The Chamber

Visitors to this year’s Tall Ship Races event are being urged to use public transport and avoid peak time travelling wherever possible.

Access by public transport is good to the two key sites of the event, Albert Dock and Wellington Dock and a range of public transport options are in place to get people to and from the Mersey River front.

Download an events and travel guide [PDF 5MB]

By Rail

The easiest way to get to the Tall Ships event will be by train.

There are around 5,000 free park and rides spaces across the Merseyrail network.

Enhanced rail services will be in operation throughout the event, with trains every ten minutes at peak times.

Rail passengers should get off the train at James Street, Central or Moorfields on the city centre loop line for access to the Albert Dock.

Passengers should get off at Sandhills Station on Merseyrail’s Northern Line for Wellington Dock.

The Northern Line has great links with trains connecting at Lime Street Station, Liverpool Central, Liverpool South Parkway and Southport. The advice is to use Central Station or Moorfields to get onto Northern Line from the City Centre.

From Friday 18th July to Saturday 19th July, there will be six strengthened trains (six cars) every hour during the peak hours (6.30am to 10.30am and 4pm to 8pm) on the Southport line for visitors travelling to/from Liverpool city centre and Sandhills (for Wellington Dock) to view the tall ships in dock.

In between these hours the frequency will be three trains every hour, also made up of six cars. Trains on the Ormskirk and Kirkby lines will be all six-car services and run three times every hour.

On Sunday 20th July, strengthened Southport line services will again run six times every hour during the peak hours (7am to 10.30am and 4.30pm to 8pm) and four times per hour during the rest of the day. Trains on the Ormskirk and Kirby lines will operate a normal Sunday service (two strengthened trains every hour).

Wirral line services will operate a Saturday service and, wherever possible, will operate as six car trains.

Parade of Sail - Merseyrail

Enhanced rail services will be in operation to the Wirral and Southport coasts for the best views of the Parade of Sail on Monday 21st July.

On Monday trains will operate to their normal frequencies across the Merseyrail network (mostly four trains per hour) with all Southport line trains made up of six cars.

There will be additional trains on the New Brighton line (eight trains every hour) between 3pm and 7pm for spectators who want to view the spectacle from the Wirral side of the Mersey.

By Bus

Existing bus services will be in operation, subject to some adjustments due to road closures.

Contact Traveline Merseyside for the latest information on bus services in Merseyside during this event – 0871 200 22 33.

A regular shuttle bus service will operate from St Nicholas Place opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel to Wellington Dock on Regent Road.

The service, operated by Arriva North West and Merseytravel, will be fully accessible.

These buses will run from 10am until 10pm on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the race.

On the Monday, a shuttle bus will take passengers from Hamilton Square Station on the Wirral line to Seacombe, one of the recommended viewing areas.

Buses will not run to Wellington Dock on Monday 21 July as the ships will move from their berths to the River Mersey for the Parade of Sail.

Mersey Ferries

Mersey Ferries will be providing extra services on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Tall Ships.

Services will be extended into the evenings and two vessels will be operating on all three days.

On Friday 18th July, normal direct services will operate between Seacombe and Pier Head from 7.20am to 9.50am.

From 10am until 3.30pm River Explorer cruises will operate every half hour from Pier Head, Seacombe and Woodside.

Direct services to all three terminals will then again continue from 4.15pm to 8.55pm.

On Saturday 19th July and Sunday 20th July direct services will operate between Seacombe, Pier Head and Woodside from 8.05am to 9.45am.

Then from 10am until 6pm on both days River Explorer cruises will operate every half hour from all three terminals.

Direct services to all three terminals will then again continue from 7pm to 8.40pm.

On Parade of Sail day, Monday 21st July, Ferries will depart every ten minutes between Pier Head and Seacombe from 7.20am to 10am. Between 10am and 10.50am direct services will continue every 20 minutes.

