Archive for the ‘Transport’ Category

Blackpool International Airport has been sold to Balfour Beatty. The international construction and investment group has purchased 95% of the regional airport from Mar Properties, a Northern-Ireland based property developer.

The sale is subject to the approval of Blackpool Borough Council, a minority shareholder. The council support the deal and are expected to give the go ahead later this week.

Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said ‘Blackpool International is a well-located airport with the potential to become a thriving international gateway to Lancashire and Cumbria. We will work together with the airlines and our local partners to help increase its penetration within this core catchment area and to play its part in attracting inbound visitors to the region. We believe that our approach will deliver significant, sustained growth in passenger traffic at the airport and will generate important economic benefits for it and for Blackpool. Our aim is to develop Blackpool to be the airport of choice for residents, businesses and visitors of Lancashire and Cumbria.’

A bronze statue of Liverpool legend Ken Dodd is take pride of place at Liverpool Lime Street train station. The statue, by Liverpool-based artist Tom Murphy, has been commissioned by Merseytravel and is set to be unveiled before the end of the year.

Ken Dodd received the news at the 20th annual Scouseology Awards, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel last week.

Previous works by Tom Murphy include the statue of John Lennon at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Warrington Bank Quay train station is about to receive a £650,000 facelift. The work, funded by Virgin Trains, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, and Network Rail, will see improved pedestrian access, a new passenger drop-off zone, dedicated cycle parking, and better facilities for the disabled.

Andy Farrall, Strategic Director for Environment and Regeneration at Warrington Borough Council, said ‘We welcome the transformation of Bank Quay station which will make significant improvements to one of the town’s major gateways. The new facilities are all customer-focussed and will be of great benefit not only to residents but will also enhance the whole visitor experience. Together with the new bus interchange and Golden Square shopping centre and with the Winwick Street redevelopment works on the horizon, the town centre is being transformed, boosting the local economy and vibrancy of the town.’

The chairman of Blackpool’s regeneration company is leaving his post to lead a bid for European funds to build an extension of Blackpool’s tram system to Preston. Professor Sir Peter Hall of ReBlackpool said, ‘After nearly four years in the chair at ReBlackpool, helping to develop the casino bid and then the post-casino regeneration strategy to rebuild the town’s economy, published in our Blackpool Task Force report to government last summer, I think it is time to move on. As ReBlackpool shifts from strategic thinking to delivery my successor will lead on this delivery. Meanwhile, provided our bid is successful, and I am confident that, fully supported by NWDA and other partners, it is more than good enough – I will focus on delivering the next stage of development of the Blackpool Tramway as part of the regeneration of the town.’

The proposed system will utilise a new type of tram developed in Germany that uses a hybrid power system capable of switching from electric to diesel power to run on non-electrified tracks.

Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West and the current Secretary of State for Transport, officially opened the new look Salford Central train station on Friday. Over £5m has been spent on a new glass entrance hall, ramps and lifts, restoration of Victorian brickwork, a new ticket office, customer information screens, and CCTV.

A ferry struck by a freak wave in the Irish Sea has run aground off Blackpool. The Riverdance, a roll-on roll-off freight ferry operated by Seatruck Ferries, was sailing from Northern Ireland to Heysham, near Morecambe. Four passengers and nine crew members were rescued at 7.30 pm last night. The remaining nine crew members, who stayed with the ship to try and refloat her, were later airlifted to safety.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has installed two wind turbines to contribute towards its electricity needs and help minimise its impact on the environment. If successful, the airport plans to install further turbines to increase levels of sustainable power generation. Management believe the airport is the first in the UK to install wind turbines.

The airport has also recently welcomed several new retailers to its terminal building. Go Pizza, World in Motion, Bo Shoes and Antler have joined established tenants such as Boots, WHSmith, and Starbucks.

Chester City Council’s new Conservative administration are to freeze city centre car parking charges in an attempt to halt the drift of shoppers and visitors to neighbouring towns and shopping centres.

Councillor Stephen Mosley, Executive Member for Customer Services, said ‘It has long been suspected that constantly increasing car parking charges have literally driven visitors and shoppers away from the city centre and this decision marks a significant change in direction for Chester.’

Low-cost airline easyJet has announced massive expansion plans for North West England that will see Manchester Airport become its second hub in the region. The move follows easyJet’s purchase in October of GB Airways, a British Airways franchise operation that had two planes based in Manchester. These will operate under the BA brand until March 2008, when they will be re-branded with easyJet colours.

Mike Campbell, easyJet People Director said, ‘easyJet recognises the strong demand for low-cost convenient services from the North West, the GB operation at Manchester provides us with a great base on which we can build and tap in to a new market. easyJet remains committed to our base at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and by launching additional operations from Manchester, we can make it even easier for everyone in the North West to have access to easyJet services from their local airport, giving consumers the opportunity to explore Europe for less.’

Plans to introduce a congestion charge in Greater Manchester are under threat after another local authority voted against the scheme. Last night Bury joined Stockport and Trafford councils after councillors passed a motion objecting to the proposal. If one more of Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities join the rebels, the scheme’s only chance of progression would be in a public referendum.