Author: Bridie Finnan

With energy price rises set to rise next month, Sefton Council is using Warm Homes Week to remind Borough’s residents about the support available.

From Friday 1^st October, the national price cap on energy prices will increase, meaning bills could go up by around £100 annually for the average household.

Fearing these increases, combined with the Government cutting people’s Universal Credit allowance by £20 per week and other price rises, may leave some Sefton families struggling to heat their homes, the Council is highlighting the avenues of support available in Sefton.

Families on low incomes can contact the Council’s Affordable Warmth Team at energy@sefton.gov.uk or on 0151 934 2222 for assistance and advice on a range of topics. These include first time gas central heating, cavity wall insulation, boiler replacements, loft insulation, fuel debt and tariffs.

Smart meters are also available to all homes to help families monitor their energy use. It can help households to find ways to reduce energy waste around the home and save money. For example, households can save approximately £35 per year just by remembering to turn appliances off standby.

During October and November Sefton Council, in partnership with older people’s project, Sefton OPERA, will be hosting two Keep Warm, Keep Well Events in Bootle and Southport. Aimed at people aged 50 and over these Events are designed to ensure these older people are aware of the support available to them this winter. For more information contact Sefton OPERA on 0151 330 0479.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities said:

“Warm Homes Week could not have come at better time this year as families in Sefton, many of them working, look set to face a double whammy of energy price rises and a cut to their Universal Credit allowance.

“No one should have to face winter in a cold home or choose between being warm or eating, yet this could be the reality that some families are facing this year.

“This will be a disaster for those families, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet and who now face added pressure on their finances due to rising energy bills.

“I want to reassure people in Sefton that our Affordable Warmth Team are here to help. We can help towards heating your home more efficiently, making your bills more affordable. The team are there to make sure that no one in Sefton should have to choose between food on the table or heating their home.”

Taking place in the UK from Monday 27^th to Thursday 30th September, Warm Homes Week aims to raise awareness of measures to make your home more energy efficient and cheaper to heat as winter approaches. Not only do these measures save energy but they also save money, so the planet and people’s pocket are heathier.

From Friday 1st October the recycling centres in Sefton will be open from 8.00am until 5.00pm – changing from the summer hours of 8.00am to 8.00pm.

Recycling Centres accept a range of household materials for recycling, from batteries, cans and cardboard, through to garden clippings, glass bottles, wood, and white goods. They also accept lesser known items such as food (e.g. Pringles cans) and drink cartons, clothes, hard plastics and electrical items. Householders can check www.merseysidewda.gov.uk for details of what can be accepted at their local site.

The Centres provide a popular service for residents and can become extremely busy at peak times so visits should be planned carefully.

Sites in Sefton include:

Formby – Altcar Road, Formby – L37 8EG
Sefton Meadows – Sefton Lane, Maghull – L31 8BX
Southport – Foul Lane, Scarisbrick New Road – PR9 7RG
South Sefton – Irlam Road, Bootle – L20 4AE

There is a system in place for those who wish to visit a HWRC in a van or with a large trailer. Bookings can be made at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk.

More information on what you can do with your household waste items can be found at www.recycleright.org.uk.

Schools in Sefton are being offered the chance to join an exciting research programme to understand the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in our atmosphere.

NO2 is produced by most vehicle exhaust pipes and is measured with monitoring tubes in different locations.

Each school on the AirWatch programme will link up with a member of the authorities Environmental Protection team and host diffusion tubes to monitor levels of NO2. They will receive monthly reports as well as educational content and activities to do in class across a wide range of topics.

AirWatch programme schools will also have access to termly campaign toolkits to help pupils influence positive behaviour on the school run to reduce any air quality issues around their school grounds.

Schools will be asked to return the tube every month in a pre-paid envelope and replace it with a new tube so that the team can track changes over a long period.

The AirWatch programme will run from January 2022 to December 2022.

This opportunity is open to 25 schools initially and will run on a first come, first served basis.

Darren Lloyd, Teacher at the Eco Centre said:

“This is fantastic opportunity for young people in Sefton to take part in an exciting project with real world results. The Clean Air Crew project has been a fantastic success with most schools in the authority now signed up – we have established engagement, now we want to foster ownership.

“Good air quality is extremely important to the health of people and the planet and this project will help us to identify those areas where improvements need to be made.

“I am thrilled that local schools will be helping us to gather this data, ultimately this is their planet to inherit and we want them to be learn about this crucial issue as soon as possible.”

Schools can sign up at www.cleanaircrew.co.uk and log into their account.

From the Teachers’ Area click on the Airwatch link and register your interest. This is the same area where schools will find the resources to support this programme.

If schools are not already signed up to the Clean Air Crew, Sefton schools can register for free & access a wealth of curriculum resources supporting sustainable education for both classroom & home learning.

Sefton Council is urging people to think about trying to recycle more of their waste for Recycle Week 2021.

Residents are being asked to ‘Step It Up’ in the fight against climate change and take action to protect our environment and coastline here in Sefton.

