Author: Bridie Finnan

Sefton Council confirms it is on track to be net zero carbon by 2030 after it published its Climate Emergency Annual Report, confirming a whopping 10% reduction in total emissions in just one year.

The fall was driven by the move away from office working and into home working. This led to a 92% fall in staff commute emissions and a fall in gas and electricity emissions in Council owned buildings. Sefton have chosen to report the emissions that staff produce whilst working from home in order to report a more accurate picture but the reductions in emissions were evident.

The Council are working to embed an agile/home working approach in future to maintain these carbon emissions reductions.

The report highlights key projects that have been started this year which would see a further 17% reduction in the Council’s carbon footprint upon completion including LED Street Lighting and retrofit works at Bootle and Southport Town Halls.

In addition to those measures which have reduced carbon consumption, Sefton Council have planted over 3000 trees which, in time, will reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere and contribute further net carbon reductions.

The 2030 target, which was set out in Sefton Council’s Climate Emergency declaration in 2019, is ambitious but critical to preventing further damage to our climate. All Council decision making reports now have to consider climate implications and training has been developed for all staff to ensure that all areas of the Council are on board with this ambitious but necessary work.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory and Corporate Services said: 

“I am delighted to see the results of this years Climate Emergency Annual Report, it is testament to the hard work of everyone at the Council to have seen such a huge reduction in our carbon footprint and to see we are on track to reach that critical date of net zero carbon by 2030. 

“The pandemic has forced us to change the way we live and work and it has been difficult at times, but there are some positives to draw from our experience and I hope we can maintain some of the positive climate impacts that have been seen over the past year. 

“A 27% reduction in emissions when this years projects have been completed is so encouraging and I hope we can keep up the momentum as we move into next year. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate COP26 in the UK than with this fantastic progress towards our target.”

The UK will play host to COP26, an international climate summit, in November 2021 and Sefton hope to celebrate all aspects of its wonderful coastline, the health and wellbeing benefits to climate action and its fantastic progress against its climate targets later in the year.

You can find further information on Sefton’s Climate Emergency progress at Sefton Council’s website

Schoolchildren across the city region can now access a free, interactive online resource to learn more about air quality and its impact on the community that has been developed by teachers at Sefton’s Eco Centre.

All city region schools are being offered free access to the subscription only sections of the Clean Air Crew website. Children will be able to access fun, interactive resources and games as well as a plethora of topic based curriculum resources.

The website and all resources have been designed and developed by teachers and environmental officers from the Southport Eco Centre and the local authority’s Energy and Environmental Management Team, in order to engage children on this important environmental issue and provide an innovative platform for teachers to embed the subject into their topic planning.

Air quality has been highlighted as one of the city region’s key environmental and health policies and it is hoped that the resource provides an accessible platform for engagement for all. Parents will be able to access home learning resources too so that everyone can understand how they can help improve air quality in our borough and why it is important.

Schools have got until 30^th June to sign up at the Clean Air Crew website.

Schools will have access to the subscription education resources until April 2022 and many of the sites other features will remain public beyond this date.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said:

“Air quality is a key issue for the health of our community and the health of our planet. We have made progress in Sefton on the issue of air quality, but we can still improve.

“We are currently in a climate emergency and any steps we can take to reduce our emissions will reduce our contribution to rising sea levels, rising temperatures and extreme weather.

“The Clean Air Crew is a fantastic resource to help people understand the risks of poor air quality and how we can all make small changes that make a big impact.”

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“Since I was first elected Mayor, tackling the climate crisis has been one of my top priorities and I was proud that we were the first Combined Authority in the country to declare a Climate Emergency in recognition of the scale of the challenge we face.

“But it’s not something we can tackle alone and that’s why I launched the £500,000 Community Environment Fund: to empower local communities to take action to improve their local environment. Together, lots of small actions can help us make a big contribution to making our region cleaner, greener and more sustainable.

“Tackling air pollution is one of our key challenges and this fantastic project is doing a brilliant job at raising awareness of the importance of clean air issue among Sefton’s pupils and parents.”

The project is being funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Community Environment Fund after a successful bid in 2020 and is delivered by the Eco-Centre in Southport.

Visit the Clean Air Crew website or the Southport Eco Centre website for more information.

