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 Credit: Liverpool EchoTwo boys aged two and three have suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a dog at a home The children both suffered puncture wounds and cuts to their arms and legs while an 18-year-old woman was left with a minor arm injury The incident happened at around 4pm on Thursday 1 May inside a property on Johnson Avenue, Prescot, in Knowsley Emergency services, including Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service attended the scene and the two children were taken to hospital for treatment for serious injuries has been handed over to be humanely destroyed Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing Chief Inspector Phil Thompson said: “This is a shocking incident that has resulted in two toddlers being taken to hospital with serious leg and arm injuries." officers remain at the scene to carry out witness and CCTV enquiries If you have any information that could help our investigation please get in touch as a matter of urgency.” and a screening of a classic British film are among the highlights of a now 21-year old Merseyside arts festival this June Wingates Brass Band open the 10-day Prescot Festival programme in style on Friday 20 June with local professional vocalists performing the following day in ‘Songs from the Shows’ The week continues with events that include a screening on Tuesday 24 June of Willy Russell’s now-legendary 1977 film Our Day Out Award-winning Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats perform on Friday 27 June in a concert of swing standards with star soloists To mark the third birthday of Prescot’s Shakespeare North Playhouse the festival presents an afternoon of opera highlights on Wednesday 25 June in the venue’s own Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden with the world premiere of Emily Parr’s one-act play Two Steps Back in the Studio Theatre the same evening Festival proceedings come to a close with an eagerly awaited return appearance from Liverpool’s Phoenix Concert Orchestra in a special concert for their 25th anniversary on Sunday 29 June and young vocal sensations Hope Street Consort are all on this year’s line-up along with musical showcases for the choral and instrumental talents of local primary school students “As we reach the 21st birthday of the Prescot Festival it remains an incredible joy and an honour to be able to offer this annual celebration of community music-making and local artistic talent This year we look forward to festival events in collaboration with the pioneering Shakespeare North Playhouse and much-anticipated return performances from outstanding local ensembles such as Wingates Band Festival-goers also have the opportunity to play a part themselves by joining a Come-&-Sing choir for a performance of Mozart’s Requiem on 28 June competing in the 2025 Prescot Festival Short Story Competition or by joining in the barn dance on 26 June Full programme details are also online at prescotfestival.co.uk Photo: Wingates Brass Band at the 20th Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts (credit: David Wong) has visited King George V Playing Fields in Prescot to see how work is progressing to create a sports and community hub has benefitted from significant investment following a successful grant of £250,000 from the Football Foundation secured by Knowsley Council in partnership with Berkley Junior Football Club and the Friends of Brown’s Field Improvement works including the replacement of the former changing rooms cabin with a new sports and community building which will enhance the facilities for users as well as support the expansion of activities for the local community for many years to come As well as supporting the delivery of weekly football activities for all ages the new building will host a range of community and recreational events and activities for people of all ages to enjoy the lower grass playing pitches on the site will benefit from drainage improvement works and pitch conditioning to improve their quality The total cost of the scheme is £750,000 and further investment has been secured through Section 106 funding from the new housing development on the former Whitakers Garden Centre site The building works are due to be completed over the summer 2025 and the pitch improvement works also over the summer but the pitches will be fenced off until the autumn when the grass is established said “It was great to see how work has progressed at King George V playing fields in just a few months “The creation of the new sports and community building is taking shape and work has commenced on the pitch works “King George V playing fields is an extremely popular attraction here in the Borough and these improvement works will help to enhance the current facilities as well as extend the offer at the site.” Prescot’s Elizabethan Fayre returns to celebrate the town’s Elizabethan heritage The FREE fayre is a popular date in Knowsley’s annual events calendar and will be taking place on Saturday 7 June There will be plenty for everyone to enjoy It will be a fun-filled day packed with theatre and dance performances Visitors can also experience a piece of Tudor history There might even be an appearance from Queen Elizabeth I herself Prescot’s history is quite remarkable – in Elizabethan times it was the only place in the whole of the country to have a free-standing purpose-built theatre Today it is home to Shakespeare North Playhouse the multi award-winning theatre and cultural venue in the heart of the town inspired by William Shakespeare and his love of storytelling “The Elizabethan Fayre commemorates and celebrates lots of the wonderful history that makes Prescot so special and provides a really fun and contemporary experience for visitors of all ages stalls and other attractions to bring the whole town centre to life with lots of involvement from the community A full programme with times for events and activities will be available soon You can also follow CultureKnowsley on Facebook and Instagram for updates You will be welcomed to Wonderland this Christmas in Prescot town centre from 2-4pm there will be a host of Alice in Wonderland themed activities for everyone to enjoy Brought to you by Shakespeare North Playhouse Prescot Business Club and the businesses of Prescot there will be everything from crafts and colouring in to cakes and cocktails The façade of the former Prescot Picture Palace building in Prescot is now flawless following its recent restoration The former Picture Palace is now the 26th historic building in Prescot town centre to benefit from restoration work as part of Knowsley Council’s wider regeneration programme for the town The Grade II listed building is a rare example of its type and was one of the earliest cine-variety houses in the country The expert restoration work focussed on the exterior of the building and was carried out by Knowsley Council with support from Purcell specialist conservation-accredited architects Historical photographs were used to help recreate some of the original design features which were created in the flamboyant Edwardian Neo-Baroque style This has all helped to bring the building back to its former splendour The work has been funded jointly by Historic England and Knowsley Council as part of the Prescot Heritage Action Zone project Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development said: “The restoration of the former Prescot Picture Palace building is the single biggest project the council has undertaken as part of our successful High Street Heritage Action Zone project here in Prescot The architectural heritage and cultural history of this iconic building is incomparable and I am delighted that we have been able to safeguard this building and its heritage for many more years to come.” Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development at the former Prescot Picture Palace building “We are proud to have contributed to the conservation of the Grade II listed Prescot Picture Palace a much-loved icon of Knowsley’s heritage which has carefully restored the building’s original features The works form the first phase of the building’s regeneration which will secure its future for generations to come.” Historic England’s Julie Griffiths said: “We’re delighted to see this historic gem in the heart of Prescot now fully restored and ready for a new use  This is testament to the hard work of Knowsley Council local people and expert contractors who’ve worked together to make this happen.” Before and after photos showing the restoration work to the exterior of the building: Prescot town centre is a thriving cultural destination thanks to investment from Knowsley Council partners and private developers over recent years Knowsley Council spearheaded the regeneration of Prescot town centre with its investment and commitment to the building of the highly acclaimed and award-winning Shakespeare North Playhouse The town has also benefited from significant investment into new and high-quality public realm the restoration and repurposing of historic buildings and spaces and extensive improvements to public transport facilities the thriving food and beverage sector is drawing many people into the town centre which has attracted new businesses and is supporting established businesses already located in the town Knowsley Council is working proactively to secure future investment for the former Picture Palace building to bring the