Well used

Latest research reveals that almost 9 out of 10 people now recycle and that is seen up and down streets in Sefton where recycling bins are well used. However, 55% of households put items in the general rubbish bin that can be recycled. Recycle Week 2021 is a chance for everyone to stop and think about what can be recycled and how we can do more.

Recycling has a huge impact on our emissions and currently saves 18 million tonnes of CO2 every year, which is the same as taking 12 million cars off the road.

Impact

We recycle on average over 22,000 tonnes of waste each year. Working in conjunction with the residents of Sefton we are looking to improve this year on year. The more we recycle the less impact we have on the environment in which we live.

Cllr John Fairclough, Cabinet Member for Locality Services said:

“Sefton residents have embraced recycling as a way of life but we can always do more. People may be surprised how much of an impact recycling can have on reducing our emissions and the more recycling we do, the greater impact we can have.

“I urge everyone to take some time this Recycle Week to ask what small thing they can do to improve recycling and contribute to protecting our beautiful borough from the effects of climate change.”

If people are unsure about how to recycle a specific item, you can visit www.recycleright.org.uk and use the online tool to see what needs to go in the recycling bin where you live.

Councillors at Sefton Council’s Audit and Governance Committee meeting this week will be told that the first ever event held at Bootle Strand Canalside over the recent August Bank Holiday weekend was attended by thousands of people.

People flocked to the outdoor site for the free festival where they were able to enjoy the entertainment and sample the tasty delights and drinks being served from brightly coloured shipping containers.

Hard-hit

Hundreds of feedback forms were filled out which will be used to help shape Sefton Council’s plans to revitalise Bootle, The Strand and the Canalside and revive the town’s hard-hit economy.

Bootle Canalside is an important site for the recovery strategy for Bootle, which is one of the towns hardest hit by the COVID pandemic and other issues in the country.

An update on the Strand Shopping will also be considered at the Audit and Governance Committee meeting.

Sefton Council sees the Strand Shopping Centre as central to the future growth of Bootle, and at the heart of the town centre’s physical, social and economic regeneration. It also provides essential services and amenities to local people.

Securing investment

The Council has earlier this year published the key issues from the Centre’s latest Business Plan, and this recognises the challenges that faced high streets across the country before the pandemic and which have been exacerbated by lockdown restrictions and the changes this has made to people’s shopping habits. The Plan highlights Sefton Council’s continued commitment to supporting and securing investment to the area and includes proposals to develop the Canalside area.

In June, the Council submitted a £14.5 million Levelling Up Fund bid for Bootle. Proposals contained in the Bid include a new, hi-tech digital and Virtual Reality venue hosting the UK’s first ‘Flying Cinema’.

Using a robotic hydraulic platform to create the feeling of being airborne, the ‘Flying Cinema’ would transport visitors on a tour of the British Isles, while a Virtual Reality Time-Travel Tunnel will take visitors on a journey through the ‘History of Bootle and Liverpool’, including an experience of the Blitz. Feedback is expected from Government on the bid later this year.

When complete, Bootle Canalside will include an urban garden, food, drink and leisure outlets and events spaces. It will bring activity to currently under-used land and will help to kick-start the local economy, transforming the look and feel of the town for residents, businesses and visitors. It will also improve the quality of life and create opportunities for the community.

Such an approach and the role of Sefton Council leading this regeneration and redevelopment is only possible due to its decision to purchase the Strand Shopping Centre in 2017.

Long-term plan

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said:  “I am delighted that the first event, as part of our long-term plan to revitalise Bootle town centre and The Strand was a success and am glad that people left us lots of feedback. 75% of the feedback was positive about the event, and we recognise the key areas of feedback and next steps identified. Access to the site from Stanley Road will be progressed in the coming weeks, for example, as we look to sustain momentum with this project.

“Regenerating a town that was one of those that has been hit hardest by the COVID pandemic and other factors is going to be a long haul and, as a result, the decision to acquire the Strand Shopping Centre in 2017 to act as the catalyst for this regeneration has proven to be the correct one.  Without the council owning the Strand this project would not be possible.

“As would be expected, there has been a reduction in the value of the Strand shopping centre complex, to the current figure of £14.24 million.

“However, this valuation does not impact on the Council’s financial position, but the acquisition illustrates how Sefton Council is firmly committed to creating opportunities for local people to influence the future of the site and the town centre.

“Achieving this means having the vision, ambition and confidence to take the long-term view and being open and honest about how we intend to achieve it.

“I hope that the Government will do the same by backing our innovative Levelling Up Bid for Bootle.”

Cllr Ian Maher added:

“As we have always stated the acquisition of the Strand Shopping Centre has and will remain a key regeneration project for Bootle and Sefton.

“Achieving this means having the vision, ambition and confidence to take the long-term view and being open and honest about how we intend to achieve it.

“Any current value is irrelevant as we have no plans whatsoever to sell the Strand, and never have.”