Get ready to experience a treasure trove of unique handcrafted goods at Marvellous Markets across Knowsley’s town centres during 2025 the markets showcase the incredible talents of local artisans A series of markets will take place until December 2025 in the heart of Huyton offering a fantastic opportunity for residents and visitors to discover one-of-a-kind items and support their community the next market in Huyton is planned for Saturday Shoppers can browse a diverse selection of handcrafted goods from 10 am to 4 pm The Prescot market will take place on the third Saturday of each month The next market will be on Saturday 17th May Located inside Prescot Shopping Centre and on Eccleston Street The next market in Kirkby is planned for Saturday 10th May Marvellous Markets is committed to creating vibrant and engaging events that celebrate the skill and creativity of local businesses Visitors can expect to find a wide array of products from handmade jewellery and artwork to delicious food and unique gifts Artisans, craftspeople, and gift makers interested in showcasing their products at Marvellous Markets can email stalls@marvellousmarkets.com Marvellous Markets is a community-focused initiative dedicated to supporting small businesses and promoting local talent Marvellous Markets provides a platform for artisans and craftspeople to connect with customers and share their unique creations © Copyright 2021 Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council | Terms & Conditions | Cookies | Privacy policy Sign our campaign for a grant funding review The central overhaul is intended to bring 'something for everyone' to Huyton Working in partnership with Knowsley Council the regeneration specialist is looking to advance a £163m development programme The consultation marks the next stage in the plan ot realising the Huyton Village regeneration programme which forms part of Knowsley Council’s 10-year development plan the project has the potential to deliver up to 1,700 new and retained jobs increase footfall in the village centre and boost the local economy by £50m The consultation process follows the council’s endorsement in November last year of phase one of the Huyton Village Centre masterplan This includes the council’s seven-acre civic site improved access to services and facilities retail & leisure including a hotel as the partners look to boost the evening economy There are also plans to create a community hub at Cavendish Walk Plans also include updating the existing multi-storey car park into a sustainable and modern travel hub offering car and cycle parking it’s important that the voices of local people continue to shape how Huyton evolves “We are committed to being sensitive to the way the community already interacts with the village and we want to ensure the plans reflect that This consultation is an opportunity to listen carefully and work together to deliver a town centre that is both ambitious and rooted in place.” Consultation will run until Tuesday 27 May The process will include two drop-in events The Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd partnership is a 50/50 joint venture between Kajima, the pan-European real estate developer, investor and asset manager and Genr8 Developments. The team has delivered projects including Rochdale Riverside and is now working on a Health Innovation Neighbourhood in Newcastle Knowsley Council and partners have invested more than £120m into Knowsley’s town centres including retail development in Kirkby and the creation of Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" KMBC must be confident they can fill their office despite ways of working altering post covid Whilst Asda are very much the anchor tenant in Huyton hopefully an attractive retail / leisure tenant can be found for new commercial spaces to entice people back into the town centre The people of Huyton don’t need a 7 acre civic centre or hotel Obviously there has been no consultation with local people Yet another waste of the public’s money Huyton village shopping Area has had millions wasted on so called regeneration exercises It will always be a waste of money to the public but a goldmine for those who get these zany ideas of regeneration Decent shops are needed,nothing to look at unless you want a haircut or your nails doing,a market would be great,clothes shops and shoe shops Hallam Land Management wants to build 730 homes between Prescot and Kirkby on land known as Spookies Wood Located south-east of Junction 6 on the M62 Mercury 62 forms part of the wider Halsnead Garden Village masterplan Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" A public consultation has begun over regeneration plans for Huyton Village visitors and community groups to share their views on the £163m transformation plans and will include two in-person drop in events taking place at the Village Green on Derby Road Views can also be shared via a feedback form at www.stmichaelshuyton.co.uk or picking up a paper copy from Huyton Library or Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park The consultation marks an important milestone in the Huyton Village regeneration programme The project has the potential to deliver up to 1,700 new and retained jobs The regeneration of Huyton Village is a legacy project that will shape the town for generations to come reinforcing its position as an attractive place to live The consultation follows the council’s endorsement in November 2024 of Phase 1 of the Huyton Village Centre masterplan which includes the council’s seven-acre civic site an emerging night time economy and the creation of a new village green which will include the library and meeting and community spaces Plans also include transforming the existing multi-storey car park into a sustainable and modern travel hub offering car and cycle parking Action has been taken against five young people for their role in abusing a security guard at Huyton multi storey car park in February this year Knowsley Council has issued Acceptable Behaviour Agreements to the individuals which means they can only visit Huyton Village Centre with a parent or guardian or to take part in a pre-agreed activity Action was taken against the individuals following an incident where they refused to leave the multi storey car park and carried out abusive behaviour towards the security guard Breaches of the Agreements can lead to further action being taken against the individuals Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “ABAs have proven to be an effective way of preventing individuals carrying out anti-social and other forms of unacceptable behaviour The action taken in this instance highlights that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in our town centres.” Knowsley’s CCTV network of more than 1,150 cameras is monitored 24/7 The Council Control room has direct access to Merseyside Police’s Command and Control Room which means the police can be immediately notified of any incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour occurring and police patrols can be deployed accordingly Children and young people can access a range of free activities throughout Knowsley during school holidays and during term time. You can find out more here or speak to Knowsley’s Crime and Communities team via safer.knowsley@knowsley.gov.uk to find out which activities are available near you If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour or are a victim of a crime, you are encouraged to report this to Merseyside Police via 101, via the Merseyside Police website or by direct message on Facebook and X @MerPolCC You can also anonymously tell Police about areas where you feel unsafe because of anti-social behaviour via ‘StreetSafe’ If there is anything you would like to discuss in confidence with our Crime and Communities Team, please email Safer.Knowsley@knowsley.gov.uk Plans which will see Huyton Village transformed into a vibrant centre with a mixed-use commercial district including a hotel affordable town centre living and new leisure and cultural facilities have moved a step closer Knowsley Council’s regeneration plans for Huyton will create a completely re-imagined village centre The redevelopment will sit alongside the existing shopping area creating an additional space which supports the high street businesses and increases footfall into the Village Centre The high street itself will benefit from a new community hub community facilities and spaces for leisure provision for cycles and better links to public transport Knowsley Council’s Cabinet met on Wednesday 20 November to agree to press ahead with the ambitious vision for Huyton giving the green light to the necessary site demolition and enabling works which will become the essential first steps The Council has seen the enormous benefits to local communities and the local economy that were unlocked following its wholescale redevelopment of Kirkby Town Centre and the opening of Prescot’s Shakespeare North Playhouse and is now determined to achieve the same success story in Huyton a large amount of land in Huyton town centre is given over to a collection of ageing Council buildings including the seven storey Huyton Municipal Building With ways of working having changed significantly over the past 50 years these buildings are no longer fit for purpose and have become expensive to maintain as well as inefficient as the council looks to move to net zero By demolishing these old buildings and consolidating the Council’s offices into one new smaller more fit for purpose and energy efficient office building for council staff almost 7 acres of prime town centre land is released for development Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development at Knowsley Council said: “This is a really exciting plan for Huyton We know residents want a vibrant town centre at the heart of their community – somewhere they can shop meet friends for a coffee or enjoy an evening out with a nice meal we’ve been successful in attracting new leisure and hospitality businesses to Huyton Village and this ambitious vision really takes that to the next level transforming Huyton into a desirable destination with a bustling population “I also know a lot of people will welcome the creation of a significant number of affordable smaller homes – something we know is much needed in the borough.”  