Due to the closure of the river to all vessels not involved in the Parade of Sail, the will be no ferry services from 10.50am through to 5.55pm.

From 5.55pm direct services will begin operating between all three ferry terminals every ten minutes. Last services are 8.25pm (Seacombe to Woodside and Liverpool), 8.35pm (Woodside to Liverpool) and 8.45pm (Liverpool to Seacombe).

Visit www.merseyferries.co.uk for full details.

Mersey Tunnels

Both Mersey Tunnels will be operating throughout the event and there are no planned closures.

Useful Contacts

For information on all modes of transport contact Merseytravel’s Traveline team or visit the websites below.

Traveline Merseyside - 0871 200 22 33 – Extra staff will be operating Traveline from Thursday 17th July to Monday 21st July and it will extend its hours, operating from 6am
National Rail Enquiries - www.nationalrail.co.uk
Liverpool Culture Company - www.liverpool08.com
Merseytravel - www.merseytravel.gov.uk
Wirral Council - www.wirral.gov.uk
Sefton Council – www.sefton.gov.uk

Our friends at Merseytravel have asked us to publicise their survey into cycling habits in Liverpool:

We would like to know how you think we can make Liverpool more cycle friendly. By completing the survey at www.liverpool.gov.uk/cycling, your views will help to inform the review of Liverpool’s Cycle Strategy, which will include plans to improve our cycle routes and to encourage more people to make their journeys by bike.

All completed surveys received by Monday 11th August 2008 can be entered into the free prize draw to win:

• 1st prize - £50 high street vouchers and a signed copy of ‘A Cycling Career in Pictures’ by Chris Boardman
• 2nd prize - £30 high street vouchers and a signed copy of ‘A Cycling Career in Pictures’ by Chris Boardman
• 3rd prize - £20 high street vouchers

We look forward to hearing your views. Tell us your views on cycling in Liverpool - complete the cycle survey at www.liverpool.gov.uk/cycling and enter the free prize draw.

Don’t forget, Beatlemaniacs, today is officially Beatles Day here in Liverpool.

The day will feature a host of events and activities celebrating The Lads and their music. Not least of all is the donning of comedy Beatles ‘mop-top’ wigs in the aid of charity.

Over 20,000 specially made Beatles-style mop-top are being sold around Merseyside (I think I’ve even seen them in Tesco!).  Following a day of celebrations all over the region, the spectacular climax will come in the shape of ‘Imagine - The Concert’ at the Summer Pops, hosted by Ricky Tomlinson. He will be joined by a host of artists young and old from around the country, all performing Beatles favourites at a packed Liverpool Arena!

The plan for Beatles Day is quite simply for Liverpudlians to go about their daily business as normal on July 10th, the only difference being that they wear Mop Top wigs and share their Beatles stories with the rest of the city!

Wigs will cost £5.00 – all profits go to Alder Hey Imagine Appeal and Liverpool Unites.

Donations:
Online at www.lcvs.org.uk
By phone +44(151) 243 1076
Cheques by post to be made payable to LCVS (Beatles Day) and posted to: ‘Beatles Day’, P.O. Box 14, Liverpool L69 7AA.
Info: info@beatlesday.tv

No news on the long overdue Echo & The Bunnymen day though…

Due to high demand, Mersey Ferries are putting on an extra VIP cruise on Monday 21st July to give passengers unparalleled views of the Tall Ships’ Parade of Sail.

The previously unadvertised extra cruise will mean that all three ferries will be on the River Mersey for the Parade of Sail, the highlight of the global maritime spectacular.

Passengers on the six-hour cruise will be given the chance to listen to live onboard commentary about the rich and varied histories of the visiting ships.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, which owns and operates the Mersey Ferries, said: “Every one of these visiting ships has a fascinating story to tell, much like our very own Mersey Ferries. It will be a great day.”

The ferry will sail towards the mouth of the River Mersey and position itself in one of the designated vessel viewing areas. There it will remain anchored and provide a viewing platform.

