Independents Liverpool Biennial 18 September – 28 November 2010

The Independents is one of the largest and most exciting contemporary visual arts festivals in the UK, with an exhibitions programme that runs in parallel to the Liverpool Biennial.

This year the Independents will showcase more than 500 artists in 129 events at 62 venues in Liverpool and the Wirral. It is an open access contemporary art event that showcases young blood and emerging new talent alongside established international artists, throwing up unexpected and genuine surprises in extraordinary and sometimes unusual venues.

Despite the setback of no funding from the Arts Council in a year of stringent public finances and cultural sector funding cuts, the Independents Festival will carry on thanks to revenue and support generated by hundreds of participating artists and galleries.

Mark Willcox, Chair of the independents Board, said:

“Artists and galleries have rallied to help the Festival fight on against all odds this year because they realise the importance, the potential and the value that the Independents has for them. In the current economic climate their support really is something to celebrate”.

With a mix of local, national and international artists, the Independents continues to be a major event that provides opportunities for artists to showcase new work specifically created for the festival.

There is no specific theme for the Independents; some artists create work in relation to a particular space.  For example, 17 artists on the MA photography course at the Royal College of Art will be showing new site-specific work at the Wolstenholme Creative Space using both the interior and exterior of the building.

Established names include the British abstract painter, John Hoyland RA, who will be showing at 3345 Parr Street. Hoyland is part of Abstract Amigos, a series of four separate shows running from 1st September through to 5th December 2010.

The 2006 John Moores Painting Prize winner, Martin Greenland, is showing New Fiction, at the Cornerstone Gallery, a unique take on the meaning of landscape.

Found a Pound is a quirky Liverpool city-wide event in the form of a creative treasure hunt that will take place in art galleries, public spaces and on the street.

Franchon Fröhlich is a long-established international artist based in Liverpool who is showing a collection of drawings, paintings and writings related to the artist’s friendship with the writer Beryl Bainbridge.

At the Six Rooms Gallery, Argyle St, Birkenhead, there are three eclectic group exhibitions encompassing art, craft, design and architecture by more than 25 Wirral artists showing for the duration of the Festival.

With more than 500 artists taking part this is an exciting opportunity to spend the next ten weeks to search out and see work across all disciplines by individuals and groups in a range of places and spaces.

The Independents Liverpool Biennial is an established ‘not-for-profit’ Contemporary Arts Festival established in 2004. The Independents Liverpool Biennial is a free event, taking place from 18th September to 28 November 2010. Full details about all events can be found at www.independentsbiennial.org

The  C.E.L.L.S Project is a Merseyside based charity formed in 2010 to meet the need for youth crime prevention on Merseyside and the UK. We facilitate innovative crime educational programmes to young people, who otherwise would be unaware of the consequences of crime.

We deliver a series of bespoke presentations and packages, the flagship of which is our mobile prison on wheels experiences HMP Turnround. This is a preventative visit to prison, incorporating governors receptions room, holding area and replica functional prison cell. All our presentations are undertaken by our highly trained and experienced team consisting of rehabilitated ex-offenders, ex-prison guards and victims of crime, all with the same aim of making young people aware of how crime effects all it touches.

Prison in the UK is a punishment for people who choose crime.We aim to use our prison as a deterrent by educating young people on prison life and the misery that comes with it. We believe every child deserves to know what may lie ahead if they choose negative lifestyles.

Our programmes are widely acknowledged as being a unique and proven crime deterrent with staff that young people can relate to, because we have this unique approach the young people listen and learn. When they have an understanding of crime & its consequences we signpost them to alternative activities including vocational training and entrance to employment.

What we have is basically a double edged sword of crime prevention for young people and rehabilitation for ex-offenders whose career prospects would otherwise be limited. The benefits of these events within the community are endless, what we are trying to offer is not just crime education but a reduction in anti social behaviour also initial & reoffending within our communities.

If anyone would like to view The CELLS Project please feel free to attend an employment event we are attending at the Devonshire House Liverpool on the 20th October.

The event is being held to raise awareness for employers into  opportunity and benefits of employing rehabilitated ex offenders, and will be held from 1700 to 2200, buffet lunch and entertainment will be provided and will be a fantastic networking opportunity.

