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Author: Martin Driver

Thornton park to be transformed with much needed improvements

18 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Runnells Lane Park in Thornton is to be transformed by Sefton Council with much needed improvements to its play and recreation facilities as well as its paths and landscaping.

Officers will be hosting a socially distanced drop-in session on Thursday 20th May from 3pm to 6pm to offer residents and park users the chance to see detailed plans of the improvements.

They are also looking for members of the community to help establish a Friends of Runnells Lane Park group who would undertake volunteer duties and support events and activities. Those interested should contact Green Sefton by email greensefton@sefton.gov.uk.

Funding has been secured by Manor Ward funding, the Council’s Green Sefton service in partnership with the Neighbourhoods Team though the Veolia Environmental Trust, who support community projects across the whole of England. A contribution of Section 106 Planning monies has also been allocated to the park improvements.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “It’s fantastic news that our Neighbourhoods Team have worked collaboratively with our Green Sefton Officers to source funding for these improvements that will benefit people of all ages in this area.
“This is the only public park in Thornton and our residents have asked us to look at how we could improve children’s play opportunities and make the most of this important community space.”

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
“As our outdoor spaces are proving more popular than ever, we are dedicated to finding ways to develop sites like this so that our residents have green spaces right on their doorstep that can be enjoyed by all.”

Designs have been drawn up that include a new play area for toddlers with a mixture of play equipment including swings, springers, a seesaw, climbing net and an accessible roundabout for those with disabilities. Plans also include the introduction of a cantilever swing suitable for teens to broaden the age range of the play equipment in the park.

The existing multi-use games area will be refurbished, and new paths will be created around the edge of the site. New bins and benches will be installed, and trees are to be planted around the boundary of the park to improve the local environment and wildlife.

Cllr Moncur added: “I’d urge people to get in touch with Green Sefton to find out more about these exciting plans and to think about ways to get involved in the Friends of Runnells Park initiative. Volunteering just a small amount of time in our outdoor spaces can be hugely beneficial for health and wellbeing, it’s a great way to connect with others and to influence how your local space can be used to benefit the community that live there.”

Lizzie Cooke, from The Veolia Environmental Trust, said: “We are really pleased to award ÂŁ75,000 via the Landfill Communities Fund to support this project.

“We look forward to seeing the improvements that will create an accessible outdoor space for all to enjoy, promoting active lifestyles and contributing to the health and well-being of all the community.”

It is planned that the work will take place towards the end of 2021 with opening of the new facilities in early 2022.

Letter to the parents and carers of Sefton schools’ pupils

17 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council

 

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health and Tricia Davies, Interim Head of Education, have written to parents and carers of pupils at the Borough’s  schools to thank them again for their support during the pandemic.

The letter also includes an update on the lockdown changes which came into effect today and how they will affect school life.

Dear parents and carers

Firstly, a big thank you to all our parents and carers for the tremendous support given to the schools and settings over this last term. We have seen a fall in the number of cases in schools, though we are now seeing increasing rates, and some variants of concern in several areas of the North West, including Sefton.

For more information how to access testing if you have COVID symptoms and surge testing for families (without symptoms)  who live, work or study in the Formby area, please click here www.sefton.gov.uk/COVID-testing.

As you are aware from 17th May we are moving to the next stage of the government’s road map which means that we will be able to undertake more activities socially. While this is great news for us all within our schools and settings we want to ensure that all our pupils and staff are kept safe.

Secondary school pupils from Monday do not have to wear face masks in school however all adults in all our schools – primary, secondary and special have been advised to continue to wear masks in the latest government guidance.

The continued use of face-coverings by adults in school settings is supported by Sefton’s Public Health team, and they will encourage schools to adopt a policy of pupil mask wearing, in senior schools, when there is an outbreak in an area.  If this is required schools will be asking pupils to wear masks within school and when travelling to and from school. Please do support the schools when this is the case, as evidence suggests that face coverings continue to be an effective way of reducing transmission.

We appreciate how supportive you have been throughout the pandemic in helping your children with he remote learning, following the guidance with HANDS, SPACE, FACE. By doing this you have helped to keep the numbers and spread of coronavirus in schools down to a minimum.

One way that has helped greatly has been the following of the access into school buildings and the wearing of facemasks on school premises.  Therefore, we would ask that you continue to wear facemasks on school premises in this way we can continue to protect yourselves, staff and children.

