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Author: Ollie Cowan

Steve Rotheram announces commission to deliver new station for Liverpool City Centre

13 March 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has announced the creation of a Station Commission to deliver a new station in Liverpool city centre, to enable the city region’s connection to HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The Commission will be chaired by Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale, MBE, CEO of Everton Football Club.

Earlier this year, Transport for the North’s Strategic Transport Plan included plans to ensure that Liverpool City Region will benefit from a full connection to both Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2.

Transport for the North’s strategic plan also recognises the need for a new station to accommodate these 21st century trains and to link HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail in to the city region’s local transport infrastructure.

Speaking about the new Station Commission, Steve Rotheram said: “Connecting the Liverpool City Region to HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail will both cut journey times and increase capacity, boosting our economy by £15 billion.

“In order to make that connection happen we will need a new station in Liverpool city centre, capable of accommodating HS2 trains, NPR trains and linking in with our local transport infrastructure.  Lime Street will simply not be able to cope.

“Building a new station is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a gateway to the Liverpool City Region that is fit for the 21st century.

“What we envisage is more than just a station and a world-class transport hub, it has the potential to be a destination in its own right, architecturally stunning and featuring leisure and recreation facilities, commercial, retail, high-quality office accommodation, residential facilities and much more.

“It will provide a world-class welcome to a world-class city region, and will bring hugely significant social and economic benefits for the city region and the whole of the North.

“But of course bringing this kind of infrastructure project to fruition will be enormously challenging, and that is why I have created this Commission, to take forward the work required.  Such a challenge requires first class leadership and so I am particularly pleased that Denise Barrett-Baxendale has agreed to serve as its chair.  Denise brings a wealth of experience and intellectual rigour and I could not have more confidence in her ability to make this happen.”

Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale, MBE, said: “I am tremendously honoured to have been asked to chair this Commission.  I have no doubt that it will be challenging but with that challenge comes a golden opportunity to create a modern transport hub fit for the city region’s future.”

The Commission will bring together a range of experts from across the worlds of transport, business and the public sector.  Its remit will be to take forward all the key considerations in developing the project such as the size, functions, location and orientation of the station, working with partners on all elements leading towards its development.

A full connection to both Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 will reduce journey times between Liverpool and Manchester to around 23 minutes, Liverpool and London to around 89 minutes and will increase both passenger and freight capacity on our rail networks.

This will deliver an economic boost of ÂŁ15 billion GVA to the Liverpool City Region, with 24,000 new jobs, 11,000 new homes and 3.6 million additional visitors a year.

These figures do not include the direct cost of delivering the scheme and the development, design and construction spend in our city region for the new lines and supporting infrastructure.

That alone is expected to be in the order of a further ÂŁ6 billion, creating thousands of additional jobs and a massive additional economic benefit to the Liverpool City Region during the construction phase, which will spread over approximately 10 years.

Make sure you’re registered to vote in the Local Elections

8 March 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

Residents across Sefton are being urged to make sure they are registered to vote in time for the local elections this May.

On Thursday, May 2 residents throughout the borough will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at a local level.

Local government elections select councillors, who are responsible for making decisions on running services in your local area. These include housing, education, transport, planning, parks, leisure, fire and public safety, social care and waste management. Across Sefton there are 22 wards.

Vote being cast at a polling station

In order to vote in this important election, residents must be on the electoral register.

The deadline to register to vote in local elections is fast approaching and Sefton Council is asking residents who have not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered in time.

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Friday, April 12. Anyone can apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes just five minutes and Sefton has had more than 15,000 new registrations in the last 2 years.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Regulation and Compliance, said: “Time is running out to make sure you can take part in the local elections. These elections are an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here across Sefton. Putting it simply, if you’re not registered by April 12, you won’t be able to vote.”

Melanie Davidson, Head of Support and Improvement at the Electoral Commission, added: “If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important that you act to ensure that you are registered to vote. It takes just five minutes online and means that you can take part in this important election.”

If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you will still be registered to vote. If in doubt, check your details by giving us a call on 0345 140 0845.

Phased improvement works on Buckley Hill Lane

8 March 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Regeneration, Sefton Council

Phased improvement works are set to start at the junction of Buckley Hill Lane and Edge Lane, Netherton to benefit traffic flow in the area.

The improvements will include the installation of a new left hand turning lane on Buckley Hill Lane and general works to help enhance pedestrian facilities at the junction.

Contractors will undertake the works from March 11 and are expected to take up to two weeks to complete the first phase of the improvements.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “This will require the installation of temporary traffic lights to be used during off-peak hours between 9:30am and 3:30pm so we are kindly asking motorists to make sure they plan their journeys accordingly.

“The second phase of improvement works is expected to begin on March 25 and this will necessitate the closure of the southbound carriageway of Buckley Hill Lane, between Almonds Turn and Edge Lane, for up to ten weeks.

“However we are making sure that adequate diversions and signage are to be in place during this closure to help reduce delays and northbound traffic should remain unaffected throughout.”