Or contact;  

Shaun or Sarah on Tel 0151 709 8687  Mobile 07912 516350  Email sg@cib-uk.com

Vincent Cable urged his colleagues not to introduce new border controls that would harm economic growth.

The government plans a cap on immigration, but as a European Union member it would only be able to cap immigration from outside the EU.

Damian Green, the immigration minister, pointed out the unexpected rise in net migration this force the government to examine new policies on immigration system.

With this in mind, this forum will discuss the impact of migration on the UK economy and society and what developments are expected under the new government. It will give stakeholders the opportunity to discuss the future challenges facing the immigration system and border security teams.

Sessions will focus on the impact of the coalition government’s immigration policy and consider the human rights and legal issues surrounding migration. Stakeholders will discuss the benefits of migration for the economy and education sector and will examine the challenge for community cohesion.

View agenda

Book Online or call 0845 666 0664

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS* (include)

• Ian Macdonald QC, President, Immigration Law Practitioners Association
• Sir Andrew Green, Chair, Migration Watch UK
• Professor David Metcalf CBE, Professor of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, and Chair of the UK Border Agency Migration Advisory Committee
• Suzanne McCarthy, Immigration Services Commissioner, The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC)
• Tim Finch, Head of Migration, Equalities and Citizenship, Institute of Public Policy Research
• Dr Phyllis Starkey, former Chair, Communities and Local Government Select Committee
• Professor Ted Cantle, Associate Director, IDeA and Professor, Institute of Community Cohesion
• Sean Bamford, Policy Officer, European Union and International Relations Department, Trades Union Congress
• Donna Covey, Chief Executive, Refugee Council
• Dominic Scott OBE, Chief Executive, UK Council for International Student Afairs
• Ann Swain, Chief Executive, Association of Professional Staffing Companies, APSco

*ALL presentation slides of the speakers will be sent to all delegates for FREE after the event.

• All the City Centre Movement Strategy schemes are progressing very well with full details in the update.
• The Everton Valley gas works are nearly complete however more remedial work will be necessary in the area soon so I will update you as soon as the information is available.
• The works to the high mast lighting around the Rocket Interchange continues over the weekend and into next week with lane restrictions.
• We have included details of closures of the Queensway tunnel in October which includes a full weekend closure and there will be lane closures on Sefton Street from Wednesday of next week, subject to the works receiving approval on Tuesday.

Roads Affected by Works
Aigburth Road / Baltic Triangle / Commercial District (Dale Street & Old Hall Street) / Edge Lane / Everton Valley / Hall Lane / Kingsway Tunnel / Knowledge Quarter (Mount Pleasant area) / M62 (including The Rocket Interchange; Queens Drive; Bowring Park Road) / Queensway Tunnel /  Riverside Drive / Sefton Street

Aigburth Road
Work is underway to replace a gas main on Aigburth Road between Beechwood Road and Dingle Lane. There have been some problems with phase 2 and work is still in this phase.

The work is being carried out in four phases:

• Beechwood Road to St Margaret’s C of E School, (including the Aigburth Road/Aigburth Hall Avenue junction) - Complete
• St. Margaret’s C of E School to the junction of Fulwood Park and Aigburth Road for 8 weeks – Current Phase.
• Fulwood Park to the junction of Colbrooke Road and Aigburth Road for 12 weeks.
• The junction of Colbrooke Road and Aigburth Road along Colbrooke Road into Dingle Vale and into Dingle Lane for 4 weeks.
The work is being carried out under lane restrictions and there may be slight variations to the programme due to unforeseen circumstances. This information will be regularly updated.

The junction of Ashfield Road from Aigburth Road is closed off-peak, (9.30am to 3.30pm) until Tuesday, 7th Sept/Wednesday, 8th Sept.

The slip road off Aigburth Road outbound, just before the traffic lights, leading to Aigburth Vale, will be closed until Ashfield Road reopens fully. Buses and other traffic will be diverted into Sefton Park and back onto Aigburth Vale.

The works in Phase 3 are currently being programmed and will mean lane restrictions from Fulwood Park to Dingle Vale. There will be more details available shortly.

Baltic Triangle
The CCMS scheme to improve the pavements and highways in the Baltic Triangle area has been on site since March 2010. Access to all local businesses is available at ALL times.

