Experts urge motorists to carry out crucial autumn and winter checks

WITH autumn and winter weather beckoning in the UK, motorists are being urged to carry out important checks before hitting the road. The car leasing experts at:- LeaseElectricCar.Co.UK are urging drivers to carry out regular safety checks to avoid danger on the roads this autumn and winter. As the weather changes it can severely impact visibility on the road as well as the condition of the road surfaces. Carrying out these safety checks can not only keep drivers from harm on the road, but will also increase the longevity of vehicles, especially since winter time is extremely tough on cars.

A spokesperson for LeaseElectricCar.Co.UK said:- "Winter weather can be extremely treacherous especially if your vehicle isn't designed to deal with certain conditions. It can be daunting to carry out vehicle safety checks without the help of a mechanic, but anyone can do them. They're simple and can save you a lot of money in the long run. Just by making a few simple checks you can help to keep yourself and others safe on the road."

► Tyres:- Snow, sleet, rain and frost can all have a profound impact on the terrain and ensuring your tyres have the appropriate tread can help to give you a better grip on the road. An easy and effective way to check your tyre tread depth is to place a 20p coin into 1 of the primary grooves of the tyre. If you can see the outer ring of the coin when inserted it is likely your tyre is worn and unsafe. You shouldn't be able to see the outer ring of the coin and the tread should be a bare minimum of 1.6mm.

► Windscreen:- Winter weather can be unpredictable and having full visibility can prevent any potential dangers on the road. You can easily check for wear and tear on your wiper blades by seeing if they are dry, cracked or misshapen. If they are then it is advisable to replace them. Ensuring you have enough windscreen fluid can also be done by lifting up the bonnet and seeking a plastic tube with a windscreen symbol on it. Not only is it important to have fully functioning wiper blades for optimal visibility, but also to ensure your windscreen is free from chips. Frost can seep into a small crack and start to spread across the windscreen, the constant expansion and contraction of the glass in cold weather can render your windscreen unsafe if it is already damaged. Get any damages checked by a professional in the 1st instance.

► Oil:- Having the correct amount of oil in your car can help to prevent the engine seizing up particularly when it comes to winter time. Too much oil can actually be as detrimental to your vehicle's health as much as too little. To check your vehicle's oil, switch the engine off, and locate the dipstick (usually a yellow hoop next to the engine). Pull the dipstick out and wipe away any excess oil. Then place the dipstick back into the tube, pull it back out and if there is little to no oil on the stick make sure to top up with the appropriate oil type for your vehicle.

► Antifreeze:- Usually your car's warning system will signal if there is a fault with the engine cooling system, however spotting any problems early can help prevent any serious damage. When water freezes it expands and this can lead to cracked and broken pipes, which can significantly affect the functioning of the engine. To top up your car's coolant, you can locate the tank by using the vehicle manual. It is crucial that when topping up your antifreeze that your engine has fully cooled down, otherwise you can cause serious injury through the release of pressurised water. It's also important to note that different types of antifreeze don't always mix well, so when topping up the tank, try to use the same type where possible.

► Battery:- Battery failure is 1 of the most common reasons for car breakdowns especially in the winter time. Taking care of your car battery can help to prevent any problems and a routine check can be relatively easy to carry out. Start with a visual inspection and ensure the clamp and terminals are all tight and secure. Cleaning your battery from dirt and debris can help extend its life and keep it in working order. Finally, check the battery's fluid level, if the battery plates are exposed then top up with distilled water until they are covered again.

► Lights:- As the days get shorter, making sure your vehicle's lights are functioning properly is not only essential, but a legal requirement. To test your car's headlights, turn them on and walk to the front of your vehicle to make sure they're working and appear bright. In order to check the rear lights, have someone else stand at the back of the vehicle whilst it's stationary. Go through and check both your reversing lights and brake lights. Again, both sides should be fully functioning and bright. If not, ensure to get them changed before you head back out on the road.
 