building and space into use and to support the continued regeneration and transformation of Prescot town centre the windows of the building will be boarded to protect them from any damage History of the former Prescot Picture Palace building The former Prescot Picture Palace Cinema at 8-14 Kemble Street was established in 1912 The Prescot Picture Palace Company Ltd purchased number 12 to 14 Kemble Street (a pair of amalgamated C19 town houses) and plans were approved by the Urban District Council for their conversion into a cine-variety theatre in September of that year At its opening it was described as presenting a palatial appearance and ‘quite luxurious’ with the theatre seating 630 customers which increased with the addition of a balcony around 1913 was accessed by a central L-shaped staircase off the foyer The Picture Palace served as a picture-drome It was operated as part of the J F Emery Circuit by 1923 and equipped with a British Thomson-Houston (BTH) sound system by 1929 and the building became a carpet and furniture warehouse The plan form remained unchanged until the mid-1970s although the 1920s cinema seating was removed from the auditorium and stored in the upper floors Around 1975 former shops (8-10 Kemble St) were purchased by Tudor Bingo and incorporated into the cinema building Number 8 was a purpose-built early-C20 shop with an Edwardian shopfront to the ground and first floor and Number 10 a former C19 house converted to a shop Both shop frontages were boarded up and modifications included the creation of internal access between the newly purchased buildings and the former cinema and the removal of the cinema entrance entablature for a fascia sign A flat roof extension was added to the rear of numbers 8-10 and another at the south end of the auditorium’s east elevation Internally the east arm of the balcony was extended to the south end of the auditorium over the stage and beneath the proscenium arch Coral Bingo took over the bingo club in the late 1980s and established a social club with the loss of the shop front to number 10 for the insertion of two ground floor windows In 1995 the buildings were purchased by Prescot Community Church (an Elim Pentecostal Congregation) Knowsley Council acquired the building in 2021 and the revival of the building is the single largest project of Prescot’s High Street Heritage Action Zone project jointly funded by Knowsley Council and Historic England About Prescot High Street Heritage Action Zone Prescot was selected as one of the 68 high streets to benefit from the High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme in 2020 The £3.1 million heritage-led regeneration programme has seen major investment from Knowsley Council and Historic England into a number of key projects in Prescot town centre Work to demolish certain parts of Prescot Shopping Centre will start on Monday 3 March This is another important milestone for the future development of the shopping centre site and will help Knowsley Council to attract future investment that will help continue to drive the regeneration of the town centre which has been empty and not in use for some time the area of the shopping centre which contains the former supermarket unit on the lower level and the former Home Bargains store above it The work is expected to be completed by late autumn library and museum will remain open during the works and usual opening hours will be in place The shopping centre car park will remain open during these works however there may be some temporary disruption This will be managed closely by the council and kept to an absolute minimum “The demolition works are an important part of the council’s plans to transform Prescot Shopping Centre Our ambition is to develop this space into a vibrant The demolition of these buildings will make this space much more attractive for future development.” Prescot Shopping Centre occupies a prime position in Prescot town centre and is a key element of the council’s plans to continue the regeneration and revitalisation of the town Knowsley Council’s Cabinet approved the recommendation for the council to enter into an Exclusivity Agreement with Cityheart as a preferred developer for Prescot Shopping Centre Cityheart is working with the council to develop proposals for the shopping centre site which will support the continued regeneration and transformation of Prescot town centre and delivery of the council’s Prescot Town Centre Masterplan This will build on the wider acclaimed investment and regeneration that has already been delivered by the council and private developers including the multi-award-winning Shakespeare North Playhouse AJ Kelly & Co will manage the demolition works The Prescot Elizabethan Fayre returns on Saturday 7 June 2025 celebrating the town’s Elizabethan heritage The FREE fayre has been a popular date in Knowsley’s annual events calendar for over 20 years Prescot’s history is quite remarkable – in Elizabethan times it was the only place in the whole of the country a new theatre and cultural venue in the heart of the town inspired by William Shakespeare and his love of storytelling Last year the event attracted 10,000 visitors who enjoyed the day from 11am – 5pm on 7 June for a great family day out The Knowsley Flower Show will take place on Sunday 3rd August 2025 11am-5pm and.. Join acclaimed theatre maker Andy Smith and award-winning applied arts practitioner Lynsey O’Sullivan for.. the writer of ‘Do I Love You?’ and ‘Bouncers’ Knowsley Feelgood Festival returns on Saturday 2 August 2025 Socially engaged projects reflecting personal stories of what makes a strong community today Around 70 of the best independent traders will be heading to St George’s Hall.. Wonder Boy is a heartwarming story of a 12-year-old boy’s journey to overcome a.. 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 Cabinet also approved proposals to demolish specific parts of the shopping centre to help to attract future investment that will help continue to drive the regeneration of the town centre Here we answer some of your frequently asked questions and set out the facts about the future development of the shopping centre site the Home Bargains store located in the centre will close on 24th December 2024 Prescot Shopping Centre in its entirety is not being demolished The plan is to demolish specific areas to prepare the site for development and to help attract further investment The area of the shopping centre which contains the former supermarket unit on the lower level and the current Home Bargains store above it Despite best efforts to secure a tenant for the former supermarket unit it is likely to remain vacant for the foreseeable future as it does not meet modern retail requirements therefore making this area of the shopping centre financially unsustainable long term the Home Bargains store will close on 24th December 2024 Home Bargains is the only store required to close due to the demolition The council has been in discussions with the owners of Home Bargains since it acquired the shopping centre and has given advance notice of the proposed demolition There are no compulsory redundancies as a result of the store’s closure The Post Office and Banking Hub are not closing and will remain open Prescot Library and Museum are not closing and will remain open The shopping centre car park will remain open there may be some temporary disruption to the car park this will be managed closely by the council and kept to an absolute minimum Notice of any disruption will be publicised in advance Knowsley Council is working with Cityheart to develop proposals for the shopping centre site These proposals will consider the national changes happening with high streets and shopping centre sites many national retailers are choosing to leave the high street and focus on online shopping or out of town retail parks high streets need to offer something different to encourage the local community to keep visiting the town centre This is exactly what is already happening in Prescot thanks to the council’s well recognised regeneration efforts Prescot town centre is now home to more cafes local community groups and workspaces and the landmark cultural venue shopping centre sites across the country are changing and becoming vibrant mixed-use locations where people can live Cityheart’s high-level vision currently is for a mixed-use development that is likely to include much needed new homes alongside new and existing commercial space and improved car parking and public realm The exact number and type of homes will be determined as detailed designs emerge and will be shaped by further consultation all proposals will be considered thoroughly It is important to highlight that any plans to build new homes or any other form of development on the site will require planning approval and will be subject to further informal and formal consultation processes Demolition of the former Stephenson Print building is expected to start by the end of the year Full details of the demolition work will be published once approved In the coming months Cityheart and the Council will carry out further consultation with tenants of the shopping centre residents and visitors to Prescot to help shape the detail of proposals View the Planning Application(s) for the proposed partial demolition.  