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Here is today's Liverpool Daily Post:
Hello,
Today’s edition focuses on the impact of the city council's bungled energy contract and disruption continues as rail strikes enter their second day.
Job losses warning after energy scandal
A Liverpool primary school has warned that there could be job losses throughout the city after the council's disastrous handling of a major electricity contract.
The chair of governors at Northcote Primary school in Walton has written to Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson to register his 'grave concerns' about the impact the energy contract scandal is having on his and other city schools. He said the current impact on the north Liverpool school is unsustainable.
In May it was revealed that a series of calamitous errors at the city council had led to huge additional costs in terms of the local authority's energy bills as well as the bills of city schools and the local fire service who were part of the same deal.
The remarkable run of mistakes included officers not informing city leaders that the council's electricity provider Scottish Power had withdrawn from the commercial market before a new deal was agreed. As such the council was inadvertently placed onto the company's standard rate deal - which could cost the city an extra £16m in bills.
The council's deputy mayor Jane Corbett, who lost her finance brief after the debacle came to light, had previously said the local authority would step in to pay the extra costs visited upon schools because of the mistakes, before appearing to row back on this guarantee shortly after.
Now Brian Lawless, top governor at Northcote Primary has warned of severe consequences to schools across the city. In his letter to Mayor Anderson he stated: "I am writing to express grave concerns around the school’s energy costs which are unsustainable and will, if unchecked lead our school along with others throughout the City into a deficit budget.
"At the present moment we have been able to sustain staff levels in order to provide the best for the children. This however will change as we seek to balance the books. There is very real prospect of job losses right throughout the education establishments throughout the City.
"This situation is not of our doing, rather it is the making of officers working for the Council. We are therefore being penalised by their mistakes."
A city council spokesperson said: “The council has been regularly communicating with all of the city’s schools affected by the electricity contract issue and has apologised for the impact on budgets. There is a commitment to assess the impact of the additional costs as a matter of urgency once all quarterly bills are in next month. The situation will also continue to be monitored under the new tariff.”
Rail strike enters second day
Major travel disruption continues today as the rail workers from Northern Rail and 13 other train firms, take part in the second day of strikes.
The whole country will be affected by the strike, including Merseyside, as Merseyrail suspends all services again today. Whilst Merseyrail staff are not taking part in the industrial action, it will involve Network Rail staff who operate the signalling systems and provide crucial maintenance which allow services to run safely.
The operator says it is unable to provide any train services on days when industrial action is taking place. There will be no rail replacement buses on strike days and passengers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements.
Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley, who joined RMT members on the picket line outside Liverpool Lime Street station this morning, said: "I think every Labour MP should come out.
"Let's have it right, the Labour Party was born out of the trade union movement and they are our political voice in Parliament so every Labour MP should be out."
Following the breakdown of talks on Wednesday, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Until the Government unshackle Network Rail and the train operating companies, it is not going to be possible for a negotiated settlement to be agreed.
"We will continue with our industrial campaign until we get a negotiated settlement that delivers job security and a pay rise for our members that deals with the escalating cost-of-living crisis."
Anger over Melwood housing plans
Campaigners have vowed to continue their fight against homes being built on Liverpool FC’s former training ground as the deadline for submissions moves into view.
In two days, public comments will no longer be able to be submitted in relation to plans to build new homes as part of a wider redevelopment of the former Melwood training ground in West Derby. Those campaigning against the plans have vowed to carry on their fight, with a plea being circulated across social media for residents to get involved.
Melwood was the home of the Reds for seven decades, dating back to the Bill Shankly era, before the club relocated to its new £50m training centre in Kirkby in 2020. The site was then officially handed over to housing group, Torus, who submitted a planning application last August for a mixture of 170 homes, bungalows and care units.
The existing LFC infrastructure at the Deysbrook Lane site will be retained and repurposed to form the new home of the Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher Football Education Academy. The future of the site has been debated for years, with outline planning permission granted back in 2017.
Residents have held public meetings opposing the scheme while councillors have met with officials from the club and housing group to seek an amicable solution.
Ahead of the deadline for public submissions closing later this week, activists on social media have called on residents to make their views heard to Liverpool Council “before it is too late.”
Lime Street revamp 'weeks from completion'
The controversial and heavily-delayed revamp of Liverpool's most important city centre gateway is just weeks away from completion.
The scheme to regenerate the area outside Lime Street Station and St George's Hall has encountered plenty of problems. These included the collapse of the main contractor on the project and political opposition to the plans.
The collapse of original contractor NMCN last October caused major delays and meant the iconic city centre area would remain a building site for many more months. But finally the end is in sight.
Work has been progressing since new contractor Huyton Civils was drafted in to secure the site and carry out essential repairs following NMCN's collapse. In February, a revised plan for the scheme was signed off by the council's cabinet which addressed the project’s previously controversial impact on public transport.
Yesterday Liverpool City Council issued a progress report, stating: "Good progress being made by our contractor HA Civils on the new cycle lane for Lime Street/St Johns Lane and the paved area around St George's Hall Liverpool. Apologies for the inconvenience this scheme is causing. Works are scheduled to complete by the end of July."
News that the scheme should be completed in a matter of weeks will be hugely welcomed by members of the public and business owners in the local area who have had to deal with years of disruption.
In focus
The view
“I think every Labour MP should come out"
Birkenhead MP Mick Whitley urges his colleagues to join the picket |
New flagship city centre store
A new flagship store has finally opened in Liverpool's Owen Building in the city centre.
The building, which once housed a Tesco Metro store, has been put back in use by luxury brand Flannels.
The department store will offer retail and leisure under one roof, with a blend of top brands, dining options, and in-house experiences.
The new store will feature four venues open from early morning until late each evening.
ECHO Chamber
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