Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/06/2012 -- A rotting train, once at the cutting edge of rail travel, is to be given a new lease of life by enthusiasts. The LMS-designed Class 502 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) was the most advanced of its time, when it started life in the forties on the suburban lines around Liverpool.

Replacing the existing steam-hauled carriages, they had significant improvements – automatic sliding doors, higher speeds and increased frequency. "The train is a part of Liverpool's history," said a staff member at Gateway Merseyside, a local sales and marketing company, "It's a shame to see it abandoned and left to disuse, as it really was quite important."

This 502, saved from the scrapyard in 1980, is the last remaining of its type. It was acquired in 2009 by the Friends of the 502 group, after they found out there was no longer anywhere to store it in the National Railway Museum. The group took it into storage at a site in Tebay, Cumbria, saying it was a "shame to see it go to scrap," The group hopes to restore the train to "almost original condition."

The train currently resides on the side of the M6, with broken windows and peeled paint. Duncan Reed, from Friends of the 502, said "We are hoping to bring it back to a state where we can run it on the Merseyrail network actually hauling passengers. It will take a while and quite a few thousand pounds, but if we aim high, then that's the way to go."

Our source at Gateway Merseyside said, "The group are putting a lot of love and effort into what is a real part of local history. To see the train actually running and carrying passengers will be fantastic." After 40 years of service, the 502 was moved to a new route on the Merseyrail, which took its toll on the electric vehicle. The steep gradients on the line and increased use proved too difficult for the train and it was withdrawn from service on 1 September 1980. However, one of the units was preserved in case it could run again in the future, and it went on display at Steamport railway centre in Southport. In 1997 when the museum closed, the train then moved to Kineton where it was stored outside. It was this time spent outside that led to its deterioration through corrosion.

Mr Reed said: "I think it is not just part of Merseyside's history, but also, it's the forerunner of modern train design so it seems like an important unit historically. We're hoping to get it restored to almost original condition."

Large sections of its bodywork will be replaced, together with a full re-wire, refurbishment of all the interior woodwork and seats and work on the wheels, bogies and traction motors.

Our source at Gateway Merseyside said, "I think it's very inspiring when a group of people get together like this to take on such a large project. I can imagine it will be very rewarding, and I wish them all the best of luck."

The group say the full restoration is expected to take "a few years".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17222184

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/02/2012 -- A college owned by Sir Paul McCartney has come to the rescue, saving John Lennon's world-famous art college from being turned into apartments. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) has struck a £3.7m deal to buy 68 Hope Street, the grade 2 listed former art college building, which famously houses the lecture hall where Lennon met his first wife, Cynthia. Managing Director of Gateway Merseyside commented this week, calling the building a "piece of Liverpool and Britain's history." The MD of Gateway Merseyside added that they were surprised that the building was to be redeveloped at all.

The building, dating back to the 1880s, was destined to be turned into luxury flats as part of a controversial £100m proposal by Maghull Developments. Now the building, where art student Lennon met best friend and original Beatles bassist Stuart Sutcliffe in the 1950s, will be retained for education, thanks to the intervention of LIPA.

LIPA, which opened in 1995, is housed in Sir Paul and George Harrison's old grammar school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys. Principal and chief executive Mark Featherstone-Witty – who co-founded LIPA with patron Sir Paul – said there were sound business reasons behind the deal, beyond the "romance" of bringing two Beatles-linked buildings together.

He said the multi-storey Georgian Quarter venue provided more than 5,000 sq m of extra space, which would secure LIPA's future growth and keep it "at the forefront of performing arts institutions," adding, "There are sound business reasons why we are buying the building next door, but there is no denying the romance of bringing together two buildings where three Beatles once did their learning."

Our source at Gateway Merseyside said, "Of course it's going to be more beneficial to have this building become a centre of education, rather than some more luxury apartments, and it will boost the economy too. I don't think it would be in the spirit of Liverpool's rich musical history to let a building like this be repurposed into something irrelevant to its past."