View the most recent Cabinet Report from October 2024. At the commencement ceremony for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott, Arizona, campus the president and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies described the university as a “crucible of precision and passion.” Embry-Riddle “is a launchpad where theory meets practice where your hopes and dreams of flight and exploration are matched with the discipline to bring them to life,” Currier told graduates and their families at the May 3 ceremony held in Prescott Valley’s Findlay Toyota Center The ceremony honored 476 graduating students, including eight students who received master’s degrees. Twelve students from the Worldwide Campus participated in the ceremony including five who earned master’s degrees Twenty-seven graduating ROTC students were commissioned as officers: 21 Air Force cadets and 6 Army cadets Currier reflected on the university’s history — from its founding to its revival as the Embry-Riddle School of Aviation in Miami and its later expansion west with the opening of the Prescott Campus in 1978 He connected that history to his own. The son of Cuban immigrants and raised in Miami, Currier earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami and is now head of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies An International Space Hall of Fame inductee for his role in pioneering reusable rocket technology Currier told the graduates that he was drawn to engineering by the same passion that brought many of them to Embry-Riddle: “the drive to push boundaries and to be part of something greater than yourself.” He described how Honeywell Aerospace works every day on “technology that pushes the edge of the possible,” from avionics and propulsion systems to spaceborne sensors and next-gen autonomy “What I can tell you from experience is that all of the innovation in the world comes down to people — people like you,” he said Currier told the students that they are entering an area of rapid transformation “are real,” including geopolitical uncertainty “But I am not discouraged,” he said will not only face those challenges — you will outthink them He encouraged the students to keep their “compass true,” “lead boldly” and “to never forget to look up.” telling the graduates that he was deeply impressed by their accomplishments “I know that this is just the beginning,” he said The ceremony’s featured student speaker was Chancellor’s Award winner Hailey Murray, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Space Physics and is now going on to pursue her doctorate at Cornell University in New York Murray told her fellow Eagles that her greatest growth as a researcher and as a person during her past four years at Embry-Riddle came from “being in a state of uncertainty or unfamiliarity.” “I encourage all of you to seek out opportunities with the confidence you have gained as a result of working for this degree.” Brock McHood, an Aeronautical Science graduate who is applying to be a Prescott Campus flight instructor compared the journey of being an Embry-Riddle student to that of a pilot the Space Force’s deputy chief for operations gave the keynote address at the Air Force ROTC Detachment 028 commissioning ceremony at the Prescott Campus She also swore in 22 new second lieutenants “There will be shining moments and stormy weather,” he said “How you endure the more difficult moments can make the difference in how you grow as a professional aviator.” Nicholas Kopacek, an Aerospace Engineering graduate on the Astronautics track said he was most proud of the two years he spent as a co-leader of an electronic propulsion team on the Prescott Campus.  He said the team designed and optimized “an ion thruster to simulate what NASA does with ion propulsion,” a method of spacecraft propulsion that uses electrical energy to accelerate ionized gas Kopacek, who has a job lined up with Raytheon Technologies in Tucson, said he was deeply grateful to Dr. Darrell Smith, a professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department has provided me with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in industry,” he said “My professors have been very supportive — Keaton Ziem contributed to this report Posted In: Applied Science | Aviation | Engineering | Institutional News | Space Prescot Cables is appealing to its fans and local community to support its fundraising efforts as it works to cover the additional costs associated with competing in a higher league of football whilst also progressing major investment into the stadium Last season the club were promoted to the Northern Premier League This is a massive achievement for the club but also something that comes with additional costs including travelling further for matches enhanced maintenance for the club’s grass pitch and improvements to the stadium Recent postponements of some games has also impacted matchday revenue at a time when the Club is undertaking major improvements to the stadium to meet league requirements and improve matchday experiences for supporters A statement from the Board of Directors said: “We understand that many of you already contribute generously at the turnstiles and in the bar and it is with reluctance that we reach out for additional support we believe that as a community asset and a football family Your contributions will help us ensure the sustainability of our club and allow us to continue progressing into next season in the Premier Division makes a difference and helps us keep the spirit of Prescot Cables alive Let’s rally together and show our strength as a community We appreciate your continued support and commitment to our club.” You can read the statement for the Board of Directors in full on Prescot Cables website and anyone wishing to get involved or donate can visit the crowdfunding page Knowsley Council has agreed to enter into an Exclusivity Agreement with Cityheart Cityheart will work with the council to develop proposals for the shopping centre site the council will progress with plans to demolish the former Stephenson’s Print building and the area of the shopping centre containing the former supermarket unit This work will prepare the site for development and help to attract further investment into the town centre Both the Exclusivity Agreement and demolition proposals were agreed by Knowsley Council Cabinet on Wednesday 2 October Following its purchase of the shopping centre in 2022 Knowsley Council asked residents to share their views on the future of the centre Feedback showed a strong theme of positivity in general around Prescot town centre and many recognised the change in shopping habits and commented that a ‘complete rethink’ was needed when it came to the future of the centre Knowsley Council’s agreement with Cityheart will build on the wider acclaimed investment and regeneration that has already been delivered by the council and private developers “This is another significant and positive step forward for the continued transformation of Prescot town centre which is a strategic priority for the Council Our primary purpose for acquiring the shopping centre was to keep up the positive momentum we have already achieved and to continue to drive this regeneration “The shopping centre is in the heart of Prescot town centre and we have ambitions for it to become a vibrant and valuable space which will support the needs and aspirations of the local businesses within the town centre for our residents and for the increasing numbers of visitors to the town “We look forward to working with Cityheart to develop and share our ambitions for this exciting opportunity.” Commenting on the agreement with Knowsley Council Greg Ball “Prescot is a town with a unique and rich heritage and its shopping centre site offers a wonderful opportunity to drive further investment and continue the revitalisation of the town centre We’re delighted to have been selected to work with Knowsley Council on transforming this important space for the local community Knowsley Council is expecting the agreed demolition work to start in November full details of the consultation and demolition works will be published here on Knowsley News Cityheart specialises in working with the public sector to deliver and manage regeneration projects across the United Kingdom Prescot’s Elizabethan Fayre returns on Saturday 7 June to celebrate the town’s Elizabethan heritage The FREE fayre is a popular date in Knowsley’s events calendar and as always the fun-filled day will be packed with something for everyone to enjoy… birds of prey and the chance to learn more about Prescot’s fascinating history Prescot was the only place in the whole of the country a multi award-winning theatre and cultural venue in the heart of the town inspired by William Shakespeare and his love of storytelling Read more here. Our Deputy Chair was addressing the National Infrastructure Planning Association annual dinner By: Rob Mallows Tagged: , , Julia Prescot, Deputy Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, spoke at the annual dinner of the National Infrastructure Planning Association yesterday (Thursday explaining why putting people at the heart of reforms to the planning system for infrastructure is crucial to successfully delivering the new infrastructure projects the UK needs to decarbonise energy and achieve net zero Julia reflected that while there was a consensus on the need for planning reform there was less agreement on the way to go about it She said there was a need for a more imaginative approach to the way that major infrastructure projects are communicated to the public one that put people more