Removal of landing stage and linkspan at Woodside makes for eye catching riverside sight

IT was a spectacular sight on the River Mersey this week as Woodside Ferry Terminal's landing stage and linkspan bridge were removed after almost 40 years of service.

Onlookers saw the 1st stage of this complex engineering work take place this week as the existing 39-year-old landing stage, 110-tonne linkspan bridge and 45 tonne connecting boom were removed over 2 days, part of a wider project to regenerate the Ferry services for future generations.

Stunning images captured the moment both structures were taken away to be recycled. The landing stage is set to be used as a barge, whilst the linkspan bridge and boom will be used as scrap metal. Some elements, including:- the gangways and Royal Crest, are being retained for heritage use.

They will be replaced with a new linkspan bridge and landing stage with modern passenger waiting facilities, which are currently under construction.

The £9m plus investment will help secure the long-term viability of the important cultural asset as part of a major regeneration project to transform the area into a 'vibrant and unique waterfront destination' led by Wirral Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

The regeneration scheme is being made possible by Levelling Up funding from Wirral Council, which this year consulted on a Masterplan to breathe new life into the area at the heart of which sits the £20m plus Woodside infrastructure and active travel project to connect the Woodside Waterfront with Birkenhead Town Centre.

The Masterplan proposals include:- 1,700 homes, 2 new hotels, major leisure facilities and an outside event space wrapping around the Ferry Terminal building.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:- "It was a really spectacular sight this week to see the removal of the landing stage and linkspan bridge at Woodside for recycling. The formidable structures have served us well over the last 4 decades, but it's important for us to look to the future and fit in with the wider improvements taking place in the Woodside area. We're really pleased to be playing our part alongside Wirral Council in the transformative regeneration that will be taking place over the next few years. Alongside our plans for a new ferry, these works highlight our commitment to the Mersey Ferries and their importance as a much-beloved cultural asset for our City Region."

Cllr Paul Stuart, Leader of Wirral Council, said:- "Witnessing the removal of the landing stage and linkspan bridge at Woodside for recycling marks a significant milestone in our plans for the revamped ferry terminal and the wider regeneration of the Woodside area. Our investment in creating a modern terminal for Mersey Ferries at Woodside is a testament to the importance of our iconic ferry services and the potential of this waterfront location. It's exciting to see the Woodside vision becoming 1 step closer to reality."

The new landing stage and linkspan bridge is due for completion in summer 2025 and follows the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Seacombe Ferry Terminal, which reopened in 2022.

The upgraded terminals will be ready to welcome the new £26m Mersey Ferry announced by Mayor Rotheram last year and due to be launched by the summer of 2026.

High level delegation from German City state of Hamburg visits Liverpool City Region

REPRESENTATIVES from Liverpool City Region are visiting the German City State of Hamburg for high level talks focussed on:- trade, culture, tourism, innovation and life sciences.

The visit follows on from a fact finding mission led by Mayor Steve Rotheram in 2024 and is aimed at forging closer cultural and economic ties between the Liverpool City Region and Hamburg.

The areas already have existing links, but this visit aims to make further gains and strengthen the area's already strong foothold in the UK's 2nd biggest export market.

The Hamburg delegation looked to build relationships and share experiences around strategic priorities including trade and investment, culture and tourism, innovation and health and life sciences.

As part of the visit, the Liverpool City Region's policy experts have attended presentations and networking events designed to showcase our Region's:- visitor economy, cutting-edge research, scientific innovation, and high-tech businesses, to the representatives of Hamburg's urban population of around 2.5 million people. Further talks took place around promoting shared links to the Beatles; who cut their teeth as a band in Hamburg before going on to achieve worldwide fame. This resulted in the delegation also visiting:- Sci-Tech Daresbury, Universities, and the award-winning Beatles Story Museum in Hamburg.

Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "We are very pleased to welcome a high level delegation from Hamburg to the City Region. This follows on from our very successful Mayoral visit to Hamburg in 2023 and is focused on developing closer links between us. This visit will cement our partnership, and promote and deliver joint projects with real and tangible benefits for our 2 Cities, in areas as diverse as tourism, health and life sciences, academic collaborations, and of course, the Beatles! The 2023 Mayoral Mission to Hamburg strengthened trade and investment ties; linking German businesses and trade associations with the Liverpool City Region. Representatives discussed:- public transport and urban mobility, decarbonization, green hydrogen, and Hamburg's approach to climate change, biodiversity, and Net Zero. The Hamburg delegation looked to build on this work with another similarly packed schedule of meetings and networking events. Discussions took place with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University aimed at maximizing international cooperation. A tour of Sci-Tech Daresbury, the North of England's only national science and innovation campus, explored the potential for collaboration with the Northern Germany life science hotspot, Life Sciences Nord. There was also a presentation by the City Region's pioneering new visitor economy partnership which was set up this year to develop the visitor economy via strategic partnerships and marketing initiatives."

It is worth adding that we are told that talks have also taken place around the City Region potentially joining Hamburg's annual Hafengeburtstag festival, a huge international maritime event which this year celebrated the port's 835th Birthday.