72 new one and two bedroom apartments for affordable rent; a 130 bedroomed  quality brand hotel 85,000sq ft of net zero commercial office space (into which the Council would relocate its headquarters) a new village green – including the relocation of the Cenotaph a new surface level car park with sustainable transport facilities a new library and community hub in the heart of the Village Centre and improved public realm and wayfinding across the Village Centre Later phases would include up to 150,000sq ft of commercial office space and / or a further 300 homes all helping to increase footfall in the town centre and supporting the local economy Council officers have now been tasked with securing the funding needed to deliver the plans in full – with a further update expected to be brought back before councillors by autumn next year An initial investment of £3.6m will progress the development opportunity to technical design and planning stage which is essential in efforts to secure funding and investment to deliver the scheme Huyton Village missed out on a range of funding including the Future High Streets Fund Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund despite being named as a Priority One area But forecasting shows that a transformation on the scale being proposed will add £62m in economic benefits for the surrounding neighbourhoods and wider borough – with around 126 jobs created (82 during construction and 44 once complete); 1,000 local jobs safeguarded and an extra £2.7m being spent in Huyton Village annually Discussions are already underway with the new Government Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on potential funding streams to fast track this development Cllr Brennan added: “The time is right for us to think big to deliver for Huyton Village We have seen the impact that the redevelopment in Kirkby has had and now we want to accomplish the same for Huyton “We have always said that we are ambitious for our borough and this transformation will be a once in a generation opportunity to revitalise Huyton and create a vibrant town centre with thriving businesses hotel and town centre living that will secure its prosperity for years to come.”   The redevelopment of the site of the current Council offices will be delivered under the new name: St Michael’s Place which reflects the local church and it’s links back to the anglo-saxon times The Council has already appointed a Development Partner Director at Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd said: “As Knowsley Council’s Development Management Partner we are pleased with this major step forward for the redevelopment of Huyton Village and are looking forward to getting started “This key funding approval to planning demonstrates the Council and GKRL’s commitment to this bold and forward– thinking reimagining of the village centre “It signifies the first important step in delivery and will only enable further regeneration across the neighbourhood St Michael’s Place will create real social value whilst delivering integral public realm and will no doubt serve as a model for similar communities across the region.”  Knowsley Council’s Cabinet will meet next week (Wednesday 20 November) to consider plans for the next steps in the transformation of Huyton Village Centre the Council is proposing a complete redevelopment which would create a vibrant and thriving re-imagined centre focused around an attractive village green Affordable town centre living; a new hotel and commercial office space would combine to significantly increase the local footfall and help grow the leisure and hospitality offer which is already springing up in Huyton The high street would benefit from a new community hub Having delivered a wholescale redevelopment of Kirkby Town Centre Knowsley Council has already shown that it can deliver ambitious projects that bring significant benefits to the local community and economy After purchasing Kirkby Town Centre in 2019 the Council delivered a 94,000 sq ft retail development in just two years BBC research highlighted Kirkby’s footfall had increased by 160% and it was named by the Financial Times as one of the top three areas in terms of recovery from the economic impacts of the pandemic The Council was also the driver behind the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot which has led to the incredible “Shakespeare effect” in the town which now has an array of food and drink outlets and a successful night-time economy Now Huyton Village could be the next to benefit from a multi-million pound makeover councillors will be asked to agree to an initial investment of £3.6m to progress the development opportunity to technical design and planning stage as the demolition of numerous ageing council buildings will be required in order to release the land needed for the redevelopment councillors will be asked to agree that these works can proceed in due course so that site enabling works can begin more than seven acres of land in the town centre is dominated by Council buildings which were built in the 1970s They are no longer fit for purpose and do not support the council’s net zero commitments with ways of working having significantly changed this is an opportunity for it to consolidate its buildings with one new smaller whilst also unlocking valuable town centre land for development in the process detailed plans will enable the council to work to secure funding for the project expected to come from grants and public / private sector investment 72 new one and two bedroom apartments for affordable rent;  a 130 bedroom quality brand hotel a new library and community hub in the heart of the Village Centre and improved public realm and wayfinding across the village centre   Later phases could include up to 150,000sq ft of commercial office space and/or up to a further 300 homes The Council has already invested in Huyton with 14 buildings benefitting from a contemporary makeover the Yorkon Building and the Huyton Hey Office block) with ground investigation works already completed at two of these sites Huyton came alive last night (Thursday 21 November 2024) as the highly anticipated Christmas Light Switch-On exceeded all expectations with what felt like the whole village filling the high street to celebrate the start of the festive season and neighbours together in a magical evening of festivities The crowds at Huyton’s Christmas Lights Switch-on With the Huyton Village Green Café acting as a green room for the performers the event was packed with memorable moments while Santa Claus and Elsa and Anna from Frozen added to the magic of the night when In Demand Radio’s DJ Lee Butler took to the stage to lead the countdown and officially switch on the Christmas lights As the village was bathed in sparkling light marking the beginning of the festive season in true Huyton style the event’s organisers Oneday and many others from the community who came together to make it happen were overwhelmed by the love and pride on display “This event was all about bringing the Huyton Community together and it’s safe to say it exceeded everyone’s expectations,” said Chloe Clarke and seeing Huyton filled with so much joy and Christmas spirit was truly special.” Huyton’s Christmas Lights are now officially switched on for 2024 the Huyton Village Green Café and Shop reopened with a fresh new look and seasonal offerings and browsed locally made products in the beautifully redecorated space which promises to be a key community hub moving forward For more information on upcoming festive events and activities at Bowring Park and in Huyton Village Green, visit bowringpark.co.uk/christmas Huyton is set to shine brighter than ever as the community gathers for the much-anticipated Christmas Light Switch-On for 2024 the event at Huyton Village Green promises to be an unforgettable evening filled with festive cheer this year’s event is a true community effort brought to life through close collaboration with local businesses and the community The event will feature an array of performances to get everyone into the Christmas Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Santa Claus himself joined by beloved Frozen characters Elsa and Anna brought to life by Demi Leigh Wilson & Team And don’t miss a chance to meet the adorable Santa Stitch from Big Softies visitors will be able to embark on a Christmas-themed trail “Find the Elves,” encouraging exploration of Huyton’s local businesses Participants will ‘help Santa save Christmas’ by locating hidden elves throughout the village You can pick up a trail leaflet from Huyton Village Green on the night mark off each