Category: Liverpool

A city council is moving to throw out a legal challenge against its decision to end free late night parking.Last month, it was revealed a former city councillor was leading the charge against Liverpool City Council’s move to extend the charging hours in the city centre from 18:00 BST until 23:00.More than a dozen businesses have signed up to launch an action against officials as they said it risks damaging the city centre economy “when businesses are already facing immense pressures.”The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) now understands an application has been made from the Cunard building to have the challenge dismissed.’Desperate’In July last year, it was finally confirmed parking charges would be extended in the city centre until 23:00.Despite almost 90% of people indicating they were against the move, councillors pressed ahead with the change, arguing it would standardise parking across the city centre.The plan was first mooted in 2022.Alfie Hincks, founder of Seascope Maritime Training, said it was “desperate” the council had not pulled the scheme.Mr Hincks said he and other business leaders would seek to challenge the legitimacy of the decision.Last summer, signage and parking meters were updated across the city centre to reflect the changes to the controlled parking zone (CPZ).As a result, drivers are no longer able to leave their cars on city streets for free after 18:00.’Deep corner’A review of the CPZ around the city centre was first carried out in 2018.An initial informal public consultation was held in February 2022 after which proposals were revised and a statutory consultation undertaken between July and August 2023.More than 7,000 drivers were caught out by the new charging hours in the first three months of the scheme.The judicial review challenges the council’s decision to introduce significantly increased parking charges across the city, arguing the measures are unlawful and will have a damaging impact on Liverpool’s economy, workers and visitors.The LDRS understands the council has asked the court to strike out the claim, alleging the claimant did not comply with the procedural requirements for serving the claim.Mr Hincks said: “The impact on the night-time economy is not acceptable. The council have painted themselves into a deep corner, we want our day in court.”It’s desperate from them to not say let’s just pull it and review it.”A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “The council is confident that it has complied with all relevant legal requirements.”However, we will not be commenting further on an ongoing legal matter.”Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.More on this storyRelated internet links

The History of Art & Museum Studies graduate said the reason they decided to get married this year, after a seven-year engagement was “to celebrate all of our big life events”. “It’s been a turbulent few years for me and my family, so we wanted to celebrate our achievements in a big way,” she said.”It’s crazy the two ended up within three hours of each other but if felt right that they both happen on the same date, and it just makes the day even more memorable.”Nele’s groom Bradley was fully on board with the idea, she said.”Brad is incredibly supportive and has been ever since I decided to go to university as a mature student. “He loves that we get to celebrate all of life events and achievements, which makes our day even more memorable and special.”

Liverpool City Council is set to take a major step towards delivering thousands of new homes for residents.
The Liverpool Local Plan to 2043 provides for a minimum of 33,552 new homes over the next 17 years, with ambitions to exceed this Government set target, enabling the city to meet future housing needs while supporting economic growth and regeneration. The Plan will also ensure a choice and diversity of new homes for our current and future residents including affordable homes, that are sustainable , inclusive and high quality.
Local Plans are statutory documents that every local planning authority is required by Government to prepare.

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They set out where development should take place, what type of development is needed, and the planning policies that will be used to assess future planning applications.
Once adopted, Liverpool’s Local Plan will become the primary basis for planning decisions across the city, providing certainty for residents, communities, developers and investors.
The proposed Plan identifies where new housing growth can take place and allocates sites capable of delivering new homes. It prioritises previously developed brownfield land and focuses growth on key regeneration areas including North Liverpool, the North Docks, Ten Streets, Pumpfields and Limekilns, and Festival Gardens.
In addition to setting housing targets, the Local Plan requires development to be supported by appropriate infrastructure, including schools, health facilities, transport links and green spaces, helping to create sustainable and vibrant communities.
Credit: Liverpool City Council
Cllr Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said:
“Like every council in the country, Liverpool is required to have an up-to-date Local Plan that sets out how we will meet future housing needs and manage growth in a sustainable way.
“This Plan provides a clear strategy for delivering more than 33,500 new homes by 2043, with a strong focus on brownfield land and areas where regeneration can have the greatest impact.
“It will help ensure Liverpool has the homes it needs for current and future generations, while also delivering the infrastructure, green spaces, transport links and services that create thriving communities.
“Importantly, it gives residents, developers and investors certainty about where growth should happen and helps us secure the right development in the right places.”
Find out more on the Liverpool City Council website.
Get the latest news from around Liverpool here.

