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Queen Square Bus Station
upgrade
QUEEN Square Bus Station is set to
benefit from improvement works resulting in smoother and more comfortable
journeys for customers.
Essential resurfacing works will be carried out at the Bus Station for about
10 weeks starting from 24 January 2015.
To minimise disruption, the improvement works will be carried out in 2
phases over 2016 as follows:-
► Phase 1 (about 5 weeks) - Inbound carriageway will be closed, resurfaced and
reopened. Bus services will use temporary stops during the closure.
► Phase 2 (about 5 weeks) - Outbound carriageway will be closed, resurfaced
and re-opened. Bus services will use temporary stops during the closure.
Customers are advised that temporary bus stops will be sited at St Johns
Lane, Lime Street and Victoria Street.
The travel and information centre will remain open and there will be extra
staff at key locations to direct bus passengers to temporary stops and give
further travel information.
An improved safe pedestrian crossing at the current Pelican crossing
location will also be installed as part of the works.
Originally constructed in 1996, Queen Square Bus Station , which is owned and
operated by Merseytravel, caters for a 1 million buses each year and is
reputed to be the busiest in Europe. With this in mind, contractors will be
working seven days a week, to keep the closure period as short as possible
and minimise disruption to passengers and local businesses.
The road surface is already in a state of disrepair and a full resurfacing
programme is the most cost effective solution. A robust, hard wearing
material will be used giving the Bus Station surface a 25 year life span.
Customers are advised that further information about the £450,000 plans,
temporary bus stops and travel advice will be available nearer the time and
via the Merseytravel website, bus stops, Traveline, travel and information
centre, leaflets, and social media.
Cllr Liam Robinson, Merseytravel Chair said:- "Queen Square is of
critical importance to the local transport network and the local economy.
These improvements are necessary to ensure that it remains a great facility
and a key interchange for work, leisure and retail links both to and from
the City centre.
This is just 1 of the ways we can enhance customers' experience which is a
priority for us and the new Bus Alliance which we announced just last week.
The City region's vibrant and jam packed annual calendar of major events and
various improvement projects means that it is not easy to identify a good
time to carry out such important works but we have carefully considered the
timing and we have chosen the quietest time of the year in order to minimise
impact on passengers and businesses. We want to tell customers now so that
they can get the date in their diary and factor this in when planning
journeys. Although we anticipate there will be delays and disruptions to
services, to do nothing is not an option. However, a world class transport
network needs to be supported by a good infrastructure that meets the needs
of the modern traveller and supports the local economy and this improvement
work will ultimately benefit passengers and local businesses once
completed."
Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, which represents 1,500
businesses in Liverpool City centre, said:- "It's very encouraging to
see investment in Queen Square station. It is a major hub in the City centre
and handles a tremendous volume of traffic every day. Although there will be
disruption, which we will work with Merseytravel to help mitigate as much as
possible, businesses and the public will appreciate this work needs to be
done and understand the long term gains will be worth it." |
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Mayor's 'Invest to
Earn' creates jobs and protects services
INVESTMENTS made by the Mayor have
delivered 1,600 new jobs, attracted £150 million of additional funding and
are generating £3 million per year to support essential services.
A report to the Cabinet outlines the benefits of Mayor Joe Anderson's
'Invest to Earn' strategy since 2012, which has seen the City Council put money
into schemes which help protect and create jobs, generate new economic
growth, increase business rate income and deliver commercial returns of up
to 15% as well as rental income.
Examples of success include the Council's £15 million purchase and
refurbishment of the Cunard Building, as part of its accommodation strategy.
An independent valuation of the building has shown that it is currently
worth £27.8 million; almost double the amount the Council spent on its
purchase and refurbishment.
It has brought a net financial benefit to the Council of £1.3 million in the
1st year and has the potential to bring in an additional £2 million per
year in rent.
The move has not just secured the future of the building, but has also given
it a whole new lease of life; next year the ground floor will become the
British Music Experience, 2 new restaurants will open on the 1st floor
and advanced discussions are underway with more potential tenants.
The deal also saw the Council vacate the former Millennium House, which has
been converted into the Bill Shankly hotel by Signature Living creating up
to 100 jobs.
Other investments include:-
► Bringing the long neglected historic Stanley Dock back into use as a
mixed-use development including a hotel with the aid of a two year £5.5
million commercial loan attracting £30 million of private sector investment,
the creation of 200 jobs and generating £800,000 in interest for the Council
► £61 million of Council investment in the new Exhibition Centre Liverpool
and 4 star Pullman hotel which it's estimated will support 1,300 jobs in the
wider economy and deliver a major economic boost to the City and an
additional £600,000 of business rates
► £2.3 million of repayable grants for new manufacturing and IT businesses
to create new, unique products creating 340 jobs over three years, including
the relocation of the Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) to Liverpool
► £2 million commercial loan for pharmaceutical research, generating in
excess of £500,000 in interest and levering in £6 million of additional
investment with the potential to create over 200 new jobs
► £7.6 million use of Regional Growth Fund for highway infrastructure around
the Project Jennifer site in Everton to deliver projects including a new
supermarket, generating a potential 700 jobs and £800,000 in business rates
► £6.5 million to refurbish cultural listed buildings - £4.5 million for the
Royal Philharmonic Hall and £2 million for the Royal Court, generating an
additional £14 million of public and private sector cash to improve the
building, protecting 200 jobs and creating 80 new positions
► Acquisition of Finch Farm Training Ground for £14 million, which brings in
£200k per year in rent which will rise annually with inflation
Mayor Joe Anderson said:- "Invest to Earn is about using the Council's
ability to borrow and investing the cash in projects which deliver a real
benefit for the City, whether it's infrastructure improvements, jobs or
generating income. No other City in the country is taking such an innovative
approach to investment.
We are now in a position where we are bringing in millions of pounds every
year which we wouldn't otherwise have had as a result of our investments,
and we are able to plough that back into essential services. At a time when
we are facing immense financial pressures, this is vital money which is
proving to be a lifeline to help us offset the worst of the cuts from
Central Government.
The whole aim of Invest to Earn is being smart about where we make our
investments and make sure they deliver a decent return for Council Tax
payers. Right now this money is helping protect much loved and valued
Council services such as children's centres and adult social care.
These one off investments are delivering a return for us year after year and
making sure that the Council's money is working hard for Council Tax payers,
generating significant returns."
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