Lennon attended the art college between 1957-60, and legend has it that he used to play Buddy Holly covers with his band, The Quarrymen, in the college canteen. He also liked to unwind in the nearby Ye Cracke pub. The deal is sure to be welcomed by the area's arts community, which feared losing the building to apartments would undermine the city's cultural heritage. Although contracts have been signed, LIPA is due to complete the purchase from Maghull Developments on Friday, March 30.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing what LIPA does with the building," said the MD of Gateway Merseyside, "The institute is already such a positive part of the culture and economy of the city."

LIPA currently trains 693 degree and 62 foundation certificate students, as well as offering part-time performing arts classes for young people through its youth academy.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2012/03/26/paul-mccartney-s-liverpool-fame-school-rescues-beatles-pal-john-lennon-s-art-college-from-apartments-plan-99623-30624460/

http://www.prlog.org/11828968-gateway-mersey-comments-as-liverpool-steams-ahead-with-development-plan.html

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gateway-Merseyside/344116718938618

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/27/2012 -- London did it with Canary Wharf, Bilbao with the Guggenheim. Now Liverpool wants to announce its resurgence and attract investment with a £5.5bn thicket of skyscrapers that would transform one of the most famous waterfront vistas in the world – putting its world heritage status in peril.

That anyone would dream of such a scheme, let alone apply and be granted planning permission, shows how far the city has travelled since 1981, Liverpool Waters resides on 60 hectares of redundant dockland to the north of the famous Three Graces at Pier Head, will create 9,000 apartments, office blocks, hotels, shops and restaurants. Liverpool has grown faster than any city outside London and this week becomes the first European host of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. "We have seen it happen in London so we can't see why Liverpool can't succeed in boosting their economy with plans of the skyscrapers, not only will it boost the community but also raise the capital as it is creating both homes, jobs, hotels the lot" says a source at Gateway Mersey.

Pitched at Chinese investors, were speakers ranged from Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin founder, to John Bishop, the Scouse comic. Liverpool Waters features the Shanghai Tower, a 55-storey edifice that will dwarf the Liver Building, the city's symbol, because of this a lot of opinions have been raised as to weather the proposed plans should go ahead, English Heritage and Unesco (the UN cultural agency) have opposed the ideas saying it could take away the world heritage site designation Liverpool earned in 2004 as an example of a maritime city at the height of Britain's empire. Henry Owen-John North west director of English Heritage said It had not blocked recent buildings on the waterfront but Liverpool waters was too dense and would eradicate the 19th century docks the revolutionised world trade. He said "We would like to see Liverpool open a new character without obliterating what has gone before" Our source for Gateway Mersey said "We understand both points of view, with new investments there is always for and against opinions. English Heritage does not want the building plans to go forth as they feel they would be destroying a piece of history, While the latter sees the potential jobs created by the restaurants and the homes created my the apartments, with the plans going ahead there is always going to be someone who will be upset"

Labour Leader of the city council Joe Anderson said "Liverpool has to grow and redevelop if we are to thrive and succeed in the future. We do not live in the past. We are not a museum" While much of the population tends to agree with him.

Andy Franklin, 50, an IT support worker from New Brighton said he would sacrifice his view of the Liver building for the jobs on offer. "It is a change for the better. That area has been derelict for years"

Roy Jackson, 66 a retired shopkeeper from Liverpool asked, "What does world heritage status do for us?"

Since the status was achieved, annual visitor numbers have grown from 23.1m to 28.2m with spending up to £1.5bn to £1.9bn. Some 39 per cent of visitors even more among overseas cited the Unesco status as a reason for coming, said The Mersey partnership, the city's tourism board. A source with Gateway Mersey said "If you take a great plan and give it a bad name, highly publicise it and expect people to just ignore it you would be very much mistaken, keeping the Liver building in the papers with conflicting reviews will keep the public interested as their going to wonder 'Did the build go through Or did they back off?' It will be interesting to see the outcome of the new skyscrapers to see will it boost the economy or just destroy a piece of history"

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/eb040a46-6a18-11e1-b54f-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links/rss/home_uk/feed//product#axzz1ooIjSqX4

http://www.prlog.org/11804427-gateway-merseyside-on-duchess-of-cambridges-charity-patronages.html

http://twitter.com/#!/gatewaymersey

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2012 -- Managing Director of Gateway Merseyside, James Kilgallon, has welcomed news of a proposed major leisure development in South Liverpool.

