Author: Ollie Cowan

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We understand the concerns of local businesses regarding the provision of a local test centre at the One Stop Shop in Southport.

“Local testing centres are part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to improve accessibility of coronavirus testing for communities.

“The provision of sites is approved by the Department of Health and Social Care and their private sector providers are the decision-makers on the suitability of final location and set-up (including entrances and exits) following a site visit. The site will then be run by a private sector operator.

“The site will be prepared on Tuesday (4th August) and open on Wednesday (5th August) with more appointments available each day. Testing is available for everyone, with additional support for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities.

“It is important that the site is easily accessible without a car. Those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout (including travelling to and from the testing centre). Anyone attending an appointment at a walk-through testing will be provided with guidance on getting to and from the test site safely.

“We would assure neighbouring businesses that attendance at the test site is by appointment only and therefore there should be no queuing within Cambridge Arcade. Queue management is part of the site operators’ responsibility and whilst the appointment system should ensure there is no queue, we will monitor this.”

Ends

Essential works on the Coastal Road in Southport are continuing, to help improve access for both cyclists and pedestrians.

The works are part of the Southport East West Cycle Link improvement scheme thanks to funding from the Liverpool City Region and primarily compromises of the widening of cycle track between Weld Road roundabout and the bridge at Pinfold Lane.

Contractors are carrying the work out in stages to ensure minimal disruption to traffic and the road will be reopened in sections, beginning with the Shore Road to Pinfold Lane in mid July.

Works to the northern section of the Coastal Road, from Weld Road to Shore Road, are expected to be finalised in September.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “Work on the scheme was due to begin in April but unfortunately the start date was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are confident of completing the scheme in earnest by September.

“We have been delighted that during these works we have been able to maintain access for cyclists and pedestrians for socially distanced exercise and we will continue to update our communities as the works near completion.”

For more information about road closures in Sefton visit www.roadworks.org

Sefton is once again saying ‘I do!’ to weddings in the borough thanks to the hard work of local authority registrars.

While social distancing rules remain in place for everyone’s safety, the council are once more able to offer weddings for those couples who had their ceremony put on hold at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This morning (Monday, July 6) Waterloo Town Hall welcomed its first bride and groom to tie the knot when Thornton couple Stephen and Nicola Pendleton said, ‘I do’ in front of witnesses.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind and we cannot thank the registrars team enough for what they did,” said Stephen following the ceremony.

“To be the first couple in Sefton to be married following everything that has gone on is fantastic.”

Bride Nicola added: “The registrars team really wanted to make it as special as they possibly could for us and were so lovely about the situation.”

While weddings can now start to take place once more, government guidelines mean that:

•  Numbers will be restricted
• 2-metre social distancing must apply unless additional measures are in place.
• Bride unable to be escorted down aisle unless escort (usually dad) is from same household.
• Hand sanitiser to be used on entrance and exit.
• Ceremony will be kept to legal requirements only.
• Photographer allowed but must remain in one place and must be included as one of the restricted  number.

Couples who were due to to be married and had their ceremony suspended will be contacted by Sefton Council’s Registrars as soon as possible.