Eureka! Mersey takes a huge stride closer to opening!

A new national attraction in the Liverpool City Region designed to inspire children and young people to be curious about the science of themselves, their communities and the wider world in which we all live has taken a step closer to opening; with construction work now expected to begin early in 2021. Despite the current uncertainty around Coronavirus, the Eureka! Mersey team have spent lockdown working remotely with key partners to progress design and building plans. 5 new conceptual images of the building have been released, on 16 June 2020. As a sister site of Eureka! the National Children's Museum in:- Halifax, Yorkshire, Eureka! Mersey is rooted in an innovative process of co-creating its exhibits, visitor experience and programmes with local young people to ensure it is as relevant and fun as possible.

Due to open in 2022, the 2700 sqm future thinking, interactive centre will occupy the old Spaceport on Wirral waterfront with part of the attraction also housed within the existing Seacombe ferry terminal, which will continue to operate via Merseytravel. 7 key project partners have been selected to help build, design and landscape its facilities and exhibition space, starting from early 2021. The work is expected to take a year. Those behind the project now believe the attraction could prove even more pivotal as the UK plans its post-COVID-19 recovery.

Eureka!'s Chief Executive Leigh-Anne Stradeski said:- "We have been working hard during the current crisis to ensure the timeline for Eureka! Mersey stays on track. Giving young people the opportunity to explore, discover and think again about their futures seems ever more crucial now as the country looks for new ways to rebuild in the years and decades after this current pandemic. Eureka! Mersey was always due to be a space where young people can engage with, and learn about science and technology in a hands-on, fun and educational way. At a time when science is so important and with major global challenges ahead from both COVID-19 and climate change, Science Centres across the UK provide our Regional cities and Towns with crucial opportunities to access science in an approachable and engaging way, helping to inspire our next generation of scientists and engineers. The team at Eureka! are determined that Eureka! Mersey, alongside all the other exciting cultural attractions already in the area, will play a vital part in rebuilding the Region's visitor economy and future community resilience. We believe children and young people visiting our pioneering and cutting edge spaces will think again about the options ahead of them, some of which they'd never have believed possible or achievable. We hope this will prove especially true for those living locally in Wirral, which is why we are designing this science and discovery attraction with their input and voices at its heart. When it opens, Eureka! Mersey will be the most visitor-led attraction in the UK."

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Our fantastic museums are an integral part of our world-class visitor offer and Eureka! Mersey will add something new and exciting. It's great to see progress continuing on what will become a major attraction for people within our City Region and from further afield. As we start the long road to economic recovery, Eureka! Mersey will play an important role in inspiring our future scientists and engineers, so that they can develop the skills they need to thrive and contribute to building a better future. That's why we are investing ₤6.44m in this project and that's why I am sure that it is money well spent."

Eureka! Mersey has now gone through the 1st 3 stages of its design process for the exhibition space and the complex. Construction is due to start in early 2021 and take 12 months, with a public opening expected in 2022. The site will be linked by ferry from Wirral waterfront to Liverpool and it is hoped that when it opens it will give a huge boost to many of the companies already established locally in growing Regional sectors such as low carbon, advanced manufacturing, life and health sciences and digital and innovation.

► Seddon Construction Ltd - Main contractor responsible for building/refurbishment.

► K2 Architects - Responsible for internal architecture planning and design.

► Urban Green - Landscape architects redesigning the outdoor spaces.

► Real Studios - Creating specific designs for the exhibition spaces.

► TACE - Building Services Engineers (Liverpool) - Responsible for utilities and all that makes the building operational.

► Sutcliffe - Structural and Civil Engineering (Liverpool) - Structural engineers for large scale building alterations such as the adding of a new mezzanine floor.

► Playmaker Studio - Brand and design consultants (Liverpool)

A safety 1st for Liverpool as Taxi screens get the City moving

LIVERPOOL City Council has become the 1st Local Authority in the country to approve a locally made protective screen for Taxis and Private Hire vehicles that will help prevent the spread of Coronavirus. People travelling around Liverpool by Taxi will now have added protection and peace of mind thanks to the pioneering project to fit public vehicles with special screens. Liverpool City Council's Licensing Team has joined forces with locally based Car 'N' Cab Care to promote the safety screens to keep both drivers and passengers safe. The screens were designed and manufactured by Car 'N' Cab Care and take less than an hour to install. They have been designed so passengers can still communicate with the driver and include a special 'letterbox' through which passengers can safely pay the fare. The screens cost just over ₤300 to make and install for a typical saloon car. The Council's Licensing Team reports that many of the City's drivers have been unable to work during the lockdown period due to social distancing rules. With the City now beginning to re-open for non-essential shopping and people returning to work, it is hoped that the introduction of the safety screens will both help to prevent any further spread of the Coronavirus and to boost the public's confidence in travelling by cab. The Licensing Team has also implemented a strict regime for hygiene for the cab and Taxi trade which includes vehicles undergoing a clean after every journey. The safety screens have become an instant hit with the Taxi trade and drivers from across the Region and other parts of the country travelling to have them fitted.

Shaun Marnell of Car 'N' Cab Care, who designed the screens, said:- "When the Coronavirus outbreak 1st began I realised it was going to mean big changes for the industry. As a father, I thought to myself that there is no way I would let my child travel in a cab or Taxi unprotected, which is where the idea for the screen came from. We put together the prototype in just under 2 days and then began to sound our Local Authorities about the idea. We have a great relationship with Liverpool City Council and the Licensing Team was immediately interested in the idea. Now they have started to be adopted in the City which is great news for both passengers and drivers. Liverpool City Council has really led the way with this project."

Liverpool Taxi driver Mike Pennington was one of the 1st to have the screen fitted, he said:- "The lockdown period has been a terrible time for the trade. I haven't worked for 6 weeks because there are so few passengers. I also wasn't prepared to go back until there were some extra precautions in place. These screens couldn't have come at a better time and the Council has done a great job in inspecting them and passing them as safe to use so quickly."

Chair of Liverpool City Council's Licensing Committee, Cllr Christine Banks, said:- "The safety of both drivers and the travelling public is the number one priority for us but we also want to do our bit to get the City moving again, get our drivers back into work and support the local economy. We have acted swiftly and worked with our partners to get these new screens rigorously tested and ready to be installed in the vehicles. Whilst it is not compulsory for drivers to have a screen and there is a cost to having them fitted, we feel many more of the City's drivers will come forward to get them fitted. We are also making sure we are prepared for the future by helping to prevent the spread of the virus."