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19 Jan 2022

Council Leader highlights achievements from the last 12 months

At tonight’s Council meeting, the Leader of Knowsley Council highlighted a number of significant achievements and milestones reached over the last 12 months which will help Knowsley’s communities recover from the pandemic.

Cllr Morgan acknowledged the challenges that Knowsley residents and communities, as well as the Council, are continuing to face as part of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cllr Morgan acknowledged the support provided to residents, businesses, care homes and schools in helping to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.

Cllr Morgan said: “We have ensured key services have remained in place and that people can still get the support they need. We have provided extra support and invested £14.5m in our COVID-19 Recovery programme. This has already helped thousands of residents who most need our help and includes dedicated local funding for food and heating costs – alongside jobs and training support and debt advice.”

The investment in the borough’s COVID-19 Recovery programme has also included:

  • The launch of Mental Health Hubs in local schools and additional support for those affected by domestic abuse
  • Extra help to support residents to stay in their own homes for longer
  • And additional investment to maintain and improve parks and green spaces across the Borough.

Cllr Morgan told Council how, despite the challenges, significant progress continues to be made towards the goals set out in the borough’s current Corporate Plan and the long-term Knowsley 2030 strategy.

Cllr Morgan highlighted the completion of Kirkby’s new town centre retail development as a major milestone for the borough. The development will provide a long-term economic boost to the borough, help attract more people to Kirkby town centre and create 500 local jobs.

Cllr Morgan said: “We reached a crucial milestone in the Council’s redevelopment of Kirkby town centre – with the new Morrisons supermarket now open alongside other leisure and retail units, bringing new jobs, shoppers and visitors to Kirkby.  This would never have happened without the Council standing up for our local communities – and stepping in where the private sector had failed.”

Cllr Morgan also highlighted the progress made last year with the following major developments:

  • Halsnead Garden Village – the first developer is on site at the largest combined residential and employment site in the Liverpool City Region
  • East of Halewood – the first households have now moved in to the 1,500 home development
  • Headbolt Lane – Knowsley Council granted planning permission last year for a new station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby, with work expected to commence on site at the end of January 2022
  • Huyton Village Centre – improvement works have continued as part of the 10 year masterplan to transform the Village Centre
  • Shakespeare North Playhouse – Progress has continued at the Playhouse, ensuring it will open during Knowsley’s Borough of Culture Year 2022.