Sections of Jamaica Street between Bridgewater St and Blundell St are closed to traffic to allow the works to be completed safely and efficiently although access is available via side streets to all businesses. The section of Jamaica Street from Parliament Street to Norfolk Street is now complete and completely resurfaced. Traffic signal installation at the Parliament Street end of Jamaica Street will be completed by the end of next month.

Work is due to be completed by the end of October 2010.

Unfortunately Scottish Power have had to undertake emergency works at the junction of Parliament Street and Jamaica Street resulting in excavations within recently completed work areas. The City Council are working with partners Enterprise Liverpool to ensure that Scottish Power reinstall finished paving to the highest standards.

Commercial District
On Dale Street work is complete between Vernon Street and Churchill Way Flyover. Work has now started outside Municipal Buildings between Crosshall St and Sir Thomas Street. These works will take approximately two weeks to complete after which works will progress into the city towards Stanley Street.

The Disabled Car parking facilities outside the Municipal Buildings will be temporarily suspended for a short period to allow works to be undertaken in this area. The bus stop will also be closed for a short time.

The slip road from Hatton Garden onto Dale Street is temporarily closed to allow the safe construction of the kerbs and footpaths. This closure will be carefully monitored and consultation will begin to possibly make it permanent. Crosshall Street will be reduced to one lane at its junction with Dale Street to facilitate regulatory Traffic Management in this location for a limited time.

In order to minimise disruption to transport movement between Crosshall Street and Stanley Street, Dale Street may be reduced to one lane at weekends. This will only be undertaken when absolutely necessary for safety reasons.

Works on the southern footpath at the Town Hall end of the street, between Castle Street and North John Street, have started on site having been reprogrammed reconstruction works to proceed ahead of schedule. This has a minimal impact on traffic as the carriageway is wide enough for through traffic and will also help to speed completion of the works. These works will be completed in approximately two weeks time although this estimate, as with all CCMS works, is weather dependent.

Delays are continuing to be experienced due to shallow underground services found on site but the City Council is working with partners to undertake diversion works to minimise delays to the construction period.

Transco upgrade works are expected in the area around Hackins Hey which will close for a weekend on a date to be agreed to minimise impact upon local traffic and businesses.  Transco also report that they will be seeking to undertake improvement works along North John Street starting at its Dale Street junction ahead of City Council CCMS works, probably within the next few weeks subject to approvals by partners.

The whole section of ‘blacktop’ carriageway along Dale Street between the flyover and Exchange St East will be reconstructed before the end of the scheme by Enterprise Liverpool Ltd in partnership with the City Council. Further details will be available at a later date.

On Old Hall Street work is now underway on the section of footpath between Old Leeds Street and Edward Street.

The traffic islands at the junction with Old Leeds Street and Rigby Street have both been successfully removed. This will now make through traffic flows easier and safer.   A one way restriction northbound between Brook Street and Union Street was introduced on 16th August until the end of the works early in 2011.

The whole of the CCMS works on both streets in the Commercial District will be completed by early 2011.

Edge Lane
There are intermittent off-peak lane restrictions due to work being carried out by National Grid on Edge Lane (outbound) at the junction with Laurel Road. There will also be works at the junction with Binns Road, again with intermittent lane closures, but the contractor will only work on one site at a time to minimise disruption. These works are expected to be completed within a week.

Everton Valley
Lane restrictions are in place on Everton Valley near the junction of Netherfield Road heading south.  Emergency gas works are being undertaken and the works are expected to continue for another week.

 However during the course of these works, other small leaks have been identified which will require repairing so there will be further works in this area in the coming weeks with more details as soon as they are available.

Hall Lane Strategic Gateway
Hall Lane Strategic Gateway, now under construction, will provide a much improved traffic route for vehicles entering Liverpool from the east and will take through traffic out of the residential areas.

West Derby Street is now closed until towards the end of the year to enable major utilities and junction work to be carried out.

The major Gas main diversion work up Irvine Street and across Minshull Street has now been completed.

There will be some lane restrictions and closures around the Low Hill/Prescot Street/Kensington junction whilst new carriageway works are carried out. These restrictions will be in place for 20 weeks, we are currently in week seven of this particular Traffic Management phase.

The reinforced earth retaining wall is complete and is now being clad with sandstone. In situ reinforced concrete walls are required for short lengths at each end of the wall, and work on these is now in progress.  The fencing work along the top of the retaining wall has commenced, and continues as sections of wall become available.

