Sefton Council asked to approve funding bids for Crosby and Bootle regeneration

SEFTON Council are being asked to approve bids of up to ₤20m each for projects across Sefton, as part of the Government's 'Levelling Up Fund.' If successful, the funding will help boost the regeneration and recovery in parts of the borough that have been hit hardest by the Covid19 Pandemic, bringing jobs and investment to areas that have received less Government investment in recent years.

Projects to be submitted as part of the bid will support the ongoing regeneration and recovery as part of the wider transformation of Bootle, including the Bootle Area Action Plan and the wider regeneration of Bootle Town Centre.

The proposed bid for Bootle will include exploration of new visitor attraction in the Town Centre. A 'Flying Cinema' would be a unique and complementary part of the Region's visitor offer and will help diversify use and increase Town Centre footfall.

This interactive and immersive experience would complement plans already in place, at Bootle Canalside, for a food, drink and events space. Although work continues to progress the bid in advance of the submission date, such a leisure attraction could include a unique:- "Fly Over Britain," experience, along with immersive shows focused on the history of Bootle, and the Region.

Additionally, Everton Football Club are a supportive partner of the Levelling Up Funding bid, given the site's proximity to the new stadium location, at Bramley Moore Dock, transport commitments made through the planning process to connect Bootle Town Centre, the proposed stadium development, and mutually beneficial community and regeneration opportunities for canalside and towpath links between the stadium site and Bootle Town Centre.

If Cabinet approval is granted at next Thursday's meeting, a bid will also be submitted for funding to bring new uses into Crosby Village, broadening the community services on offer, attracting investment and increasing footfall within the Town Centre.

Plans include a community hub centred around a new library, community healthcare services, a public café and new residential accommodation in the heart of the Village centre.

This new state of the art facility will be perfectly placed to help create a vibrant new community hub which will serve local residents for many years to come in a modern energy efficient, attractive, landmark multi purpose building. This will encourage significant numbers of local residents and visitors in to the Town Centre supporting the wider objectives of Covid recovery and long term economic stability.

The development will involve significant improvements to Town Centre access arrangements and also bring with it improvements to public realm creating safer and more attractive gateways into Crosby centre particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.

Following submission of the Heads of Terms for the Southport Town Deal, options for a Southport bid will also be reviewed, exploring opportunities complementary to the exciting projects being progress via the Town Deal.

All bids will be community focused, drawing from local community consultation and engagement in the coming weeks and months, in particular from young people, Schools and colleges.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said:- "There are some fantastic opportunities for our communities as part of the Levelling Up Fund to bring jobs, investment and recovery to parts of our borough that have been hit hard by the Pandemic. I am pleased that community remains at the heart of our plans for regeneration; we want to attract people to our Town Centres, as well as improving them for the people who live there. The projects that will be submitted as part of our bid for funding are varied, ambitious and will shine a light on what Bootle and Crosby have to offer, bringing much needed footfall and focus to our Town Centres."

Sefton is eligible to submit up to three bids to the ₤4.8billion fund, to be invested in local projects focused on Town Centre and high street regeneration, local transport, cultural and heritage projects. The 1st bids would be submitted by 18 June 2021, with the timescales and criteria for future bidding rounds to be announced.
 

1st look at new Headbolt Lane Station CGI flythrough revealed

RAIL users, residents and businesses are invited to give their views on ambitious plans for a new Station, at Headbolt Lane, in Kirkby. The proposed Station would be located north of the existing Kirkby Station and will help improve transport links for the Northwood and Tower Hill areas of the Town. The new Station is a key part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's plans to deliver a London style transport system for the City Region, which aims to bring together bus, rail, ferry and active travel in one simple, affordable and easy to use transport network. It is also aligned to Knowsley Council's plans for the area to improve transport access in the area for residents whilst also supporting workers and visitors to 1 of Europe's largest employment sites within Europe; Knowsley Business Park. A CGI fly through of what the Station might look like, images and the survey are all available through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's Commonplace website.

The new Station plans include proposals for:-

► Step free access throughout the Station.

► A bus interchange.

► Cycle parking.

► Links to the local cycling and walking networks.

► Passenger waiting facilities and toilets.

► Approximately 300 park and ride spaces.

The full scheme includes the extension of the Merseyrail network beyond the existing Kirkby Station and would see Merseyrail services run into the new Station. Northern services, from Wigan and Manchester, would also operate to and from the new 3 platform Station.

A planning application is due to be submitted in early July 2021. If successful, it is hoped that work will start on the site by the end of the year, with the Station open to passengers by spring 2023. The scheme is being delivered in partnership with:- Knowsley Council, Network Rail, Merseyrail and Northern.

The Station development is also being designed to support the future scheme to build a new rail link to Skelmersdale, on which the Combined Authority is working closely with Lancashire County Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Network Rail to support. The survey will be open until Sunday, 13 June 2021.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:- "I've always been really proud to be from Kirkby, so it's really exciting to see all of the work we've been doing to help get the area back on the up again. From the tens of millions we have invested in the Townie, to the work we're doing to open this Station, at Headbolt Lane, we're making a real difference because of devolution' and the ability to make more decisions locally. Good public transport is vital for connecting people with each other and with opportunity. That's never been more important than in the post-Pandemic world, where we need to build back better. The new Station is a key part of delivering my plans for an integrated, London style publicly owned transport system for our City Region. I'll make it as quick, easy and affordable as possible to get around. Please take the time to have your say on our plans for the Station and help us make it the best it can be."

Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development added:- "I'm pleased that residents will have an opportunity to see for themselves how the new Station will look, and I'd encourage our residents and businesses to share their views and help to shape this important project for Kirkby."

Philippa Britton, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, said:- "It's brilliant to see Headbolt Lane Station come to life in the new flythrough video which will help passengers and local residents to visualise the plans we're working on with the Metro Mayor and our Combined Authority partners. The new Station and reinstatement of two tracks, will mean Merseyrail and Northern can serve a greater number of passengers in the wider Kirkby area. It will mean better connections to Liverpool and Manchester by public transport, bringing greater opportunities for work, study and leisure."

Andy Heath, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:- "This is another exciting step towards a brand-new Station at Headbolt Lane and we look forward to hearing the thoughts of local residents and employees on this project. Together with our partners, we want to provide a rail network that meets the needs of the people of the Liverpool City Region, and by taking part in this survey you can help us to achieve this."

Chris Jackson, Regional Director at Northern, said:- "Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we're always striving to make improvements for those customers. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues across Liverpool City Region to hopefully provide Kirkby and the surrounding area with a state of the art multi transport interchange."