elf as you find them in shops and restaurants and submit your completed trail for a chance to win a festive prize This year’s Christmas Light Switch-On is more than just a celebration it’s about bringing the Huyton community together to share in the holiday spirit and opportunities to support local businesses the event is a festive highlight you won’t want to miss said: “The Christmas Light Switch-On is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Huyton special This event reflects the power of collaboration with local businesses and organisations coming together to create something truly magical for the community We’re proud to play a part in making this happen.” Officers were called to Knowsley Heights, Huyton on Tuesday evening after receiving a report that a woman in her 30s had been stabbed They gave her first aid until paramedics arrived but she died in hospital from her injuries in hospital A 34-year-old man from Litherland was arrested on suspicion of murder Detectives described it as a "tragic incident” and said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death divers could be seen searching part of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal near to the Red Lion pub in Litherland The force has confirmed the enquiries are in connection to the ongoing investigation at Knowsley Heights Pictures from the scene show a diver in the water and a number of officers stood on the canal bank The entrance to the canal has been taped off by police and a special unit vehicle can be seen parked nearby It has not been confirmed what the divers are looking for an area of the small car park at the front of the block of flats has been taped off by police and forensic officers have been seen carrying out investigation works Police said patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide community reassurance “This was a tragic incident in which a woman has sadly lost her life and specially trained officers are supporting her family we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward "If you live in the area and saw or heard anything suspicious last night please get in touch as a matter of urgency.” has now re-opened to the public following a £260,000 improvement scheme by Knowsley Council to transform it into an accessible and improved natural public open space for the local area originally forming part of the land at the Knowsley Hall Estate Thanks to funding secured through the nearby Earlsfield Park Housing and commercial developments the Council has delivered a range of infrastructure and landscaping improvements The works will help to improve Oak Plantation’s visibility and accessibility for the community the works will also enhance its biodiversity value for local wildlife Works to allow public access to the site have now been completed and visitors to the woodland can now see: Further works to be carried out in the New Year will see the installation of new welcome signs and bins at the entrances as well as underplanting works in the woodland and meadowland management works Oak Plantation can now be enjoyed over the Christmas period following its re-opening take a look over the holidays at this newly improved community woodland for North Huyton Huyton residents and visitors are invited to help create a new sculptural artwork for Huyton train station Huyton-born artist Andrew Small is creating the new artwork and is hosting a free interactive workshop on Saturday 8 February to help bring it to life To inspire the new train station artwork he needs people to create three images by striking a pose in the workshop’s pop-up photobooth The free workshop takes place at Make on the Corner The completed artwork is scheduled to be installed at the station next month Find out more about the project, delivered by local arts organisation Heart of Glass, here Teams from Knowsley Council and its partners will be out and about in St Michael’s ward from littering and graffiti to fly tipping and dog fouling It’s one of a series of Environmental Action Days being held across the borough bringing partner agencies together to spend a day focusing on the most pressing issues in a specific location Council officers will carry out food hygiene inspections and speak to businesses and residents who are failing to manage their waste taking enforcement action where appropriate will be the base for a number of activities The council’s Digital Team and Library Service will be offering information and signposting residents to the digital support available in Knowsley which tackles digital exclusion digital poverty and the ‘library offer’ – including library events and the Home Delivery Service for those who struggle to access their local branch Mid Mersey Digital Alliance will be promoting the use of the NHS App and other technology to manage healthcare needs Living Well bus: will be offering liver screening and health checks from 9.30am to 3.30pm Responsible Dog Owners’ event: 10.30am – 2pm alongside The Dogs Trust will be offering free microchipping a ‘chip and check’ service as well as advice to pet owners free ‘snuffle mat’ making and information about dog training courses Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “Our programme of action days have been a great success and shown how we can come together with partners to make a real impact in areas across the borough This initiative is an opportunity to take targeted action and tackle specific environmental issues in a ward encourage behaviour change and enable communities to participate in looking after where they live and work.” Council teams involved in the action days will include Environmental Health as well as partners including Merseyside Police and social housing providers For more information and to report a range of environmental issues, including littering, fly tipping or dog fouling you can ‘Report it’ on our website www.knowsley.gov.uk Police and fire services have now left the scene of an earlier gas leak close to Huyton Village The gas has now been isolated and Cadent remain on scene carrying out repairs The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has today committed £2m to support Knowsley Council’s ambitious development plans for Huyton Village This commitment follows the Council’s own approval at its Cabinet meeting on 20 November 2024 to progress the development plans for Huyton Village to technical design and planning stage a new village green – including the relocation of the Cenotaph said “We’ve shown in Kirkby and Prescot what we can achieve when we work together—and now it’s Huyton’s turn we’re unlocking the potential for Huyton to become a thriving “This £2m investment is about more than just new buildings —it’s about creating affordable homes and better facilities that will bring jobs It’s another step in our mission to ensure every part of our city region gets the opportunity to thrive.” Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development added “We remain committed to delivering our plans for Huyton Village and we are doing all that we can to ensure we are construction-ready for when we do secure the funding “I am pleased that the Combined Authority have committed to help us to progress our ambitions and our pre-development works which will help us to further strengthen future funding bids – we have an ambitious said “We are excited to have the support of the Combined Authority for this transformational scheme which will deliver genuine regeneration for the region.” Merseyside SME operator Huyton Travel has been bought by Kelsian Group subsidiary Tower Transit. The deal brings over 30 buses and gives the buyer an entrance to the Liverpool City Region bus market ahead of the rollout of franchising there Huyton Travel was founded in 1985 by John Yates Sr and delivers what Tower Transit says are “tailored transport solutions in the Merseyside region.” It has invested heavily in modern Euro VI vehicles over recent years via a focus on what the buyer adds are core values of quality The business is now led by John and Paul Yates who will continue to support operations going forward Tower Transit Managing Director Samuel Ribeiro says: “We are thrilled to welcome Huyton Travel to our group a company that has been a cornerstone of public transport in the Liverpool City Region for 40 years “We believe that combining Huyton’s extensive local expertise and established reputation with Tower Transit’s international track record and experience in bus franchising will create a strong foundation for success amid the ongoing bus reforms planned by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.” The purchase additionally establishes a strategic partnership between Tower Transit and Abacus UK Training It will remain part of the Huyton depot and continue to train PCV drivers thus playing a key role in what the buyer says is developing the future Huyton Travel driver workforce Huyton Travel Managing Director John Yates says: “We are pleased to have found in Tower Transit and Kelsian Group a company that shares the same family-owned principles upon which Huyton Travel was built particularly in the upcoming bus franchising process “This partnership will also provide long-tern success and stability for our incredible management team enabling them to continue delivering high-quality services across Merseyside and beyond.” Mr Ribeiro adds that Tower Transit will maintain existing teams at the business and that a smooth transition is the priority He notes that Tower Transit and