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Public Remembrance Services return to Sefton in 2021

27 October 2021
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Borough Of Culture, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

Sefton will once again fall silent to remember those who died in conflict, with a number of Remembrance Day services taking place across the borough next month.

The 2021 Remembrance Day events, held on Sunday November 14, will mark a return to full public services following restrictions that were placed gatherings in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mayor of Sefton, Councillors and other Sefton Council representatives will join veterans, Armed Forces personnel, community leaders and members of the community in paying their respects

Residents are fully encouraged to attend any of the eleven services which will be held around the borough from 10:30am onwards, however all attendees are asked to observe social distancing where possible and be respectful of others during the service.

Anyone displaying signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are kindly asked to take a lateral flow test to ensure they are negative before attending.

The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Clare Carragher, will attend a morning service at the War Memorial in King’s Garden, Bootle from 10.30am before joining members of the community in Formby for a special afternoon service at Holy Trinity Church, Rosemary Lane from 2.45pm.

Other services are to be held in Aintree, Ainsdale, Crosby, Hightown, Ince Blundell, Litherland, Maghull, Southport and Waterloo.

As with previous years members of the public are asked to arrive at a service in plenty of time. This is due to the high volume of residents expected to turn out to pay their respects.

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Clare Carragher, said: “This year carries an extra special significance as it is is the first time we are all able to join together publicly once more to pay our respects.

“Remembrance Day Services are a time when we reflect and give thanks to all those brave souls past and present who have given their lives for our freedoms, while honouring serving members of the Armed Forces in recognition of their continued selflessness.

“We are grateful of the widespread support our virtual services received in 2020 and we look forward to a return to normal Remembrance Day events but I would like to remind everyone that we need to ensure we all keep ourselves and each other safe.

“Please be respectful of the views of others, take care to socially distance where possible and if you are displaying symptoms of potential COVID-19, please take a lateral flow test to ensure you are negative.”

Services

Aintree: Sefton Parish Church, Sefton Village, L29 (10.30am)
Ainsdale: Village Green War Memorial (10:30am)
Bootle: King’s Garden’s War Memorial, Stanley Road (10.25am)
Crosby: Alexandra Park War Memorial Garden, Coronation Road (10:45am)
Formby: Holy Trinity Church, Rosemary Lane (2.50pm)
Hightown: St Stephen’s Road War Memorial (10:35am)
Ince Blundell: Lady Green Lane War Memorial (12:05pm)
Litherland: Sefton Road War Memorial (10:30am)
Maghull: St Andrew’s Church, Damfield Lane (9.50am)
Southport: Lord Street War Memorial (10:25am)
Waterloo: Five Lamps War Memorial, Gt George’s Road (10:30am)

 

Sefton’s second week of COVID-19 vaccine drive means more boots-on-the-ground to promote drop-in jab pharmacy sessions

26 October 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Once again, this week, Sefton Council’s Covid Engagement Officers will be out in the south of the Borough reminding people that local, drop-in COVID-19 vaccinations are available on Wednesday and Thursday.

With COVID-19 numbers rising and national calls for further measures to prevent the virus’s spread, Sefton Council and NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are focusing on areas where lower numbers of people have had their first or second COVID-19 vaccination.

Free, drop-in vaccinations will be available at the Knowsley Road Pharmacy from 9.30am to 5.30pm on Wednesday (27th) and Thursday (28th) this week. Knowsley Road Pharmacy is at 125 Knowsley Rd, Bootle L20 4NJ.

The Covid Engagement Officers, who were joined by members of the Council’s Swab Squad, called at properties on Moore Street, Norton Street, Eliott Street, Pope Street, Hornby Road, Mildmay Road, Markfield Road and the Knowsley Road Antique Centre, in Sefton’s LS20 postcode area. They spoke to residents who were at home when they called and handed out flyers with details of the drop-in sessions. They also left flyers at properties where there was no answer.

Feedback from the pharmacy after the teams were out promoting the drop-in sessions last week, was that they had been significantly busier and that many people said they came to get their vaccine after receiving the flyer.

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: “COVID-19 infection rates are rising and the best way to keep them down and for people to protect themselves and others from infections is vaccinations.

“Last week we started targeting one of the areas where fewer people have had both jabs and I am pleased to hear that if has been working, with more people showing up at the Knowsley Road Pharmacy drop-in sessions.

“I would like to thank our teams who will be out and about again this week, hopefully in better weather, as well as our colleagues at the Knowsley Road Pharmacy and NHS South Sefton CCG.

Dr Pete Chamberlain, local GP and chair of NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “It’s important that we reach those communities who, for whatever reason, may not have been able to get their COVID-19 vaccine and it’s great to hear that the team going out and knocking on peoples doors has made a difference in this area.

“It’s really easy to get your vaccine, you can find a walk-in vaccination site or book a vaccination appointment on the NHS website. Anyone in Sefton aged 18 and over, can get their first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine by booking an appointment at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy now. Those over 16 are also eligible and can book their first vaccine online or go to a walk-in and children aged 12-15 are now being offered their first dose at school.”

Information and useful links including easy-read guides about vaccinations can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/COVID-vaccinations.

