Rotheram announces ferry plan

Knowsley Council’s cabinet has agreed unanimously that a charitable trust to manage the borough’s green spaces should be established, as the local authority seeks to raise funds to manage its parks following funding cuts.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will today announce an overhaul of transport to begin in 2018, with contactless payment and a review of bus franchising the key aims.

The sixth phase of the One Public Estate project has seen four North West areas tap into a total funding round of £8.7m.

Knowsley Council has agreed to sell off 10% of its parks and green spaces in order to secure funding for the continued management of the remaining sites, which it said will be protected "forever".

Arriva bus drivers have voted to reject the latest pay offer in their stand-off with the transport operator, making it more likely the nine strike days announced for December, plus Monday 27 November, will go ahead.

Housing issues including a stamp duty holiday, a devolved Housing Investment Fund and a model to tackle homelessness are among the items set out as priorities by Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram ahead of this week’s Autumn Budget.

Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram and city mayor Joe Anderson have come together, along with the five leaders of the city region’s districts, to write an open letter to transport union RMT and Merseyrail.

Merseytravel’s updated long term rail strategy will be presented to the Liverpool City Region’s transport committee this week for approval.