The sandstone in front of the wall is being excavated to road formation level and the excavated material is being re-used on site.

The Presbytery rebuilding works are complete and the car park area is being prepared.

Other off line road works have been continuing and parts of the new road have had drainage installed and road construction completed up to underside of the surface course.

We apologise in advance for any disruption these works will cause as we create a much improved route for vehicles entering our city from the east and remove through traffic from residential areas.

Kingsway Tunnel
The south tube of the Kingsway Tunnel will be closed from 10pm on Monday, 6th September to 6.30am on Tuesday, 7th September. It will also be closed from 9pm to 6.30am from Tuesday, 7th to Thursday, 9th September. These closures are for cleaning work to be carried out.

The south tube will be closed again from 7pm on Friday, 10th September to 6.30am on Monday, 13th September for road deck repairs.

During all of these closures traffic will flow two-way through the north tube.

Knowledge Quarter/Mount Pleasant
Work is continuing on the CCMS scheme in the Knowledge Quarter in the area around the Metropolitan Cathedral and Liverpool University.

The upper part of Mount Pleasant from the junction with Oxford Street to Brownlow Hill is closed to traffic to allow the works to be completed safely. Safe and accessible pedestrian facilities will be maintained throughout the extent of the works. The footpath around the perimeter of the Metropolitan Cathedral is almost complete. This enlarged section of footpath should be open to pedestrian traffic permanently by the end of the week, weather permitting.

Access to the University car parks, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Cathedral House and the Catholic Chaplaincy to the University is being maintained at all times from the Brownlow Hill junction while Upper Mount Pleasant is closed.

Works to the area outside the steps to the Metropolitan Cathedral are continuing ahead of paving works to ensure completion of this footpath and revised road alignment before Hope Street Feast in September.

Footpath works are now complete in Great Orford Street apart from the pedestrian crossing table which will be installed at a later date to coincide with local school holidays. Work is complete on Clarence Street to the carriageway, kerbs and footpaths.

Advance Traffic signal works to the junction at Clarence/Rodney/Mount Pleasant are complete ahead of schedule. New carriageway surfacing and road markings, including advanced stop lines for cyclists will be completed at a later date after kerbing and pedestrian tactile facilities have been installed.

Work has also started on sections of footpath on the outbound lane between Mount Pleasant car park and Clarence Street. Delays are being experienced due to damaged cellars caused by earlier Statutory Undertakers’ works. These have left structural problems which are slowing down CCMS works until an agreeable solution to all parties can be found. Works will continue on footpaths down into Mount Pleasant towards the Multi Storey Car Park once progress is made in this area.

Works will shortly commence on the outbound footpath in Oxford Street between Mount Pleasant and Mulberry Street after the Bank Holiday weekend. There will be minimal impact upon the highway and through traffic in this location. Works will also start in Rodney Street between Mount Pleasant and Hardman Street after the Hope Street Festival at a date to be agreed.

The whole of the works connected with this scheme and including Oxford Street are due for completion in April/May next year.

M62 / The Rocket Interchange / Queens Drive / Bowring Park Road
Essential maintenance work to the high mast street lights in this area will mean off-peak lane restrictions and lane closures in this area from September 1st to September 5th.

The main works will be on Sunday, September 5th with traffic management back over the brow of the hill at the end of the M62 to provide motorists with sufficient warning of the lane closures.

The work will continue from Tuesday, 7th September to Friday, 10th September, again with off-peak lane restrictions and closures.

Queensway Tunnel
Queensway Tunnel will be closed in both directions from 10pm to 6.30am from Monday, 13th September to Thursday, 16th September for essential maintenance works.

It will also be closed from 10pm on Saturday, 2nd October until 6.30am on Monday, 4th October for a multi-agency exercise.

It will be closed again for essential maintenance works from 10pm to 6.30am from Monday, 4th October to Thursday, 7th October. During these closures all traffic should use the Kingsway Tunnel.

Riverside Drive
Work to the electrical supply will mean temporary two-way traffic lights from September 6th for up to three days during off-peak hours, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The works are at the pedestrian crossing at the entrance to Priory Wood.

Sefton Street
Works to upgrade traffic signals are due to begin on Wednesday, 8th September for three weeks at the junction with Parliament Street with lane restrictions, subject to approval from the highways authorities.