You can find out more about air quality in Sefton at our website

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Sefton Council and Carers Centre, alongside Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, LFC Foundation, Age UK and a number of other organisations have joined forces to recognise the commitment and sacrifice made by unpaid domiciliary carers as part of their ‘Care for the Carers’ campaign.

Afternoon tea prepared by LFC Foundation are being delivered by Carers Centre volunteers and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service fire crews to carers in Sefton on Wednesday 9^th June to some our unpaid carers in the borough.

The project has been launched to celebrate National Carers Week and is an opportunity to show support for unpaid carers in the community.

As well as afternoon tea for some of our unpaid carers in Sefton, there are a range of events throughout the week aimed at supporting our unpaid carers emotionally, physically and financially.

You can find more information about events during Carers Week at the Carers Centre website

Additionally, all carers, registered or not are entitled to free PPE throughout the week to ensure they can look after their loved ones safely, this can be collected from Sefton Carers Centre, South Road, L22 5PE.

Cllr Paul Cummins, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said:

“I am thrilled that the spotlight is being shone on our unpaid carers here in Sefton for Carers Week. There are thousands of residents in Sefton who support a family member or friend where that help is invaluable to their health and wellbeing and without their care and support, their loved ones would struggle to manage.

“Afternoon tea is a small gesture to let some of our unpaid carers here in Sefton know that they are recognised and valued for what they do for the people they love. This past 18 months has been challenging and we are so grateful to all carers in Sefton.

“We have events running via the Carers Centre throughout the week from emotional to financial support sessions to a carers coffee morning and I hope that all carers in Sefton will get involved and seek any support they may need in these particularly difficult times.”

Carers Week runs from the 7^th-13^th June and is a national campaign that shines a spotlight on unpaid carers and the contribution they make to the care system

You can find out more at the Carers Week website.

Nick McCormack, Station Manager at MFRS, who will be one of over 60 volunteers delivering afternoon teas on the day, said:

“We know that the last 15 months has been extremely difficult for everyone – we have all had to make sacrifices in order to keep those around us safe. Unfortunately there are many members of our community who simply cannot look after themselves and so rely on carers to help them on a daily basis.

“Many of these people are unpaid carers and are often family members – sometimes children – of those who are in need of support. The commitment and bravery of these people is remarkable and whilst we know that the afternoon tea is in no way comparable to the efforts they have shown throughout the pandemic, we hope it will bring a little cheer to their day and offer them a little respite.”

 

Forbes Duff, Senior Manager, Red Neighbours, said:

“There are so many extraordinary carers in our local communities looking after friends and family members, many of whom do so without respite or financial support. Their selflessness and commitment is amazing and it makes such a big difference to the people they support.  We want to thank them for all that they do with a small act of kindness, which we hope will acknowledge their dedication and the important work they do, and put a smile on their faces.”

Jenny Paton, DCEO Age UK, said:

“We are delighted to be working with MFRS and LFC to ensure that our carers know we appreciate how hard the last year has been.

“The afternoon teas will be a real treat for their unpaid carers who spend all their time looking after their loved one and putting their needs first. It gives us the opportunity to show how much we appreciate and care about them and lets them know they can come to us for support of they need it.”

MFRS’ Chief Fire Officer, Deputy Fire Officer and Assistant Fire Officer will also have a key part to play on the day, with each of them set to deliver afternoon tea to carers in Sefton.

This World Environment Day, Sefton Council is urging people across the Borough to do their bit to help protect the environment for generations to come.

As part of the Council’s Climate Change Emergency declaration in 2019, it vowed to do more to raise awareness of the issues within its communities and pledged to become net carbon zero by 2030.

Since then it has been working hard to drive down emissions and raise awareness in the community of the issue of climate change and why our coastal borough is particularly vulnerable to its effects.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, said:

“There are some fantastic projects happening within the council from LED street lighting to agile working which are reducing our emissions significantly as we work towards our goal of net zero carbon by 2030.

“We all have a role to play in protecting our planet, wildlife and each other from the effects of climate change and here in Sefton with our stunning coastline, we are closer to nature than most.

“This World Environment Day we are celebrating our natural and urban landscapes and asking people to stop and think about small changes they can make to keep our borough clean, green and beautiful.”

