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Author: Ollie Cowan

Getting ready for your new trains ā€“ Next phases of Merseyrail network platform upgrades announced

12 December 2018
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Front Page

Information about the next three phases of platform upgrades to prepare the Merseyrail network for the arrival of new, state of the art trains in 2020 is now available to help people plan their journeys.

Network Rail is just days away from completing works for Phase 2 at Bank Hall station on the Southport line.

Upgrades involve altering the height and width of station platforms and realigning track. This is vital to ensure the new trainsā€™ sliding step can meet the platform edge, providing better access for all passengers.

Phases

There are 11 phases of work scheduled until June 2019. During each phase, some stations will be temporarily closed however high quality, rail replacement buses will keep passengers moving.

A summary of the next three phases are below and passengers are advised that further information including timetables is available at Merseyrail stations and on the Merseyrail website.

Phase 3: Wirral loop line: James St, Moorfields, Lime St, Liverpool Central stations, from 27 December 2018 – 2 January 2019

Commercial buses and the Mersey Ferries may be a good cross-river option.

Phase 4: Kirkby line: Kirkby, Fazakerley and Rice Lane stations, from 5 – 13 January.

Phase 5: Hunts Cross line: Brunswick to Hunts Cross, starting with one day of work on 19 January, then 21 -26 January 2019.

Sandhills to Hunts Cross (including Liverpool Central), from 20 and 27 January 2019

More information about Phases 6 to 11 including rail replacement bus services and alternative travel options will be available a few weeks before the start of each phase.

Key advice:

  • Check before you travel, especially during the Christmas period as timetables may change.
  • Plan ahead ā€“ use journey planners.
  • Leave more time for your journey.
  • Consider avoiding travelling at peak times where possible.
  • Consider your options ā€“including commercial buses and the Mersey Ferries.

These vital works need to happen to ensure that station platforms across the Merseyrail network are compatible with the new trains and their ground breaking, sliding step technology that will provide unassisted access for all.

This will mean that wheelchair users can board the train without a ramp and passengers with prams and cycles can get on and off the train with ease. This technology represents a pioneering approach for the UK.

Merseytravel, Merseyrail and Network Rail have worked collaboratively on this project and significant planning work has been carried out to minimise the time needed to complete these important works and reduce disruption to passengers.

Businesses and organisations are advised to think about what they may need to put in place to support staff and customers.

Check out the animation to find out more about the works and the new trains.

Free bus services on Christmas Day

12 December 2018
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Merseytravel is once again offering free bus services on Christmas Day, to help people make hospital visits or to spend time with their friends and family.

Buses will operate a limited service from around 12 noon until around 6pm on routes serving hospitals across Merseyside.

Councillor Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Portfolio Holder, said: ā€œWe are one of a very few areas that operate services on Christmas Day, which can be a lifeline for people who would otherwise not be able to see their loved ones in hospital on this very special day.

ā€œAlthough these services are provided primarily for hospital visiting, anyone who can use them to visit friends and family along the routes is very welcome to do so.ā€

Christmas Day Services are listed below:

10A between Queen Square Bus Station, Page Moss, Whiston Hospital and St Helens Bus Station.

12A between Queen Square Bus Station, Stockbridge Village and Huyton Bus Station.

21A between Liverpool ONE Bus Station, Walton Vale, Black Bull and Kirkby Bus Station and Kirkby Tower Hill.

44 Between Formby Duke Street, Southport Hospital Town Lane and Crossens Rufford Road.

62A between Crosby Islington, Bootle The Strand Stanley Road and Aintree University Hospital.

102 Between Broadgreen Hospital, Alder Hey Hospital, Croxteth Park Stand Farm and Aintree University Hospital.

201 between Queen Square Bus Station, Royal Liverpool Hospital and Speke Morrisons Bus Facility.

410 between New Brighton Kings Parade, Woodside Bus Station and Clatterbridge Hospital.

H1 between Mill Park Clifton Avenue, Arrowe Park Hospital and New Brighton Kings Parade

St Helens Bus Station.

H2/3 between Whiston Hospital and St Helens Bus Station.

No other bus services will operate. No trains will operate. Mersey Ferries will not operate.

For further information check Merseytravel Christmas & New Year Transport Guide, www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travel-updates or ring Customer Services on 0151 330 1000.

Antonio Street war heroes honoured 100 years after end of WW1

12 December 2018
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Nineteen soldiers who never returned home to a single Sefton street from World War One have been honoured with a special commemorative stone, one hundred years after the conflict ended.

The Mayor of Sefton has today (Wednesday, December 12) officially unveiled the permanent tribute on Antonio Street, Bootle, to honour those residents who fought and died during the 1914-1918 war.

Throughout the geographical area now known as Sefton, nearly 4,000 men and women perished in World War One, but the impact of the conflict was perhaps felt strongest in the small terraced row of houses of Antonio Street, where it is often claimed every household lost somebody close to them as a result of the war.

