Sefton community urged to get involved in the A5036 consultation

HIGHWAYS England is urging residents across Sefton to get involved in the statutory consultation on the future of the A5036 after the High Court upheld the company’s approach to developing options for a vital ₤250 million investment in the road between Switch Island and the Port of Liverpool.

The company says the new dual carriageway through Rimrose Valley will be truly transformational; for people living along the increasingly congested existing A5036, the facilities at Rimrose Valley Country Park and in tackling congestion and boosting economic opportunities right across the area.

Following last month’s judicial review hearing and the announcement on 16 November 2018, upholding the company’s decision to exclude a tunnel from options in the initial consultation; Highways England will begin statutory consultation over plans to provide a replacement road through Rimrose Valley in the New Year.

Highways England’s regional investment programme director for the North West Tim Gamon said:- "We note the outcome of the judicial review and would like to say that now, more than ever, we want to work with the community surrounding Rimrose Valley to deliver a solution which benefits everybody Our message is whether you are a resident, road user, business or regular user of the park please come and get involved in the consultation events so we can work together to get this right for everyone."

Highways England says its legacy approach to delivery will ensure both the park’s facilities and the existing A5036 will be improved, while the new road will help relieve congestion across the whole of the local road network; providing more reliable journeys and freeing up more opportunities for jobs and homes.

Next year’s statutory consultation will be followed by an application to the Government for planning permission; both required before any road can be built and both providing opportunities for local people to help shape the proposals.

More information on the statutory consultation process will be provided and publicised once the details have been finalised. In the meantime more information on the project and an opportunity to sign up to email updates are available on the project webpage.

What are your views on this?  Please also email our newsroom via:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com with you thoughts....

Rebecca Ferguson shows her support for children's charity
Photographs by Activate Digital.

REBECCA Ferguson has given her support to a new children's charity on 16 November 2018, at the Hilton Hotel, Liverpool, where she spent the afternoon talking with business leaders and you disadvantaged children. The Cornerstone Foundation was created in April 2017 (Charity Number 1169145). We are told that currently some 1,250 children in Liverpool, are in Local Authority Care, with 4,000 young people described as being:- 'on the edge of care.' Such children are 4 times more likely to suffer mental health difficulties and more than a ⅓ (34%) of care leavers are not in education, employment or training, compared to a UK average of 15%. As a result, the charity aims to provide a range of customised, specialised and intensive interventions to these children and young people. It hopes to support and maximise their educational attainment, and to support young people to develop a career pathway to enable a successful transition to full time and permanent employment. A key part of the programme will be to link local businesses and youth service providers to deliver employment, mentoring and training for young people.

The new charity is chaired by Iain Goldrein QC and its trustees include:- Liverpool College Principal Hans Broekman, Paul Flanagan of the Flanagan Group, Liverpool City Council Director of Children's Services, Steve Reddy, Hilton Hotel Manager, Marcus McGee and Rebecca Ross-Williams, Engagement Director at the Everyman and Playhouse.

Mr Goldrein said:- "We want to galvanise the business and wider community to ensure we are doing everything we can to give these young people the best chance of succeeding in life and finding personal fulfilment and happiness. We fundamentally believe in the potential of every child and passionately believe they should be able to access the same skills, learning and employment opportunities of those who are not in care. We also believe the City's employers and its business community have a major role to play. If just a fraction of the 17,000 businesses in Liverpool were able to offer some support we would transform the prospects of these young people. I would urge every employer in the City, no matter how big or small they are, to get in touch with us and offer their support, either through actively engaging in one of our schemes or by donating money."

Rebecca Ross-Williams, Engagement Director at the Everyman and Playhouse, said:- "Our focus is on helping individuals, but we are very conscious of the wider impacts that a lack of support can have. Almost a ¼ (24%) of the UK's adult prison population has been in care and less than 1 in 10 (6%) of care leavers ever go to university. It's a waste of money and a waste of potential. More importantly, it's a waste of young lives. We're determined to break that pattern here in Liverpool and believe the City's famously generous character and sense of fairness will give us every opportunity to do just that."

Cornerstones will be working closely with a number of organisations to deliver activities, including Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS) and the City Council's Children's Services department.

Mayor Joe Anderson said:- "We're delighted to be backing this new approach because we think the city's businesses and employers can make a massive difference to the prospects of young people in care. These are some of the most vulnerable people in society, but they have the same potential as every one of us and deserve the same opportunities as the rest of us."

1 of the initiatives Cornerstones will be supporting is a:- 'World of Work' scheme that matches children to businesses for workplace visits, work experience, mentoring and training.  It will also be delivering the:- 'Young People's Award,' a reward and recognition scheme for children of primary school age who are in care. It aims to help build self esteem, confidence and a range of inter personal skills.

Business interested in getting involved in the Cornerstones Foundation should email the temporary address:- ContactCornerstonesFoundation@Yahoo.Com.   The photos here include the Cornerstones founder, Iain Goldrein QC shaking hands with Liverpool City Mayor, Joe Anderson..