at the heart of the process and focused on the tangible benefits that new infrastructure would bring to people’s lives communities and the nation as a whole Drawing on recommendations the Commission made in our second National Infrastructure Assessment from October 2023 Julia explored what steps were necessary to build a more effective people-focused approach to infrastructure planning including through providing more tangible community benefits using more representative ways to engage communities improving the way environmental data is collected and shared and ensuring greater continuity in long term infrastructure planning Many of you will know me as the deputy chair of the National Infrastructure Commission But what you may not know is that I originally trained as an archaeologist All that mud and You spend your days scrabbling around in the dirt for inanimate objects… Objects that are often fairly indistinguishable from rubbish But archaeology is really thrilling—believe me isn’t really that broken bit of old tile you dig up It’s the craftsman who made that tile… The person who bought it…the person whose eyes last looked at it It’s all the people who ever walked across the top of that tile over the years… The people who lived and worked and died in that place About recovering traces of people from the physical world… And bringing them back to life in your mind The archaeologist Michael Shanks called that “the archaeological imagination”… And I think we could do with something like it in the world of infrastructure planning I took the better travelled road into banking and investment But clearly my interest in digging up ground persisted…with an infrastructure career to fund long-term investment in sustainable infrastructure And I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved since then Our investments have created 85 billion pounds’ worth of largely greenfield infrastructure assets Like one thousand one hundred and seventy kilometres of rail- and tramtracks… Two thousand five hundred kilometers of road… I could go on listing big numbers like that: we’ve got 22 billion dollars of assets under management But would it really mean anything to you if I did Can you get excited about the phrase “seven hundred and fifty-five megawatts total renewable energy production?” Because what matters about the 125 infrastructure assets we manage is not the assets themselves… It’s the difference they make to people’s lives Like the 250 thousand direct and indirect jobs they’ve created… Or the twelve thousand three hundred hospital beds… tram and air journeys they make possible for three hundred million passengers a year That’s what drew me away from archaeology towards infrastructure: The chance to make the world better for people And I’m sure that’s the case for everyone in this room that gets lost from our conversations about infrastructure planning… Within our profession and in the country at large One of the points we always make at the NIC is that we don’t do enough to connect big infrastructure projects to people’s daily lives… We don’t talk enough about the difference they’ll make And that’s a big part of the reason why it’s so difficult to build new infrastructure in this country It’s why we’ve ended up in a situation where we have a broad consensus about what we want planning reform to do… That’s why I welcome the new government’s Planning Bill… I know how keen Angela Rayner and her cabinet colleagues are to get it on the statute books as soon as possible But where are we going to put the data centres (Dare I say it?) Where are we going to put the pylons And even more awkwardly: who’s going to pay for them This is where we tend to come up against a brick wall as we embark on this long-overdue process of reforming the planning and consenting regime… We have to do more to bring people along with us… But it’s something we managed to do in the past It wasn’t always this difficult to get things built Someone showed me an advert recently from a 1961 issue of Country Life magazine—no less It’s for the Central Electricity Generating Board… a full-page image of a lovely English field and with big black power lines all across the sky And on top of the washing machine is a woman in an apron lounging across it like she’s in the Bahamas And at the top of the page the advert says this: SHE CAN’T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER It’s a simple but incredibly powerful message Let’s just think for a moment what a high-voltage home electricity supply meant for women… By powering these machines that we all take for granted It meant not having to devote an entire day of every week to the back-breaking drudgery of soaking It meant having hands that weren’t scrubbed red raw from the effort… It meant feeling a little less like your family’s live-in-maid having to see a couple of pylons out of your back window is a small sacrifice to make indeed So much of the problem we have with planning in this country comes down to the fact that we don’t think of it that way anymore Everyone wants a modernised healthcare system that uses data to keep their loved ones healthy for longer… But no one wants the view of a data centre from their window Until a majority of people accept that we “can’t have one without the other”… Because it’s all very well to believe in “growth” or “net zero” or “regional equality” in the abstract… But unless you believe they’ll make a concrete difference to the life you live… You’ll be unwilling to sacrifice anything for them That means putting the tangible benefits that new assets will bring front-and-centre in the planning conversation… It’s like the archaeological imagination in reverse: like a piece of rail track or a building’s foundations… Then instead of imagining who used it in the past… You conjure up who’s going to use it in the future… The graduates who won’t have to live cheek-by-jowl in city centres to access work… The families whose crippling electricity costs will plummet… In an economy where people can do more than survive Call it “the infrastructural imagination”… What it adds up to a new national story: a story that looks to the future Telling that story is a political exercise And politicians of all stripes have to get better at talking about long-term progress To really get on board with new infrastructure projects… And there are a number of ways I think we can show them In return for hosting major infrastructure projects in their communities This was one of NIC’s main recommendations to the last government Community benefits arrangements have been highly successful in France around 8 to 10% of the cost of new energy transmission and distribution infrastructure goes towards community benefits There are as many possible community benefits arrangements as there are infrastructure projects… From local employment guarantees to direct compensation EDF Energy even funded a local Odd Job Man to serve the villages surrounding Hinkley Point C… and sorted their odds and ends out for free You’d be surprised how far small measures like that can go… How willing people are to make a sacrifice…When they don’t have to wait years or decades for it to pay off I’m pleased to see the government’s proposals around community benefits for electricity transmission infrastructure I think there is a neat symmetry to ring-fencing funding for environmental projects we need to make a decision as soon as possible… And we need to extend them beyond electricity transmission What we can do 2: Include people in the conversation But it’s important that community benefits arrangements don’t become a kind of bribe The whole point of putting people back into planning is to ensure that major infrastructure projects aren’t imposed on people from above It’s not enough for people to grudgingly accept new assets… What we need is for people to want those assets… to feel excited about them as that woman in Country Life people need to feel they have a genuine stake in the nation’s infrastructure… they need to play an active role in the planning process So when I say we need to “put people back into planning” I’m speaking literally: We should think about the use of citizen assemblies demographically representative groups of people far from bogging projects down in bureaucracy Citizens assemblies have actually sped up some processes Because when you involve more people earlier on… You can take possible objections into account and head off future roadblocks and challenges And there’s a great deal we need to do to streamline and speed up the planning process I think we need many more people in the planning inspectorate and in the statutory consultees… It takes far too long to get simple tasks done cutting down unnecessary duplication of environmental assessments in the same geographic areas can cut years from projects One of the UK’s seven species of native gulls… And one of our major issues to harnessing wind power (!) It’s not the fault of the poor old kittiwakes who nest in the cliffs and fish in the North Sea… It’s the fault of our wildly inefficient planning system every time a new developer wanted to build an offshore wind farm in the North Sea… They had to go off and visit the kittiwakes… they can complete the thousandth identical impact assessment on these poor nesting gulls There is no reason why we couldn’t have a national library of environmental data… Where we could collect data centrally and list approved mitigation This would dramatically accelerate the offshore wind