Kelsian have extensive experience in buses across multiple continents and that its strengths in a regulated environment are illustrated by the award in 2024 of a 10-year franchise contract for bus services in Jersey routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage The masterplan has projected economic benefits of more than £62m to the Knowsley economy Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s funding injection would allow staff to move out of offices earmarked for demolition which would set in motion the Huyton Village Project masterplan £163m project to enhance the town’s centre approval will be sought for an allocation of £2m from the Strategic Investment Fund to Knowsley Council to support its acquisition of 1-8 Cavendish Walk These acquired units would provide 29,000 sq ft of retail space, with office accommodation on their upper floors. In March, Knowsley Council bought 27,000 sq ft of Cavendish Walk to help prepare for the masterplan’s initiation The vacant units would be temporarily used as a community event space before the town’s existing library is relocated into them while upper floor office space would become home to up to 80 council staff The 80 staff would be relocated from the Computer Centre and Municipal Annexe – two buildings that are part of the earmarked seven acres of Huyton’s town centre that require demolition work before any development can begin Consent for the building’s demolition was granted by Knowsley’s cabinet last month The site of the former council offices would then be cleared to host a 3.3-acre ‘village green’ centred around a relocated Cenotaph Confirmation of the funding and purchase of 1-8 Cavendish Walks would initiate Knowsley Council and developer Genr8/Kajima’s wider masterplan for the town centre said: “We are excited to have the support of the combined authority for this transformational scheme which will deliver genuine regeneration for the region.” said: “We’ve shown in Kirkby and Prescot what we can achieve when we work together – and now it’s Huyton’s turn modern town that people can feel proud of.” He added: “This £2m investment is about more than just new buildings – it’s about creating affordable homes “It’s another step in our mission to ensure every part of our city region gets the opportunity to thrive.” The masterplan’s first phase, known as St. Michael’s Place would provide 72 affordable one- and two-bed homes to rent and 85,000 sq ft of commercial office space on the site of the Computer Centre Work on the first phase is expected to start in the second quarter of 2026 It is expected the masterplan could provide up to £62m in economic benefits to Huyton with an extra £2.7m spent in the town’s centre each year Lathom Road’s multi-storey car park has also been earmarked for redevelopment with a street-level sustainable transport hub providing electric vehicle charging points and bicycle storage It is hoped that an application to LCRCA’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement will secure funding for the hub Later phases of the masterplan propose a further 150,000 sq ft of commercial office space and 300 more homes Knowsley Council is continuing discussions with the government and the combined authority on potential funding for the masterplan Any chance that Knowsley council could finish Kirkby town centre first Finishing Kirkby is no good if you live in Huyton One would like to speak directly with Mr Steve Rotheram who will be able to view what has happened to the small town Good news about the demolition of the multi storey car park also how about some landscaping in Sherborne Square The hotel idea is good and not far from the train station where you can be in Lime Street in about 10 minutes and will be handy for visitors going the match A number of companies associated with the Southport business have entered administration as a City of London Police investigation continues Huyton Village will host free creative craft workshops during January and February Make on the Corner on 22 Derby Road will host Textile Transformations: Crafting Community and Sustainability a pilot project supported by a grant from Merseyside Waste & Recycling Authority (MWRA) These free workshops aim to promote creativity and social connection while providing a welcoming space for individuals experiencing or at risk of social and economic isolation The project will deliver three creative workshops and one celebratory event at Make on the Corner Participants will learn hands-on skills to transform recycled textiles donated by Roberts Recycling into something beautiful and meaningful The sessions are specifically designed to foster community connections Workshop Schedule (all between 10.30am and 1pm) Make Huyton Village is encouraging people who may be experiencing isolation and loneliness; including elderly people and anyone who would benefit from a creative and supportive environment There are 15 spaces available for each workshop. For more information or to book places for your service users, please email Mia Tagg at mia.tagg@makecic.org With a gentle nod to the judge and a quiet 'thank you' for his 25-year sentence career criminal Edward Robert ‘Bobbie’ Jarvis shuffles slowly from the dock and is led down the stairs to an underground holding cell An armed escort awaits to chauffeur the Category A prisoner back to his quarters at HMP Manchester where he has spent much of the last four-and-a-half years postponing today's almost inevitable conclusion His mounting health issues mean the prison formerly known as ‘Strangeways’ — or some other high-security wing elsewhere in the prison estate — is where Jarvis may very well see out the last of his days His life as an international drug trafficker is over His trial and subsequent sentencing was a result of Operation SubZero the UK's first and — to date — longest-running investigation and prosecution that followed the hack of an encrypted communications platform known as ‘EncroChat.’  The conviction of Jarvis for his part in a blackmail plot and the supply of millions of pounds’ worth of cocaine and heroin — and of his bosses and their co-conspirators — were sealed by messages and photographs they exchanged on EncroChat in the mistaken belief they would lay hidden behind an unbreakable code They were damned by their own words when that code was cracked.  The 72,000 messages uncovered from Operation SubZero provided a chilling view into a dangerous world where a close group of childhood friends from a small town in Merseyside gained a stranglehold on Britain's consumption of Class A drugs two brothers climbed unchecked to secure their seat at the top table of Europe's cocaine cartel. Theirs is a world where loyalty means everything where betrayal leads to swift acts of retribution and where extreme violence is casually celebrated.  Throughout the four years I’ve been covering these court hearings — the trials the interviews and the mountains of evidence — questions continue to gnaw at me we explore how the Coggins brothers rose from the streets of Knowsley to become the heads of a drug cartel with connections across continents and how exactly they were so successful and yet almost invisible flying under the radar for over 30 years.  Our story begins 40 years ago in the Knowsley town of Huyton This mid-60s housing development of tower blocks and maisonettes rehoused some of the 200,000 people displaced by the inner-city slum clearances of Liverpool with high levels of unemployment and a ceaseless spate of burglaries In a piece published in UnHerd Magazine Dr Robert Hesketh — a criminologist who lectures at John Moores University — says that Few residents would connect with other areas or the people and organisations outside of their immediate frame of reference If there is one thing Hesketh has learned in his time as a criminologist almost half of all the men who lived on Cantril Farm were out of work — four times the national average It is out of this perfect storm of social and urban inequality that the organised crime group who would become known in the press as ‘The Huyton Firm’ rose to dominance.  