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Behind the scenes images reveal amazing transformation of Southport Market

18 May 2021
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, InvestSefton, Latest News

The brand new look Southport Market is on course to open its doors this summer, thanks to the hard work of Sefton Council and its partners.

Finishing touches are being applied to the iconic market space as it undergoes a major transformation into a leading food, drinks and events space that will boost the local economic and tourism sectors.

In the run up to Tourism Week 2021, the latest behind the scenes images have been revealed showing the incredible work by project contractors Medlock to change the interior of the building.

Work will soon commence on applying the finer details to the market’s aesthetic, combining key elements of Southport’s heritage with a modern and sleek events space.

External funding from The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Southport Town Deal acceleration fund has been secured making the scheme possible.

The £1.4m scheme, which is a key enabler and an early part of Sefton Council’s Covid-19 recovery plan for Southport, will see 10 new locally based food units and a feature bar installed. This will be supported by a flexible events area able to host high-quality markets along with other events.

Southport Market will also include a Changing Places space which is a fully accessible toilet and changing facility for people with disability needs.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “It is incredible to see all our hard work nearing completion and I cannot wait to see the Market open for everyone to enjoy.

“Southport Market is an iconic location and one of considerable historic importance to the resort, which is why we have ensured the space is brimming with local touches and influences.

“Our amazing tourism team have been hard at work with The Atkinson to source old images of Southport to be used throughout the market, as well as local sign writer Graham Booth to design some of the internal signage.

“Sefton’s tourism offer is incredibly diverse, exciting and vibrant and this Tourism Week is more important than ever before to showcase how vital a role tourism will play in our economic recovery following the pandemic.”

Once complete it is hoped the revitalised market will act as an enabler for Southport, and forms early plans of an ambitious regeneration programme for the town following the success of the £37.5 Southport Town Deal bid.

 

Thornton park to be transformed with much needed improvements

18 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Runnells Lane Park in Thornton is to be transformed by Sefton Council with much needed improvements to its play and recreation facilities as well as its paths and landscaping.

Officers will be hosting a socially distanced drop-in session on Thursday 20th May from 3pm to 6pm to offer residents and park users the chance to see detailed plans of the improvements.

They are also looking for members of the community to help establish a Friends of Runnells Lane Park group who would undertake volunteer duties and support events and activities. Those interested should contact Green Sefton by email greensefton@sefton.gov.uk.

Funding has been secured by Manor Ward funding, the Council’s Green Sefton service in partnership with the Neighbourhoods Team though the Veolia Environmental Trust, who support community projects across the whole of England. A contribution of Section 106 Planning monies has also been allocated to the park improvements.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “It’s fantastic news that our Neighbourhoods Team have worked collaboratively with our Green Sefton Officers to source funding for these improvements that will benefit people of all ages in this area.
“This is the only public park in Thornton and our residents have asked us to look at how we could improve children’s play opportunities and make the most of this important community space.”

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
“As our outdoor spaces are proving more popular than ever, we are dedicated to finding ways to develop sites like this so that our residents have green spaces right on their doorstep that can be enjoyed by all.”

Designs have been drawn up that include a new play area for toddlers with a mixture of play equipment including swings, springers, a seesaw, climbing net and an accessible roundabout for those with disabilities. Plans also include the introduction of a cantilever swing suitable for teens to broaden the age range of the play equipment in the park.

The existing multi-use games area will be refurbished, and new paths will be created around the edge of the site. New bins and benches will be installed, and trees are to be planted around the boundary of the park to improve the local environment and wildlife.

Cllr Moncur added: “I’d urge people to get in touch with Green Sefton to find out more about these exciting plans and to think about ways to get involved in the Friends of Runnells Park initiative. Volunteering just a small amount of time in our outdoor spaces can be hugely beneficial for health and wellbeing, it’s a great way to connect with others and to influence how your local space can be used to benefit the community that live there.”

Lizzie Cooke, from The Veolia Environmental Trust, said: “We are really pleased to award £75,000 via the Landfill Communities Fund to support this project.