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Liverpool City Council (LCC) is urging the NSW government to rethink a $1.4 billion road upgrade in Western Sydney, arguing the design is “flawed and short-sighted” and would lead to the destruction of about 90 homes.The project has also drawn criticism from some infrastructure experts, who say it is inconsistent with the government’s transport and housing objectives.The government plans to widen Liverpool’s heavily congested Fifteenth Avenue to improve traffic flow and support rapid housing growth. Construction is expected to begin later this year.The project is the first stage of a long-term vision of a future transport corridor linking Liverpool with Western Sydney International Airport and Bradfield.But Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun has rejected the state government’s plans and put forward an alternate proposal that he claims will better serve the community at a lower cost.”We have a solution that saves money, protects homes, and delivers better infrastructure,” the Liberal mayor said.Mayor Ned Mannoun (right) says the council has a better plan for the planned upgrades to Fifteenth Avenue in Liverpool. (Supplied: Transport for NSW, ABC News: Chantelle Al-Khoury)The latest plan — developed by Transport for NSW and funded by the federal and state governments — would see the road widened to allow for two traffic lanes running in either direction, with additional turning lanes at intersections.The design uses wide car lanes and median strips to accommodate fast-moving traffic. The plans show footpaths and bus stops but do not include dedicated bus or bike lanes.Under LCC’s alternate proposal, lower traffic speeds would allow for narrower traffic lanes, creating space for bus lanes in each direction.”Your lanes can become a little bit narrower, which then creates room down the middle to actually put another two lanes in,” Cr Mannoun told 702 ABC Sydney Mornings. “It’s actually that simple to do.”A render of Transport for NSW’s Fifteenth Avenue planned upgrades.
 

  (Supplied: Transport for NSW)”While we are very thankful for the [government funding] … it’s only going to give us a two-lane road [in each direction],” the mayor said.The council said its plan would cost an additional $239m, but would save money in the future by avoiding further widening works.According to Transport for NSW, a potential second stage of the project would see the road widened even further to construct dedicated bus lanes. LCC said these upgrades would cost an additional $1 billion and require the demolition of about 90 properties, including newly built homes.”No family should lose their home because of a design that we already know is flawed and short-sighted,” Cr Mannoun said. “We want things done once, we want things done properly.”The local Labor state member, Leppington MP Nathan Hagarty, said the situation was “not as simple as the mayor is making out”.”There is very little credibility when it comes to Liverpool council delivering projects, and that’s why the NSW government has stepped in,” Mr Haggerty told 702 ABC Sydney Mornings.A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the government provided the LCC with funding more than five years ago to plan an upgrade for Fifteenth Avenue. They said the council never completed that work.A render of Liverpool City Council’s original vision for Fifteenth Avenue, released in 2019. (Screenshot: Liverpool City Council)It said property acquisition would be required for current and future stages of the road upgrade because LCC did not protect the corridor from housing development.”Based on comments from meetings with Liverpool council, Transport does not see the possibility of this alternate design,” the Transport for NSW spokesperson said.An LCC spokesperson rejected Transport for NSW’s account as “inaccurate”. They said the council used $1.5 million in state government funding to develop a viable design and business case for the Fifteenth Avenue upgrade before Transport for NSW assumed responsibility for the project in 2021.The council also said it had lobbied the government for more than a decade to preserve the corridor for future road widening because it lacked the legislative powers to set aside the land itself.Upgrade ‘restricts’ housing growth, ‘contradicts’ government policyQuestions have also been raised over the project’s alignment with the NSW government’s own transport and housing policy.According to its 2025 Connecting NSW Strategy, Transport for NSW said it will “rebalance” road investment away from adding capacity for car traffic and towards public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure.It said this redistribution in investment is required to support medium density “missing-middle” housing in areas close to infrastructure, services and jobs.Tegan Mitchell, a senior road engineer who worked at the state roads bureaucracy for two decades, said the Fifteenth Avenue upgrade plan contradicts government policy and the project’s original objective of supporting public transport.”What they are building is a traffic sewer, not unlike what Parramatta Road looks like now. We clearly haven’t learnt from past experience,” said Ms Mitchell, who is the president of Walk Sydney, a group that advocates to improve walking infrastructure.”You’ve got very powerful roads bureaucrats inside Transport for NSW that think big roads are the solution to every problem,” Ms Mitchell said.Ms Mitchell said the design would limit future housing growth in the area compared with the council’s proposal and is “nonsensical” given Sydney’s housing shortage.Senior Western Sydney infrastructure consultant Edward Chan said he was more supportive of the council’s approach to fixing the road.He said the inclusion of dedicated bus lanes from the outset would make LCC’s proposal better suited to support medium density housing around the corridor with rapid bus services, while the current design would be more suited to support low-density suburban sprawl.A 2023 NSW Productivity Commission report said reallocating road space to dedicated bus lanes can “risk worsening” car traffic but allows more people to travel overall.Traffic on Fifteenth Avenue is often congested in the rapidly growing area. (Supplied: Liverpool City Council)Mr Chan said the department’s design was less suited to the character of Western Sydney, and that it “risks dividing a suburb rather than connecting it.””That’s the last thing the community should want, especially with additional property acquisitions,” Mr Chan said.A Transport for NSW spokesperson said their proposal addresses the most pressing needs of the community and was urgently needed to relieve congestion and keep pace with development in an area where the number of homes is expected to triple by 2036.They said the project factors in forecast growth along Fifteenth Avenue and meets the department’s key infrastructure priorities, including the Connecting NSW Strategy.”The upgrade would increase road capacity and improve public and active transport,” the spokesperson said.

The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday’s newspapers…PREMIER LEAGUEChelsea’s Nicolas Jackson is among the names to have been suggested to Aston Villa – Daily Mail
Aston Villa have enquired about West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville – Daily Mail
Real Madrid have no intention of signing Manchester City midfielder Rodri – The Athletic Man Utd and West Ham are keen on Ben Nelson who has told Leicester he wants to leave – but the Foxes want £10m – Daily Mail
Leeds and Everton will have to pay £25m if they want Lyon’s Pavel Sulc – Daily Mail
Liverpool are poised to complete the signing of Colombia youth international Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional for around £750,000 – Daily Mail
Ipswich are closing on a £3.4million deal for FC Volendam goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen – Daily MailUkraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk have approached Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford about playing Champions League games at their respective stadiums next season – The Athletic

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WORLD CUPDonald Trump’s attendance at the World Cup final has prompted F-16 fighter jets and military marksmen to be drafted into the biggest sporting security operation in United States history – The TelegraphFIFA will announce record $15bn (£11.2bn) revenues from this summer’s World Cup, significantly exceeding the targets set before the tournament – The GuardianThe New Jersey governor has hit out at FIFA for selling pieces of the pitch from the stadium which will host the final, arguing it was taxpayers who paid for it in the first place – The Athletic
SCOTTISH FOOTBALLClaudio Braga insists he is 100 per cent happy at Hearts amid links with Lyon and Trabzonspor – Daily Record

The Steve Morgan Foundation has committed a further £6 million to Liverpool Football Club’s official charity, LFC Foundation, through an ambitious new five-year partnership to tackle deep-rooted social inequalities across the Liverpool City Region and create lasting change for children, young people, families and communities. The agreement takes total funding contribution from the Steve Morgan Foundation to more than £10 million over the course of a decade, making it the LFC Foundation’s largest sole funder. The expanded partnership and ambitious scale-up will support a fully integrated programme designed to deliver measurable, long-term regional impact across wellbeing and community development as well as the Foundation’s key focusses of improving health, championing learning and enhancing employability opportunities. At the heart of the partnership is a shared commitment to place-based change, with a strengthened focus on Anfield alongside wider work across the Liverpool City Region. The extended partnership, worth £1.2 million a year, will enable the LFC Foundation to support a further 80,000 people, helping drive its ambition to reach half a million people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond by 2030. During the 2024-25 season, LFC Foundation supported more than 145,000 people, with 20 per cent living in some of the most deprived communities in the UK. The funding will continue to support the LFC Foundation’s 11 community hubs across the region, which work to reduce isolation, tackle food insecurity and create opportunities for local communities. It will also supercharge the LFC Foundation’s flagship programmes, including Works, which helps young people prepare for education, training and employment; the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities programme, which creates inclusive opportunities for children and young people with additional needs; and Kicks, which uses football and sport to engage young people while strengthening local communities. Together, the LFC Foundation and the Steve Morgan Foundation are building on six years of partnership to tackle social and economic challenges, creating lasting impact by investing in communities where support is needed most. Matt Parish, Chief Executive of the LFC Foundation, said: “The partnership between the LFC Foundation and the Steve Morgan Foundation has already made a profound difference to thousands of lives across the Liverpool City Region. “I can’t thank and praise Steve, Sally and everyone at the Steve Morgan Foundation enough for their support and belief in our work. This latest commitment is a significant milestone for our partnership and will enable us to work towards achieving our ambitions plans to support half a million people per season by 2030.” Steve Morgan, founder of the Steve Morgan Foundation, added: “As a local lad and lifelong Liverpool supporter, it’s incredibly rewarding to support the club’s charitable work in such a meaningful way. “Taking our support beyond £10 million and becoming the Foundation’s largest funder is a milestone I’m proud of, but the real measure of success is the opportunities created, communities strengthened, and lives changed. “The LFC Foundation team does exceptional work, often behind the scenes, and this latest £6 million commitment backs them to have an even greater impact.”

The extended partnership, worth £1.2 million a year, will enable LFC Foundation to support a further 80,000 people, helping drive its ambition to reach half a million people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond by 2030.During the 2024-25 season, LFC Foundation supported more than 145,000 people, with 20 per cent living in some of the most-deprived communities in the UK.The funding will continue to support LFC Foundation’s 11 community hubs across the region, which work to reduce isolation, tackle food insecurity and create opportunities for local communities.It will also supercharge LFC Foundation’s flagship programmes, including Works, which helps young people prepare for education, training and employment; the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities programme, which creates inclusive opportunities for children and young people with additional needs; and Kicks, which uses football and sport to engage young people while strengthening local communities.Together, LFC Foundation and Steve Morgan Foundation are building on six years of partnership to tackle social and economic challenges, creating lasting impact by investing in communities where support is needed most.

Liverpool’s children and young people are at the heart of the city’s ambitions, and this week’s ‘Good’ Ofsted judgement for Children’s Services marks a significant milestone in that journey. In this blog, Cllr Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services, reflects on the transformation of the service over the past three years, the investment made in staff and families, and why the city remains committed to building an even brighter future for its youngest residents.

“When I became Cabinet Member for Children’s Services just over three years ago in the wake of an ‘inadequate’ rating from Ofsted, I sat down, in the autumn, with our new Corporate Director, Jenny Glennard, and we agreed that it would be a 3-to-5-year journey to get to delivering really good services. 

“Last week’s “Good” judgement for Children’s Services reflects the remarkable progress that we have made.  

“Being branded ‘inadequate’ is much more than just a few negative news headlines. It floors the entire workforce, and so a lot of what we had to do, aside from fixing the structural things and strengthening the team, was to lift morale and show our teams that it wasn’t a direct reflection on them.  Our staff are passionate and invested in our children and we needed to recognise and value that commitment. 

“We did that by investing in the workforce, hiring new social workers to reduce caseloads, investing in training and development, delivering visible leadership and improving communication.  

“The inspection recognised the relentless pace and scale of change across the service, highlighting “tangible improvements across all areas of practice” that have been achieved for some of Liverpool’s most vulnerable children. 

“This achievement is not the result of one initiative alone. It reflects a city-wide commitment to ensuring that children and young people are at the heart of decision-making and have the support they need to thrive. 

“Ofsted recognised several key improvements that have been made since our last inspection in 2023, one of which is that we’ve made a huge shift in our workforce from predominantly temporary agency workers to permanent staff. This is hugely important – you wouldn’t staff a school with supply teachers, and you can’t do it with social work. Staff need time and space to build relationships with the children in our care to earn their trust.  

“We spent a lot of time in the early days going to social work recruitment events to sell our vision of Children’s Services. And it has paid dividends. We have gone from four out of five staff being agency workers in 2023 to 16% today. This really is bucking the national trend when councils across the country are struggling with a recruitment crisis. Delivering such a drastic change here in Liverpool really has made all the difference.  

“It means children and young people have consistency with the professionals who are supporting them, rather than having to get to know someone new every few months and having to tell their story all over again. It also shows that professionals have seen the changes in Liverpool and want to be a part of it.  We’ve seen large numbers of staff returning who left us before or after the last inspection, and new faces, and people wanting to start their career with us and really make a difference to children and young people in this fantastic city.  

“Investment in early help and family support has also been central to our journey. The city has delivered 12 Family Hubs, providing a one-stop shop for coordinated support services within communities. These hubs help families access the right support at the right time, reducing barriers and strengthening outcomes for children. 

“But social care is just one element of our commitment to supporting our young people. 

“We are also tackling inequalities through programmes that support health, wellbeing and enrichment. In 2025-26, Liverpool commissioned 85,758 Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) places, benefiting 9,389 children and young people with healthy meals, play opportunities and enriching experiences.  

“Free leisure centre passes are now available for all children aged 8-17, supported by more than £5 million of investment in leisure facilities across the city. 

“Alongside this, youth service funding has doubled, providing an additional £1 million for community-based youth work.  

“And, since 2022, the city has been working towards becoming recognised as a UNICEF Child Friendly City and our Ofsted judgement shows we’re on the right track. This prestigious recognition would acknowledge the measurable progress Liverpool has made in championing children’s rights and creating a city where every child can grow up in an environment that is safe, clean, nurturing and full of opportunity. 

“But we are not complacent. We know there’s still more to do for care leavers.  We’re working hard to deliver our new Care Leaver’s Hub to ensure they can access the right support for them in a familiar place and ensure they have the tools they need to strive in adulthood.  

“A ‘Good’ Ofsted judgement is an important milestone, but the city’s ambition remains clear: to continue improving services, championing children’s rights and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed so that, next time we are inspected, we are judged to be one of the best performing services in the country.”  

Liverpool City Region leaders have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with golf’s governing body, The R&A to host The Open at least three times in the next 25 years.
As the sport’s biggest names are set to battle it out for Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale this week, the Combined Authority alongside Sefton and Wirral Councils entered into an agreement with The R&A to cement the City Region’s status as a premier destination for major golf championships.
The deal would see the region stage The Open at least three times by 2050 alongside other R&A championships.
Hosting The Open drives up visitor numbers during the Championship and beyond, with an economic forecast estimating a £200 million boost for local businesses and communities from The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale*.

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The Memorandum of Understanding replaces a current hosting partnership with Wirral and Sefton which is set to end after The 154th Open this year and prolongs a long-standing relationship between the region and the Championship’s organisers.
Credit: The Open Championship
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:
“The Open is one of the biggest prizes in world sport, so securing it for the Liverpool City Region at least three more times is fantastic news. It’s a huge vote of confidence in everything our region has to offer – from our world-class courses and spectacular coastline to the warm welcome visitors receive wherever they go.
“With some of the best golf courses in the country on our doorstep, we are undoubtedly the UK’s golf coast and this agreement cements that reputation for decades to come. Every time The Open comes here, it puts our region on the global stage, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and delivers a major boost for local businesses, jobs and our visitor economy.
“This is about building a long-term partnership that will inspire the next generation, showcase our communities to millions of people around the world and create opportunities that last long after the final putt. We can’t wait to welcome golf’s biggest stars – and fans from across the globe – back to the Liverpool City Region again and again.”
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Chief Championships Officer at The R&A, said:
“The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and has a unique ability to showcase a destination to a global audience while delivering significant long-term economic and community benefits. We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with the Liverpool City Region, whose outstanding links courses, passion for golf and commitment to hosting world-class events make it an exceptional home for our championships well into the future.”
Find out more on Liverpool City Region Combined Authority website.
Find out more about The Open on our website.

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Yan Diomande remains one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market but clubs are unwilling to meet RB Leipzig’s demands.

Diomande has emerged as one of the football’s most exciting talents following his exploits with Leipzig in the German Bundesliga – the 19-year-old scored 13 goals and tallied 10 assists last season.

According to BILD, teen sensation Diomande has approved potential moves to European champions Paris Saint-Germain, and Premier League trip Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Liverpool have reportedly seen a transfer package worth $163million AUD rejected by Leipzig.

Leipzig are believed to want at least $196m AUD for the teenage sensation – who has also been linked with Real Madrid and Chelsea, and could push to extend his contract instead with no club willing to meet their demands.

Diomande featured at the World Cup with Ivory Coast in North America, where he told reporters: “I expect to leave the club”.

He finished with one assist as Ivory Coast reached the Round of 32 before losing to Norway.

“I won’t base my opinion on what the press says when it comes to his final choice,” former Ivory Coast international Gervinho told Stats Perform previously. “Until we see him wearing the official shirt of a club, we can’t really say anything.

“But if it is Paris, I think with the coach they have, Luis Enrique, who I believe brings out the best in young players, then if that’s the choice he has made, I think he has all the arguments on the table to choose his club, whichever club he goes to.

“We will always be there watching him and supporting him, because he will be the one to carry the Ivory Coast team into the future.”