Headlines: Royal Mail to trial new electric vans in Liverpool in bid to reduce CO2

Liverpool is one of five cities where Royal Mail are going to be trialing electric vehicles to try to reduce CO2 emissions.

Roughly the size of a golf buggy or a quad bike, the vehicles will be assessed in residential areas as a potential lower carbon alternative to larger vans.

Liveried in traditional Royal Mail red, the vehicles have been specially designed to help postmen and postwomen deliver letters and smaller parcels on the daily round in a secure and efficient way.

The six-month trial will see a selection of vehicles operating in each of five locations across the UK: Edinburgh, Crewe, Liverpool, Swindon and London.

The new Micro Electric Vehicles (MEVs) are designed to help postmen and women manage the growing number of parcels on the daily round in an environmentally friendly way.

The buggies, which can carry more than an average daily round’s worth of letters and small parcels, are charged using a standard three-pin plug.

Liverpool confirm 7000-seat Anfield Road End expansion

The proposed expansion of the Anfield Road Stand will start next week.

The project has been undergoing enabling works throughout the off-season. The redevelopment of the stand will see 7,000 more seats added to Anfield, taking its overall capacity to more than 61,000.

The scheme was given planning permission by Liverpool City Council in June 2021, with the club also awarded permission to hold up to six concerts and major events at the stadium for a period of five seasons.

The club will work with Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd as principal contractor on the project.

Positive impact of social enterprise

A new report commissioned by The Enterprise Research Centre in partnership with The Women’s Organisation highlights the positive impact of social enterprise across the UK and the vital role they can play in tackling regional inequalities.

Regional inequalities have been further exacerbated by pressures created by the pandemic. Maggie O’Carroll, chief executive of The Women’s Organisation, suggests that given social enterprises are already embedded into the communities in which they work, they are ideal conduits for local "wealth-building".

The report recommends that further research is needed in order to determine a clear policy focus on how best to invest and support the growth of social enterprises, specifically as a vehicle to reduce regional inequality and create genuine impact in places such as the Liverpool city region.