Southport Air Show 2025 - tickets on sale now!

THE biggest Air Show in the North West of England will be held on Southport's Seafront, Southport, on both:- Saturday, 30 August and Sunday, 31 August 2025.

If you have not been to this display before, it is an exhilarating day. While the skies will be filled with jaw dropping aerial displays, there’s plenty to enjoy on the ground too! From flight simulators to exploring static aircraft and military vehicles, there’s something for everyone.

It’s the perfect family day out, offering a mix of adventure, education, and awe-inspiring performances. Tickets are priced at £12 for general admission, with under 16 years of age FREE. Parking is £10 per car payable on the day.

The event also offers you a chance to talk to members of the UK's Armed Forces about career opportunities in the Military Village or experiencing the next best thing to flying a jet in one of the exhilarating flight simulators. Plus, you will get to see amazing flying displays, with Thrilling and daring aerobatics, breath taking historical aircraft making graceful tributes to our past or fast and powerful jets; this is a weekend not to be missed!

There are plenty of ground attractions that will keep the kids entertained all weekend. More information will be released as the show gets closer, but tickets often sell out fast, so get your tickets today, to avoid disappointment:- SeeTickets.Com.

Southport Auto Centre - The Festival Of Transport Fundraising Day 2025

THIS Summer Southport Auto Centre will be holding our annual fundraising event:- 'The Festival Of Transport Fundraising Day 2025' in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

This will take place on:- Sunday, 22 June 2025, Unlike previous years the event will be hosted at a different location:- Elim Hundred End Lane, Hesketh Bank, PR46XL, from:- 10am to 4pm.

The event will have a large collection of:- Vintage Classic Cars and Motorcycles, Tractors, Trucks and Stationary Engines. It will also have refreshment stands, plus more.

This is a none ticket event - Donation on arrival at the gate.

For more information please contact Southport Auto Centre on:- 01704884418.

Publicly Owned, Passenger Focused: Mayor Unveils Day 1 Bus Upgrades

BUS services across the Liverpool City Region are set for a major shake up, as Mayor Steve Rotheram accelerates the introduction of the Region's 1st publicly run bus network in nearly 40 years.

From day 1 of the rollout, passengers will benefit from more frequent services, extended routes, and better links to:- Hospitals and Railway Stations across the Merseyside area and the Liverpool City Region as a hole.

A new express service between:- St Helens and Liverpool John Lennon Airport will also be introduced, with further enhancements being explored elsewhere as the rollout progresses.

The franchising model; which allows public control over routes, fares, and timetables to prioritise passengers over private profits; will be introduced a year earlier than originally planned. The 1st phase will begin in St Helens, back in 2026, with Wirral next, before rolling out across all 6 boroughs by the end of 2027.

Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "Reliable, regular, and affordable buses are the backbone of a great public transport system. They connect people to work, education, and each other; but for too long, our services have been run in the interests of private operators, not passengers. That's why I took the historic decision to bring our buses back under public control; a move backed by nearly 70% of people in our Region. For the 1st time in nearly 40 years, we will have the power to set fares, routes, and timetables, ensuring that buses work for the people who rely on them. And because we're moving faster than planned, more communities will feel the benefits even sooner."

Taking back control of buses is a key part of the Mayor's wider vision for a fully integrated, London-style public transport system that is quicker, simpler, and more affordable.

At next week's Combined Authority meeting, leaders will consider a £119m investment in new buses, depots, and infrastructure upgrades to support the transition. This includes:- the purchase of new all-electric double-decker buses, as the City Region builds on its commitment to becoming net zero carbon by 2035.

The Combined Authority's wider £400m capital programme for 2025/26 includes:-

• £46m for rail improvements, including:- progress on the new Baltic Station (£25m), better accessibility at existing stations (£8m), and expanded capacity at Sandhills (£4m).
  

• £15m for the Mersey Ferries, including:- the 1st new ferry in over 60 years.
  

• £17m for Mersey Tunnels upgrades.
  

• Funding for smart ticketing, electric vehicle infrastructure, and active travel routes.

Mayor Rotheram added:- "This isn't just about getting from A to B; it's about transforming how people move around our City Region, cutting congestion, improving air quality, and building a transport system that is cleaner, greener, and fit for the future."

With 94% of the funding coming from Government grants, the Combined Authority is committed to delivering better buses, lower fares, and simpler journeys; without placing additional burden on taxpayers.

The Liverpool City Region has already delivered £500m of investment in a brand-new rail fleet, built the £80m Headbolt Lane Station, and introduced a £2 bus fare cap until September 2025 to help residents through the cost of living crisis.

Mayor Rotheram concluded:- "People in our Region deserve a public transport system that works for them. Through bold, decisive action, we're putting the public back into public transport; and making buses a 1st choice, not a last resort."

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