Mersey Ferries flagship vessel, The Royal Daffodil, will host the cruise and a bar will be available on board. Numbers are limited to 250.

The leisurely six-hour cruise departs from Woodside Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead only – it will leave at 11.15am.

Tickets are priced at £35 and include a welcome drink, Blue Badge Guide commentary and jazz band.

Tickets must be booked in advance on 0151 330 1444 or are available online at www.merseyferries.co.uk

Our friends at Serviced City Pads have been in touch with a fabulous opportunity to experience one of their great apartments over a fantastic weekend.

They have the Unity Penthouse apartment available for the long weekend of the Tall Ships and Open Golf around the Saturday 19 July. This 18/19 floor duplex has stunning views of the river and city below and would be idael for any companies that are either entertaining clients that weekend or are visiting Liverpool and needed somewhere extra special to stay.

You can find out more about the apartment here.

Take a look at some of the things happening over the weekend 18 - 20 July.

On Thursday 19 June, Digital Inclusion Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MP will visit two leading digital inclusion projects in Liverpool and St Helens. The so-called “digital divide” is increasingly seen as a major barrier to personal, community and regional economic well-being in the UK, which is the least skilled workforce in the EU. Mr Irranca-Davies’ visit will include:

• The AIMES Community Grid project. Acknowledged as a leader in its field, AIMES is leading the Digital Inclusion & Enterprise Programme (DIEP), established as a result of the Government’s 2007 “Digital Challenge”. Mr Irranca-Davies will visit St Cuthbert’s Catholic Community College for Business & Enterprise in St Helens where pupils and parents have been using the managed computing service provided by the Community Grid project since May 2007. As part of the wider DIEP, strategically supported by the GMDDA, AIMES will provide access for around 5,000 homes in the Greater Merseyside region via the Community Grid system over a 2 year period from May 2008.

• The EverybodyOnline Liverpool 8 project is another highly successful digital inclusion initiative focusing on internet and digital technology support for parents. It includes use of the internet, and day-to-day skills such as shopping and banking online, and email. Mr Irranca-Davies will visit a PACT (Parents & Children Together) session at South Liverpool Personnel in Liverpool to speak to users direct.

Mr Irranca-Davies’ visit underlines the importance placed on the Digital Inclusion agenda at Parliamentary level, as Professor Dennis Kehoe, Director of AIMES, explains: “Digital inclusion is a crucial enabler of economic regeneration and growth. Internet access can transform cities and communities, providing improved access to employment, education and health information. The internet can also help to combat isolation and increase a sense of community. We’re delighted to be able to demonstrate our digital inclusion work to Mr Irranca-Davies in person.”

The AIMES digital inclusion project provides a fully managed internet access service to users, a key element in its success and sustainability. AIMES and its technology partner, e-communications specialist OciusB2, provide broadband internet access, a range of software packages, all equipment required, plus training and support to users of the Community Grid. The first 125 homes are now live and for the first 12 months, the service is provided free of charge.

More information here.

Unless you’ve got your head in a bucket, you’ll have noticed that Liverpool is currently overrun with Superlambananas, all individually decorated and dotted about the city.

Liverpool Chamber even has its own SLB. Not only have we sponsored the beasty, a member of Chamber staff has decorated it. Ours is called ‘First Past The Post’ and has been painted by Pamela Holstein, a talented artist who just happens to look after our press and PR.

You can see our SLB outside our offices at One Old Hall Street, and you can see more of Pam’s art on the Art In Liverpool website.

