Major route in Liverpool to close as part of ₤4 million upgrade

CONTRACTORS for Liverpool City Council are working on Princes Avenue and Road as part of a ₤4m scheme which is seeing the creation of a unique cycle path along the central reservation. Improvements to the area include:- new pedestrian and cycle paths, toucan crossings, carriageway surface, drainage and footway improvements as well as new seating, lighting and improved public artwork and planting of 20 trees.

The work will see:-

► Princes Road in to the City closed from the roundabout to Upper Parliament Street until Wednesday, 29 April 2020 and will close again from Monday, 18 May 2020 until Friday, 22 May 2020.

► Princes Avenue out of the City closed from Upper Parliament Street to the roundabout, from Thursday, 30 April 2020 until Friday, 15 May 2020.

► Both Upper Warwick Street and North Hill Street junctions will be closed throughout the period.

► Temporary bus diversions have been put in place.

The innovative scheme, which falls between Upper Parliament Street and Princes Park Gate, also aims to stimulate the wider regeneration of an area that was created in Liverpool's Victorian maritime hey day. The wide, tree lined boulevard styled avenue leading up to Princes Park was built for the City's merchant class and boasts grand houses as well as a stunning range of religious architecture, including the Grade I listed Gothic/Moorish revival masterpiece that is the Princes Road Jewish Synagogue.

This scheme is part of Liverpool City Region's Sustainable Transport Enhancement Package (STEP) and the City Council was successful in being awarded ₤1.925m from the STEP programme. The remainder of the funding will be provided through the Council's ₤500m Better Roads programme.  As part of the creative engagement process the L8 community including children from local Schools, contributed to the design and literature for the artwork in the public realm areas.

The STEP programme is part of the Local Growth Fund (LGF). Local Growth Funding is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its Strategic Investment Fund. Social value benchmarks and targets are also included in the contract committing contractors NMCN to providing work and training opportunities to the Liverpool labour market.

Councillor Sharon Connor, Liverpool City Council's Cabinet member for highways, said:- "The Princes Avenue/Road scheme will help breathe new life into this area. It's going to revive the most beautiful boulevard in the city and transform how the wider Toxteth community interact and use this remained space. We know the roads are much quieter than normal due to the current Coronavirus restrictions which means there will be a much lower impact than usual. This is classed as essential works and we will be making sure that contractors abide by the rules around social distancing and PPE."

The scheme is set to be completed in the summer. Essential roadworks are still being carried out in line with Government guidelines on safe working and social distancing. More information is available at:- Liverpool.Gov.UK/Betterroads.

Joint pledge to continue vital building safety work during pandemic

ESSENTIAL safety work to replace unsafe cladding on high rise buildings will continue during the Covid-19 emergency, following a commitment from local leaders to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP.  The Mayors of Greater Manchester, Sheffield City Region, London, Liverpool City Region and the West Midlands have pledged their commitment to ensuring vital safety work can continue, where necessary social distancing rules are being followed. This action is to reassure those living in high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding that work to make their homes safe will be prioritised. Earlier this year the Government announced a new ₤1 billion fund to pay for the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding for high rise buildings.  The Pledge sets out a commitment to improving the safety of residential blocks whilst also ensuring those working on site are given clear information and support to guarantee their own safety as well as limiting the spread of Covid-19.

A number of sites across the country have been leading the way, adapting their procedures in ways that include:-

► Having decontamination areas on site, enabling workers to hose down overalls before safe disposal.

► Providing additional toilet and washing facilities, reducing the number of workers gathering together.

► Splitting up work teams with a view to minimising the risk of infection.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said:-  "The Government is bringing about the biggest change in building safety in a generation. The new building safety regime will put residents' safety at its heart and follows the announcement of the unprecedented ₤1 billion fund for removing unsafe cladding from high rise buildings in the Budget. However, I have been deeply concerned that vital building safety work has significantly slowed down as a result of the pandemic. I have been clear that work must resume to ensure the safety of residents living in buildings with unsafe cladding or with insufficient fire safety measures, and it is entirely possible for this work to be done safely within health guidelines. I brought together Mayors and local leaders to find a solution. The agreement that I have reached with them will ensure those working on these vital repair projects can continue to do so safely."

Cllr Peter John OBE, Chair of London Councils, said:- "We cannot allow the unprecedented challenge that we have all faced with Covid-19 as an excuse to forget the challenge of making our buildings fire safe across London and the UK. Councils in London want to see our residents safe in their homes, so remediation work must continue urgently and building-owners and contractors must treat this work as an absolute priority."

The Government has provided sector specific guidance on how to apply social distancing in the workplace in England. This was also reviewed by Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive and includes updated guidance for construction workers making clear that:- "work on site can continue if done in accordance with the social distancing guidelines wherever possible."

Where work continues on site, detailed guidance is available from the Construction Leadership Council on further reducing the risk, including:- measures for maintaining high standards of hygiene. In order to support this vital work, the Ministry of Housing has appointed a firm of construction consultants, Faithful and Gould, to advise those planning and doing ACM cladding remediation work, including identifying and increasing awareness of safe practice under current Covid-19 restrictions.  The National Fire Chiefs Council has also published revised guidance on waking watch interim measures, in the context of Covid-19, that reflects higher rates of occupancy and vulnerability due to people staying home for an extended period of time.