development process… It would also help reduce the number of scheme-by-scheme disputes… And it would mean we could finally let the kittiwakes be This kind of streamlining has already been trialled through the Offshore Wind Environmental Improvement Package to reduce consenting times across different sectors… So it’s encouraging to see the new government commit to introduce legislation to update National Policy Statements every five years unless we have continuity of advice and information I don’t wish to ruin anybody’s evening by mentioning a certain high-speed rail project But suffice it to say that NIC believes that many of the delays and spiralling costs of major infrastructure projects could be avoided… People think in the long term; governments think in the short And that’s the point I want to end on tonight: an optimistic one Building infrastructure will always take patience and long-term thinking That’s another thing archaeology teaches us you may have come across the Cuerdale Hoard: The biggest Viking silver treasure trove ever discovered The Victorian archaeologists who dug it up thought it must have been an offering to the gods… Or riches for a king to take into the afterlife Now we believe it was a stockpile for the future… That the Vikings buried all these riches in case they or their great-grandchildren needed them one day… In case of war or plague or a natural disaster And you don’t even have to look that far back to see it: even though we know it will be months before we can play a simple tune We put aside money for our retirement in our twenties We play Mozart to babies when they’re still in the womb in the hopes they’ll grow up and discover the cure for cancer My point is that providing we have a clear end-goal in mind… An end-goal we truly believe is worth waiting for… We humans are pretty comfortable with delayed gratification the government’s promised ten-year infrastructure strategy about the ways our projects will improve people’s lives Because imagining a better future is what we do… It’s the reason we’re all in this room tonight expert advice on major long term infrastructure challenges Freedom of Information requests may be submitted via our contact form Join our mailing list to receive news and updates on the Commission’s work Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Knowsley bought the shopping centre to progress the regeneration of the town centre Knowsley Council has selected the Chester-based outfit to craft a new-look town centre by redeveloping the 90,000 sq ft retail complex the authority acquired in 2022 Cityheart will enter into a 12-month exclusivity agreement with the council to draw up plans for the future of Prescot town centre which will be anchored by a “high-quality town centre living offer” The scheme, which will be guided by a masterplan drafted in 2016 would see parts of the shopping centre knocked down and 200 homes delivered Proposals for the new-look town centre are in the early stages of gestation and detail is limited other uses aside from residential would feature within the development as well as improvements to the public realm The project will aim to build on the success of the Shakespeare North Playhouse which completed in 2022 and has attracted 240,000 visitors since Cityheart will work up a planning application for the scheme The developer is no stranger to town centre regeneration and is currently delivering the overhaul of Wigan Galleries for the local council said: “We’re proud to be recommended to cabinet as the preferred partner for Knowsley Council to enter into an exclusivity period to secure investment and development opportunities at the Prescot Shopping Centre site.” Wigan acquired the Galleries as part of its plans to drive investment and growth into the borough Knowsley Council took a similar approach in Prescot paying Groupe Geraud £1.3m for Prescot Shopping Centre in late 2022 A report to the authority’s cabinet states that the shopping centre “continues to be unviable in its current form and will continue to place a financial burden on the council without further intervention” The exclusivity agreement with Cityheart is due to be signed off next week Knowsley Council said it would comment on the deal after the cabinet meeting Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" We do not want any of prescot shopping center knock down for more houses.why can’t you just update the shops and put the rents on them down Do not destroy our little shopping center with houses I wonder how well the Galleries scheme is going? What we need in Prescot are individual SME’s to include lovely upmarket shops (clothing Yes some housing but don’t overwhelm Prescot as there are plenty of new housing developments around Prescot now Prescot is already flooded with new houses will you also build into it another schoo and another health centre It is all fine and dandy to build 200 new homes but you Councils are flooding our already crowded infrastricture Typical of Knowsley council soon as they bought it it was destined to be housing the so called top earners don’t have the skills to do anything more than resedential there is nothing shop wise to appeal to anyone We could do with shops not house’s the high street will be a ghost town soon All this building/development your forgetting one thing needed,in order for revenue coming in!..It needs a BANK!..No Banks in Prescot How do people spend money?Since the last bank Halifax went,footfall has fallen ‘dramatically!’..I’ve noticed and I’ve been here 11years!..Get a Bank back here Petty knowsley council aren’t doing the same for Huyton village Instead you’re destroying it with yet more restaurants and bars we don’t want or need We have a huge rat problem not helped by more eateries Time to go back to old fashioned values and small trading community based businesses Prescot town centre used to hold the community together Residents would meet up whilst shopping throughout the year Woolworths was a huge loss as they sold everything and Kwik Save small supermarkets had a varied choice for the community to choose from There are no DIY shops – no clothes shops Most of all no banks the older community feel isolated and denies them social interaction Please no more homes we need fruit and veg shops too It was lovely especially at Christmas meeting friends and neighbours buying their Christmas veg and little gifts Please develop a community based shopping centre suitable to celebrate Prescot’s heritage for us How many more houses do you need to build it’s a shopping town we want not more houses typicall labour So many empty spaces for far too long in the centre how about B AND Q as this is a much required facility Prescot town centre doesn’t need more houses The shopping centre needs decent shops with low business rates but keeping the large amount of parking Before Trsco was built Eccleston Street was a busy shopping centre The heart went out of Prescot when the big retail park was built We don’t need a few hundred more people adding to the already overpopulated town due to all the other new estates being built In the town centre we have hardly any banks left no sports centre or citizens advice bureau Our library and museum and Post Office have already been stuffed into the in-shops from their original buildings and now where are they going to be relocated to What about us that live in Chester St and William st will we be moved The shopping centre is no longer fit for the requirements of modern day retail or leisure Would be great to see this developed out as multi-use development incorporating new leisure i.e to add to the cultural anchor of the Shakespeare Theatre and well designed terraced town houses that retain the human scale of the town centre and play facilities to be incorporated into the scheme Authors of these comments need to get real From the comments clearly lots of fondness of Prescot of yesteryear but little recognition that there’s no appetite from retailers to occupy those shops because there’s little demand Despite “all the new houses” the place is still quiet but thankfully those new residents and visitors make sure it’s not dead like St Helens with some housing is exactly what the areas needs…there’s loads of wasted space around the back of the shopping centre and indeed in the shopping centre Ideally some flats above shops/bars/offices/restaurants would be great Tesco is already too big for its plot on the retail park There may come a time when it wants the Home Bargains unit in the shopping centre… So don’t have some flex in the plans Any plans to continue with the rejuvenation have to be welcome However more parking facilities would be beneficial to bring in people to our small town centre Maybe if the business rates were viable more retail shops could be attracted When the only shops to buy clothes and shoes are charity shops it’s a bit dire! How do rents in Prescot compare with Liverpool city centre An effective shuttle bus service from the train station to the shopping centre would be welcome as far as an olde world high street of independent shops is concerned that can happen to an extent but these days the big supermarkets and drive-to shopping centres rule so that won`t change much I suppose Knowsley Council can`t win really if Prescot went upmarket there`d be complaints while others would like it to be a bit more refined let`s be grateful that the New Shakspeare Theatre has renewed peoples` focus on Prescot We need more facilities to cope with the