“We look forward to seeing the improvements that will create an accessible outdoor space for all to enjoy, promoting active lifestyles and contributing to the health and well-being of all the community.”

It is planned that the work will take place towards the end of 2021 with opening of the new facilities in early 2022.

Sefton celebrates ‘Dementia Friendly’ status this Dementia Action Week

17 May 2021
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Sefton Council, Sefton Advocacy, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG have come together this week to celebrate Dementia Action Week, which runs from the 17th-23rd May.

The aim of the week is to raise awareness and encourage action around those living with dementia and those people who care for them.

 

In October 2019, thanks to the work of Sefton’s Dementia Action Alliance (DAA), the borough was officially recognised by The Alzheimer’s Society as ‘working towards becoming dementia friendly’. This status means that Sefton is a place where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported.

Sefton Council, Sefton Advocacy, NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are encouraging people this week to understand how they can support those people living with dementia in our community in order to make our borough the most welcoming, understanding and supportive place it can be for those living with dementia.

 

Dementia Friendly Sefton are a group of organisations and individuals who are determined to maintain and improve Sefton’s ‘Dementia Friendly’ status.

Take a look at how they have been supporting people living with dementia

Dementia Training

Practical Support

Emotional Support

Support for Carers

Support from the CCG

The full video is on our YouTube Channel

 

Cllr Paul Cummins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Chair of Dementia Friendly Sefton said:

“I am so proud to celebrate Dementia Action Week and I take this opportunity to thank the huge number of organisations from across Sefton that help create a place where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported.

“The world can be a confusing and sometimes frightening place for people with dementia, but by making small changes to the way we usually do things, we can make that world much brighter. I encourage everyone in Sefton to take some time to consider how they can become more dementia friendly.”

 

Justine Shenton, Sefton Advocacy, Sefton Older Persons Forum Coordinator said:

“It is important to raise awareness this Dementia Action Week; both of the condition and how people can help make those people living with dementia more supported and understood.

“I’m proud to be a part of Dementia Friendly Sefton and I know we will continue to work towards making our community a better place for people living with dementia and in doing so, enable them to live the lives they choose to live.”

 

Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer of NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said:

“We are pleased to have been working closely with our partners who provide services and activities for those living with dementia, to increase our support in recent years, enabling them to better plan and deliver valuable services in our communities.

“As CCG’s we have also undergone dementia friendly training in order to fully embrace this important agenda and champion this in our borough.”

“As we start to look forward to a more hopeful future as lockdown restrictions ease, it’s important that we continue to support our partners in helping residents transition back into what will hopefully be a more interactive and sociable local community and helping patients and their carers to truly ‘live well’ with dementia.”

 

For more information, visit the Alzheimer’s Society website

/ends

Letter to the parents and carers of Sefton schools’ pupils

17 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council

 

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health and Tricia Davies, Interim Head of Education, have written to parents and carers of pupils at the Borough’s  schools to thank them again for their support during the pandemic.

The letter also includes an update on the lockdown changes which came into effect today and how they will affect school life.

Dear parents and carers

Firstly, a big thank you to all our parents and carers for the tremendous support given to the schools and settings over this last term. We have seen a fall in the number of cases in schools, though we are now seeing increasing rates, and some variants of concern in several areas of the North West, including Sefton.

For more information how to access testing if you have COVID symptoms and surge testing for families (without symptoms)  who live, work or study in the Formby area, please click here www.sefton.gov.uk/COVID-testing.

As you are aware from 17th May we are moving to the next stage of the government’s road map which means that we will be able to undertake more activities socially. While this is great news for us all within our schools and settings we want to ensure that all our pupils and staff are kept safe.

Secondary school pupils from Monday do not have to wear face masks in school however all adults in all our schools – primary, secondary and special have been advised to continue to wear masks in the latest government guidance.

The continued use of face-coverings by adults in school settings is supported by Sefton’s Public Health team, and they will encourage schools to adopt a policy of pupil mask wearing, in senior schools, when there is an outbreak in an area.  If this is required schools will be asking pupils to wear masks within school and when travelling to and from school. Please do support the schools when this is the case, as evidence suggests that face coverings continue to be an effective way of reducing transmission.