Plans for the New Mersey Leisure Complex in Speke have been approved by the city council, and should create around 320 jobs and will see the construction of a seven-screen cinema, a seventy-eight bed hotel, restaurants and a fitness centre.

As reported on the BBC News website, the site, in development by the Benmore Group, will cover an area of six hectares (14.8 acres) and should generate approximately £5.5 million a year to the local economy.

"This is a welcome cash injection. It is fantastic to see projects taking off like this," said Mr Kilgallon, Managing Director of Gateway Merseyside.

However, not everyone is behind the recently announced plans. Car manufacturers Ford and Jaguar Land Rover, who lease the land as a freight terminal, are said to be in staunch opposition to the plans, claiming two hundred jobs could be at risk with the loss of the terminal.

The Chief Executive of Benmore Group, David Burrows, said his group was "committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure this project is delivered on time and on budget, with minimum disruption to existing businesses using the site and maximum benefit to the people of Speke Garston.

"The New Mersey Leisure scheme will transform a key gateway into the city and represents, in the current climate, one of the city's most significant regeneration projects for the next decade."

Mr Kilgallon at Gateway Merseyside said: "The site will bring a new lease of life into the area, and the few hundred jobs its construction will bring should be good news for local unemployment figures. It's always great to hear of businesses expanding – especially in this economy. Here at Gateway Merseyside – due to our dedication to the service we provide on behalf of our clients and the results we achieve we are set to expand even more so than what we have already, defying recession, you could say."

Work is expected to begin on the site later this year, with completion in early 2013.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-16806156

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2012 -- In the lead-up to the Duchess of Cambridge's first royal visit to Liverpool on the 14th February, which will be her second public engagement without her husband, the Duchess announced that she has become the patron of four charities. She has accepted honorary positions with Action on Addiction, East Anglia's Children's Hospices, the Art Room and the National Portrait Gallery. Kate will also become a volunteer in the Scout Association. A source from Gateway Merseyside, a local sales and marketing company said, "The royal family has a long history of charity patronages, and it drives millions of pounds to the charity sector."

"The duchess has chosen to support organizations that complement the charitable work already undertaken by her husband," said St. James's Palace, and added that the choices reflected her interests in the arts, promotion of outdoor activity and supporting people in need of all ages. Kate will make private and public visits across the UK to her new organisations over the coming months. She is already a patron of the charitable foundation William founded with his brother Prince Harry, but these are her first external patronages. "It's a positive step for the future queen," said our source from Gateway Merseyside, "It will really help to raise the profile of these good causes on the national stage."

The Art Room uses art therapy to help children with issues like low self-esteem and Asperger's syndrome, at centres in Oxford and London. The charity's founder Juli Beattie said, "We're absolutely delighted, we're overwhelmed and thrilled."This is just fantastic; it will raise the profile of the charity and get people to see the work we are doing."

Grant Clemence, whose daughter died soon after being born from a rare heart condition, was supported by East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) in her final days. In November, Kate visited EACH and met Grant and his wife Charlotte. "The Duchess showed genuine interest to all the families and staff she met and it really will be a great boost for EACH," Mr. Clemence said.