the firm had been run by two men born and bred in Merseyside: 58-year-old Vincent Coggins and his brother who evaded arrest and remains on the run in Europe Both were career criminals who rose to prominence during the drug boom of the 1990s Francis later moved to Costa Del Sol to direct the smuggling of cocaine from South America a man previously convicted for attempting to scalp a woman and alleged to have been the “guiding hand” in the shooting of pilot Jason Osu in 2012 Rounding out the major players in the crew was Edward ‘Bobbie’ Jarvis Jarvis first appeared in the news more than two decades ago at Preston Crown Court Dressed in a lime green Lacoste t-shirt alongside notorious Liverpool gangster Philly Glennon back in 2002 Jarvis stood accused of laundering the proceeds of activities linked with the Merseyside drug lord This trial followed a five-year probe into Warren’s affairs after his guilty verdict for drug smuggling in 1997 Dutch phone taps revealed the gang had stayed ahead of the law by paying off a senior Merseyside Police detective The jury in Lancashire heard that Jarvis was charged with four counts of money laundering and one of hiding his income from the taxman Reports from 2002 describe how he waved and smiled to his family as he left the dock to begin a four-and-a-half year sentence But Bobbie Jarvis had already been a busy man using Warren’s South American contacts in the Cartel before this fond farewell Jarvis faced accusations that he’d masterminded a conspiracy to supply more than half a tonne of cocaine smuggled on a boat called The Pulse that he had helped sail to Venezuela Jarvis convinced two men to crew The Pulse and sail him from Rhodes across the Atlantic to the small island of Marguerite Officers from the UK followed their every move and tipped off the Venezuelan National Guard police described his haul in Venezuela as “a significant world seizure” and gave it a street value of £48 million busted with a boat loaded with 300 kilograms of Colombian cocaine marked with the ace of clubs and with another 293 kilograms on their way down to the harbour Jarvis got lucky and slipped the Venezuelan police with his German girlfriend fleeing to Europe to enjoy a few more years of freedom Bobbie Jarvis was brought to justice and sent down for 28 years Despite an order to pay £800,000 in criminal proceeds But his international connections and experience developed through associations with Warren while Cocky was at the top of the world made Jarvis a core member of the gang from Huyton the author of Drug War: The Secret History says investigators believe others involved in the South American plot were key figures in the gang the media calls ‘The Huyton Firm’ — but they were never charged “For the people involved in that lifestyle but it must be quite addictive,” Walsh told me “They’ve got money to burn and they have to spend it Released halfway through his 28-year sentence over The Pulse plot Jarvis breathed fresh air for less than 18 months before he was back inside for his part in Operation SubZero Bobbie Jarvis was the last of nine men sentenced to a total of 155 years for blackmail and drugs as part of the operation Their arrests followed an investigation led by Detective Inspector Dave Worthington and masterminded by officers with the Northwest Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU).  At the core of the NWROCU investigation sits the cache of 72,000 explicit messages — chats that unfolded over six weeks between March 29th and June 16th As the gang exchanged messages and photographs over the encrypted communications platform EncroChat they had no idea that the authorities in France and the Netherlands had infiltrated the platform “They believed they were untouchable and that those messages were untraceable They genuinely thought their phones were secure,” Detective Worthington said outside court in October the EncroChat app has allowed users to securely swap their messages wrapped with encryption like a digital handshake shared only between two phones At least that was the relentless marketing pitch by EncroChat’s administrators when it launched in 2015 the EncroChat platform spread rapidly among the top tier of Europe’s criminal elite This preloaded app came installed and hidden on an ordinary-looking Android phone and sold to users who then paid a subscription The home screen looks exactly like any other but entering a passcode on the phone reveals a hidden layer of applications only the owner can access.  The phones were only available on the black market from resellers who acted like agents and dealt only in cash You had to own an EncroChat phone to talk to another EncroChat handle Buying a device instantly gave one access to a wider network of other users also engaged in criminality Ownership opened a marketplace outside your local region.  EncroChat wired you into a web of international connections who could help orchestrate the transit of drugs and firearms from South America and through nexus points like the Netherlands all organised from the comfort of your armchair in Huyton or a sunlounger on the Costa Del Sol But EncroChat was more than an enabler or a tool — it was a status symbol When risk management means you only want to deal with people you can trust EncroChat gave you a clean bill of health with other organised criminals To get hold of a handset you had to know the right people you entered a space where hidden identities and counter-surveillance techniques cut the chances of getting arrested non-business banter that left them exposed and paved the path toward their downfall Overconfidence in the encryption leads to stupid mistakes that link handles with real-world identities in mid-2020 the gang and their associates posted photos of their cooking achievements in the kitchen was jailed in 2022 for 19 years for drug offences “OliveScooter,” received 14 years for his role as an integral part of the Coggins Firm distribution network Between discussions on the price of their drugs the pair swapped pictures of food and chatted about their love of scones.  The brazen nature of their communications didn’t stop there Huyton player Jarvis sends a photograph of himself in a deckchair while kingpin Vincent Voggins coldly brags about how business was booming during the pandemic As with any successful multi-million-pound global corporation most updates ran up the EncroChat chain of command to the UK boss and the Firm’s Head of European operations While they gave the orders and signed off on the big stuff the anonymity of EncroChat kept the brothers’ hands clean two rungs removed from those lower down the ladder who took the everyday risks and who earned the smallest rewards In an exchange with the unidentified handle Vincent Coggins discusses getting far away from it all Sources from Merseyside’s underworld talk of how hated Vincent Coggins is A volatile man with a hair-trigger temper prone to violence and who cherishes a grudge he fought his way up the ranks from robber to riches you do not get to the top and stay there unless others get hurt.  Only someone with a death wish would openly challenge Vincent Coggins when the notorious Liverpool gangster Richard ‘Will’ Caswell put an out-of-town crew together to steal Coggins’ cocaine this was a declaration of war that Coggins took personally Vincent Coggins exploded in fury at finding his stash had been taxed with a terrifying order to recover the drugs “You’d either have to be desperate or incredibly reckless to do something like that,” muses author Peter Walsh “It’s got to be one of the most dangerous occupations on earth taxing the drug stash of an international trafficker There’s only likely to be one outcome if they discover who you are.” It wasn’t long before the Huyton Firm set about their revenge plot Vincent Coggins instructed members of his gang to identify just who was responsible for the robbery even asking for a supply of hand grenades — or “pineapples” — to be used as retribution.  Within hours CCTV of the robbery was obtained by the Firm given to them by Thomas Cashman — the hitman convicted of shooting and killing nine-year-old Olivia Pratt Korbel in 2022 a senior Merseyside detective confirmed to me off-the-record that the 9-year-old was almost certainly not Cashman’s first killing with other sources suggesting he was hired by the Coggins firm “They have hitmen paid monthly salaries and on retainers to get an extra bonus whenever they go out and do a job,” an off-the-record source told me at the time “That's just the way it operates the bigger they get.” Using the video footage a total of four suspects were identified by the Firm including local drug dealers Brian Maxwell and his son Yet according to EncroChat messages sent by Brian Maxwell out of fear Maxwell offered to pay £1.36 million to cover the lost drugs to save his family.  “I'll kill them in few months wen its all calm down then I come back,” he writes to the members of his own gang Ultimately it was this murderous promise that led to his — and the rest of the Huyton Firm’s — demise.  In Part Two of “From Huyton to High Security” we will explore what happened next and the legal dilemmas the secretive hacking of EncroChat creates And we will stare deep into the dark and unsettling past of Vincent Coggins and his enforcer Paul “Woody” Woodford as we investigate how their chats reveal how they stayed one step ahead for so many years A cocktail of funding will be required to bring the project forwards Credit: via Knowsley Council cabinet report More than two years after appointing Genr8/Kajima as development partner for the project Knowsley Council is seeking grant funding from Homes England to plug a £28m viability gap holding up the first phase It will cost an estimated £107m to deliver The council’s existing 120,000 sq ft civic estate would be demolished to make way for the scheme The second phase would feature an additional 300 homes and another 65,000 sq ft of workspace the regeneration of Huyton town centre would cost £163m The funding for the first phase is expected to come from a mixture of grants the council has ploughed £13m into Huyton town centre for acquisitions and early stage works the council’s cabinet will meet to agree the expenditure of £3.6m to progress the project through to planning stage – £2m of this figure will come from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority the council is expected submit a brownfield funding bid to Homes England to plug the identified viability gap – £18m for the offices and £9.8m for the hotel The cabinet report states that Huyton has been “overlooked on five occasions for central government funding” What a waste of public funds £300+ psf on offices to move public sector workers about At least I’ll be able to have a long weekend in Huyton with the family!!! Good luck to Knowsley in getting the funding assembled