people that have already moved into the new estates Why do councils not exercise common sense rather than seeing £££ signs No one wants extra houses there are enough and the doctors surgeries and schools aren’t increasing to keep up with the extra demand People like having access to smaller local shops as opposed to walking 1/2hr down to a retail park with huge versions I don’t know who hired town planners but they never seem very well educated in what the local residents want/need They all must drive and be fit and healthy for now It would be a different mentality if some of them had any conception of old age or disability and its challenges I’m neither yet but I could do a way better job of town planning than you lot seem to As someone said take the PR out of Prescot and what are you left with… the prices in local shops are one reason people go to the big supermarkets No to Social Housing there are enough “hooded teenagers” hanging around the town of an evening and in such a small area they are intimidating to the locals let alone cultured visitors to the town I think you will find it’s not the poor who steal majority wealth but the rich residing as non doms in places like Monaco.You know people like the former boss of Topshop I reckon if you’re assuming that it’s “hooded teenagers” emanating from social housing that are causing all the issues you’re probably not as “cultured” as you think you are I would recommend Prescot due some further due diligence Ask Wigan how much the Galleries are over budget getting rid of farm foods and home bargains was a big big mistake for prescot some people can’t get to the new one and have to go Tesco which is ripping everyone of every week 😡😡 We need more variety of shops at least one bank and no more housing without new infrastructure services to accommodate new residents Existing ones can no longer get a doctor’s appointment Don’t councillors live where they legislate for or are they just capital hungry and light a few brain cells If you want to see a small town with a footfall and a business model that works look at Skipton or Yarm in Teesside Where are all this yrs comments about this happening in prescot 🤔🤔 It’s a great idea an could be an amazing place with the history it has but do not lose that history I hope you are building new schools and doctors to cope with another 200 families They are hoping to turn it into the next Bradford Why do folk think some body will provide shops That some body can determine that shops will re-appear: Marketism as opposed to Marxism has decided that shopping will be done outside villages and towns or online Property is built to make a profit not serve a community The City Visitor Charge will haul in an estimated £9.2m over the next two years The council wants to appoint a multidisciplinary team to draw up a place strategy for the town aimed at harnessing “the power of Southport’s strengths” 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" Teams from Knowsley Council and its partners will be out and about in Prescot Town Centre on Tuesday 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 checks on retailers and do food hygiene inspections as well as speaking to businesses and residents who are failing to manage their waste taking enforcement action where appropriate The council’s mobile information trailer will be parked at the junction of Leyland St and Eccleston St and will be the base for a number of organisations offering advice and support from 9.30am This will include a responsible dog owners’ event from 10.30am to 2pm alongside The Dogs Trust and Blue Cross will be offering free microchipping a ‘chip and check’ service as well as advice to pet owners and information about dog training courses Social Housing provider Riverside will be organising a litter pick and ‘skip day’ at Derby Square giving residents the chance to remove any unwanted items they may have At nearby King George V Brownsfield, Knowsley’s Green Space Rangers will be hosting a free half term Halloween event between 1pm and 3pm, including advice about what to do with pumpkins after carving and promoting positive environmental messages. Find out more about the Green Space Rangers half term events 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 Riverside Housing 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 Prescot Shopping Centre occupies a prime position in Prescot town centre and is a key element of plans to continue the regeneration and revitalisation of the town in the years to come That’s why Knowsley Council purchased the shopping centre from a private company and asked residents in the town to share their views on the future of the centre – which unlike other parts of Prescot had not seen any significant investment or increases in visitors and footfall Feedback from that consultation showed a strong theme of positivity in general around Prescot town centre with many residents recognising the significant regeneration and investment that had already taken place Many also shared their views that with changing shopping habits and more people choosing to buy online a ‘complete rethink’ was needed when it came to the future for the centre and suggested other uses the council has invested in lift repairs to improve accessibility and has welcomed new tenants including FACE the Banking Hub and Mercutio’s Bar and Restaurant on Eccleston Street The council has also been meeting proactively with many potential new tenants for the largest vacant unit in the centre – the former supermarket Conversations have taken place with retailers the feedback from all these operators is that the space isn’t suitable for any of these uses specifically that the ceilings are too low and the internal layout (with too many internal columns) just does not meet modern retail requirements and standards the council has been working to establish a clear longer-term vision for Prescot Shopping Centre which focusses on reconfiguration to create investment and development opportunities whilst working around the existing tenants in the shopping centre and supporting the wider transformational regeneration ambitions for the town The council is in discussions with private developers and investors about future options for development To facilitate future development and to make the shopping centre a more attractive proposition for developers the council is planning to carry out demolition work (subject to planning approval) in a concentrated area of the shopping centre This plan includes the demolition of the former Stephenson’s Print building which has been vacant for some time and the area of the shopping centre containing the former supermarket unit Knowsley Council has been in contact with those tenants who will be affected by the proposed demolition work and will continue to be in discussions with those affected tenants and will assist them to find alternative accommodation should they so require Knowsley Council’s Cabinet will consider a report on the future of the shopping centre at a Cabinet meeting in October MANAGER Gareth Holmes shares his views on the 2-0 win over Prescot Cables in the final match of the season and looks forward to 2025/26 is set to benefit from  significant investment following a successful grant of £250,000 from the Football Foundation secured by Knowsley Council which came back under Knowsley Council’s management on 21 October 2024 will see the replacement of the former changing rooms cabin with a new sports and community building You can view the plans here The work is due to start during week commencing 2 December 2024 with building works due to be completed by June 2025 and the pitch improvement works delivered during April and May 2025 Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said “I’m delighted to see these plans progress with work due to start shortly “King George V is one of Prescot’s largest public open spaces one of Knowsley’s 20 Green Flag Parks and is a popular attraction in the Borough “The improvement works will help to enhance the current facilities as well as provide opportunities to extend the offer available at the site.” Ian Leadbetter from Berkley Junior Football Club We will have a facility to expand the football club and it will also provide a space for the whole community to use.” The Friends of Brown’s Field will continue to be an active partner in the delivery of community activities and events at the site The scheme was granted approval in October 2024 The construction firm’s subsidiary United Living New Homes has been appointed by housing association Plus Dane Housing to build the 88-property affordable Knowsley scheme The housing mix comprises four one-bed apartments homes are expected to be available from 2027 United Living New Homes is the new trading name for Partner Construction and is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Living Group Knowsley Council granted planning permission for the development of the near 8.5-acre brownfield site off Carr Lane in October 2024 The site sits to the east of the M57 and is a short walkable distance to Prescot town centre and train station said: “We are pleased to be moving forward at the Carr Lane site Prescot has experienced a regeneration boom on the back of Shakespeare North Playhouse and public and private investment in the town centre and we are delighted that we can now move forward with our affordable homes to keep that momentum going and contribute towards Knowsley Council’s home-building target.” Knowsley