Liverpool Council's Rocket upgrade to be revisited

A plan to upgrade The Rocket junction at the end of the M62 is to be paused to examine how it could be altered to better encourage greener modes of travel. The proposal, First announced in 2019, looked at demolishing the existing Queens Drive Flyover and replacing it with a new roundabout, featuring a dual lane underpass. The aim was to address poor air quality around the Rocket Junction, which is the busiest in Liverpool City Region with over 100,000 vehicles travelling through it every day. However, since its inception, there have been significant changes to both local and national policy objectives. As a result, Liverpool City Council has been reviewing its previous commitments, to ensure they align to the City's new vision and objectives outlined in the City Plan, as well as national transport policy objectives. Liverpool Council has now requested that the Department for Transport allow additional time to re-evaluate the scheme, to examine how it could transform the way people move around and through the area, while also improving traffic flow and cutting congestion.

Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said:- "So much has changed since this scheme was originally commissioned, and this is an opportune moment to look at it with a fresh pair of eyes. The Pandemic has altered commuting patterns, with employers moving to a more flexible work pattern for staff and people not necessarily travelling into the office every day. Crucially, as an administration we are now viewing every decision we make through the Mayor's Triple Lock of the impact on people, planet and equality. We have declared a climate emergency so we have to look at ways in which we can use this scheme to encourage people not to drive into the City Centre, adding to congestion and air pollution. Other Cities operate successful Park and Ride schemes into the centre from the outskirts, and we should have the same ambition. It is right that we stop to take a breath now, and see whether we can make changes and improvements to link it up with greener and more active modes of transport. This is a scheme that will have its impact felt for decades ahead, and within that context we are taking a relatively short period of time to review the scheme, which could pay dividends in the longer term."

The re-evaluation will include a look at how the scheme could:-

► Support active travel and in turn improve air quality.

► Deliver public transport improvements to, and parking at, Broadgreen station to encourage motorists to 'park and ride' into the City Centre.

► Support and enable a proposed green bus corridor on the A57, which runs parallel to the route.

Please let us know your thoughts about this transport project by emailing our Newsroom today, at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Deva Fest 2022 Prepares To Stage The Biggest And Best Event Of The Summer With New Additions

DEVA Fest 2022 is promising to be the most spectacular and entertaining family festival in the Region when it returns this summer, with a host of new attractions just announced. The 3 day music, food and lifestyle festival will take place from 12 August to 14 August 2022 and organisers have revealed that Chester festival fans are rushing to snap up tickets for the event with over 60% of tickets sold.

Festivalgoers can expect a brilliant boutique experience with a host of attractions and services included in the ticket price as part of the festival's Deva Fest Difference; including:- free fairground rides, free parking and a daily ₤1 shuttle bus to and from the Chester Lakes site from as far afield as Wrexham and Ellesmere Port.

New additions made to what is the biggest and best line up of events and activities yet include a special Mermaid Cove attraction which will boast amazing aquatic acrobatics from mermaids and mermen, in a 10 metre long tank; Europe's largest.  There will be bubble discos and meet and greets, while the mermaids will take on Deva Fest's dastardly swashbucklers on Pirate Saturday in what promises to be a real battle royal between land and sea. Meanwhile Singer Song Writer and pop rap princess Betty Boo is the latest music star to join the Deva Fest family, appearing as part of a stellar all female Saturday big stage line up that also includes headliners:- Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Heather Small, along with Shola Ama and Belle Voci. And the starry line up on other days of the festival weekend features:- Scouting for Girls, Dodgy, Symphonic Ibiza and Sonique. They will play on the main stage, which is located inside a big top, meaning the music will go on whatever the weather, while a 2nd, open air, stage will host a mixture of up and coming bands, DJs and local talent. Along with the music there is lots to do for festivalgoers of all ages; in addition to Pirate Day, on Saturday, 13 August 2022, complete with parades and fancy dress, there are also Stagecoach Chester drama, dance and song workshops, Laughter Tots messy and sensory play for little ones and much more still to be announced.

Deva Fest 2022 will also boast the Deva Laughs comedy tent, the hugely popular Gin and Prosecco Festival, a bespoke selection of high-quality food and drink options including bars run by Chester's own Liquor and Co, and some of the best festival conveniences around as well as an NCT Chester breastfeeding and changing tent. Festivalgoers are also being offered a huge range of new camping options within the Chester Lakes complex, with pitches for tents, camper vans, caravans and RVs all just a stone's throw from the Deva Fest action.

Deva Fest Managing Partner Phil Marston said:- "We're really proud to have brought together such a huge range of stars and attractions for 2022, and to include so many activities and festival facilities in the ticket price. This is what we call the Deva Fest Difference and we've worked hard to build the event with the comfort and happiness of our festivalgoers in mind. The music line up is incredibly strong, as is the whole breadth of the festival offer from the hand-picked, high-quality food and drink on site; including the hugely popular Gin and Prosecco Festival, to the Deva Laughs comedy tent, Pirate Day, and now the addition of the fantastic Mermaid Cove too. With a wide range of new camping options too, we're confident festivalgoers are going to have a fantastic weekend in August."

Officially launched in 2019, Cheshire's Family Friendly Music, Food and Lifestyle Extravaganza, Deva Fest proved hugely popular. Like many others, last summer's event had to be postponed due to the ongoing Covid19 Pandemic. Then, organisers promised they would be back and added even more star names for their event. Deva Fest will take place across the weekend of Friday, 12 August, Saturday, 13 August, and Sunday, 14 August 2022, at Chester Lakes, in Dodleston, 3 miles from Chester City Centre.

The weekend programme will starts on Friday, 12 August 2022 with Old School Dance Anthems Day, headlined by Symphonic Ibiza and top hitmaker Sonique. Returning to headline after their triumphant performance in 2019, Symphonic Ibiza will once again thrill the crowds with dance classics. DJ Andy Joyce will be joined by a full symphony orchestra conducted by Steve Etherington to ensure that Symphonic Ibiza transports fans back to the White Isle. The line up also includes Brit Award winning singer, musician and DJ Sonique along with Livin' Joy, JX, Dream Frequency, Berri, Bingo Bango, Dave Graham, Chester DJs Geddes and Gioia and more.

Saturday, 13 August 2022, is Pirate Day! The event, headlined by double platinum selling, and lockdown Kitchen Disco queen, Sophie Ellis Bextor and M People's Heather Small, will feature a host of pirate themed activities and entertainment. The day will feature parades and street performers, with prizes for festivalgoers in the best Jack (or Jackie) Sparrow outfit. Chester's Winter Watch Parade team will provide the entertainment. Singer Song Writer Betty Boo, Brit Award winner Shola Ama and Chester singing duo Belle Voci also appear along with The Pirate Day Ball with TRIX and The Old Time Sailors.

Deva Fest 2022 will close on Sunday, 14 August 2022, with a headline set from festival favourites, Brit Award winning Scouting For Girls, and indie band Dodgy as well as music from The Dunwells and internet sensation Katie Kittermaster. Once again, Deva Fest will offer quality food and drink vendors, who will be hand picked by Taste Cheshire to ensure locally produced tasty offerings and treats are available. They include:- Chinese shao kao, Spanish, Thai, Indian, Turkish and street food from many more world cuisines along with award winning burger and hot dog companies, Polly's Parlour offering ice cream and sorbets from its vintage van, and a range of desserts and vegan options.

You can also make a holiday weekend of it with camping weekend tickets also available with toilet and shower facilities.

Full camping details and information about Deva Fest, including ticket prices are on the website.