These works will be suspended and the site cleared during the Liberal Democrat Conference at the Echo Arena and Conference Centre.

Alongside welcoming back our National Media Partner, The Independent, we are delighted to have Official Hotel Partner, Novotel Liverpool and Visitor Services Partner, John Lewis on board for the first time. 

You can read more about our partnership with the Independent here.

Read about the partnership with Novotel here

John Lewis chose to sponsor the Liverpool Biennial 2010 Visitor Centre based at the old Rapid Hardware store on Renshaw Street. As Visitor Services Partner, John Lewis will be providing a series of training events for both Liverpool Biennial staff and volunteers.

Liverpool Biennial 2008 welcomed 450,000 visitors who in total made 975,000 visits to Biennial exhibits or sites. The Visitor Centre acts as the hub of the festival, welcoming visitors from all over the world, and we are delighted to have the support of such a well-established, quality brand and look forward to working with John Lewis closely on the development of this year’s Visitor Services offer.

We would also like to welcome Project Sponsors BAM Construction who have chosen to sponsor Hector Zamora’s State of Strain: Displacement based at one of their current development sites, Mann Island.

In addition to BAM Construction, Verso Books have kindly offered their support towards the realisation of Alfredo Jaar’s The Marx Lounge, providing upwards of 800 books for the exhibit.

As Project Sponsors, both BAM Construction and Verso Books will enjoy benefits associated with the their chosen project and the opportunity to be partnered with Liverpool Biennial’s prestigious International exhibition, the world-class focus of the Biennial festival.

Cartridge World have a new store in Moorfields in Liverpool City Centre which was officially opened by Berni Turner, Liverpool City’s Environment Councillor.

Cartridge World is a UK network of stores which refill and remanufacture Inkjet and Toner Cartridges and this store is the first franchise to open in Liverpool City Centre.

The Manager, Malcolm Sibson, said “We think our business will be particularly welcomed in Liverpool. Refilled & remanufactured cartridges are 40-50% cheaper than original manufacturer’s cartridges and save consumers and businesses significant amounts of money in these days of the credit crunch.

“The carbon footprint of a refilled laser cartridge is up to a third less than a “new” cartridge and avoids sending empties to landfill which then take 450 years to breakdown. Our location in the city centre is perfect for the business and home printer user.

“Every year, millions of printer cartridges needlessly end up in landfill.  At Cartridge World, we are doing everything we can to reduce that impact. We provide an alternative so that customers like you can opt for printer cartridges which support sustainable development for our planet’s precious resources. Every cartridge refilled is one less cartridge going to landfill - and that’s a choice you can feel proud of. ”

Last year Cartridge World saved its customers over £8.3 million and saved almost 2.5 million empty cartridges from landfill through refilling them. Mark Holland, UK General Manager of Cartridge World said, “The credit crisis has encouraged businesses and consumers to seek alternatives to the expensive original manufacturers products. You don’t have to be a company CEO to know it doesn’t make sense to pay inflated prices when there is another option. With the start of a new financial year businesses are putting operational costs under the microscope. They may be surprised by the amount of money they can save simply by having their empty printer cartridges refilled at Cartridge World. The UK’s market leading retailer of refilled and remanufactured printer cartridges, is helping businesses and retail customers to make substantial savings by refilling their empty printer cartridges rather than purchasing expensive original manufacturers products. “

Three new “green” jobs have been created  in their Moorfields store fulfilling government’s expectations that the future lies in low carbon technologies and greener business, and further jobs will be created as the business progresses and sales build up.

Cartridge World Liverpool City Centre
61 Moorfields, Liverpool, L2 2BP
Tel: 0151 227 1357  Fax: 0151 236 2677

Learn how to invest in Bank Repossessed Property at the Bold Spirit Conference taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Liverpool on the 18th September 2010.

Subjects to be covered include “How to find and secure bank repossessed property”, “Property Tax Mitigation” and “The Outlook for the Merseyside Property Market”

Bold Spirit has an outstanding track record of finding and securing outstanding value financially distressed property. There will also be the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals during and after the event.

The Distressed Assets Conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, adjacent to Liverpool City Centre.

If you have any questions please call Daniel Hunter on 0151 243 5431

Cost: £97

We are offering a 50% discount for chamber members using the code “livchamber” on booking.

