freight initiative

This award recognises achievements in improving the impact of moving goods in Merseyside. 

Winner - Mersey Waste Holdings Ltd
Drivers are the biggest single influence on a vehicle's fuel efficiency, and in a bid to reduce its transport fleet's fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions, Mersey Waste Holdings Ltd has introduced a highly successful fuel efficient driving initiative - which has resulted in massive reductions in fuel use, cut carbon emissions and helped reduce the impact of waste collection services across Merseyside.

BikeWise Award 2008 - for best cycling initiative or achievement

This award is for the initiative that makes cycling a more appealing option - whether by providing access to bikes, offering safe cycling training programmes, opening or improving cycle routes, or providing more cycle parking spaces.

Winner - Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has introduced a number of initiatives to increase cycle ownership and use among its workforce and the wider community. The Service's Travel Plan as encouraged a 'bike pool' at its headquarters, and a cycling team regularly organises group bike rides. More than 150 staff - around 10% of the workforce - joined the Cycle2Work scheme, and Bike 2Work Week offered prizes for participants. Competitive and charity fund raising cycling events were organised as part of the city's Capital of Culture World Firefighter Games.

WalkWise Award 2008 - for the best walking initiative or achievement

This award recognises the initiative that promotes better opportunities for people to walk - a safer environment, more attractive and cleaner footpaths, easier to access rights of way, more traffic-free zones, etc.

Winner - Dawpool C of E Primary School, Wirral
As a result of severe congestion problems in the area, the school worked hard to create a detailed Travel Plan. Two junior road safety officers have been very busy raising the profile of safer routes to school and helped reduce safety problems caused by parents parking illegally on the zigzag lines by more than 90%.  The school's first walking bus reduced the number of cars in the immediate vicinity, greatly decreasing congestion and also contributing to the school's Healthy School Status.

Going the Extra Mile Award 2008 - for outstanding customer service by an operator

It is the day-to-day duty of an operator to provide the best service possible, but we were keen to reward those bodies that went 'beyond the call of duty'.

Winner - Merseyrail
Mersey rail has consistently improved punctuality and customer satisfaction, delivered support for big events, addressed maintenance issues, increased capacity and improved service standards during 2008. Services were strengthened to cope with extra demand during a number of high profile special events, such as the Grand National racing Festival, the Open Golf Championship and the Tall Ships visit to Liverpool. Merseyrail also has the highest percentage of secure stations of any UK train operator.

Highly Commended- Formby Taxis and Key Travel
Formby Taxis and Key Travel are committed to improving driver training. They provide transport for vulnerable adults and children on behalf of Sefton Council's social services department, and all drivers are trained to NVQ Level 2 in driving road passenger service vehicles. They are proud of their drivers' excellent communication, customer service and pastoral care skills. 

TravelWise Development 2008 - for good transport design in a new building/scheme

This award recognises the scheme that supports regeneration and strengthens the public transport infrastructure by helping people to reach their destination easily, while making a range of transport options available to them.

Winner - Iliad Developments Group
Property developer the Iliad Group has integrated a sustainable Transport Plan into the design and delivery of three separate apartment developments in the city centre - to reduce unnecessary car use and encourage the use of public transport, cycling and walking.  The Jugglers Yard, Elysian Fields and Levers Court developments have been designed with designated cycle parking, extra wide lifts to allow cycles to be taken into the apartments and enhanced lighting and smooth pavements to enhance cycle use - and handover packs given to all residents include walking and cycle maps of Liverpool, local bus timetables, cycle discount vouchers and free travel on bus services around the city.