Map showing location of Knowsley Road Pharmacy People can find a walk-in vaccination site or book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, please visit the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Knowsley Road Pharmacy is at 125 Knowsley Rd, Bootle L20 4NJ

Reminder: The deadline to apply for a Secondary school place for September 2022 is 31 October 2021

26 October 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council

If you require a place for your child starting Secondary school in Sefton for the first time in September 2022 the deadline to apply is Sunday 31 October 2021.

Applications can be made online via the Citizens Portal. For information and advice please see the following information:

The closing date for applications to start Primary School is Saturday 15 January 2022.

For more information please visit the Sefton Council website.

Chancellor’s Budget plans must be long-term, sustainable and not at council taxpayers’ expense, says Sefton Council leader

25 October 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized
Cllr Ian Maher
Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher

Sefton Council Leader, Cllr Ian Maher has given a cautious welcome to news that Chancellor Rishi Sunak plans to invest in skills and education, families, business, transport and culture in his budget statement this week.

New money

Cllr Maher said: “After years of Government austerity and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, these are all areas that desperately need more investment.

“But what we need to see this week is guaranteed new money and long-term commitments that mean people in Sefton will really see a levelling-up, rather than headline-grabbing announcements.

“As a result of the pandemic, Councils such as Sefton have seen huge increases in demand, particularly in the areas of adult and children’s social care services. And, at the same time we have taken a huge hit in terms of lost income due to lost revenue from closed facilities and lower Council Tax and Business Rate income.

“At the same time, large numbers of families across the Borough are facing increased financial pressures from the Government’s recent, £20-per-week cut in Universal Credit, higher household fuel costs and rising prices in shops.

Damage done

“To make sure we can build back better from the damage done by austerity and the pandemic, Sefton and other councils need sustainable, three-year financial settlements that enable us to plan strategically as well as greater Government support for frontline services.

“And the cost of this should not be passed on to local people through us being required to increase Council Tax to pay for vital services.

“If we do not see these measures from the Chancellor on Wednesday, no matter what Mr Sunak and his colleagues claim, what this budget statement will really represent is cuts that will hit the most vulnerable.”

Startling

In an open letter in May when the Council set its budget, Cllr Maher wrote to Sefton Council Tax-payers explaining that the authority had had been forced to make £233 million of savings over the past ten years. And, he described the cost to the Council of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as ‘startling’.

He said that at the beginning of the crisis, the Government told local councils to do “whatever it takes,” but described ministers’ responses to calls for increased and continual funding as ‘nothing more than smoke and mirrors’.

Ambitious

Today, Cllr Maher said: “This week is an opportunity for this Government to show that it has the interests of everyone at heart, by announcing budget plans that enable us to support local communities to recover, and to develop our ambitious plans for sustained economic growth across the Borough.”

 You can read Cllr Maher’s open letter here.

Mobile Testing in Sefton – November 2021

25 October 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Throughout November , drive-through Mobile Testing Units will be available across the Borough.
These sites are for people with symptoms – a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell – and can be booked by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
Planned dates and sites may be subject to change if testing is required in other locations:

Dates and locations for November 2021

  • Monday 1 Litherland Sports Park
  • Tuesday 2 Litherland Sports Park
  • Wednesday 3 Litherland Sports Park
  • Thursday 4 Maghull Town Hall
  • Friday 5 Maghull Town Hall
  • Saturday 6 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Sunday 7 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Monday 8 NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Tuesday 9 Litherland Sports Park
  • Wednesday 10 Litherland Sports Park
  • Thursday 11 Maghull Town Hall
  • Friday 12 Maghull Town Hall
  • Saturday 13 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Sunday 14 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Monday 15 Litherland Sports Park
  • Tuesday 16 Litherland Sports Park
  • Wednesday 17 NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Thursday 18 Maghull Town Hall
  • Friday 19 Maghull Town Hall
  • Saturday 20 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Sunday 21 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Monday 22 Litherland Sports Park
  • Tuesday 23 Litherland Sports Park
  • Wednesday 24 Litherland Sports Park
  • Thursday 25 Maghull Town Hall
  • Friday 26 Maghull Town Hall
  • Saturday 27 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Sunday 28 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Monday 29 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Tuesday 30 NO MOBILE TESTING

Remaining October dates

  • Monday 25 Maghull Town Hall
  • Tuesday 26 NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Wednesday 27 Litherland Sports Park
  • Thursday 28 Litherland Sports Park
  • Friday 29 Litherland Sports Park
  • Saturday 30 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride
  • Sunday 31 Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride

Our mobile Swab Squads are out this week.

Walk-through test centres

In addition, local walk-through test centres are open every day from 8am to 8pm, providing easy access to COVID-19 tests for people who do not have access to a car and for those who have symptoms and should not travel by public transport.

The four local test centres are located at:

  • Bootle Town Hall, L20 7AA
  • Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, L22 OLQ
  • Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Lane, L30 3TL
  • Southport Town Hall, PR8 1DA

Those with symptoms wanting tests, need to book ahead of going to either the walk-through or drive-through sites. It’s quick and easy to book by calling 119 or going online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

Find out more about COVID in Sefton, including testing and vaccinations.

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