IN BRIEF
EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS RECEIVE EMERGENCY AID OF £ 60,000 THANKS TO CHESHIRE FREEMASONS
WALKING AND CYCLING IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED FOR BIRKENHEAD TOWN CENTRE
Survivors of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria will be receiving vital emergency supplies thanks to a £ 60,000 grant from Cheshire Freemasons along with other Freemasons from across the country , to the British Red Cross , UK for UNHCR and UNICEF who are leading the relief effort on the ground .
More than 16,000 people are confirmed to have died in the two quakes which have devastated large areas of south west Turkey and across the border in Syria . The death toll is certain to rise significantly as more bodies are found .
Tens of thousands of survivors are sleeping in the open in temperatures which have fallen well below zero . Snow is falling in some parts as the region experiences colder than average winter weather that is also hampering rescue efforts .
Damage from the quake has affected at least seven provinces in Turkey as well as across northwest Syria . Thousands of homes have been destroyed , displacing families , and schools , hospitals , and other medical and educational facilities will have been damaged or destroyed by the quakes . Potential damage to roads and critical infrastructure will also complicate search and rescue efforts and the wider humanitarian response .
The grant comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation , which is funded by Freemasons , their families and friends , from across England and Wales .
Luke Tredget , Head of Emergencies from the British Red Cross , said : “ We ’ re very grateful for this generous grant which will allow us to provide immediate emergency relief to people who are in desperate need . This disaster has devastated vast areas of both countries and left millions of people in urgent need of help .”
David Dyson , Head of Cheshire Freemasons said “ I ’ m very pleased we ’ ve been able to help the Red Cross , UNICEF and the UNHCR with their relief effort following this terrible earthquake . Many thousands of people are in very urgent need of assistance and I ’ m proud that Freemasons are providing essential support to charities on the ground working with survivors .”
Consultation is now underway on proposed major improvements to key routes in Birkenhead town centre .
The public are being asked for their views on three plans for better walking , cycling and public areas on Conway Street , Europa Boulevard and across part of the existing Europa Car Park and Claughton Road .
The scheme proposals follow funding awards totalling £ 7.2 million from the Government ’ s Future High Streets Fund , Active Travel Fund and private funding , to help areas to make their high streets and town centres fit for the future and support increased levels of active travel .
Now residents and business owners in the area are being given the opportunity to comment on the proposed three schemes :
• Conway Street – This scheme aims to improve the look and feel of Conway Street from its junction with Hemingford Street to the roundabout at Argyle Street , and to improve accessibility for all . The scheme includes the full replacement of paving materials on the north side , new trees complementing the existing ones . A fully segregated cycleway will be introduced on the north side of the road with better pedestrian and cycle crossing points along Conway Street . Existing access points along this section of Conway Street will either be closed or made one way and made safer for pedestrians by raising the footway levels at each junction .
• Europa Boulevard – Here the aim is to reduce the overly wide dual carriageway and share the available space more evenly . It would also see the introduction of a fully segregated cycleway on the west side of the Boulevard , with northbound and southbound vehicle traffic using the east side of the boulevard . The scheme also includes the replacement of the current pavement with better quality surfacing to improve the look and accessibility of the street environment .
• Europa Car Park – This is the third scheme and will take part of the Europa Car Park nearest to the Bus station to allow public realm improvements , allowing better connection between Conway Park Station and Birkenhead Town Centre . We are also proposing to make a short section of Claughton Road near the bus Station one way as a shared surface i . e . for all users not just traffic . The improvement will result in the loss of some 50 car spaces .
To take part in the consultation online visit : https :// www . haveyoursay . wirral . gov . uk / conway-street-and-europa-boulevard-active-travelscheme wirrallife . com 7