Author: Ollie Cowan

Green Sefton, Sefton Council’s coast and countryside service, is looking for ideas on how it can breathe new life into buildings within Sefton’s parks and greenspaces.

The Council is inviting people to share expressions of interest on how they think land and buildings can be used in ways that will benefit the community and visitors. This follows on from a recent call out for ideas on how the Council can refresh how it uses some of its coast and greenspace.

Green Sefton is working closely with community and ‘friends of’ groups who have already shown what can be achieved if communities come together to make use of these buildings. This call out for ideas will allow these groups to expand on any ideas they may have as well as introduce opportunities for further partnership work.

A number of buildings have been put forward as potential sites for brand new ideas to help encourage new investment and opportunities to sites across Sefton while opening up a wider choice of potential retail units across the borough. These sites include buildings at the Botanic Gardens, Hesketh Park and Derby Park in Bootle and a number of other sites across the borough from pavilions to old toilet blocks.

Some suggested ideas include ice cream kiosks, small cafes, bakeries, small businesses, office space and community use areas. However, expressions of interest are not limited to these suggestions and Green Sefton is keen to hear about any creative ideas people may have to transform the buildings. Ideas can be submitted online by visiting www.the-chest.org.uk until Friday, December 20, 2019.

Ideally, the new ideas will be financially viable and should remain universally accessible for all.

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “This is a brilliant opportunity to transform disused buildings, some of which have fallen in to states of disrepair, and create new and exciting opportunities for both residents and visitors.

“I am excited to see what ideas are put forward and hope that this gives budding business owners  and community groups across Sefton the chance to put their plans into action.”

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

The second phase of vital improvements will include the completion of the 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 Thursday October 31 and are expected to take up to eight weeks to complete the second stage of improvements.

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “This will require the closure of Edge Lane at its junction with Buckley Hill Lane in both directions for 8 weeks, with a diversion via Broom’s Cross Road.

“However we are making sure that adequate diversions and signage are to be in place during this closure to help reduce delays.”

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

Green Sefton is looking for ways that it can improve Bootle Golf Course to help shape its future plans and developments for the course.

The Sefton Council service has launched a public consultation to help it better understand how residents feel about the course and what new facilities they would like to see in the future.

The results of the survey will help Green Sefton to map out a profile of the type of people who use the golf course and what might encourage them and others to make better use of the course.

Built in 1932 on the site of a former ammunition factory, Bootle Golf Course has been a staple of Dunnings Bridge Road for over 80 years and is currently open for pay and play seven days a week. Before it starts to make plans for the future of the course, Green Sefton wants to know the publics opinions on its proposed options and priorities.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Bootle Golf Course is a brilliant leisure resource in Sefton but there are still things that we can do to make it better for both our regular golfers and to encourage new players to golf there.

“If you want to help Green Sefton make its future plans for the course, please share your views using the online survey.”

The consultation will run until November 15, 2019. To complete the survey please visit https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/  and search for ‘Bootle Golf Course Consultation’.