Brothers John & Frederick Palethorpe of Antonio Street, Bootle, were killed in action during World War One

The tribute was commissioned as part of Sefton Council’s ongoing commemorations to mark the Centenary of the end of World War One and the Local Authority’s emotional Beyond The War Memorials project.

Sefton’s Mayor, Cllr Dave Robinson, said: “We wanted to make sure Antonio Street has a permanent and lasting memorial to honour the incredible sacrifice those nineteen men made for their families, their neighbours and their country.

“There are so many heart wrenching stories from behind the doors of this street.Ā At number Four, a couple lost two sons.

“Their first son, John George, was just 30 years of age and married with two small children, when he was killed at Ypres. His younger brother Frederick was in the navy. He sadly died age 22, when his ship HMS Laurentic struck a mine oļ¬€ Ireland in January 1917.

“Two family members were also lost at number 19, when cousins Joseph Sloey and Joseph Kane were both killed.

“To be able to permanently honour these brave men, on the street they grew up on, is incredibly important and I hope that many future generations of Antonio Street residents pause to learn of the great sacrifices that were made.”

As part of Sefton Council’s Beyond The War Memorial campaign, 2,000 households in Sefton have received special information packs in the post, which include the details of those who lived at that address and died in action.

For more information about Antonio Street and to read more about the Beyond The War Memorials project, visit www.seftonwarmemorials.org.

Sefton cracks down on festive flytippers at Recycling Centre

11 December 2018
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council has taken extra steps this festive period to combat Christmas flytipping outside South Sefton Recycling Centre.

Working in partnership with Veolia and the Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), Sefton Council’s Environmental Enforcement team want to deter those who flytip outside South Sefton Recycling Centre on Irlam Road, Bootle when it’s closed during the festive season.

Despite only being closed for three days during the Christmas and New Year period (December 25, 26 & January 1) irresponsible people will leave their rubbish outside the centre.

Last year this resulted in 16 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) being issued to fly tippers.

This year CCTV cameras will be in place to catch flytippers in the act and anyone caught will face a Ā£400 FPN.

Failure to pay the penalty will result in a prosecution and those found guilty will face significant fines.

Signage will also be erected near to the site and regular messages will be circulated via the councilā€™s social media to remind residents of their rubbish responsibilities.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation and Compliance, said: “There is no excuse for this kind of irresponsible behaviour and most residents are well aware that leaving waste like this is flytipping.

“Information on collection services and recycling services during the Christmas holidays, as well as recycling centre opening times, is readily available to residents via both the Council and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority websites.

“South Sefton Recycling Centre will be closed for just three days during the Christmas and New Year period so there is no need for irresponsible people to flytip their rubbish outside on the public highway.

“Any act of flytipping is not only illegal but also extremely disappointing and we are taking proactive steps to deter anyone from doing this.

“Those that still ignore the many warnings run the risk of prosecution and significant fines.

“We actively encourage people to play their part in keeping the local area clean and green and everyone has a responsibility for maintaining the environment where they live.”

Residents can report any instances of flytipping across the borough easily online via www.sefton.gov.uk/flytipping.

Call for views about same day healthcare in south Sefton

11 December 2018
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Front Page, Health

NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is inviting people to give their views and experiences about using and choosing different urgent care services when they need immediate or same day health advice or treatment.

The commissioner, which plans and buys the majority of healthcare for south Sefton residents, is encouraging people to get involved as part of a review of ā€˜urgent careā€™ services.

Urgent care includes services for physical and mental health problems ranging from pharmacies, GP practices, GP out of hours services, the NHS 111 phone line and website, walk-in centres, accident and emergency (A&E) departments and 999.

Between mid-December 2018 and January 2019 the CCG is asking people to complete a questionnaire about these services for adults, children and young people. The information gathered will be used to help develop proposals for how urgent care could look in the future.

Dr Craig Gillespie, GP and acting chair for NHS South Sefton CCG, said: ā€œFrom our conversations with residents over the past few years we know that some find the current range of urgent care services difficult to choose from and confusing. Sometimes when people donā€™t know which service to choose they use accident and emergency, which puts extra pressure on hospitals, and means that people might have to wait longer for their treatment.

ā€œThis review is the first step towards making sure that our services really meet local needs, so we are encouraging as many people and NHS staff as possible to get involved and tell us what itā€™s like to use or work in these services and how they could be better and easier to choose from in the future.ā€

The review will also consider how new NHS national guidelines for urgent care services and the introduction of ā€˜Urgent Treatment Centresā€™ might be put into place in south Sefton.

NHS South Sefton CCG is carrying out its review with partners across north Merseyside as patients often use urgent care services across this wider area. So, the CCG is also encouraging residents in Southport and Formby who use urgent care services in north Merseyside to complete a survey.

Visit the NHS South Sefton CCG website to complete an online questionnaire or find out more www.southseftonccg.nhs.uk.

Healthwatch Sefton is helping us to make the questionnaire available to anyone who may find it difficult to take part online. So, for help to complete a questionnaire, request a paper version, or for another format call Freephone 0800 206 1304, email info@healthwatchsefton.co.uk or text 07434 810 438.

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