Major high rise training exercise in Kirkby

A Knowsley tower block played host to a major training exercise this week when Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) led an exercise to test their response to a major high rise fire. Around 80 emergency service staff, eight fire engines, 2 support vehicles and an aerial platform ladder vehicle descended on the unoccupied Gaywood Green, on Broad Lane, Kirkby, on Thursday, 22 July 2021, as part of the exercise. The training day involved a simulation of a fire in Block 4 of Gaywood Green, with actors posing as residents in need of evacuation.

Designed to test a number of areas and give new firefighters the opportunity to experience a realistic fire and evacuation scenario in a high rise building. It also gave Fire Control Operators the opportunity to put their high rise fire survival guidance techniques to the test. Gaywood Green is thought to be the only empty high rise building in the country being used by a fire service to undertake live practice scenarios and whilst this high rise exercise in particular is the 1st of its size since Coronavirus, it follows more than 18 months' worth of smaller scale exercises at the Kirkby site.

Group Manager Dave Watson said:- "While the risk of serious fire in a high rise building in Merseyside is low thanks in large part to our preventative work in the community, the Grenfell Tower tragedy is a constant reminder of what can happen when those risks become real. This exercise gave us a real opportunity to test our current procedures and national guidance, ensuring they are robust, effective and fit for the future. We work closely with housing providers and local Authorities to ensure the safety of those living within high rise buildings and exercises like this are vital; we would like to thank Livv Housing and the local community for giving us the opportunity to carry out a large exercise in a realistic setting."

GM Watson, added:- "Due to the Pandemic and to support the safety of our staff, we have been unable to carry out any training exercises of this size for some time. We have of course continued to train our staff on a regular basis but it is great to be able to put their skills truly to the test in such a challenging and realistic scenario."

The exercise will be thoroughly evaluated and any learning outcomes will be shared both locally and nationally in effort to improve safety for all and hopefully reduce the possibility of future high rise fires.

Tony Cahill, Executive Director at Livv Housing Group, said:- "The safety and protection of our residents is of the upmost importance to us, which is why we are proud to be working in partnership with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to help them prepare for high rise emergency incidents. As far as we are aware, Gaywood Green is the only empty high rise building in the country that is being used by a fire service to undertake live exercises like this, and as a result the MFRS will be able to share findings with other fire services around the country."

For free fire safety advice or to request a home fire safety check, call:- 08007315958. High rise specific fire safety advice can be found on the MFRS website. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also provides free smoke alarms for Merseyside residents aged 65 or over or those referred by partner agencies.
 

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority set to welcome landmark commission's vision for the revitalisation of Town Centres

AT the its meeting on Friday, 23 July 2021, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will be asked to welcome the publication of a raft of initiatives proposed by the Town Centres Commission, as part of wider plans to breathe fresh life into Town Centres. Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram set up the commission; the 1st of its kind in the country; to investigate how to ensure a prosperous and sustainable long-term future for 17 Town Centres across the Liverpool City Region. Its work has complemented the Mayor's ₤6 million Town Centre Fund, which has helped to support local Councils to develop exciting new ideas for regeneration. The Commission's report in February encouraged policy makers within the City Region and beyond to re-imagine the role of Town Centres at the heart of communities. These efforts to rethink how Town Centre spaces are used have been strengthened by the recent findings of the Metro Mayor's Land Commission; England's 1st to look at the use of land in community wealth building; which urges planners to put people, not profit, at the heart of land use. Those recommendations build on examples of successful work already being carried out by the City Region's 6 Local Authorities.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Neither our Region nor the country will ever truly thrive unless our success is shared between Cities and Towns. Town Centres are at the heart of our communities, providing a hub for people to meet, shop and socialise but they face a lot of existential problems, which have only been exacerbated by the Pandemic. Getting Town Centres and high streets in all parts of our Region back on the up has been a priority for me since I was 1st elected. I set up the Town Centres Commission to come up with radical ideas for regenerating our high streets and setting them up to succeed for years to come. Now we're getting to work understanding the recommendations and coming up with plans to see how and where we can implement them."

Councillor Janette Williamson, Deputy Metro Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and 3rd Sector, said:- "This Commission report gave us a lot to think about, both as a Combined Authority and as individual Councils, as we look to future proof our Town Centres for the Post Pandemic world. The Pandemic has reminded us just how much we need to get together with friends and family and now, as restrictions are eased, it is vital that we work together with our partners to ensure that our Town Centres have a bright future as community hubs, where people can meet, socialise, access services, and shop."

The independent commission, in partnership with think tank IPPR North, outlined a vision for prosperous Town Centres that would:- "anchor" social, cultural, and economic value:- "belong" to communities and:- "connect" people and places.

The Combined Authority asked at its meeting, on Friday, 23 July 2021, to approve responses to a series of detailed recommendations emerging from these themes, including:- the need to lobby for additional sources of funding, to gather more high quality data on the health of Town Centres, and encourage "pop up" spaces for entrepreneurs. A push to showcase good examples of pilot schemes highlighting collaboration, such as the Homebaked Community Land Trust which grew out of the iconic Anfield bakery, is expected to be supported. Community engagement through initiatives such as the sParkit Liverpool initiative to reclaim and transform street parking spaces should also continue to be encouraged, the Combined Authority will be asked to agree.

Connectivity will continue to be a key theme in attracting people into public spaces, building on projects such as the St Helens Town Centre pilot for a Digital Town Centre. St Helens used investment from the Town Centre Fund to drive up standards and create a friendlier and more welcoming night time economy with quality registration schemes and a new forum.

In Knowsley, the Mayoral Fund supported a tailored business support programme, delivered by the group Save The High Street, in Huyton and Prescot, including the formation of the 64 strong Huyton Village Traders Association.

Wirral Council chose to use the funding for the Town Centres of New Ferry and Liscard; specifically around bringing underutilised assets back into community use; acquiring a property at auction for refurbishment to create ground floor commercial premises with residential space above.

Halton allocated their Mayoral funding to support Halton Lea, where a pilot will see an outpatients hub in Runcorn Shopping City, the 1st time an NHS Hospital has provided services in a Shopping Centre.

In Sefton, funds were used to redevelop the publicly owned Southport Market Hall, creating 11 new food and drink concessions and a flexible events space due to be opened in summer 2021. Liverpool allocated the funds to support policing in County Road, which has the worst gun crime and domestic violence as well as being second most deprived ward in the City.

The County District Community Police Team pilot was so successful in terms of reducing crime and kick starting regeneration, that Merseyside Police have almost doubled the number of Officers there, from 6 to 11, and extended the initiative to Kirkby and Wirral.