Tens of thousands of people attended this year’s, three-night British Musical Fireworks Championship in Southport’s Victoria Park at the weekend.
Pyro
Visitors got to ‘Oooh’ and ‘Aaah’ at spectacular choreographed displays featuring fireworks coordinated to music, by some of the country’s top pyro companies.
Over 10 tonnes of fireworks and two tonnes of explosive material were used over the weekend. Displays took teams of up to 15 technicians more than 12 hours to set up and required around five kilometres of wire to connect the electrical firing circuits.
Winners
The overall winners of the 2021 British Championship were Dragon Fireworks from Chertsey in Surrey. Second were Devon company Sonic Fireworks & Events and third were Star Fireworks from Bracknell.
Incredible
When this year’s competition was announced, Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills described The British Musical Fireworks Championship as “the perfect way to round off an incredible summer of events and investment in Southport and Sefton.”
She said: “Having been running for well over 20 years, the Championship is always a hugely popular three-day event and brings in crowds from across the North of England for a unique and stunning experience.”
Sefton cabinet member drops in as new Bootle golf course driving range enters final weeks of construction
With work on the new driving range at Bootle Golf Course entering its final weeks Cllr. Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing, went along to see how the work is progressing.
Construction of the 10-bay shed is just about complete, the fencing is in place and the outfield has been seeded and tended by Green Sefton’s team and is benefiting from the recent mix of sunshine and rain.
With the main building sealed, work to fit it out and add the facilities is getting underway. Final fitting will include equipment such as the ball dispensers. The range will also have a dedicated coaching bay.
Chance to practice
After being shown around the site by Green Sefton Service Manager Mark Shaw, Cllr Moncur said: “It’s good to see the new driving range taking shape and I look forward to us being open, hopefully in the coming weeks.
“By investing in this new £240,000 floodlit driving range, Sefton Council is giving existing players a chance to practice more perfect their game, including during the winter months when it can often be too dark to play.
“And we are giving people who live and work locally the chance to try out the game, with coaching should they want it.”
Contractors Davies Building & Maintenance used 8.2 tonnes of steel plus one tonne of press steel purlins – the equivalent of 200,000 golf balls to erect the frame for the main building. Before that, they laid over 90 cubic metres approaching 4½ million golf balls – of concrete for the foundations.
Future champion
Cllr Moncur added: “When we consulted local people and course users, they told us they wanted more practice facilities, which is just what we are providing here.
“The opportunity to give golf a go at Bootle Driving Range may be just the opportunity a future champion needs to get started on their career.”
Construction of the new driving range is not preventing play at Bootle Golf Course where adult prices start at just £13 per round.
People can find out more about Sefton Council’s Bootle and Southport Links courses and look out for updates about the opening of the new driving range at www.sefton.gov.uk/golf.
Throughout October, drive-through Mobile Testing Units will be available across the Borough.These sites are for people with symptoms – a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell – and can be booked by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.Planned dates and sites may be subject to change if testing is required in other locations:
In addition, local walk-through test centres are open every day from 8am to 8pm, providing easy access to COVID-19 tests for people who do not have access to a car and for those who have symptoms and should not travel by public transport.
The four local test centres are located at:
Bootle Town Hall, L20 7AA
Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, L22 OLQ
Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Lane, L30 3TL
Southport Town Hall, PR8 1DA
Those with symptoms wanting tests, need to book ahead of going to either the walk-through or drive-through sites. It’s quick and easy to book by calling 119 or going online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
Sefton Council is reminding anyone concerned they may be experiencing ill effects from the scrapyard fire, in Liverpool’s Kirkdale area, they should dial NHS 111 for advice.
During the fire, which broke out on Saturday night, people living in the vicinity were advised to keep windows and doors shut and keep medication for existing conditions close.
Location
A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “While the location of the site was not in Sefton, we appreciate that smoke and fumes do not respect borders and wanted to make sure that any of our residents concerned about the after-effects of the fire know where to find advice.”
At the height of the blaze, it was reported that 15 Mersey Fire & Rescue Service fire engines and three aerial appliances were in attendance.
Smoke could still be seen billowing from the Liverpool site on Sunday and local residents were being advised to continue keep windows and doors closed due to ‘poor’ air quality.
Extinguished
The spokesperson continued: “We understand that thanks to the weekend’s efforts by Mersey Fire & Rescue Service, the fire is now completely extinguished, which is good news and the agencies involved will be reviewing the incident.