The Council’s Green Sefton Service is also reminding people about the importance of its special 22-mile coastline which is protected not only nationally, but also internationally, due to the rare flora and fauna found there.

Mark Shaw, Service Manager for Green Sefton said:

“This World Environment Day, we’re reminding people to take their litter home when they visit our beaches as it can be incredibly damaging to the rare species and habitats that we are so lucky to have in Sefton. People should visit our coastline with care, always thinking about the environment around them.

“We’re also encouraging people to consider alternative ways to travel to the coast – via local train, bus, cycling and walking routes. While for those with an electric car or hybrid car, they can receive a reduced seasonal beach car parking ticket as part of measures to encourage the use of more environmentally-friendly transport.”

Green Sefton are also using World Environment Day to remind people that balloon, and sky lantern releases are not permitted anywhere across the Borough. A rise in these sorts of organised events has been reported over recent months causing concerns about their environmental impact.

The mass intentional release of helium filled latex balloons or lanterns pose threats to wildlife and livestock, and in even worse cases, lanterns can also cause injury to humans, damage to buildings and cause false callouts to the coastguard. They can also become a source of litter across Sefton’s coast and greenspaces.

The Council encourages all residents and visitors to our beautiful Borough to help protect its special landscapes and wildlife, and to mark occasions in environmentally friendly ways such as:

• Jam jar lights can be a safe alternative to sky lanterns and balloon releases. They are environmentally friendly but remember to dispose of the jars properly after, recycling everything you can and try to use LED lights. If you use candles, make sure they are properly extinguished.
• Bubble release can release thousands of bubbles instead of balloons for a beautiful sky display, just remember to use soaps that are safe for fish and the environment
• Plant a tree or flowers in your garden if you have one or get in touch with a local charity to plant in the park. They last a lot longer than sky lanterns and balloons, will be good for the environment and can be seen again and again.
• Memorial stone- People can also make requests to the Council for permanent memorials. In Southport there is an engraved paving stone scheme while more traditional memorial plaques can be requested at the Borough’s three Gardens of Rest or on a bench in one of the Council’s eligible open spaces.

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Sefton Council is delighted to announce that it has been successful in a bid for £780,000 funding from the Football foundation to create brand new 3G pitches at Orrell Mount.

Alongside around £350,000 direct investment from the Council, this welcome additional funding will allow the Council to create brand new, all-weather 3G playing pitches to replace the existing grass pitch and to install new changing facilities on the site.

Local Sefton former professional footballer Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation will be running the new facility, to maximise its potential. They will provide a managed programme which supports partner club growth and offers a range of recreational football activities to people of all ages, genders and abilities to deliver the FA strategic outcomes.  Any profits made from operating the facility will be put back in to the community.

The Council’s plans include the installation of measures such as sound proofing boards to address any concerns residents may have about noise from the pitches; and there will be strict operating times to ensure that any light pollution is minimised.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said

“This is an exciting and much needed project for Sefton. Pitches such as those being created at Orrell Mount (sometimes referred to locally as Silcocks playing field) are desperately needed in our borough.   Our Playing Pitch Strategy indicated that around 17 such sites are needed across Sefton.  These all-weather pitches will support residents to maintain their health and wellbeing all year round, as well as provide the opportunity for local junior football teams to train and play the whole year round.

“I’d also like to reassure the local community that Sefton Council has not sold Orrell Mount / Silcocks playing fields, they remain in council ownership and there are no plans to sell the land.  Dog walkers and the public will still have access to the open land around the 3G pitches as they always have done. There are no plans to build on the site.

“Longer term, we are hopeful that in the future we will also be able to refurbish the existing pavilion for wider community use.

“We hope these new pitches will increase participation in football amongst the local community so that the health and wellbeing benefits that football provides can be accessed by players of all abilities and ages.”

James Olsen, Director of Jamie Carragher Soccer Schools, said:

“Sefton doesn’t currently have any 3G pitches, so the facilities due to be created at Orrell Mount are a welcome addition.

“This scheme is about creating a space for our local community to come and play football in a safe environment and help improve children’s wellbeing. We will be working closely with schools and running half term events to keep kids off the streets.

“We cannot emphasise enough how much this will have a positive effect on our local community.

“Our aim is to put any profits back into the local community, through free coaching and coach education for volunteer managers/parents to get proper training qualifications.”

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