Gateway Merseyside commented that the patronages will be a great boost to the public profile of the Duchess, adding, "The Duchess is already cementing her position as an inspirational role model."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16411358

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2012 -- Wirral Council is holding a public consultation on the future of the borough's 24 libraries, following the dropping of plans to close almost half of them. The proposals include integrating many library services and staff with the council's One Stop Shops. Evening opening will be concentrated at four main libraries. Back in 2009 there was plans to close 11 libraries but plans were withdrawn after criticism from a government-appointed inspector. Managing Director of Gateway Merseyside has commented on this, saying, "Looking at these plans from different points of views – I can see good and bad in them. Libraries are a great place to just relax – especially for children to avoid them using computer games all the time. However books are being replaced, fast! By the internet and tablets such as the Kindle or other E-book devices."

Following a public outcry over the proposals the then culture secretary Andy Burnham asked Sue Charteris, a public policy consultant, to write a report on the council's library closure plans. She said she was "profoundly concerned at the lack of transparency" in the process.

The new Wirral Library Service Strategy reveals that, while nationally library visits and book lending has fallen, in Wirral there has been little change in visitor numbers and book issues have increased. Gateway Merseyside's Managing Director went on to comment, "Books and magazines can't compete with technology. It's sad to think that digital media could completely replace the 'old' media, but I hope they can co-exist and Libraries remain open."

Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington and West Kirby will become Wirral's four main libraries and cafes will be opened in libraries where there is space and demand.

The council has said there are no plans to close any libraries. Chris Meaden, cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure at Labour-controlled Wirral Council, said the changes "would only be successful if they meet the needs of the people who use the service". The consultation runs until 29 February. Gateway Merseyside's Managing Director commented further, saying, "E-books can reduce the usage of paper, they are one of the best ways to go green when all books are stored in one small device. Technology is progressing fast. A lot like Gateway Merseyside, the growth and expansion we have before us is incredible."

http://www.bbc.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/07/2012 -- Plans have been abandoned to transform Southport's Pleasureland site in an £80m development. Announced in March 2008, the proposals were intended to launch the "reinvention of the seaside resort". The developers, Urban Splash, and site owners Sefton council, have decided to go their separate ways after the project was negatively affected by the recession. Council leader Peter Dowd admits there is no future plans for the site. "It's quite a shame," said a source at Gateway Merseyside, a Liverpool-based sales and marketing company, "The site was an important key piece in the plans to rejuvenate the area."

Councillor Dowd said that the Southport Arts Centre development, costing £17m, will be the last big project for the town in some time. "That is going to be the last development Sefton does as a council for anything like the foreseeable future," he said, "If you asked me whether I can see a moderately sized £5m project, no I can't because there is no money around. There has been some significant investment in Southport in recent years but I don't see anything on the horizon regrettably."

Since the Urban Splash plans were announced, the Vincent Hotel and Neptune Developments Waterfront complex on the promenade have opened, but Neptune has struggled to find occupiers for its £30m project. Our Gateway Merseyside source said, "Unfortunately this is the case with a lot of large developments now. So much money is invested in the initial building, but then there just isn't the demand there."

After the recession hit Urban Splash, it was forced to abandon several projects. The plans for the Pleasureland site included an outdoor heated swimming pool and an expanded marine lake and a winter garden, all housed under a landmark atrium inspired by the Eden Project. The scheme was also to include at least two hotels offering traditional accommodation alongside serviced apartments and houses to let.

The site's recent history has been one of uncertainty. Former owners Pleasureland Ltd closed in 2006 after 93 years in the town. A year later Sefton council bought the site for £7.25m and soon afterwards announced the partnership with Urban Splash. Keen to make sure the site did not sit idle Norman Wallis, managing director of Dreamstorm, was handed a lease to operate the New Pleasureland funfair. Mr Wallis has four years left to run on his lease and has plans to expand the funfair.

"The site will be taken care of, but it is a shame we won't get to see the results of all that planning," said our source at Gateway Merseyside, "It will be interesting to see what plans develop in the future."

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2012/02/10/80m-plan-for-southport-s-pleasureland-abandoned-99623-30293367/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/02/2012 -- Source: http://www.sci-news.com

Marketing company Gateway Merseyside are delighted that an international team of researchers have discovered a remarkable new species of bush viper in Tanzania, East Africa.