Get all the details and book your place here

This year’s competition, which is not restricted to a transport theme, is open to all Merseyside residents aged 16 and over.

The competition will be judged by internationally renowned contemporary artists THE SINGH TWINS, and two submissions will be chosen, the winner will receive a £500 cash prize and the runner-up £250. Both pieces of artwork will go on permanent display at locations across the transport network.

You can pick up an entry form from any of the Merseytravel Travel Centre’s and Mersey Ferries Terminals as well as various rail stations across the Merseyside network.

Artwork must be submitted in a digital format and sent in to Merseytravel along with a completed signed entry form by 21 September 2010.

For more details on how to enter the competition or to download your copy of the entry form, please visit the Art on the Network competition page.

All the current city centre highway improvement schemes are clearing their sites for the festival and will recommence work next week.

Another item to be aware of is work on high masts around the end of the M62/Rocket Interchange next week with the main works on Sunday, 5th September.

The scheduled works on Speke Boulevard have now been postponed because of the recent bad weather and we’ll update on a new start date as soon as it is available.

For more information on these and other highway schemes, please visit www.liverpool.gov.uk/highwayprojects.

Roads Affected by Works
Aigburth Road / Baltic Triangle / City Centre Events (Mathew Street Festival) / Commercial District (Dale Street & Old Hall Street) / Edge Lane / Everton Valley / Hall Lane / Knowledge Quarter (Mount Pleasant area) / M62 (including The Rocket Interchange; Queens Drive; Bowring Park Road) / Queensway Tunnel /  Riverside Drive / Smithdown Road / Speke Boulevard / Speke Road

Aigburth Road
Work is underway to replace a gas main on Aigburth Road between Beechwood Road and Dingle Lane. There have been some problems with phase 2 and work is still in this phase.

The work is being carried out in four phases:

• Beechwood Road to St Margaret’s C of E School, (including the Aigburth Road/Aigburth Hall Avenue junction) - Complete
• St. Margaret’s C of E School to the junction of Fulwood Park and Aigburth Road for 8 weeks – Current Phase.
• Fulwood Park to the junction of Colbrooke Road and Aigburth Road for 12 weeks.
• The junction of Colbrooke Road and Aigburth Road along Colbrooke Road into Dingle Vale and into Dingle Lane for 4 weeks.
The work is being carried out under lane restrictions and there may be slight variations to the programme due to unforeseen circumstances. This information will be regularly updated.

The slip road off Aigburth Road outbound, just before the traffic lights, leading to Aigburth Vale, will be closed until Tuesday, 31st August. Buses and other traffic will be diverted into Sefton Park and back onto Aigburth Vale.

On Tuesday, 31st August the junction of Ashfield Road from Aigburth Road will be closed for a week.

Exploratory work has been taking place on Thursday, 26th and Friday 27th August at the junction of Eastfield Avenue and Aigburth Road with off-peak lane restrictions both inbound and outbound. More work is expected in this area as part of Phase 3 of the scheme.

Baltic Triangle
The CCMS scheme to improve the pavements and highways in the Baltic Triangle area has been on site since March 2010. Access to all local businesses is available at ALL times.

Sections of Jamaica Street between Bridgewater St and Blundell St are closed to traffic to allow the works to be completed safely and efficiently although access is available via side streets to all businesses. The section of Jamaica Street from Parliament Street to Norfolk Street is now complete and completely resurfaced. Traffic signal installation at the Parliament Street end of Jamaica Street will be completed by the end of next month.

Unfortunately Scottish Power have had to undertake emergency works at the junction of Parliament Street and Jamaica Street resulting in excavations within recently completed work areas. The City Council are working with partners Enterprise Liverpool to ensure that Scottish Power reinstall finished paving to the highest standards.

City Centre Events
Mathew Street Festival: There will be road closures around the city centre for the Mathew Street Festival which takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. For more details, please visit: http://www.mathewstreetfestival.org/getting-here/road-closures/

Commercial District
On Dale Street work is complete between Vernon Street and Churchill Way Flyover. Work has now started outside Municipal Buildings between Crosshall St and Sir Thomas Street but will conclude for the Bank Holiday weekend and the Traffic Management facilities will be temporarily removed to an alternative location for the Mathew Street Festival.

The Disabled Car parking facilities outside the Municipal Buildings will be temporarily suspended for a short period to allow works to be undertaken in this area. The bus stop will also be closed for a short time.

