Mathew Street Music Festival Travel Advice

THE Mathew Street Music Festival, takes place over the August bank holiday weekend. Some roads will be closed and as a result many bus routes in the city centre will be changed, with temporary bus stops being put in place.

Queen Square Bus Station will be closed from first bus on Sunday 28 August through to last bus on Monday 29 August. However, Night Buses 150, N5, N23, N37, N51 and N450 will run from Stands 9, 10 and 12 as usual on Sunday and Monday mornings.

Bus stops in James Street, Lord Street, Victoria Street, Cook Street, Dale Street and Sir Thomas Street will be out of use on Sunday and Monday.

Cross River buses will run to and from Liverpool ONE Bus Station only - they will not pick up at any other bus stops in the city centre. Routes 71 and 72 will only run between Birkenhead (Woodside) and Heswall only, so will not serve Liverpool.

You can catch your buses from stops in Liverpool ONE Bus Station, Great Charlotte Street, Elliot Street, temporary bus stops on Lime Street (outside St George’s Hall) or Brownlow Hill.

For more information please pick up a leaflet at any Merseytravel Travel Centre, visit merseytravel.gov.uk – (bus alerts) or call Traveline on:- 0871 200 22 33.

Trains on the Merseyrail Northern and Wirral Lines will be running to special timetables on Sunday, 28 August and Monday, 29 August 2011:-

In agreement with the local authorities and the Police:-

► James Street station will be closed on Sunday, 28 August and Monday, 29 August 2011.

► Wirral Line trains will only be stopping at some Liverpool City Centre Stations.

► Trains will be running to special timetables.

Chester and Ellesmere Port lines - trains will not be stopping at James Street or Liverpool Central stations. You can only board these trains at Moorfields and Liverpool Lime Street stations. On Monday, 29 August 2011, trains will be running to a Sunday timetable, but with an earlier start time.

New Brighton and West Kirby lines - trains will not be stopping at James Street or Moorfields stations. You can only board these trains at Liverpool Central and Liverpool Lime Street stations. On Monday, 29 August 2011, trains will be running to a Sunday timetable, but with an earlier start time.

Hunts Cross and Southport line - Monday, 29 August 2011, trains will run to a Saturday timetable.

Kirkby and Ormskirk lines - Monday, 29 August 2011, trains will run to a Sunday timetable, but with an earlier start time.

Fans heading for the Liverpool-Bolton game on Saturday, 27 August 2011, are urged to allow extra time for their journey to the game.

The Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel will be closed in both directions from 19:30 on Saturday, 27 August 2011, as part of the Matthew Street Festival and the Liverpool exit of the Kingsway (Wallasey) Tunnel will be restricted to one lane because of water main renewal works.

A Merseytravel spokesperson said:- "All lanes of the Wallasey Tunnel will be operational through the tunnel itself but delays may occur and motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journey. We apologise for any delays which may occur but this is vital work which, for contractual reasons, cannot be postponed. Fans may want to consider alternative modes of transport including our award-winning Soccerbus which links Merseyrail passengers from Sandhills Station on a dedicated shuttle bus to Anfield."

The Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel will be closed to all traffic travelling in, both directions, from 19:30 on Saturday, 27 August until 06:30 Tuesday, 30 August 2011, to accommodate the Merseytravel Tunnel stage which, in a nod to the Queensway Tunnel, is being headlined by the spectacular Queen tribute band ‘Dios Salve a la Reina’ from Argentina.

Whilst you’re at the festival why not check out Merseytravel’s ‘Animate the Underground’ programme. This amazing public art series by local artist Grant Searl can be viewed at Moorfields, Hamilton Sq, Lime Street Underground, Central and James St stations. Each one carries a riddle, find the answer and you could win an amazing prize. For further details visit:- artonthenetwork.co.uk.   For full details about the Mathew Street Festival visit:- mathewstreetfestival.org.