This September 21 sees the Liverpool 5K Team Challenge taking place in the city centre. Liverpool Chamber staff are busy putting some teams together and getting in shape for the big event. One of our gazelle-like entrants is Head of Membership  Jenny Stewart. She has kindly agreed to document her Spartan-esque training routine as an inspiration for others taking on the challenge…

Week One:
Having been inspired by  Alan Rothwell at RunLiverpool, and his colourful description of  last year’s Santa Dash, I’ve decided to take on the 5K Team Challenge - as an avid dog walker, how difficult can it be? I’ve begun a disciplined training routine under the watchful eye of my much sportier sister. I think I was compelled to train when I heard I would have to buy new shoes. Unfortunately she meant running shoes, but her advice of the more expensive the better to ensure I used them, went down well and a posh pair of trainers were duly bought. Actually I got a bit of a bargain, and managed to buy an amazing pair of high heeled, ankle strap shoes in a wonderful green…(that’s quite enough of that Jenny, the ed)

On the first night, I my trainer told me so far so good. I had gone further than I’d ever gone before…I’d actually put on my running shoes. But now I had to run! We started slowly, measuring distances by lampposts rather than milestones and are working our way up.  The first night we walked a lampost and ran a lampost covering a total distance of 8/10ths of a mile. (I can be accurate because I took delight in measuring the disctance the very next morning- in the car of course!). Using the tried and tested ‘walk a bit, run a bit’ method, we’ve slowly been building up my stamina. I don’t mind admitting I’m a dedicated 20 a day smoker. I’m not proud of it but I do it. I’m also a coffee-holic, so in the Bridget Jones style: Fags: 20; Lattes (full fat): 4, and Bars of chocolates or slices of cake: 3.

At the end of week one I am covering 8/10ths of a mile. Running 3 lamposts, walking one, but looking forward to the weekend off!

Will she go for the burn? Or just burn out? Look out for next week’s update to find out!

If you or your company would like to enter a team, you can find all the details and an application form on the Run Liverpool 5k Team Challenge website.

Looking for an excuse to go down the pub?

The eagerly anticipated jewel in the Culture Year crown, the Liverpool Pub Treasure Hunt Championship, begins on Tuesday 1 July. Brought to you by the Liverpool Culture Company in partnership with Liverpool Chamber of Commerce this prestigious contest also brings prizes for the winners from pub companies Punch Taverns and JD Wetherspoon.

Teams of up to five eagle-eyed city centre cognoscenti can enter any one, or all, of eight stand-alone treasure hunts on eight successive Tuesday afternoons, from 5.30 pm, with the last competition taking place on Tuesday 19 August. There will be a prize for the winners of each individual competition and an overall champion for the top team having the stamina to complete all eight.

Each competition will take in 5 or 6 city centre pubs and could take anything from an hour to, well, as long as you like really!

Teams from businesses, local authorities, police, fire service, sports clubs, indeed any sort of organisation are very welcome to take part. Why not take part to raise funds for your favourite charity? Would your team dare to do it in fancy dress?

To enter, teams need to contact Collette or Joanne at the Business Crime Direct team, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on 0151 224 1859. They will direct you to a pub where you will receive your questions and where you will return your answers.

The Liverpool Pub Treasure Hunt Championship is part of the Around the City in 80 Pubs – a celebration of Liverpool’s pub culture to mark European Capital of Culture 2008. Copies of the festival brochure are available at venues across the city, including the 08 Place in Whitechapel.

Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2008 launches with its biggest and richest programme to date

Now in its seventh year, the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival is firmly established as a popular event on the city’s cultural calendar. The festival remains the only one of its kind in the UK and the 2008 programme has lined up a spectacular two week long celebration with over 30 events taking place throughout Liverpool as part of the city’s 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations.

The programme features a host of cultural activity from across the Arab world in the fields of visual arts, theatre, music, literature, dance, film and food which take place in a variety of venues.

The Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival provides a platform for international, national and local artists and communities and is expected to attract audiences, not just from Merseyside, but from across the UK and beyond.

The Festival launches at the freshly refurbished Bluecoat with Arabise Me (Fri 11 July 7.30pm - late), a dazzling array of music, live art and dance courtesy of Ziyarat, the independent cultural collective that took London’s V&A Museum by storm in 2006.

Full details on the website: www.arabicartsfestival.co.uk