The slip road from Hatton Garden onto Dale Street is temporarily closed to allow the safe construction of the kerbs and footpaths. This closure will be carefully monitored and consultation will begin to possibly make it permanent. Crosshall Street will be reduced to one lane at its junction with Dale Street to facilitate regulatory Traffic Management in this location for a limited time.

In order to minimise disruption to transport movement between Crosshall Street and Stanley Street, Dale Street may be reduced to one lane at weekends. This will only be undertaken when absolutely necessary for safety reasons.

Works on the southern footpath at the Town Hall end of the street, between Castle Street and North John Street, have started on site having been reprogrammed reconstruction works to proceed ahead of schedule. This has a minimal impact on traffic as the carriageway is wide enough for through traffic and will also help to speed completion of the works.

Delays are continuing to be experienced due to shallow underground services found on site but the City Council is working with partners to undertake diversion works to minimise delays to the construction period.

Transco upgrade works are expected in the area around Hackins Hey which will close for a weekend on a date to be agreed to minimise impact upon local traffic and businesses.  Transco also report that they will be seeking to undertake improvement works along North John Street starting at its Dale Street junction ahead of City Council CCMS works, probably within the next few weeks subject to approvals by partners.

The whole section of ‘blacktop’ carriageway along Dale Street between the flyover and Exchange St East will be reconstructed before the end of the scheme by Enterprise Liverpool Ltd in partnership with the City Council. Further details will be available at a later date.

On Old Hall Street work is now underway on the section of footpath between Old Leeds Street and Rigby Street.

The traffic islands at the junction with Old Leeds Street and Rigby Street have both been successfully removed. This will now make through traffic flows easier and safer.   A one way restriction northbound between Brook Street and Union Street has been introduced on 16th August until the end of the works early in 2011.

The whole of the CCMS works on both streets in the Commercial District will be completed by early 2011.

Edge Lane
There are intermittent lane restrictions due to work being carried out by National Grid on Edge Lane (outbound) at the junction with Laurel Road. There will also be works at the junction with Binns Road, again with intermittent lane closures, but the contractor will only work on one site at a time to minimise disruption. This will continue for a further week. Restrictions will be eased daily from 3.30pm.

Everton Valley
Lane restrictions are in place on Everton Valley near the junction of Netherfield Road heading south.  Emergency gas works are being undertaken and the works are expected to continue for a maximum of two weeks.

Hall Lane Strategic Gateway
Hall Lane Strategic Gateway, now under construction, will provide a much improved traffic route for vehicles entering Liverpool from the east and will take through traffic out of the residential areas.

West Derby Street is now closed until towards the end of the year to enable major utilities and junction work to be carried out.

The major Gas main diversion work up Irvine Street and across Minshull Street has now been completed.�

There will be some lane restrictions and closures around the Low Hill/Prescot Street/Kensington junction to move the traffic lights into temporary blocks. These restrictions will be in place for 20 weeks while the layout of the junction is changed, we are currently in week six of this particular Traffic Management phase.

The reinforced earth retaining wall is complete and is now being clad with sandstone. In situ reinforced concrete walls are required for short lengths at each end of the wall, and work on these is now in progress.  The fencing work along the top of the retaining wall has commenced, and continues as sections of wall become available.

The sandstone in front of the wall is being excavated to road formation level and the excavated material is being re-used on site.

The Presbytery rebuilding works are complete and the car park area is being prepared.

Other off line road works have been continuing and parts of the new road have had drainage installed and road construction completed up to underside of the surface course.

We apologise in advance for any disruption these works will cause as we create a much improved route for vehicles entering our city from the east and remove through traffic from residential areas.

Knowledge Quarter/Mount Pleasant
Work is continuing on the CCMS scheme in the Knowledge Quarter in the area around the Metropolitan Cathedral and Liverpool University.

The upper part of Mount Pleasant from the junction with Oxford Street to Brownlow Hill is closed to traffic to allow the works to be completed safely. Safe and accessible pedestrian facilities will be maintained throughout the extent of the works. The footpath around the perimeter of the Metropolitan Cathedral is now being paved to enable pedestrians to move around the works. This enlarged section of footpath should be open to pedestrian traffic permanently by the end of the week, weather permitting.