We appreciate how supportive you have been throughout the pandemic in helping your children with he remote learning, following the guidance with HANDS, SPACE, FACE. By doing this you have helped to keep the numbers and spread of coronavirus in schools down to a minimum.

One way that has helped greatly has been the following of the access into school buildings and the wearing of facemasks on school premises.  Therefore, we would ask that you continue to wear facemasks on school premises in this way we can continue to protect yourselves, staff and children.

As we approach half-term, we would ask that you continue to follow the government guidance and remember HANDS, SPACE, FACE.

Stay safe and enjoy the half term with your families,

Margaret Jones                                             Tricia Davies
Director of Public Health                                Interim Head of Education

Cautious welcome for lockdown easing measures

17 May 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

With Step 3 of the Government’s Covid roadmap to lockdown easing coming into effect today, Sefton Council’s Environmental Health Team is reminding the Borough’s businesses and their customers to follow the new guidelines.

From today, people can meet friends and family indoors again with a maximum of six people, or two households.

Also, restaurants, cafes and pubs can serve people indoors again, with the same restrictions on numbers in place. Other indoor venues such as cinemas, children’s play areas, and hotels are also allowed to re-open.

Precautions

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said:

“While it’s great news that we’ve moved into the next stage of lockdown relaxations, and we all want to make the most of them, it’s essential that we stick to all the precautions including the rule of six.

“As we have seen with the rise in cases over the last week and the emergence of the variant first identified in India, COVID-19 is still very much present in Sefton and distancing, wearing face coverings where required and frequent thorough handwashing remain important to keeping ourselves and others safe.”

Up to 30 people can now mix outside from and people will can to attend outdoor events. Numbers will be limited numbers depending on capacity. At indoor venues, customers need to remain seated while ordering, eating and drinking help reduce the risk of Covid-19.

Complying

Cllr Lappin continued:

“Our Environmental Health team are reporting that the vast majority of Sefton’s businesses, bars and restaurants have been doing a great job to meet the requirements and keep their staff and their customers safe. And customers have been doing their bit and complying with restrictions.

“But if any local businesses want any advice or support from our Environmental Health team, they can contact them at ETSContact@sefton.gov.uk or by calling 0345 140 0345.”

Sefton Council has also been supporting the Borough’s businesses by provide help to secure PPE and hand sanitiser and put safety measures in place. The Council has also provided over £70 million of financial support grant funding to local businesses during the pandemic as well as around £270,000 in grants for the Borough’s taxi drivers.

Vaccinated

Cllr Lappin also reiterated the importance of people getting vaccinated when they are offered a jab. And she reminded those who are out and about and who are going to work taking regular rapid coronavirus tests to make sure they aren’t accidentally passing on the COVID-19 virus because they are one of those people who does not have symptoms.

She added:
“Because around a third of us don’t show the tell-tale coronavirus symptoms of a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell, despite being infected with coronavirus regular testing is vital.

“Rapid tests involve taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied, and can provide a result in as little as 30 minutes.

“They are available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week at the former H Samuels unit in Bootle Strand and at Southport’s Splash World. And, home test kits are widely available, from test centres, from all Sefton’s pharmacies as well as online from www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

Variant

“Also, I would ask everyone aged over 16 who lives, works or studies in Formby, where cases of the India variant have been found, and anyone who has visited any venue in Formby over the last two weeks to be tested at one of the dedicated test sites that opened on Friday.”

Local, dedicated coronavirus testing has been introduced in Sefton’s Formby area to identify the Indian variant.”

Mobile, drive-through test centres have been set up at Deansgate Lane Park in Formby (L37 3LF) and at Ainsdale Hope on Sandringham Road (PR8 2PJ), and there is a walk-through test centre at Sefton Professional Development Centre (PDC) on Park Lane (L37 6EW).

The Deansgate drive-through test centre is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and the PDC on Park Lane is open between 9am and 4pm seven days a week. The test centre at Ainsdale is open from 9am to 8pm seven days a week.

Appointments are not needed for tests at any of these centres.

More about testing in Sefton.

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