Author: Ollie Cowan

Residents in Litherland have Come Together with Sefton Council and prolific artist Paul Curtis to give an iconic Beatles mural a new lease of life.

Yesterday (Tuesday, September 22) essential maintenance works began on the gable end of a property on Croxteth Avenue in Litherland after it began to show signs of natural deterioration.

Owing to the nature of these works, a partial section of the internationally renowned Beatles mural, which is displayed on both the gable end and garden wall of the house, would need to be removed.

Understandably saying ‘Let It Be’ to the permanent removal of the mural was out of the question and so began detailed conversations between the building’s owner, Sefton Council and artist Paul Curtis to ‘Work It Out.’

Significant repairs have now begun on the property’s garden wall ahead of more remedial works being carried out on the gable end of the building.

Once these works are completed the main section of the mural will receive a cosmetic refurbishment, while the garden wall section will need a complete reinstallation.

All artwork will be carried out as close to the original design as possible.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “The repairs needed to the building are considerably more than just ‘Fixing A Hole’ and there was simply no other way to do this without damaging the mural.

“I am extremely proud of our hardworking Neighbourhoods teams who have worked diligently with all sides to get this complex project off the ground and, most importantly, found a way to protect this incredible asset to the community in Litherland.

“We don’t envisage needing to do these works again When I’m Sixty Four. This is a project that will give both the building and the mural much needed longevity and ensures that it will be in place for generations to come.

“I would like to thank the building’s owner, the Liverpool Mural Project and Paul Curtis for their support.”

The original mural was completed over five days in May, 2008 as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations to mark Litherland’s connections with the Fab Four.

Residents across Sefton who find themselves in financial difficulty following the end of the Government’s furlough scheme may be able to seek support from Sefton Council.

The local authority’s Emergency Limited Assistance Scheme (ELAS) is available to support local residents who are experiencing severe hardship, a disaster or emergency.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “We understand that when this scheme comes to an end there will be a number of people who will feel directly impacted and in need of temporary support.

“If you need urgent help with the costs of food, winter coats, gas, electricity or emergency travel and do not have money to get them we may be able to help through ELAS.

“We may also be able to assist If you need essential domestic appliances because you are setting up home, moving from care, have suffered a disaster or have had to move due to violence or fear of violence.”

To find out more about ELAS or to apply visit https://www.sefton.gov.uk/advice-benefits/emergency-limited-assistance-scheme.

Inconsiderate residents in the Smollet Street area of Bootle have dumped piles of rubbish in back alleyways, just hours before officers from Sefton Council were verbally abused for raising the issue of rubbish responsibilities.

Both the local authority’s Cleansing and Environmental Enforcement Officers, as well as colleagues from Neighbourhoods, attended a rear gated alleyway in Smollet Street, Bootle on Monday, September 14 following complaints over alleged flytipping.

Officers attended and removed tonnes of waste from the area, as well as collecting vital evidence to identify those responsible for the dumping of rubbish.

However just a matter of hours later, officers discovered a mattress and television had been dumped in the secure alleyway.

Furthermore when residents in the area were offered advice on their rubbish responsibilities and the laws around flytipping, officers were met in a number of instances with verbal abuse.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation and Compliance, said: “Our officers should not have to suffer any form of abuse while carrying out their work, especially when they are working hard to support those residents with a particular issue.

“Smollet Street and the surrounding area is a flytipping hotspot and this is solely down to a small number of inconsiderate and irresponsible residents who we are fully committed to fining once evidence has been processed.

“Thousands of pounds has been so far spent in the Linacre Ward in clearing excess waste and our Communities teams have repeatedly spoken to residents in the area about their rubbish responsibilities so there can be no excuse.

“This area is secured via key entry gates and the only people who have access to that area are the residents themselves.

“Flytipping carries a £400 fixed penalty notice and failure to pay will land you in court. Sefton Council will not hesitate to issue a fine if we catch people doing it.”

If any residents have any concerns regarding flytipping or wish to report an offence, they should contact us on 0345 140 0845 or report it via our website www.sefton.gov.uk.

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As part of Sefton Council’s commitment to promote responsible dog ownership, we are consulting on the reintroduction of dog control measures.

Consultation on introducing a new look Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) across the whole of the borough will start on the 7th September and will last until 5th October.

A Public Space Protection Order is an official measure that is an enforceable part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

PSPOs can be used to protect the public from behaviour that is having or is likely to have a harmful effect on the quality of life of those in an area. To ensure that orders introduced are proportionate and have the support of local residents councils must hold a public consultation.

We began a consultation in March 2020 but unfortunately this was interrupted by the impact of COVID-19.

This consultation did run for 2 weeks and we received over 180 responses. We are taking all of these responses into account and combining the results with those of the new consultation.

We would like as many people as possible to respond to the new consultation so that we can ensure that any new order is in line with the views of all of our residents.

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, said: “This is just the start of the process to consult on a new PSPO in Sefton. Many other local authorities across the country have introduced similar orders to great effect, encouraging greater responsible dog ownership and promoting a cleaner and greener environment which everyone can enjoy.

She added: “The proposed order would continue the dog control requirements that were in place in Sefton for three years up to July 2020. Most dog owners across the borough already understand and do most of the things in the proposed order anyway, so if introduced it will have very little or no impact on them at all.

“Please take the time to read about the proposed order and tell us what you think about it.”

To complete the survey, visit https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk.

Should anyone require any assistance in completing the form over the telephone then they can call the contact centre on 0345 140 0845.

For a hard copy version and a freepost envelope for return an email can be sent to ETSContact@sefton.gov.uk

We will try to meet any other requirements that anyone may have that will allow them to engage in the consultation process. Any requests/requirements such as this can be sent to ETSContact@sefton.gov.uk

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We received reports of an event having taken place at Crosby Beach where up to 500 people had taken part including swimming in the sea, and a ‘mass meditation’ on the beach.

“We can understand that with its beauty and peacefulness, Crosby Beach would be seen as a great venue for a mass meditation. However, while we appreciate both the physical and mental health benefits such an event can bring for attendees, we do have some concerns about this event, and any future ones which may be planned.

Water safety:

Crosby Beach is not a designated bathing water and so the water quality is not monitored by the Environment Agency, which may mean that the water could contain microbes, such as e-coli, which can be harmful to human health.

“Crosby can be a dangerous beach because of the tidal range of the River Mersey (in excess of 10m, the second highest in the UK). This means that tidal cut off, stranding on sandbanks and patches of soft muds and sand are very real hazards and could easily result in danger to life and the need for rescue by emergency services.

“It is because of this that we have specific advice for event organisers at Crosby Beach. This advice, and the beach signage, is very clear – Stay within 50m of the seawall.

“Anyone wishing to hold an event must apply for permission, including a risk assessment so that we are able to help and guide event organisers to operate in a safe way, in a safe place, and protect wildlife on this protected coastline. The council event booking form for the coast can be found at:
https://forms.sefton.gov.uk/smalleventsform

COVID19 pandemic:

“The current Government guidance does not allow us to permit organised events in public places with more than 30 participants, and any event must be COVID secure, taking suitable precautions about social distancing and hygiene practice etc.

“We’re working with the event organisers to address our concerns and ensure anyone attending future events such as this is kept safe, which may mean moving the event to one of the 3 recognised bathing areas along the Sefton Coast.”