SUPPORTERS of the Save Rimrose Valley campaign joined thousands of others at a mass demonstration to highlight the climate emergency, which took place on Saturday, 6 November 2021. The event was organised by a coalition of environmental groups from across the Liverpool City Region and began with a rally at Liverpool's Sefton Park, where Save Rimrose Valley addressed the crowds. Protesters then braved the elements and marched to the City Centre before culminating in another rally in Derby Square.

The demonstration was part of a Global Day of Action for Climate Justice bringing together a wide variety of different movements to build power for system change. It coincided with the ongoing COP26 meeting of world leaders to discuss action on climate change, which began in Glasgow on Monday, 1 November 2021. Explaining the relevance of Saturday's action, Campaign Coordinator, Stuart Bennett, said:- "Since we began our campaign a little over 4 years ago, we have come to learn that our fight against National Highways' Port of Liverpool Access Road isn't 'just' about protecting our essential green space. There are direct links to the climate emergency, with roads and transport being the UK's biggest contributor to climate wrecking CO2 emissions. These come not only from the HGVs this road is intended to support, but also from Peel Ports' own shipping operations. If this Government is serious about tackling the climate emergency, it must urgently pursue innovative solutions to the movement of freight which are zero emission. Sefton Council's ARUP report confirmed these exist, yet Peel Ports are content with sitting back and waiting for their taxpayer funded, environmentally destructive port access road. We won't let this happen. Peel Ports can either work with us, the community and the council, or they can continue to look like a dinosaur corporation, complicit in the climate crisis. We are demanding that the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps MP, uses COP26 as a catalyst to cancel National Highways' road proposal in favour of a truly sustainable alternative. Otherwise, it seems that this Government cares more about the interests of private businesses than it does about the people it was elected to serve. After last week's lobbying scandal; and with Peel Ports having themselves lobbied the Government to fund this scheme, this is not a good luck."
 

FOR the past 6 months, Woodside's waterfront has been transformed by weekly independent markets. Since launching in May 2021, Wirral Chamber of Commerce's Independent Wirral project has been a huge success; showcasing over 155 different vendors and creating sales in excess of ₤141,000 for local bakers, makers and creators.

The Independent Wirral market is located at Woodside Ferry Terminal every Saturday and Sunday from 11am until 6pm, with stunning views over to Liverpool, and features 24 wooden chalets creating its own little village. The chalets are booked each week by various vendors to showcase the products that they bake, make and create.

With a wide variety of:- gifts, arts, crafts, jewellery, clothing, food and drinks, people can sample a range of artisan creations from fantastic local independent traders. Inside Woodside Ferry Village Terminal they also have a food market, Pausha wine bar and the Tipsy Duck bar; so there's plenty going on inside the ferry terminal too!

The ground breaking initiative is going from strength to strength with sell out markets each week and Independent Wirral have recently had a big Halloween market. The Spooktacular Halloween extravaganza was in support of Autism Together and their amazing Ghost Busters team were in attendance to entertain everyone!

Wirral Chamber of Commerce's Laura Jane Dodd said:- "Our weekly Independent Wirral markets are fabulously successful and we are delighted to have given so many local independent businesses a platform to showcase their work. The project keeps on going from strength to strength and people really value the concept of buying from local independents."

Also coming soon is a magical 6 week Christmas market; offering an opportunity for people to buy Christmas presents from local independents rather than big online retailers. Instead of enduring the stress of busy City Centre shopping, why not enjoy a stroll on the waterfront and check out what local independents have to offer?

Wirral Chamber of Commerce's Amanda Horgan said:- "The past 18 months have been particularly hard for independent businesses and during Lockdown new independents have formed too, so it's even more important than ever to support these people. We have bakers, makers and creators from all walks of life. People who have been made redundant and followed their dream to do something completely different found a talent they didn't know that they had. Woodside Ferry Village and Market has given them the platform to be able to sell their amazing products through Independent Wirral."

With the recent announcement that Woodside Ferry Terminal is set to receive significant investment to regenerate its landing stage and U Boat attraction, as well as regeneration plans for the wider Woodside area, the future is very bright at the Wirral Waterfront.