Dr. Michele Menegon of the Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy, Dr. Tim Davenport of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Dr. Kim Howell of the University of Dar es Salaam, found a striking black-and-yellow snake during biological surveys in a remote area of Tanzania. Managing Director of Gateway Merseyside is said to be thrilled at the discovery with a source saying "it's an exciting time for those researchers as it is not every day a new species is discovered".

The newly discovered snake, described in the journal Zootaxa, measures some 2 feet (60 cm) and has horn-like scales above its eyes. According to the WCS, it is named Matilda's horned viper (Atheris matildae) after the daughter of Dr. Davenport, Director of WCS's Tanzania Program.

"The WCS has a number of projects around Tanzania focused on the conservation of important species, habitats and landscapes," said Dr. Davenport and Dr. Menegon. "Survey work is an important part of our work in new locations in order to assess what is present and what the issues are. In southwest Tanzania we work closely with Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy in our biodiversity research. The snake was first discovered as part of on-going surveys in remote forest patches. 'The work that the Wildlife Conservation Society carries out in Tanzania and around the world is vastly important' states a source from Gateway Merseyside.

"The snake resembles the Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora), but is considerably larger, differs in scalation and has a genetic divergence of the mitochondrial gene of 3.18 % and an estimated divergence time of about 2.2 million years."

The researchers are keeping the exact location of Matilda's horned viper a secret, since the snake could be of interest to the illegal pet collectors. "The illegal trade in wildlife for pets is a big problem" says Gateway Merseyside "Many species of amphibians and reptile being collected in huge numbers from the wild".

"Any new discovery brings hope and optimism. This species is not only a large, colourful and charismatic animal, it may also shed light on the complex biogeography of southern Tanzania," according to Dr. Davenport and Dr. Menegon.

"Text books will be re-written – that's an exciting prospect" concludes Gateway Merseyside.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/02/2012 -- A computer worm has stolen 45,000 login credentials from Facebook, security experts have warned. Gateway Merseyside, a Liverpool based marketing company stated the situation is "very alarming".

The data is believed to have been taken largely from Facebook accounts in the UK and France. Facebook told the BBC that it was looking into the issue. The latest iteration of the worm was discovered in Seculert's labs.

"We suspect that the attackers behind Ramnit are using the stolen credentials to login to victims' Facebook accounts and to transmit malicious links to their friends, thereby magnifying the malware's spread even further," said the researchers on the firm's blog. "In addition, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the fact that users tend to use the same password in various web-based services to gain remote access to corporate networks," it added.

A source at Gateway Merseyside stated "It is very important that this is fixed right away, the longer it is active, and the more users will be affected". Social networks offer rich pickings for hackers because of the huge amount of personal data that is stored on them. Increasingly malware is being updated for the social networking age.

"It appears that sophisticated hackers are now experimenting with replacing the old-school email worms with more up-to-date social network worms. As demonstrated by the 45,000 compromised Facebook subscribers, the viral power of social networks can be manipulated to cause considerable damage to individuals and institutions when it is in the wrong hands," said Seculert. According to Seculert, 800,000 machines were infected with Ramnit from September to the end of December 2011.

"These figures are very alarming" says Gateway Merseyside, "They may think it's just a bit of harmless fun but that couldn't be further from the truth".

Microsoft's Malware Protection Center (MMPC) described Ramnit as "a multi-component malware family which infects Windows executable as well as HTML files... stealing sensitive information such as stored FTP credentials and browser cookies". In July 2011 a Symantec report estimated that Ramnit worm variants accounted for 17.3% of all new malicious software infections. For Facebook users concerned that they have been affected by the worm, the advice is to run anti-virus software.

Last week, Facebook received from external security researchers a set of user credentials that had been harvested by a piece of malware. Their security experts reviewed data they had received, and while the majority of the information was out-of-date, they have initiated remedial steps for all affected users to ensure the security of their accounts.

Gateway Merseyside concludes "Hopefully the end is in sight".

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16426824

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm