Liverpool BID establishes travel forum to tackle city transport issues

The Liverpool BID Company is planning to directly address the city’s biggest transport and commuting issues with the launch of a Travel and Transport Forum in the Commercial District.

Established to offer Commercial District businesses and residents a voice on travel and transport concerns, the forum’s first meeting got underway recently with discussions surrounding the upcoming Wirral Line train renewal project, which forms part of a wider £340m package of rail improvements in the city region.

During H1 2017, renewal work will be carried out on the sections of the Wirral Line located under the city centre, preventing trains on the route from serving passengers at Lime Street, Moorfields and Liverpool Central stations.

At the first Commercial District BID Travel and Transport Forum, representatives of the Liverpool BID Company, the Liverpool and Sefton Chambers and district firms met with Merseyrail and Merseytravel to discuss plans for minimising disruption during the improvement programme.

Merseyrail, with support from Merseytravel and Network Rail, has said it will work to ensure Wirral Line passengers are still able to travel into central Liverpool over the course of the first six months of 2017. Travel arrangements will include alternative transport such as rail-replacement buses.

Chaired by Julie Johnson, a member of the Commercial District BID board, the forum is a key part of the BID’s five-year, £4m business plan.

Julie, who is also a partner at Liverpool-based Morecrofts Solicitors, said: “Transport and travel is a fundamental issue for businesses in the Commercial District and we’re here to represent their interests, as well as residents living in this area, to make sure their views can be heard and action can be taken.

“The works taking place on the Wirral loop will have a huge impact on businesses as around half of Merseyrail’s passengers commute to and from the Wirral daily.”

She added: “We will be working closely with Merseyrail and other stakeholders to tackle issues during this time and make sure business leaders understand the impact it could have on their workers.”

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