Headlines: Green light for new £80 million train station scheme in Kirkby

🚉 Planning permission has been granted for a new train station at Headbolt Lane in Kirkby.

An £80 million scheme will see the station designed specifically for battery-powered services.

Work will begin at the site in January, with the opening of the station planned for Spring 2023.

The entire scheme includes the extension of the Merseyrail network beyond the existing Kirkby station and will see Merseyrail services run into the new station.

Northern services from Wigan and Manchester will also operate to and from the new three-platform station.

The scheme is also designed to support future plans to build a new rail link to Skelmersdale, on which the Combined Authority is working closely with Lancashire County Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Network Rail to support.

🦠 Staff and workers in St Helens are being urged to take a COVID-19 test before they set off to attend Christmas parties amid concerns over the new Omicron variant.

With positive cases of COVID-19 continuing to rise in the borough, people are being asked to be especially careful.

💻 Liverpool City Council will join forces with an international technology initiative to encourage young people across the city to learn how to code.

The initiative is part of the council’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in the city and making sure that young people have the right skills for the future.

On Thursday, 16 December, the council launches a strategic partnership with iamtheCODE, which will see secondary schools and youth organisations given the opportunity to host digital clubs, as well as 18-25-year-olds being able to take part in a 12-week programme which will connect them to mentors in global companies.

The digital clubs will receive a donation of 100 coding computers from iamtheCODE, which will support the organisation’s aim of reaching 100,000 young boys and girls across the world in 2022, including 25,000 in Liverpool.