Council’s local plan targets the construction of 8,100 homes by 2028 added that the scheme would strengthen the collaborative relationship with Plus Dane Housing The Carr Lane project is the second development to be undertaken by United Living for Plus Dane Housing, after being awarded the 104-home Johnsons Cleaners headquarters development in 2024 use the planning reference number 23/02677/FUL in Knowsley Council’s planning portal Working in partnership with Knowsley Council the regeneration specialist is looking to advance a £163m development programme Hallam Land Management wants to build 730 homes between Prescot and Kirkby on land known as Spookies Wood Prescot Museum is now brighter than ever thanks to a refreshed redisplay completed recently The museum reflects the historical significance of Knowsley and the cultural identity of its communities The colourful displays of images and artefacts tell the story of Knowsley and its people – how they lived and where they worked Prescot Museum is home to over 14,500 objects including tools it’s completely free to come along and see the vast array of history and heritage on display Prescot Museum is located in Prescot Shopping Centre on Eccleston Street in the town centre Despite there being some demolition works at the Shopping Centre Prescot Museum is not affected and remains open for business and usual Prescot Museum is open Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm (last admission 4.30pm) Saturday 10am – 1pm (last admission 12.30pm) said “Prescot Museum has a wealth of information to showcase Knowsley’s people “There’s something for everyone – young and old – and it’s completely free to come along and see for yourself the town’s rich history and heritage despite there being some demolition works being completed at Prescot Shopping Centre “It’s open six days a week so pop along and see the great exhibitions on display and learn a few things about Knowsley’s rich historic past.” Find out more about the museum and its exhibits at: www.prescotmuseum.org.uk  Prescot Cables Football Club has announced that substantial improvements are underway at the Auto Safety Centre Stadium following a successful application for funding from the Premier League Stadium Fund As part of the club’s promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of last season several infrastructure upgrades were required to ensure compliance with league standards and to position the club for future progression up the football pyramid the club’s current Board of Directors has successfully stabilised financial operations enabling the presentation of a compelling case for funding the club is making immediate and impactful improvements to the stadium Key enhancements currently in progress include: These improvements will significantly enhance the matchday experience for supporters and reflect the club’s long-term commitment to growth and development The Board of Directors views these investments as a clear demonstration of the club’s strategic vision for the future Founded in 1884 and originally called Prescot Town the club took its Cables name after British Insultation Callender’s Cables (BICC) which was at one point one of the largest cable factories in the world and the main employer in the area the Club continues to play its home games from its centrally located stadium in the heart of Prescot Commission response to Chancellor's speech this morning on going "further and faster" on growth Tagged: , , The Commission has welcomed the speech this morning by the Chancellor setting out the government’s plans for growth In it she set out new details on its plans to invest in and deliver new infrastructure projects in support of this goal including outlining new plans for the development of the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor in line with recommendations on the region’s transformation originally made by the Commission in 2017 The Chancellor also gave a renewed commitment to address blocks to infrastructure delivery in planning and to support the expansion of Heathrow Airport and the development of the Lower Thames Crossing as the government aimed to go “further and faster” in its growth mission she confirmed government had made an agreement with water companies on unlocking £7.9 billion investment in the region’s water which would include a number of new reservoirs; in addition she announced additional funding for East West Rail and further upgrades to roads across the region Deputy Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Julia Prescot said: “The Chancellor’s speech recognises that half measures on infrastructure will no longer cut the mustard Accelerating investment in line with the Commission’s existing recommendations is essential: the government’s ten-year strategy in June must now give investors and contractors a clear picture of what happens next so they can invest in their skills and supply chains in anticipation.” “The green light to unleash the Oxford to Cambridge corridor’s full economic potential is welcome after a number of false starts and I’m pleased the government’s ambition matches the scale of transformation we envisaged in our original report in 2017 water and housing constraints on economic growth in one of the UK’s most productive areas are removed improving strategic roads and concerted action to secure the region’s water supplies are significant steps forward The government’s compelling vision for the corridor must now be turned into a comprehensive economic plan “The government’s readiness to consider private finance options for the Lower Thames Crossing is also important; the Thames has been a pinch-point on our national road network for too long and a barrier to trade so anything that helps get this project delivered as early as possible will be a boon for businesses across the country.” The Commission’s original 2017 report Partnering for Prosperity identified opportunities to create well-designed well-connected new communities and deliver one million new homes in the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford Arc by 2050 while respecting the natural environment and without making changes to existing Green Belt protections Central to this was a recommendation to government to complete the East-West Rail line connecting Oxford and Cambridge by 2030 along with the development of long term local transport plans for other key towns and cities in the Arc The Sports Report is ready to view for today’s game… The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Pictures of the scene show a black vehicle and police car which appear to have been involved in a crash. A number of police vehicles are at the scene and Prescot Road near to the junction with Queens Drive is blocked A G4S van is also parked on the pavement nearby The Liverpool Echo has asked Merseyside Police for more information on the circumstances This is an ongoing incident and you can follow updates below Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here Follow us on X @LivECHONews or on Bluesky @liverpoolecho.co.uk - official Liverpool ECHO accounts - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO If you witnessed the robbery at Iceland on Prescot Road this morning, or have any information you can contact police @MerPolCC on X, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook or 101 with reference 25000334110 Or, if you witnessed the crash or captured anything on CCTV or dashcam you can contact police via @MerPolCC on Twitter (X) or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook, with log 252 of 25 April. The security guard was pulled to the ground before the suspects made off in a vehicle, believed to be a grey Audi A3. A short time later in West Derby, at the junction of Alvanley Road and Blackmoor Drive, males believed to be linked to the robbery were seen trying to force open the cash box Police said the cash box has been forensically recovered. Following the incident Merseyside Police have launched an investigation and forensic Shortly after police were called to the robbery officers recieved another report, this time of a crash at the junction of Prescot Road and Queens Drive, close to The Navigator pub, involving a black Hyundai car and a marked police car, which was responding to an emergency incident. Police responded to the incident at around 9.40am and the driver of the Hyundai reported a slight injury and has been taken to hospital as a precaution. Following the incident police launched an investigation and are appealing for anyone who saw the crash, or who has dashcam footage, to contact police immediately. READ FULL STORY HERE Comments13:00KEY EVENTMan taken to hospital after crash near to Iceland robberyPolice have said a man has been taking to hospital following a crash involving a police vehicle, in a nearby incident to the robbery at Iceland on Prescot Road. Merseyside Police were called to reports of a crash involving a police vehicle in Old Swan today, Friday, April 25. At around 9.40am officers received a report of a crash at the junction of Prescot Road and Queens Drive, close to The Navigator pub, involving a black Hyundai car and a marked police car, which was responding to an emergency incident. The driver of the Hyundai reported a slight injury and has been taken to hospital as a precaution. Comments12:52Megan BannerPrescot Road remains closedA58 Prescot Road in both directions remains closed this afternoon following an earlier incident. Heavy traffic has been reported