As we approach half-term, we would ask that you continue to follow the government guidance and remember HANDS, SPACE, FACE.

Stay safe and enjoy the half term with your families,

Margaret Jones                                             Tricia Davies
Director of Public Health                                Interim Head of Education

Cautious welcome for lockdown easing measures

17 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

With Step 3 of the Government’s Covid roadmap to lockdown easing coming into effect today, Sefton Council’s Environmental Health Team is reminding the Borough’s businesses and their customers to follow the new guidelines.

From today, people can meet friends and family indoors again with a maximum of six people, or two households.

Also, restaurants, cafes and pubs can serve people indoors again, with the same restrictions on numbers in place. Other indoor venues such as cinemas, children’s play areas, and hotels are also allowed to re-open.

Precautions

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said:

“While it’s great news that we’ve moved into the next stage of lockdown relaxations, and we all want to make the most of them, it’s essential that we stick to all the precautions including the rule of six.

“As we have seen with the rise in cases over the last week and the emergence of the variant first identified in India, COVID-19 is still very much present in Sefton and distancing, wearing face coverings where required and frequent thorough handwashing remain important to keeping ourselves and others safe.”

Up to 30 people can now mix outside from and people will can to attend outdoor events. Numbers will be limited numbers depending on capacity. At indoor venues, customers need to remain seated while ordering, eating and drinking help reduce the risk of Covid-19.

Complying

Cllr Lappin continued:

“Our Environmental Health team are reporting that the vast majority of Sefton’s businesses, bars and restaurants have been doing a great job to meet the requirements and keep their staff and their customers safe. And customers have been doing their bit and complying with restrictions.

“But if any local businesses want any advice or support from our Environmental Health team, they can contact them at ETSContact@sefton.gov.uk or by calling 0345 140 0345.”

Sefton Council has also been supporting the Borough’s businesses by provide help to secure PPE and hand sanitiser and put safety measures in place. The Council has also provided over £70 million of financial support grant funding to local businesses during the pandemic as well as around £270,000 in grants for the Borough’s taxi drivers.

Vaccinated

Cllr Lappin also reiterated the importance of people getting vaccinated when they are offered a jab. And she reminded those who are out and about and who are going to work taking regular rapid coronavirus tests to make sure they aren’t accidentally passing on the COVID-19 virus because they are one of those people who does not have symptoms.

She added:
“Because around a third of us don’t show the tell-tale coronavirus symptoms of a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell, despite being infected with coronavirus regular testing is vital.

“Rapid tests involve taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied, and can provide a result in as little as 30 minutes.

“They are available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week at the former H Samuels unit in Bootle Strand and at Southport’s Splash World. And, home test kits are widely available, from test centres, from all Sefton’s pharmacies as well as online from www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

Variant

“Also, I would ask everyone aged over 16 who lives, works or studies in Formby, where cases of the India variant have been found, and anyone who has visited any venue in Formby over the last two weeks to be tested at one of the dedicated test sites that opened on Friday.”

Local, dedicated coronavirus testing has been introduced in Sefton’s Formby area to identify the Indian variant.”

Mobile, drive-through test centres have been set up at Deansgate Lane Park in Formby (L37 3LF) and at Ainsdale Hope on Sandringham Road (PR8 2PJ), and there is a walk-through test centre at Sefton Professional Development Centre (PDC) on Park Lane (L37 6EW).

The Deansgate drive-through test centre is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and the PDC on Park Lane is open between 9am and 4pm seven days a week. The test centre at Ainsdale is open from 9am to 8pm seven days a week.

Appointments are not needed for tests at any of these centres.

More about testing in Sefton.

Rapid COVID-19 testing kits now available from pharmacies in Sefton

15 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council
Photo of Home Testing Kit components
Home Testing Kit components

People in Sefton can now access free rapid COVID-19 testing kits from ALL local pharmacies as part of a new service to help pandemic recovery.

The new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service means that COVID-19 testing kits – known as lateral flow devices – are available from pharmacies free of charge. Anyone can request a box of test kits from the pharmacy counter for regular testing at home or elsewhere. The tests are intended for people who are asymptomatic and will be useful for those who need to undertake regular COVID-19 tests, such as those who need to leave the house to go to work.

