24/04 A community space with a difference comes to Glastonbury

A community space with a difference comes to Glastonbury with the launch of ActivAGE sw1

Monday the 5th of February 2007 heralds the launch of a new project creating a community space accessible to everyone aged 50 plus in the local area. This multi purpose space based in Glastonbury House on the Abbots Manor Estate will provide a variety of activities including Arts and Crafts, Computer Sessions, Physical Activities and Health Promotion as well as offering Information and Advice service and a drop in style Cafe. Age Concern Westminster will facilitate this new community space from 9.30am until 1.30pm Monday to Friday aiming to satisfy the interests of the over 50’s, whilst also embracing other local organisations from all cultures to utilise the space at other times.

Martin Davies Chief Executive of Age Concern Westminster said “This is an exciting facility for the older residents of SW1, we are determined to offer local people a wide ranging choice of services and a hub to extend their social activities in an enjoyable and relaxed way”

ActivAGE sw1 has been developed in conjunction with Age Concern Westminster, Westminster City Partnership, City West Homes, Open Age, Threshold and WASSR.

Age Concern Westminster promotes the well being of older people in the City of Westminster and help make life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

24/04 Age Concern Westminster is 60 years young

Age Concern Westminster is 60 years young

Back in 1947, with the Second World War still fresh in people’s memories and the welfare state being launched, “The Westminster Old Peoples Welfare Association” was founded, later to become Age Concern Westminster. In the same year Prince Philip and our future Queen, Princess Elizabeth got married and the Eros statue returned to its rightful place in Piccadilly Circus.

60 years has led to lots of changes in our society, however Age Concern Westminster has remained committed to older peoples rights and a provider of services in the community. Today, Age Concern Westminster offers a dynamic professional service to anyone over the age of 50. Our services include Day Care Centres, Clubs, a range of Home Services, Information & Advice, a Healthy Living programme plus a new open access café-style facility in Pimlico.

To celebrate Age Concern Westminster anniversary a range of events are planned throughout 2007, helping to raise valuable funds for a replacement minibus. These events commence with a photographic competition which will start in March.

Martin Davies Chief Executive of Age Concern Westminster said “This is an exciting year for all the people involved with us. I am especially proud of the immense contributions that our staff and volunteers, past and present, have made for the older people of Westminster”.

For more information about our 60th Anniversary please call into 268-272 Edgware Rd or please call us on 020 7224 6930

Age Concern Westminster promotes the well being of older people in the City of Westminster and help make life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

06/03 Letter to The Editor-Road Pricing

Sir

The recent public debate on road pricing seems to have fired up some
very hard words and reactions, mostly hostile to the idea. But nobody
should deny the extent of the problem.

Roads congestion generates longer than necessary journey times,
unreliable deliveries and is a massive waste of time and money for industry,
wasting millions of man hours and billions of pounds every year. It is
probably the most serious problem that UK industry has to contend with.

The Freight Transport Association says that road pricing should,
ultimately, be used to demand manage valuable road space by price. However,
FTA also says that this can only come after a whole raft of other
actions have been taken. We need more road building, motorway widening,
night deliveries, changed school hours, home working and many other ideas
to spread out, or even reduce, the traffic load on our roads.

For industry the key test for road pricing will be whether it delivers
value for money. Industry, and perhaps many other road users, will not
mind paying, say, a £5 fee if the result is £6 of value for the saved
time and trouble. If, however, we pay £5 and get only £4 of value then
the plan will be rejected by both goods vehicle operators and the
public.

Road pricing has a key role to play in changing the behaviour of some
road users - enough of them to actually make a difference. But it must
improve the performance of the whole of the roads network for
everybody's benefit. Industry believes that ultimately it can - but only after
a substantial financial investment in the infrastructure and some
radical changes in people's use of the roads we already have.

Yours faithfully

Freight Transport Association