Residents and businesses in the area have already been made aware of the works.

For more information about roadworks or diversions across Sefton, visit www.roadworks.org

Find new friends in Sefton

7 March 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: 2019 - Sefton's Year of friendship, Front Page

Throughout Sefton’s Year of Friendship, Sefton Council is dedicated to tackling loneliness by ensuring residents are aware of the many groups and activities on offer throughout the borough.

If you’re suffering from loneliness or feeling socially isolated, the most difficult thing can often be making those first steps towards making new friends.

Sefton CVS’ Community Connectors organise a weekly coffee morning at The Frank Hornby (Wetherspoons) in Maghull. The coffee morning invites anybody aged 18 or over who feels lonely or isolated to pop along and have a hot drink with some new friends. The offer is also open to anybody who would like to offer a helping hand.

The coffee mornings take place every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm with hot drinks available for ÂŁ1.25 with free refills. For more information call 0151 920 0726 or email connectors@seftoncvs.org.uk

The Connectors have also set up a ‘Community Connector Corner’ at Waterloo Community Centre’s Community Kitchen following the success of the Year of Friendship’s launch event at the venue earlier this year. The Community Kitchen is open to all and takes place every Thursday from 12pm with lunch starting from £3.

Sefton OPERA (Older Persons Enabling Resource & Action) also host an extensive timetable of weekly social inclusion groups including tea dances, arts and crafts, swimming and IT workshops.

On the first Wednesday of every month, ‘Beating Loneliness Together’ is held at the Royal Hotel in Waterloo to bring local residents together to enjoy a new activity each month along with a cuppa and a biscuit.

Men are invited to attend ‘Men behaving brilliantly’ every Tuesday from 1pm to 2.30pm at Sefton Opera’s HQ in St Matthews Church, Bootle. The group is ran by men for men and includes quizzes, darts, cards, board games, Tai Chi and days out.

A monthly Coffee Club is held to provide a regular meeting place for people involved in the Formby Befriending Scheme and others who perhaps live alone or simply want to make new friends. Several volunteers help to make the Coffee Club a place where everyone feels welcomed and included.

The club meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month 2-4pm in the Circle Room at the rear of Formby Methodist Church on Elbow Lane.

If you, or somebody you know, is lonely but unable to get out and about, befriending services can arrange for somebody to pay a visit.

Volunteer befrienders to come and visit someone who is socially isolated in their own home, accompany them to an activity including shopping or just meet up for a coffee and a chat. There are a number of befriending services in Sefton including:

  • Age Concern: Call 01704 542 993 or visit www.ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk
  • Bootle Buddies: Call Mary on 0151 933 2116 or email maryorrelltrust@outlook.com
  • Formby Befriending Scheme: Email  info@formbybefriendingscheme.org.uk or visit http://formbybefriendingscheme.org.uk

It’s also worth getting in touch if you feel like you could make a difference in somebody’s life as a befriending volunteer.

If you’re aware of any services or activities that promote friendships and work towards tackling social isolation, please send the details to communications@sefton.gov.uk

Sefton Partners unite against poverty

7 March 2019
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: 2019 - Sefton's Year of friendship, Front Page

Sefton’s Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty Partnership (WRAP) held it’s annual conference last week (February 28) at Linacre Mission in Bootle.

The Partnership is made up of a number of organisations from across Sefton that are dedicated to alleviating poverty and supporting those affected by welfare reform.

This year’s conference was themed around the ‘Power of Partnership to Alleviate Poverty’ and outlined the Partnerships future action plan while celebrating examples of the work that’s already happening in the borough.

Representatives from Sefton Council, Sefton CVS, South Sefton Foodbanks, the Department for Work and Pensions, Sefton’s Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB), Migrant Workers Sefton Community, The Salvation Army and Sefton Council’s Affordable Warmth Team spoke at the event to provide an insight into their work and the pressures they continue to face.

They shared the following statistics:

  • South Sefton Foodbanks gives out seven to eight tonnes of food a month
  • Sefton CAB has written off ÂŁ7 million of debt to those in need
  • Last year, Migrant Workers Sefton Community helped 184 people into full time employment
  • Footfall at Sefton’s Salvation Army hit 8,900
  • Sefton Council’s Affordable Warmth team assists over 1,000 households

Attendees also had the opportunity to have their say on six potential projects for 2019/20 including a coat bank, debt project, period poverty, friendship, funeral poverty and taking root.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Many people in Sefton continue to suffer as a result of policies and decisions that are out of their control and I hope that our partnership work can help to rebuild a small element of social security that this Government has taken away.

“I can’t thank all of the people who are involved in the services and activities that are helping to alleviate poverty enough, but rest assured that Sefton Council continues to fight austerity and make it one of our key pledges as we work with partners to help those most affected by welfare reform.”

Residents that may be affected by welfare reform can find information and support at www.sefton.gov.uk/benefits

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