Author: Ollie Cowan

My name is Serena Kennedy, and I am Deputy Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and am chair of the Merseyside Resilience Forum. The Merseyside Resilience Forum (MRF) is a multi-agency partnership set up to prepare for and respond to any emergency in the county. Over the last year the MRF has been one of the key forums where local authorities, emergency services, government agencies and all other organisations have worked together on a regional basis to tackle to COVID-19 pandemic. This statement is to update you on the current situation as we move on with dealing with another period of national lockdown and look ahead to the continued vaccine roll-out.

It is increasingly clear that after close to a year of COVID-19 there is growing sense of fatigue with restrictions across many of parts of our communities. Local and national media continue to report how people are still congregating and trying to find ways around the rules, many underestimating the risks they face. However, we must make it clear that the risks remain high. The COVID-19 figures for Merseyside are stark: on December 29 the weekly admissions to hospitals for COVID-198 were 43 in Merseyside. Just two weeks later, by January 12, it had gone up to 178 – and our numbers remain worryingly high.

The steps we take now and in the coming weeks will be crucial in ensuring our region can emerge from the national lockdown at the earliest possible opportunity. The most important step we can all take is to carry on following the lockdown rules, which will remain in place for the foreseeable future. In England this means people must stay at home and only go out where absolutely necessary, such as to shop for basic necessities, or exercise once a day. Also, people are not allowed to leave home to meet people socially if they don’t live together or have a support bubble together. This is the only way we can reduce the rates of infection – the “R value” – and begin to see fewer people becoming ill with the virus.

Although the news of vaccine roll-outs is encouraging and going well, we must tackle the increasing risks created by people feeling they are out of harm’s reach – they are not. By working together we can better protect our communities, our families and ourselves and create a resilient position to emerge from the national lockdown.

Finally, thank you for all your hard work so far. Merseyside people have shown true community spirit and strength and we see examples of that every day. Despite this I know it is difficult and I can’t promise it will be any easier for a while yet, but all the effort and working together so far has truly paid dividends and we can be optimistic that by carrying on we can do the right thing for our communities and keep people safe and well.

Heavy rain from Storm Christoph has led to raised water levels and flooding from the River Alt, that is set to increase significantly and means that some residents in the Maghull area are advised to vacate their properties as soon as possible.

The increase in the water level has led the Environment Agency to issue a severe flood warning, meaning there is a threat to life and significant disruption. Flood warnings mean that flooding is expected, which is the case in Maghull from 10pm until 10am tomorrow morning.

Water levels at Dover Brook, near the River Alt, reached 2.5m today, which in unprecedented for that area, modelling from the Environment Agency, including anticipated overnight rainfall, will take that level to 3.5m.

This is expected to impact the Sefton Lane, Sefton Drive, Claremont Avenue and old Racecourse Road areas Maghull.

Residents are being urged by Sefton Council and its partners to vacate their homes immediately, with a temporary rest centre will provide shelter at the nearby Meadows Leisure Centre, the option of joining their established Covid bubble or staying with family and friends.

Where residents do not want to leave their property, it is imperative that they ensure their safety in their property and secure their belongings.

Sefton Council have issued the following statement regarding Southport Skate Park following a number of comments online.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:  “Let me be clear there are no plans at all to permanently close Southport Skate Park.

“On the contrary in fact, the council continues to invest in this much-loved community asset. However, our skate park is made up of 4 professional structures of a specialist construction and shaping, and of course since they were installed wear and tear has inevitably occurred which means that they will need to be replaced.

“We have already ordered four new ramp structures and while we await delivery and installation of these, we have temporarily closed the park to ensure no one is hurt.

“We expect all the work to be completed in January, usually the quietest time of the year for the skate park, meaning less disruption for users.

“I’m pleased to hear that local people feel so strongly about Southport Skate Park, and always welcome people’s views on the use of council facilities such as this. I’m glad that the skate park is valued by so many.”

“I must say, anyone who has ignored the very clear signage we have installed on the site and has taken it upon themselves to climb the fencing, determined to use the skate park while it’s closed, it is putting themselves at risk of injury and is behaving irresponsibly.

“Rest assured, once the brand-new ramps have been installed, Southport Skate Park will remain open for many more years to come.”