for this scheme Huyton has a well connected train station and loads of poorly used low density land How long since the library was last given a new building…not that long Can we see which City Region businesses are part of the Genr8/Kajima design team to reach the planning stage Combined Authority funding should ask for local skills to work on flagship projects Funding has also been allocated for road upgrades to ease congestion at Tarbock roundabout Knowsley Council will enter a grant funding agreement to deliver an active travel and road capacity improvement scheme on Wilson Road and Tarbock Island The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has awarded the council £12m for the two Huyton projects Plans for construction of a travel corridor starting at Wilson Road for pedestrians alongside a segregated cycle path will be allocated £4m Huyton Business Park would then be connected to the village centre allowing for safe and environmentally friendly travel Knowsley Council received an £8m grant to increase the number of lanes at Tarbock Island Road improvements have been designed to ease congestion around Huyton Business Park, as well as in preparation for the proposed Halsnead Garden Village development LCRCA first agreed on 15 November 2024 to award the £12m to Knowsley Council Funding was derived from LCRCA’s £30m package to enhance active travel routes across the city region the scheme must be completed by 31 March 2027 Construction will be undertaken by contractor Tarmac Knowsley Council’s cabinet meeting on 15 January is expected to sign off the active travel package as proposed by officers The meeting will also consider part of a further £12m package for improvements around Junction 4 of the M57 is a £4.5m project to improve capacity and active travel at the junction of Moorgate Road the East Lancs Road Road-widening to enable a straight-ahead lane resurfacing and cycle improvements are all included in the scheme Phase two of this package relaters to work on the motorway junction itself and is still in the LCRCA “gateway” process In further plans, the Sefton Maritime Corridor, a walking and cycling link between the Port of Liverpool and Atlantic Park will also see £12.4m of enhancements to cycling and walking links A further £4.9m was granted to the planned Runcorn Busway scheme to contribute to the Palacefields area’s regeneration There’s nothing better than cycling around one of the country’s busiest junctions in the pouring rain and turning up for work looking like a drowned rat Not sure how the active travel route along Wilson Rd into the Village Centre at Huyton will work for pedestrians and cyclists Ok Wilson Rd is plenty wide enough but once you get to the railway bridge on Huyton Hey Rd it’s far to narrow for 2 way traffic so how they intend to get a cycle lane in there as well is a mystery You might think such an awful motorway junction could do without a cycle track But routes for non car owners to get to jobs in Warrington “Anonymous” complaining about looking like a drowned rat – have they ever heard of a “coat” Why is it always motorists who are first to jump into good news about active travel with their idiotic observations Yet more stupid needless cycle paths,we have them in St Helens and no one uses them WHO cycles miles and miles to do a days work then do the same trip home only a masochist would go cycling round there even when the sun is out no one will honestly use this as it’s one of the busiest junctions who honestly does the Risk assessments for these projects because they have not got a brain cell between their ears Smart traffic lights on Wilson Road at the junction of Manor Farm Road are badly needed Amount of time wasted sat at a red light when no other traffic is around is ridiculous Widening the tarbock rdbt in the name of active travel surely funding should be saught for a cycle pedestrian bridge to link all the arms of tarbock as during/after the works crossing over will be a nightmare Hopefully they don’t waste more money on a half baked plan of installing 10 staggered traffic light crossings probably for a similar cost to a lightweight bridge A bridge would actually improve matters while the lights would serve as an annoyance to all road users including pedestrians who have to wait for the traffic to go past before the sensors allow the lights to change Developer Genr8 Kajima Regeneration has secured planning approval for enabling works to unlock the next stage of the proposed £130m Huyton town centre regeneration Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council yesterday agreed to press ahead with the ambitious vision for Huyton giving the green light to the necessary site demolition and enabling works The council approved the release of the funds needed to progress to planning for Phase 1 of the transformational scheme will be anchored by a new 85,000 sq ft council HQ along with 72 flats Council to spend £3.6m to get the plans off the ground A new surface car park would replace the current multi-storey car park Part of the Council’s 10-year town centre development proposals for the seven-acre plot include a new council headquarters and new public realm including a village green we are dedicated to delivering a vibrant new hub for Huyton with St Michael’s Place and are looking forward to getting started This key funding approval to planning demonstrates our partnership’s commitment to this bold and forward-thinking reimagining of the town centre.” Later phases include a further 300+ homes and 150,000 sqft of commercial office space all helping to increase footfall in the town centre Knowsley Council has worked with partners to create a further 61 additional wraparound childcare places for primary school aged children … Residents are invited to join in with local celebrations and festivities to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day Anyone needing urgent mental health support can call NHS 111 and select the mental health option for 24/7 access to urgent … A major improvement scheme is taking place at Tarbock Island at Junction 6 of the M62 A Section 60 Order will be introduced in parts of Kirkby in response to a stabbing yesterday evening Knowsley Council has hosted the first Knowsley Suicide Prevention Summit has launched a public consultation inviting residents has completed a £3.6m deal with Blackburn-based EG on the Move which has acquired its ground lease at Beacon 62 an 11.5-acre mixed use development in Huyton Beacon 62 is a successful strategic gateway development delivered in partnership by HBD and Nelson-based Barnfield Group Other occupiers include Jaguar Land Rover dealership Hatfields and Aldi which sits next to both the M62 and M57 motorways HBD acquired the ground lease on the Euro Garages plot in 2019 prior to work beginning on site The 2.5-acre site now comprises a Starbucks and a KFC drive-thru restaurant alongside a petrol station EG on the Move operates 150 petrol forecourt sites across the UK following the acquisition of the business from EG Group by Zuber Issa Christoper Dee and JMW Solicitors acted for HBD while EG on the Move was represented by Freeths said: “The sale aligns with our medium term strategy for our commercial investment portfolio with a major weighting in industrial and logistics building the value of our portfolio with developments that align with our strategy.” HBD’s Manchester team is progressing a number of industrial and logistics schemes across the North West a 245,000 sq ft net zero carbon scheme close to junction 26 of the M6 The portfolio of commercial schemes include net zero office development a 200,000 sq ft Grade A commercial development with a rooftop pavilion Working with a £1.2bn development pipeline HBD operates from six UK offices focusing on industrial and logistics urban development and residential projects Wirral's independent local news website an elderly lady was reportedly the victim of an attempted theft from her handbag a second woman in her 80s reportedly had a purse and mobile phone stolen from her handbag has been charged with Theft from the person of another; and Attempted theft from the person of another Edgar appeared at court and has been conditionally bailed to next appear on Tuesday Huyton Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Hassett said “This is an ongoing investigation so I would remind people not to comment in any way which could jeopardise these proceedings we will always respond swiftly and decisively when such concerning incidents happen.” Anyone with information on theft or attempted theft in shops should report these to police immediately either through 999 if a crime is in progress 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Image: GOOGLE  Email us at news@birkenhead.news The community space at Make On the Corner in Huyton Village Centre is hosting a number of forthcoming seasonal workshops The following workshops at the space on 22 Derby Road will take place in the lead up to the Halloween and Christmas celebrations: The following classes are also taking place next month at Make Huyton Village: You can book your place by following the links above artists and creatives can access space for their business at Make Huyton Village on Derby Road The 7,000 sq ft ‘maker’ space in the unit previously occupied by Boots offers private studios and shared workspace for making The spaces are available to view Here (Part 1) & Here (Part 2) an annual celebration of reading and literature World Book Day aims