Online checker

Example of the map showing pharmacies from which test kits are available
Pharmacy Finder

These testing kits are available in 9 out of 10 pharmacies in England and constituents can use a new online checker  to find their nearest pharmacy offering testing kits. ‘Pharmacy Collect’ offers a convenient option for people to access rapid COVID-19 testing, as many pharmacies are located in the heart of communities, on high-streets and within supermarkets.

It is hoped that widening the offer of tests will help to identify COVID-positive cases in the community and break the chain of transmission, avoiding the need for further lockdowns.

Simpler

Margaret Jones, Sefton’ Council’s Director of Public Health said:  “Around third of people with the COVID-19 virus are not showing any symptoms, so it’s important that all of us who are out at work or just out and about take a rapid test twice a week and it couldn’t be simpler than popping into you local pharmacy to collect the test kits.”

Dr Lisa Manning CEO of community pharmacy Sefton said: “Community pharmacy provision of COVID testing means that people in Sefton will have greater access to this support. Many people may choose pharmacy for health services because they can visit pharmacies in a variety of locations and at a time that suits them.

“Community pharmacists are pleased to be able to do their bit as people return to work and education. This is just one of many examples of how pharmacy teams have helped support patients, the public and the nation during the pandemic.”

Results

Rapid tests for people without coronavirus symptoms usually provide a result in around 30 minutes. Rapid testing involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

Rapid test kits can be collected from Bootle Town Hall and Splash World in Southport from 8am-8pm seven days a week. No appointments are needed.

Kits

Kits can also be collected between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week, from walk-through Local Test Centres opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. No appointments are needed.

They are available from all Sefton’s pharmacies and they can be ordered online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Boost your mental health and make a difference to your local area by volunteering with Green Sefton

14 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Health, Latest News

As National Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close this weekend, the Council’s Green Sefton service is calling on people across Sefton to consider volunteering at an outdoor space in their community.

Past volunteer activity undertaken by a group at Merrilocks Park with Green Sefton officers
Past volunteer activity undertaken by a group at Merrilocks Park with Green Sefton officers

Volunteers make a hugely valuable contribution to the management of Sefton’s beautiful coast and countryside. Volunteering can also be a great way for people to socialise with other likeminded people. And there are many mental health benefits to being around nature.

Evidence suggests there are five steps, recognised by the NHS and mental health charity Mind, that can improve mental health and wellbeing. These steps are – connecting with other people, being physically active, learning new skills, giving to others and paying attention to the present moment. All of them are closely linked with volunteering and influence how community opportunities are shaped to promote positive mental health.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Our volunteers are a fantastic asset to Sefton’s communities.

“Not only do they play a vital role in supporting the Council in the upkeep of our green spaces and 22-mile coastline, they also reap the benefits of being outdoors and connecting with nature.”

Mark Shaw, Green Sefton Service Manager, said: “It’s been a difficult 12 months where we haven’t been able to run as many collaborative volunteer opportunities as we would like to have done, but as the roadmap eases, we can’t wait to resume a full calendar of activities.”

Regular volunteers get involved in every aspect of Green Sefton and its partners’ work. These include practical tasks such as helping collect litter, talking to visitors, leading guided walks and monitoring wildlife or just being an extra set of ‘eyes and ears’ while out walking the dog.

Suzanne McCumiskey, Community Engagement Officer with Green Sefton, said: “We’ve got an exciting couple of months ahead of us as we’ll be taking part in the Great British Spring Clean, led by the charity Keep Britain Tidy, which also coincides with this year’s Volunteers’ Week. These are fantastic opportunities for anyone who wants to take up volunteering, to help give back to our beautiful parks and stunning coastline.”

Past volunteer activity undertaken by the Botanic Gardens Community Association and Green Sefton
Past volunteer activity undertaken by the Botanic Gardens Community Association and Green Sefton

Green Sefton is always looking to improve its volunteering opportunities, and as restrictions ease further next week allowing larger groups to gather outdoors, there will be an opportunity that’s right for everyone across the Borough.

Those who register an interest in becoming a volunteer will join a network where upcoming opportunities will be shared with them. Activities are arranged during both weekdays and weekends so that everyone has a chance to take part if they wish.

To find out more, people can contact the Green Sefton team directly by email at greensefton@sefton.gov.uk.

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