“Anyone concerned about the after-effects of the fire should initially visit www.111.nhs.uk or if you do not have access to the internet call 111 for help and advice about their symptoms.”
Award-winning street artist Paul Curtis has completed work on his largest ever mural to date – thought also to be the largest painting created by a single artist in the UK – transforming Ainsdale’s Toad Hall.
Huge finished sand lizard painting by Paul Curtis on the side of Ainsdale’s Toad Hall
Sefton Council’s Green Sefton Service commissioned Paul to carry out the work as part of its plans to invest in and develop the Ainsdale-on-Sea coastal area.
Paul, who burst onto the street art scene around three years ago, began painting the tribute to the Sefton coast’s rare sand lizards in August.
He has used 330 litres of paint, 42 spray paint cans and spent 360 hours, through rain and sunshine, creating the incredible scene across the exterior of the building.
Depicting the environmentally important Ainsdale dunes, it features not just one, but two sand lizards taking pride of place across the design.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
“We gave Paul an enormous challenge when we asked him to brighten up Toad Hall and I can certainly say that he has stepped up to that challenge. His mural is a magnificent celebration of our unique and environmentally-important coast.
“Paul has captured our Ainsdale dunes and sand lizards perfectly, and I know that people will travel from far and wide to get a glimpse of the finished mural.”
Artist Paul Curtis said:
“This is a project I was extremely keen to be part of. The sheer scale and the challenge that comes with a mural like this is something I had to literally get my teeth into. I used to visit Ainsdale a lot and I often wondered what the story of Toad Hall was, but I never imagined that I would end up painting it.
“The are many, many challenges involved with a building like this. This is far from a flat canvas; there are numerous nooks and crannies, pillars and alcoves. This presents difficulties in simply accessing certain parts, but also in making the image line up and make sense. The claws of the lizard were one of the most difficult things I have ever painted because of this 3D challenge. I knew this would be a tough assignment and I knew it would take time.”
The idea for an art installation on the Toad Hall building was developed by the Council’s Green Sefton team. They consulted with members of the community and community groups as well as local Councillors on the design for the mural.
L-R Cllr Ian Moncur, Paul Curtis and Green Sefton’s Development Officer Andy Cutts
Commenting on the design, Paul said:
“The initial designs went for the obvious…put a toad on Toad Hall. However, after producing a series of toady designs, none of them seemed to work. We took the tough decision to scrap that idea completely. Eventually the sand lizard idea was landed on. This would fit the bill. Bright vibrant colours, elongated shape to match the proportions of Toad Hall and part of the local fauna. It ticked all the boxes!
“I have never painted a lizard before, but I have done a couple of snakes, so I prepared myself for thousands of skin scales! The Marram grass and coastal environment is designed to form an illusion so that when you walk over the dunes, due to perspective, the mural should emerge from the horizon as though part of your near surroundings.”
The Sefton coast is one of the UK strongholds for the rare sand lizard species which is one of the reasons why the coastline is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest – helping to protect vital habitats.
Both male and female lizards will soon be heading into hibernation which takes place between October to March.
The warmth-loving species rely on the heat of the dunes for a successful life cycle and are about 20cm long. Males are brighter green in the summer months and females usually a duller colour.
Male sand lizard
Sefton Council works alongside conversation charities and environmental organisations like Natural England to help protect the lizards and improve habitat by removing invasive plants.
People are reminded not to dig in the dunes so as not to damage eggs or disturb hibernating lizards.
Paul said:
“It’s been a joy to work on this project. So many people stopping me and really enthusing about the artwork. The joy on the kids’ faces when they see the mural. Everyone who approached me was so positive. I hope that this artwork gains national interest in the way that the Iron Men did for Crosby.
“Thanks again to everyone in Ainsdale for being so hospitable and making me feel welcome.”
Cllr Moncur added:
“The mural has really put Ainsdale on the map and marks the start of a longer-term plan for the Council to work alongside the community to improve facilities for all, while protecting the landscape that we are all lucky to be custodians of.”
There are just a few days left for people to submit their views on the long-term development proposals for the Ainsdale-on-Sea area.
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Tens of thousands of people attended this year’s, three-night British Musical Fireworks Championship in Southport’s Victoria Park at the weekend.