to promote a love of reading introduce new authors and genres to readers Giving children and young people the opportunity to own a book of their choice is at the heart of World Book Day’s mission to encourage reading for pleasure and Kirkby Library are taking part in World Book Day by becoming a community token exchange hub This means that children can swap their World Book Day Tokens at either library for a free World Book Day book There are a host of titles available for all ages and stages of reader including Pokemon Check out this year’s titles here Take a look inside the 2025 books! – World Book Day “I’m delighted that Huyton and Kirkby Libraries are once again acting as community hubs for World Book Day Providing children with the opportunity to choose and own a book is invaluable in fostering a lifelong love of reading and discover the joy of a new story.” This offer is available from now until Saturday 22nd March and if children don’t receive their token in school Find out more about World Book Day at: https://www.worldbookday.com on Tuesday 15 April where a woman had been stabbed Police officers gave first aid at the scene until paramedics arrived 32-year-old Rebekah Campbell was then taken to hospital was arrested the same evening and has today He has been remanded into custody and will next appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Saturday 19 April Ms Campbell’s family said in a statement she had a “genuine heart of gold." They said: "Rebekah was our everything She was a happy young woman with her whole life ahead of her and had a genuine heart of gold if it meant putting herself out to help someone She was a support for vulnerable people and would use her own experiences to make other lives better "We are so grateful for all the messages of condolences and we didn’t realise how many people’s lives Rebekah had touched which just reiterates to us how special she was "As a family we would appreciate privacy at this time." A series of heartbreaking tributes have been shared on social media from Rebekah's loved ones who described her as a "beautiful caring" woman who "loved being around her family and friends" Lauren Groves wrote: "Wow I cannot believe what am reading RIP Rebekah Louise fly high thinking of all your family at this devastating time Chelsea Campbell said: "Until we meet again our queen Always look up to you even while you're not here." Antonia Evans said: "Forever young our beautiful girl Lisa Sillitoe said: "Heartbroken RIP Becky such a beautiful I can't believe this has happened to you Thinking of all your family at this devastating time RIP angel." Nadine Henderson said: "My heart is broken for my sister and Rebekah Louise Natalia Louise Aesthetics said: "Can’t stop thinking about our beautiful friend Rebekah Louise and all her family and friends Becky was always a family girl and always loved being around her family and friends there was never a dull moment with her She loved a good dance and sing song on the karaoke Becky you are so loved by everyone and we are all going to miss you so much Detective Chief Inspector Ben Dyer said: “Patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance for the community and officers continue to make CCTV and witness enquiries If you live in the area and have any concerns If you live in the area and saw or heard anything suspicious last night Police said anyone with information about this case is urged to contact them via DM @MerPolCC or call 101 quoting reference 25000309360 Police have also issued advice to anyone who has any non-urgent information on domestic abuse to contact them If you ring 999 and are not in a safe position to speak to us then cough This will alert the operator that you need assistance and we will provide support "You can also request information under Clare’s Law This scheme enables the police to release information about any previous history of violence or abuse a person might have." Advertise with us Video Services Everything you need to know about the LFC parade so far One Stop Shop now being offered at Wallasey town hall info@theguideliverpool.com +44 151 702 0143 Calendar Food & Drink Picante launches new Margarita Masterclasses Liverpool restaurant week returns next weekend with hundreds of dining deals Nightlife New Kapsule music venue opening at Invisible Wind Factory this weekend 20 things you can do this week in Liverpool (28 April – 4 May 2025) Tate Liverpool unveils Chila Kumari Singh Burman retrospective as centrepiece of 2027 relaunch Mel Giedroyc returns to Liverpool for a night of Eurovision Classics at the Philharmonic Hall Family Mum creates chilled Scandi style play cafe that parents will love as much as kids Find out the free family entertainment happening at Smithdown Festival this weekend Directory The Northern Guide Advertise The Guide Liverpool: Getting Ready for the BIG dates in 2025 12 ways The Guide can help support your business in 2025 marks a significant milestone in the Huyton Village regeneration programme – part of Knowsley Council’s wider 10-year development strategy With the potential to create and retain up to 1,700 jobs and generate £50 million for the local economy the regeneration project is seen as a legacy development that will shape the town for generations to come The regeneration proposals include significant enhancements to the town centre a revitalised leisure and retail offer – including a hotel – and a growing night-time economy Plans also feature the creation of a new Village Green and a community hub at Cavendish Walk which would incorporate a library and dedicated meeting spaces Further proposals include transforming the existing multi-storey car park into a modern travel hub The current consultation follows Knowsley Council’s endorsement of Phase 1 of the Huyton Village Centre Masterplan in November 2024 This phase includes the transformation of the Council’s seven-acre civic site The public consultation will run from 29 April until Tuesday 27 May providing opportunities for individuals to review proposals and provide feedback that will shape the next stages of the masterplan We are committed to being sensitive to the way the community already interacts with the village This consultation is an opportunity to listen carefully and work together to deliver a town centre that is both ambitious and rooted in place.” Find out what’s good up North on our new platform From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE. The Guide Liverpool proudly shares regular stories from in and around Liverpool Our editorial team is made up of trained journalists and media professionals meaning you will never miss a moment from the city region Sign up today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers Download it today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers The funding is part of the ambitious £163m Huyton Village project which promises to deliver a host of economic and social benefits for the town centre and wider Knowsley area The plans aim to breathe new life into Huyton’s town centre by introducing a mix of leisure The first phase will focus on creating 72 affordable homes commercial office space all alongside a community hub and library The proposal will see the demolition of old council buildings freeing up almost seven acres of land for future development The Huyton Village scheme is expected to generate £62m for the local economy and will continue to evolve They also confirmed further phases will soon be initiated with the addition of more commercial space and 300 additional new homes The £2m from Liverpool City Region’s combined authority will finance the purchase and refurbishment of properties on Cavendish Walk with further plans to create temporary office space for relocated council staff modern ‘village green’ and energy-efficient office building including the seven-storey Huyton Municipal Building expressed his enthusiasm for the project and said “We’ve shown in Kirkby and Prescot what we can achieve when we work together—and now it’s Huyton’s turn “This investment isn’t just about new buildings — it’s about creating homes and better facilities that will bring jobs and businesses back into the town centre.” The new village green will include the relocation of the Cenotaph A new street-level sustainable transport hub is planned to replace the current multi-storey car park with electric vehicle charging and cycle storage funded through an application to the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement “We’re delighted to have the support of the Combined Authority to drive this transformative project forward This is a huge step in our plans to deliver lasting economic and social benefits to Huyton and the wider region.” Image: How Huyton Village could look like after redevelopment works St Columba’s Catholic Primary School in Huyton has received a positive outcome following their latest Ofsted inspection which took place last month Leadership and Management and Early Years provision were also judged to be “Good” whilst Personal Development at the school was judged to be “Outstanding” “I was delighted to read St Columba’s Catholic Primary School’s latest Ofsted report It highlights the commitment of everyone at the school for pupils for develop achieve and succeed with Inspectors noting that ‘pupils blossom academically “The report includes extremely positive feedback from the Inspectors and everyone at the school should be quite rightly proud of their achievements The HENRY Healthy