Transport boost for late revellers
A SHAKE-UP of Wirral's nighttime transport kicks off this weekend in a bid to get people home quicker and more safely.Merseyside Police, Safer Wirral and Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Industry are working together with Arriva and Merseytravel to empty Birkenhead town centre more quickly and efficiently on Friday and Saturday nights, keeping alcohol-fuelled violence and disorder to a minimum.
There will be an increase in bus services and security for people travelling home after a night out, with night buses running from Birkenhead bus station every seven minutes to New Brighton via Liscard Village and Moreton Cross via Arrow Park and Upton Village, stopping at every stop en route.
Birkenhead Neighbourhood Inspector Martin Andrew said: "We have had discussions with taxi representatives and there aren't enough taxis to accommodate the current demand from people in the early hours at the weekend.
"Once people have finished social-ising in the pubs and clubs, we want to provide them with an opportunity to get out of Birkenhead more easily than they can at the moment."
Derek Bowes, commercial manager for Arriva North West and Wales, said: "The 450 service will now operate via Liscard from New Brighton, so that people using the pubs and clubs in that area will be able to get home safely.
"A large number of the buses will be fitted with CCTV and we will be using as many of these as possible on the night services to ensure the safety and security of our staff and customers."
Arriva staff and police will be based at the bus station to ensure people can catch the buses in safety.
Inspector Andrew added: "With the increase in licensing hours this provides flexibility for customers to leave the area and get home safely.
There isn't one agency who could have facilitated this.
"We are all involved so this can be successful."