Tidy start to new term

A neighbourhood which has a high student population is getting a makeover for the new term.  Local residents, students, councillors and volunteers from a number of agencies are holding a community clean-up in the ‘Dales’ roads off Smithdown Road between the Willowbank and the Brookhouse pubs.

The clean-up will take place on Thursday 8 September (10am to 5pm) and will involve litter picking, environmental works and stencilling of bins with house numbers. Local businesses are providing refreshments.

"This is an area which has a large number of houses converted into student flats." said Greenbank Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins.  "Students can bring great benefits to a community. They bring vibrancy and diversity as well as supporting local shops, restaurants, bars and other businesses.  But it has to be recognised that such a high level of student accommodation can also bring problems. In the summer we get left with piles of junk jettisoned from houses as the occupants leave, who are then replaced in September with the next tenants. There are also issues about bins being left out in the street, increase litter and lack of recycling.  This clean-up is taking place to make the area shine before the new students move in. It is not just for their benefit- it is for all the residents of the area who want to have a clean and tidy neighbourhood.  As new tenants move in it will encourage all residents to treat the area with respect and keep it clean."

In October students will be canvassed to ensure they have adequate facilities for rubbish storage and recycling.

Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said:- “This is a great way of not only cleaning up an area but also bringing a community together whether they are residents who have lived there for some time or students whose stay will be comparatively short. They will all be showing some respect and pride in their neighbourhood.”

James Roberts is a Liverpool Students Union (LSU) Community Rep who lives in south Liverpool and is currently studying politics as a post-graduate at Liverpool University. He said:- "As students we welcome this opportunity to contribute to our local community and help with the clean-up, removing dumped rubbish from alleyways and picking litter from the streets. Most students do care about the local environment and would not want to cause any problems for longer-term residents.  We hope that by trying to ensure the streets in Greenbank look as good as possible when the majority of students move in, all will be encouraged to keep the area this way. We welcome working with councillors, council staff and residents in our community"

The university unions jointly employ Community Reps to work with students to try to ensure clean and peaceful neighbourhoods for long-term residents as well as safe environments and homes for students. LSU is the name for the combined students unions of the city's universities.

Email us your views on this topic and any others that we cover to:- news24@southportreporter.com.

Major revamp for dock road

AN £800,000 scheme to improve Liverpool’s dock road is now underway.  Major improvement works, to resurface the carriageway and tackle drainage issues, began on Regent Road, Vauxhall, on Monday 5 September.

Regent Road has been identified as a priority by the city council as part of its Highways Maintenance Programme. It suffers from a number of issues such as subsidence, poor drainage, the breaking up of the road surface and potholes.

Peel Ports Mersey have also identified improvements to the road as a priority. The company launched its 20 year masterplan in June, outlining its strategy for growth, key developments, new business opportunities and job creation. The dock road is an important part of those plans, as it gives potential investors and new businesses their first impression of the city.

The city council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, met with Peel bosses to discuss their priorities, and has helped drive forward the work, which will breathe new life into the road - between Dacre Street and Bankfield Street - and benefit thousands of motorists as well as businesses.

Councillor Kennedy said:- “Regent Road has needed investment for many years. It is vital for our port business, as well as the thousands of commuters who use it every day. This scheme is a great example of how we are listening to the business community – and acting on what they say.  We have worked closely with Peel, and taken on-board their views on which improvements should take priority. I’m delighted the work is now getting underway, it will make a major difference to the area and reinforces our support for the Port of Liverpool's future expansion plans.”

The scheme, which will take 8 weeks to complete, will see the resurfacing of the carriageway between Dacre Street and Bankfield Street. 

Drainage is another major issue, with the subsidence of the road causing it to hold water on its surface. This will be resolved with the installation of a paved footway on the dock side of the road which surface water will bound against before running down to nearby drains.

The scheme will cause only minimal disruption to motorists. Work will be carried out in phases and single lane traffic in both directions will be maintained throughout.

Gary Hodgson, Managing Director, Mersey Ports, said:- “At a time when we are considering significant investment at the Port of Liverpool, we are delighted to see the importance of the strategic highway network to the Port being recognised by Liverpool City Council, and in particular their efforts in allocating funding to enhance and upgrade this stretch of Regent Road.  These works will not only improve accessibility and benefit existing port operators but will stimulate further private sector investment in this locality.”

The work has been commissioned by Enterprise Liverpool, with Tarmac carrying out the work.