₤45m Liverpool City Region investment plan

THE Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has announced plans to invest up to ₤45m to support the:- "transformational regeneration" of large parts of North Liverpool and South Sefton, by supporting work linked to the development of Everton FC's new Stadium, at Bramley Moore Dock.

Next week, local leaders will consider a grant of up to ₤15m to assist with infrastructure work to public space and heritage sites on the land around Bramley Moore. This would include preserving historic features, restoring derelict land, and providing public access to the docks.

The Combined Authority will also consider a loan of up to ₤30m towards the overall project to build the club's new 52,888 seat Stadium. The wider Stadium project will be a vital catalyst for regeneration of Liverpool's North Docks and the area around Goodison Park. Everton forecast the project will offer a boost of more than ₤1bn to the City Region's economy, attract 1.4m visitors to the Region each year and deliver an additional ₤237m of social value.

The Combined Authority's funding would come with conditions; including:- Everton committing to targets for employment and training opportunities for local residents and the achievement of social value.

As well as providing jobs and apprenticeships and stimulating the area's regeneration, the loan would offer a return on investment, plus interest that could be used to fund other projects and services across the City Region.

The Stadium will take around three years to build and will become 1 of the North of England's largest construction projects. Overall, the project will create up to 15,000 jobs including new roles at the completed Stadium and employment linked to a projected increase in visitors to the City Region.

The Stadium move will also kickstart the Goodison Legacy Project which will redevelop the club's existing ground into a mix of housing, retail, office space, and facilities for the community.

As part of the deal, Everton will lead on campaigns focusing on chronic health issues in North Liverpool. Increased funding for the club's charity, Everton in the Community, will allow an expansion of its work in:- education, training, employment, youth projects, reducing crime and violence, supporting asylum seekers and veterans and health and wellbeing.

In a joint statement signed by:- Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Cllr Mike Wharton, Leader, Halton Borough Council, Cllr Louise Harbour, Deputy Leader, Knowsley Borough Council, Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Ian Maher, Leader, Sefton Borough Council, Cllr David Baines, Leader, St. Helens Borough Council and Cllr Janette Williamson, Leader, Wirral Borough Council, said:- "The Combined Authority exists to drive economic regeneration, create jobs and opportunities for local people, and breathe new life into an area that has continually been left behind by national Governments. Devolution is all about local leaders taking control of our own destiny and working with local people to shape the future we want for our Region. This project stands as one of the most significant regeneration projects our Region has seen in more than a decade and will be a major catalyst for regeneration and revival in an area that has been crying out for investment for decades. This is not an investment in a football club but in an important project that will generate a myriad of social and economic benefits for communities across our Region. From creating thousands of jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities for local people, attracting hundreds of thousands of new visitors to our Region and launching programmes that will help to tackle health and social inequalities, whilst supporting the vulnerable within our communities. The financial returns generated from this investment will ensure that we are able to invest in further regeneration projects and services across the City Region. Given austerity and the financial constraints that local Councils continued to face, this is an innovative way of generating new money and investing to improve our Region."

After moving to the new Stadium, Everton will redevelop Goodison Park as part of a project which alone is forecast to create more than ₤58.2m worth of social value, driven by increased wellbeing in the area. Outline planning consent has already been granted and the club is committed to starting work on the Goodison site within three years of moving to Bramley Moore Dock.

A report going before the Combined Authority next Friday states:- "The project provides the opportunity for transformational regeneration of North Liverpool and South Sefton/Bootle areas. It comprises a number of elements, the new Stadium, at Bramley Moore Dock, the Goodison Legacy Project; and wider and accelerated regeneration of the Northern Docks area, alongside expanding the outreach and offering of Everton in the Community's activities."

The report adds:- "The Stadium is anticipated to attract further investment in the Northern Liverpool Docks area in a way no other commercial project is likely to achieve with wider impact spreading into adjacent areas, such as South Sefton."

The grant would help cover the higher cost of developing a challenging and historic dockland site and would fund work of a non-commercial nature.