Getting better all the time!

LIVERPOOL City Centre continues to get better, is regarded as safe and vibrant and there is a high level of optimism about its future.  Those are among the findings of an annual survey of how the city centre is viewed by a cross –section of people who work in, live in and visit the centre.

This year’s City Centre Perception Survey found that:-

► 95% of those questioned were confident about the future of the city centre, the highest level recorded.

► 70% of people believe it has improved during the last year.

► 96% rate the retail experience as positive, a 5% increase from last year and the majority consider it to be a better shopping centre than Manchester, the Trafford Centre and Cheshire Oaks.

► There has been an increase in the number of people who think the centre has a good variety of entertainment on offer – 88% compared with 69% last year.

► 80% of people believe the police and council are dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime issues compared with 54% in 2010.

► There was an improved rating for all measures about cleanliness, maintenance and access.

While the overall picture was highly positive, some concerns did emerge. There was an increase in the number of people who commented on the levels of drinking in the street, begging and ‘young people hanging around’. There were also calls for more seating, better quality green spaces and an increase in the number of public toilets.

"This is the most consistently positive survey of the city centre we have ever had.  The message coming out of it loud and clear is that the city centre is generally regarded as safe and vibrant with great shops and entertainment. There is no doubt that Liverpool One has had a major effect on the way the city is viewed but there are many other aspects of the city centre which are also impressing. In fact when they were asked what they would like to change about the city centre more than 40% could think of nothing to change!  But we don’t want to rest on our laurels – we have to keep on trying to improve. The recent work to Concert Square and the proposals for the Stanley Street Quarter show we want to continue developing the centre.  And we are very aware that with the cuts imposed on us it will be a real challenge to maintain the very high standards which have been achieved." said Councillor Joe Anderson, City Council Leader.

Jenny Douglas, Liverpool Vision’s Head of Area Investment said:- "People’s perceptions of the city centre are now at an all-time high. Public and private sector partnerships have been working hard across the city centre, creating robust, cultured places, which attract visitors and stimulate business growth.  This reflects the city’s recent climb to become fifth largest retail destination in the UK, with shoppers from all over the Northwest region spending £1.9 billion annually."

Ged Gibbons, Chief Executive of City Central BID added:- "The findings of this annual survey speak volumes for City Central BID and its members, not only reflecting the vibrancy, cleanliness and safety of our city centre, but it is also hugely satisfying that Liverpool has consolidated its position in the top five UK retail destinations, especially given the current economic and social environment."

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, said:- "A safe and reliable integrated public transport system accessible to everyone is vital to the economic wellbeing of our region and it is heartening to note that our efforts in this field are being recognised."

The city centre recently retained its Purple Flag, a national award which recognises a safe, clean and well-managed city centre.

A total of 1449 people were interviewed in the survey which was commissioned by the City Council, Liverpool Vision, Merseytravel, Bid and Citysafe.

Mersey Ferry Service Update!

ON Friday, 26 August 2011 and Saturday, 27 August 2011, there will be no Mersey Ferry sailings between Liverpool and Wirral due to the current temporary berthing facilities at the cruise liner terminal being unavailable because of visiting cruise liners, ‘Arcadia’ and ‘Blu’.  Commuter services and River Explorer cruises will still be operated by Mersey Ferries. Commuters will be able to board at Seacombe and travel to Woodside, from where passengers wishing to cross the river can use Merseyrail services from Hamilton Square to James Street and vice versa. River Explorer tickets will be accepted on trains between Hamilton Square and James Street Stations on these dates.  A new state of the art Mersey Ferries landing stage is currently under construction, scheduled to open in late autumn 2011 and Mersey Ferries are currently operating from the Liverpool Cruise Liner facility at Princes Parade, a short walk from the Pier Head Ferry Terminal.   The Pier Head Ferry Terminal building, including the Beatles Story, H Coffee and Matou will all remain open for business throughout.