Access to the University car parks, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Cathedral House and the Catholic Chaplaincy to the University is being maintained at all times from the Brownlow Hill junction while Upper Mount Pleasant is closed.

Works to the area outside the steps to the Metropolitan Cathedral are continuing ahead of paving works to ensure completion of this footpath and revised road alignment before Hope Street Feast in September.

Footpath works are now complete in Great Orford Street apart from the pedestrian crossing table which will be installed at a later date to coincide with local school holidays. Work is complete on Clarence Street to the carriageway, kerbs and footpaths.

Advance Traffic signal works to the junction at Clarence/Rodney/Mount Pleasant are complete ahead of schedule. New carriageway surfacing and road markings, including advanced stop lines for cyclists will be completed at a later date after kerbing and pedestrian tactile facilities have been installed.

Work has also started on sections of footpath on the outbound lane between Mount Pleasant car park and Clarence Street. Delays are being experienced due to damaged cellars caused by earlier Statutory Undertakers’ works. These have left structural problems which are slowing down CCMS works until an agreeable solution to all parties can be found. Works will continue on footpaths down into Mount Pleasant towards the Multi Storey Car Park once progress is made in this area.

Works will shortly commence on the outbound footpath in Oxford Street between Mount Pleasant and Mulberry Street after the Bank Holiday weekend. There will be minimal impact upon the highway and through traffic in this location. Works will also start in Rodney Street between Mount Pleasant and Hardman Street after the Hope Street Festival at a date to be agreed.

The whole of the works connected with this scheme and including Oxford Street are due for completion in April/May next year.

M62 / The Rocket Interchange / Queens Drive / Bowring Park Road
Essential maintenance work to the high mast street lights in this area will mean off-peak lane restrictions and lane closures in this area from September 1st to September 5th.

The main works will be on Sunday, September 5th with traffic management back over the brow of the hill at the end of the M62 to provide motorists with sufficient warning of the lane closures.

Queensway Tunnel
Queensway Tunnel will also be closed in both directions from 10pm on Saturday, 28th August to 6.30am on Tuesday, 31st August for the Mathew Street Festival. It will also be closed from 10pm to 6.30am from Monday, 13th September to Thursday, 16th September for essential maintenance works. All traffic should use the Kingsway Tunnel.

Riverside Drive
Work to the electrical supply will mean temporary two-way traffic lights from September 6th for up to three days during off-peak hours, from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Smithdown Road
Outward bound lane restrictions are in place for another week from the junction of Holmes Street and Smithdown Road due to demolition.

Speke Boulevard
Planned essential maintenance work from the entrance to Morrisons through to the boundary with Knowsley due to begin on September 1st has now been postponed due to the poor recent weather. There will be further updates when a new start date is decided.

Speke Road
Four way lights in place to cover HV fault at the junction of Speke Road and Church Road in Garston works are being undertaken by Scottish Power. Works are ongoing

You are invited to an eLive event …find out how you can be a part of bringing electric vehicles to Liverpool City Region

What is eLive?
eLive is the Liverpool City Region and Cheshire West and Chester’s bid to the ‘Plugged-in Places’ programme.

eLive will support the region’s plans to encourage the use of electric vehicles through installing charging infrastructure at workplaces, transport interchanges, car parks, leisure and retail sites across the region.

The project will run for 2 years from April 2011- March 2013.

Why get involved?
Through eLive we could provide 50% funding towards the cost of installing electric charging points at your premises. Charging points could be used for your organisations fleet vehicles, for employees and visitors, or to attract new customers to your business.

Organisations throughout Merseyside, Halton and Ellesmere Port could be eligible.

If you want to find out more about new vehicle technologies, input into the future provision of alternative fuel infrastructure, or get involved in the project, then please come to one of our briefing events

We are holding a number of events throughout September.

Thursday 16 September, 2.30-4.30pm

Friday 17 September, 9.30-11.30am

Wednesday 29 September, 9.30-11.30am

All meetings are at Room C, 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool, L3 2AN

To register please email info@transportmerseyside.org stating your name and which date you would like to attend. Alternatively please contact Sarah Jolly on 0151 330 1156.

Who should attend?

Organisations who would like to find out about the advantages of using electric vehicles for their fleet or pool vehicles:

• Hotels and tourist attractions
• Leisure and retail outlets
• Shopping centres
• Car park owners
• Property developers