in the area due to crash, involving a police car, between Margery Road and Grange Drive. Pictures of the scene show a black vehicle and police car which appear to have been involved in a crash. The road remains blocked this afternoon while enquiries are ongoing. Comments11:35KEY EVENTPolice called to two separate incidents on Prescot RoadMerseyside Police has confirmed there has been two seperate incidents on Prescot Road this morning A spokesperson for the force said police were called to Iceland on Prescot Road, in Old Swan to reports of a cash box robbery at around 9.30am The security guard was pulled to the ground before the suspects made off in a vehicle, believed to be a grey Audi A3. A short time later in West Derby, at the junction of Alvanley Road and Blackmoor Drive, males believed to be linked to the robbery were seen trying to force open the cash box. Officers were also called to a crash on Prescot Road involving a police vehicle this morning. Merseyside Police have been asked for more information on this incident. Comments11:04Megan BannerPictures show police car involved in incidentPictures of the scene show a black vehicle and police car which appear to have been involved in a crash. A number of police vehicles are at the scene and Prescot Road near to the junction with Queens Drive is blocked. Comments10:52Megan BannerMajor road blocked as police swarm streetMerseyside Police are at the scene of an incident on Prescot Road in Old Swan this morning (April 25) Pictures of the scene show a black vehicle and police car which appear to have been involved in a crash. A number of police vehicles are at the scene and Prescot Road near to the junction with Queens Drive is blocked The Liverpool Echo has asked Merseyside Police for more information on the circumstances. woman and five children were able to escape from the property unharmed Credit: Liverpool EchoA 13-year-old girl has died in a house fire which broke out in a bedroom woman and five children were able to escape from the home unharmed which broke out in the first-floor rear bedroom of a mid-terraced house in Prescot Merseyside Police say the teenager - named as Layla Allen - died at the scene In a tribute, Layla's family said she had "an infectious energy and a heart full of love" and was a "typical The community has left huge numbers of floral tributes Disney characters and dolls in tribute to Layla Allen which began late into the evening on 2 April had been put out by around 12.30am on Thursday and neighbouring properties were checked for fire and smoke A joint investigation involving the force and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is ongoing Detective Inspector Steven O’Neill said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the young girl at this very sad time.” As part of Knowsley Council’s ongoing plans to support the regeneration of Prescot Town Centre Following consultation with local residents last year many people commented on bringing other uses the council has been working to explore options and last week The Hub is temporarily located next to the current Post Office within Prescot Shopping Centre and will operate from that location whilst a new permanent location is identified The Hub offers face-to-face cash and banking services and is open Monday-Friday The Banking Hub counter is operated by the Post Office and will allow customers of most major banks to access cash and banking services Customers will also be able to talk to a Community Banker from their own bank There is a private space where you can talk face-to-face about more complicated banking enquiries like payments and transfers CEO at Cash Access UK: “I’m delighted to announce that we have opened the temporary Banking Hub in Prescot The hub will allow local customers and businesses to access cash and face-to-face services We are working to find a permanent home for the Hub and we’ll be able to bring some positive news about the location soon.” Regeneration and Economic Development at Knowsley Council said: “Welcoming the new temporary banking Hub to Prescot Shopping Centre is part of Knowsley Council’s plan to redevelop the shopping centre itself and to complement and enhance what Prescot town centre already has to offer and to ensure that the town centre continues to thrive.” Knowsley Council is currently working with Cash Access UK to secure a permanent home for the Banking Hub in Prescot in the meantime the temporary Hub will provide the necessary banking services until the permanent hub is up and running Banking Hubs are owned by Cash Access UK and operated by the Post Office 20 Dec 2024 | Latest News, Match Preview We are back on our travels for the final time in 2024 as we make the journey to Merseyside to face Prescot Cables The Silkmen defeated Bamber Bridge in midweek to go 16 points clear at the Northern Premier League summit Our hosts currently sit 15th in the league and were on the end of the Silkmen’s first home win of the season back in August Paul Dawson serves the final match of his three game ban Elliott Whitehouse continues his recovery from a knee injury Tickets for tomorrow’s clash are available online until midnight tonight Pay on the gate will also be available for Silkmen supporters Child – £5 (Children must be accompanied by an adult) Online purchases can be made HERE The dulcet tones of our Mixlr team will be back once again with Full Commentary on our Mixlr channel from approximately 14:50. You can find the link to listen HERE We will be providing Live Updates via our Social Media Channels as the game goes on this afternoon Supporters can find our Social Media Channels below: For those who don’t have social media profiles then you can access Football Webpages for goal updates via the link below: https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2024-2025/northern-premier-league-premier-division/prescot-cables/macclesfield/504020 May 2, 2025 | There were some stunning strikes during the month of April It’s now time to vote for your Kenny Waste Management Goal of the Month for April Here are your four options: John Rooney vs Workington Neil Kengni vs Guiseley.. May 1, 2025 | , Ahead of our debut season in the Vanarama National League North Macclesfield FC are thrilled to announce that our seasonal hospitality and sponsorship packages are now available to purchase With Robbie Savage's side attracting significant national attention and with.. Apr 30, 2025 | As a season like no other comes to a close it's time to look back on what a special season 2024/25 has been for the football club and the town of Macclesfield After the play-off heartbreak against Marine expectations were high going into the 2024/25 season Apr 28, 2025 | , Macclesfield FC ended their title-winning season on a high with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Whitby Town The first big opportunity came in the 19th minute as Lewis Fensome made his way into the box before a deflected shot just breezed past the post Apr 25, 2025 | , The Silkmen return to the Leasing.com Stadium for one final time this season as Whitby Town make the journey from North Yorkshire Robbie Savage's record-breaking side will be awarded the Northern Premier League - Premier Division trophy Apr 25, 2025 | North-West businessman and investor Darren Wright has officially acquired a stake in Macclesfield Football Club signalling further ambitious & strategic growth plans for the Club Darren states: “I’m thrilled to step into the world of football club ownership—a.. Apr 22, 2025 | , Apr 19, 2025 | , Chester FC midfielder Adam Bott has joined Northern Premier Division side Prescot Cables on loan for the remainder of the season The 19-year-old signed his first senior deal with the Blues in the summer before linking up with Widnes for the first half of the campaign making 19 appearances and scoring two goals as they sit top of the Northern Premier Division One (West) linking up with Prescot Cables who currently occupy 19th place in the Northern Prem are a community benefit society operating under the name of Chester Football Club and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority The club is fan owned and does not have any major shareholders We’re heading to Prescot Cables’ Valerie Park on Saturday for the first time since August 2008 our Away Fan Guide has all the matchday information ahead of the trip Email: Paul.Goodwin@prescotcables.com | Tel: 0151 430 0507 Tickets are available to purchase on the on the day from the turnstiles by cash or card payment priced at: Matchday programmes will be available to download for free from Prescot’s website before the game Segregation will not be in place for this fixture with Lions fans able to choose their viewing spot in Merseyside as the Lions wear the all blue third kit There is a large seated stand on one side at Prescot with a small terrace behind one of the goals there is plenty of uncovered standing all around the ground Prescot’s snack bar will be open throughout the game and offers a range of pies and pasties There is also a drink and sweet hut open to fans on Saturday Prescot’s Club Room will be open before Coach travel is available with Guiseley AFC Supporters’ Club just call Paul on 07518 445861 to secure a seat The coach leaves Nethermoor at 10:45am priced at £25 for members and £30 for non-members Guiseley AFC: A family-friendly football club playing in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division based in the Leeds/Bradford area of West Yorkshire.