Families: Right from the Start group is coming to Huyton this week Exercise and Nutrition for the Really Young (HENRY) 8-week programme offers parents a chance to share ideas and gain new skills and tools to help their little ones flourish It’s for families with children 0 to 5 years old addressing lifestyle issues in a supportive and fun environment The weekly sessions will start on Friday 18 October at Hilltop Children’s Centre, Bedford Close, Huyton, L36 1XH. To book your space on this FREE course call 0151 443 5633 or email: earlyyearsservice@knowsley.gov.uk Seven HENRY programmes were delivered in Knowsley from 2022/23 to 2023/24 reaching 46 children aged between 0-5 and 40 parents Feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive for all seven programmes: Police were called to Knowsley Heights at around 10.30pm on Tuesday after receiving a report the woman in her 30s had been stabbed inside a flat Officers attended and gave the victim first aid until paramedics arrived She was taken to hospital but sadly died from her injuries a 34-year-old man from Litherland has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident but are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward Detective Chief Inspector Ben Dyer said: “This was a tragic incident in which a woman has sadly lost her life and specially trained officers are supporting her family which is in the very early stages as we seek to establish exactly what has happened “Patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance for the community and officers continue to make CCTV and witness enquiries you can contact Merseyside Police via DM @MerPolCC or call 101 quoting reference 25000309360 You can also pass information via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously Copyright © 2025 Click Liverpool St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Prescot has been judged to be “Good” in all areas inspected by Ofsted following an inspection carried out last month  The school was judged to be “Good” for the quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management; and early years provision said “I’m delighted that St John Fisher Catholic Primary School has achieved “Good” in the five key areas that Ofsted inspect staff and governors have high expectations for children to achieve with inspectors noting that pupils are achieving “This is a great report – well done to everyone involved.” The 1971 Huyton Boys team gathered together last month to recognise the contributions of two former players to the team’s legendary English School’s FA cup win back in 1971 Former players Ged McGuinness and Frank Pimblett were honoured at the gathering and Frank’s wife Helen Pimblett by the Leader of Knowsley Council Following his time in the Huyton Boys team Frank Pimblett went on to play for Aston Villa in the first division and then Newport County FC before moving to Australia where he continued his career in football as well as becoming a successful businessman Frank passed away in June of this year but is considered a ‘legend’ of the sport in Queensland and beyond The team were formally recognised by Knowsley Council back in October 2022 for their contribution to sports and raising aspirations in Knowsley Leader of Knowsley Council said: “I vividly remember watching the Huyton Boys lift the cup at Goodison Park in April 1971 and the team’s success on that day has become the stuff of local legend “It was my absolute pleasure to recognise Frank and Ged’s contribution to the team and the part they played in the fantastic achievement It was also my great honour – on behalf of the Council – to present certificates to Ged and to Frank’s wife Helen.” Since their reunion the team have met up regularly and have set up a Community Interest Company to inspire the next generation to pursue their ambitions in sport and beyond Make sure you know when to put out your bins over the festive season Usual collection day                                                    We will collect your bins on 23 December 2024                                            Saturday 24 December 2024                                            Monday 25 December 2024  (Christmas Day)         Tuesday 26 December 2024                                          Friday 27 December 2024                                               Saturday 30 December 2024                                            Monday 30 December 2024 (no change) 31 December 2024                                           Tuesday 31 December 2024 (no change) 1 January 2025                                           Thursday 2 January 2025                                               Friday 3 January 2025                                                     Saturday And remember all bottles, cans, wrapping paper (not foil), Christmas cards (not embellished) and cardboard packaging go into the grey bin. For more information about recycling visit www.recycleright.org.uk For more information about waste collection days check your online waste collection calendar at Knowsley Council – Bin collections The opening hours for the Household Waste Recycling Centres at Wilson Road Please remember they are closed on Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year’s Day (1 January 2025) For more information about the recycling centres and waste visit: Tips and recycling | Knowsley Council You can recycle your real Christmas trees from 13 January to 17 January 2025 by dropping them off at: Or you can take them to the Household Waste Recycling Centres in Huyton and Kirkby Willowbrook Hospice is running its annual Christmas tree collection service – where they will collect and dispose of your tree in exchange for a donation Collections can be booked until Wednesday 8 January 2025 at 11.59pm the service is available to those living in the L14 Collections will take place from Monday 13 January until Monday 20 January 2025 Register your tree here Merseyside Police received a report that a woman aged in her 30s had been stabbed inside a flat at Knowsley Heights Her next of kin have been made aware and will be supported by specially trained officers a 34-year-old man from Litherland has been arrested on suspicion of murder He remains in police custody to be questioned Image: GOOGLE  A new Retirement Living scheme for older people in Huyton has officially been named as Pomeroy Court Housing 21 held a Naming and Topping Off Ceremony at Pomeroy Court marking a significant milestone in the construction process bringing together key stakeholders Vextrix and Knowsley Council came together to celebrate the progress of the build The scheme will comprise 40 one and two-bedroom apartments all of which will be available to rent for local older people in Huyton Pomeroy Court is being delivered by Housing 21 a national leading provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care in partnership with Complete Construction and Vextrix Senior Delivery Development Manager at Housing 21 said: “We are pleased to have named Pomeroy Court We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners as we near the completion of a much needed Operations Manager – Merseyside at Housing 21 said: “We are delighted to be delivering our first Retirement Living scheme in Knowsley Pomeroy Court will support people to live independently within the community as well as provide them with a safe and supportive environment to call home.” Knowsley Council’s Executive Director for Regeneration and Economic Development said: “The Knowsley Housing Strategy 2022-27 recognises the demand for more Retirement Living options in the borough The development of Pomeroy Court in Huyton supports this Strategy and builds on the progress made in recent years in delivering more Retirement Living options for our residents working with Registered Providers like Housing 21.” The Retirement Living scheme will enable residents to live independently in their own apartment with access to a spacious residents’ lounge and an on-site Local Housing Manager to help on hand with any queries said: “Alderley Group are proud to unveil Pomeroy Court as the name for our latest Retirement Living Scheme in Huyton This development represents our commitment to delivering high-quality affordable housing tailored to the needs of the over-55 market “Pomeroy Court is more than just a housing development; it is a community designed to foster connection We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the lives of the residents and the broader Huyton community.” The development is expected to open early 2025, for more information, visit www.housing21.org.uk The Household Waste Recycling Centres (tips) in Huyton and Kirkby are set to switch to their shorter winter opening hours from Tuesday 1 October Kirkby will open from 8am to 5pm during the winter months (instead of 8am to 8pm in the summer months) They are operated by Veolia on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) Recycling Centres accept a range of household materials for recycling They also accept lesser known items such as food (e.g Pringles) and drink cartons Householders can check www.recycleright.org.uk for details of what can be accepted at their local site The centres provide a popular service for residents and can become extremely busy at peak times so visits should be planned carefully There is a system in place for those who wish to visit a centre in a van or with a large trailer. Bookings can be made at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk