Liverpool awards new highway maintenance contract

LIVERPOOL City Council has awarded a multi million pound highways maintenance contract to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of the City’s roads.

The Council has approved the crucial highway maintenance contract be awarded to two companies; which will run for up to five years.

The contract award comes as the Council nears the completion of the Highways Improvement Plan 2 (HIP2), which has seen more than £11m invested in the City’s roads.

The Council’s Cabinet has approved the awarding of the new contracts to two experienced companies, Dowhigh Ltd and Huyton Asphalt Civils Ltd.

As part of the contract, the 2 firms are committed to creating social value that will see benefit to the community in addition to the work carried out.

Liverpool City Council has also recently announced a new £4million contract for the Traffic Signal Upgrade Programme.

This initiative aims to modernise six key junctions, enhance pedestrian safety, reduce congestion and promote active travel.

In addition, Liverpool City Council is a key partner in ADEPT Live Labs 2, a three-year, UK-wide £30 million programme funded by the Department for Transport that aims to decarbonise the local highway network.

The Council is pioneering the use of smart road and highway technologies with a series of experiments across the City on roads, pedestrian crossings and cycle paths.

The hope is that these new technologies will reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, alleviate congestion, and create more sustainable neighbourhoods.

Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said:- "The safety and upkeep of our roads are vital for our community. These contracts allow us to maintain essential services. They will also see us work in a more efficient and cost effective way. This means that road-users will notice roads getting repaired quicker, with the work meeting higher standards. The Council has a responsibility under the Highways Act 1980 to maintain roads and these contracts will ensure that we continue to deliver necessary repairs, including:- pothole repairs, resurfacing, and drainage maintenance to the highest possible standards. The council has chosen to work with these companies because of their proven track record and their local presence, which helps to ensure good value for money."

Matt Corke, Framework Director at Dowhigh, said:- "We are proud to be awarded this vital contract by Liverpool City Council. As a local, family-run business with deep roots in Merseyside, we’re committed to delivering high quality, long lasting highway repairs that make a real difference to communities across the City. Through close collaboration with the Council, we’ll focus on efficient pothole repairs and resurfacing, helping to make Liverpool’s roads safer and more reliable. We’re equally committed to creating meaningful social value; from supporting local employment and skills development to working alongside responsible local businesses. Together, we’ll build better roads and brighter futures for Liverpool residents."

Tony Carney, Managing Director of HA Civils, expressed his delight in continuing the long-established and successful partnership with Liverpool City Council. He said:- "As a proud Liverpool business, we are committed to building upon the great work we've delivered over many years and supporting the Council's vision for a fairer, cleaner, and stronger City. Through this contract, we will prioritise significant carbon reduction, create sustainable local employment opportunities, deliver measurable social value through our HA Means More initiatives, and provide an exceptional, reliable local service throughout the contract."

STILL getting out and about, still writing amazing poetry and still living by her 5 rules for a long and happy life, the North West's oldest person Marjorie Hodnett Aylward celebrated her 111th birthday on:- Tuesday, 1 April 2025.

Officially the 9th oldest person in the UK and 1 of a select group of only 206 super centenarians (age 110 and above) in England, Aunt Marj, as she is affectionately known, proves that age is no barrier to living life to the full and continues to thrive at Formby Manor Care Centre on Liverpool Road in Formby where she is an active and much loved part of the resident community.

Reaching such an incredible milestone is cause for a super celebration, with the team at Formby Manor pulling out all the stops to create a day to remember for Aunt Marj filled with her favourite people and things.

At Aunt Marj's request there was entertainment from a singing group called:- 'Maggie and Mandy' and then the children from Freshfield Primary School Y6 sang Happy Birthday. Auntie Marj requested afternoon high tea, which comprised cold cooked meats, bread rolls, cheese and pickles and cucumber sandwiches on brown bread followed by scones with clotted cream and jam with her beloved cup of tea.

Her beautiful birthday cake was created in house by Formby Manor's talented head chef and comprised Madeira which is her favourite. After high tea Auntie Marj played her favourite game of heads up with staff and residents with her favourite tipple of a small glass of Sherry

Cards have been flooding in from well wishers and Schools across the North West and Aunt Marj has also recently received her congratulations card with personal message from King Charles III.

Home Manager at Formby Manor Nikki Foster said: "Aunt Marj is an incredible lady and a real character, she is a key part of the community in our home and continues to enjoy life with trips the garden centre, painting, poetry and keeping her mind active with wordsearches and watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire. It is a privilege to celebrate this special day with her surrounded by her family and friends."