Please follow & like us

RSS
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
YouTube
Instagram

Front Page

Green Sefton outdoor spaces: changes from Monday 29th March 2021 in line with Government roadmap

25 March 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Update from Green Sefton Service Manager Mark Shaw

You will be aware that from Monday we will be entering the next phase in the gradual relaxation of National Lockdown restrictions. Some restrictions to limit the risk of infection from Covid-19 are therefore to be lifted as part of stage 1 of the government’s roadmap.

Once again this has some impact on the services provided by Green Sefton and I wanted to highlight the changes as it affects our visitors, volunteers and staff.

Visiting Parks, Coast and other Greenspaces

Overall, our sites remain freely open and accessible for exercise. You can go outside for recreation and exercise in a local public outdoor place:

  • adhering to the rule of 6 or 2 households
  • organised outdoor sport is allowed

The government messaging is changing from ‘say at home’ to ‘stay local’, and so our communications will reflect this accordingly, including discouraging visitors from travelling from afar to visit our sites.

However, anticipating that good weather will attract visitors anyway, we are putting into place actions similar to last year as part of our Visitor Action Plan, including traffic signage, additional cleansing and staffing, temporary toilets on the coast etc.

Volunteering in Parks, Coast and Greenspaces

Volunteer group activities can restart again in line with the above. Gatherings of more than six people are not permitted unless they are from two households only. Activities which are likely to be appropriate include:

  • Litter picking
  • Gardening activities
  • Species and habitat surveying and management activities

However, to ensure that transmission of Covid-19 remains minimal, we would refer groups to previous Covid-19 risk assessments:

  • sharing of tools and equipment is discouraged
  • social distancing must still be observed
  • avoid busy areas and times
  • short sessions
  • stay local

Please liaise with the Community Engagement Team when developing your activities, but do note there may be delays in responses and/ or support while we deal with the many issues facing us right now.

Outdoor Facilities that will re-open

  • Golf Courses – Bootle and Southport courses will reopen for up to 4-ball golf booked in advance via the on site shops.
  • Outdoor Gyms – All outdoor gyms will re-open and will be re-commissioned over the coming days.
  • Tennis Courts / Basketball Courts – these areas are now open and court time for tennis can be booked online. 
  • Grassroots Sport – including football, the use of playing pitches has also now restarted. We have communicated separately to leagues and clubs in more detail but:
    1. We ask that no spectators accompany players to adult fixtures
    2. We ask that only 1 parent or carer, from the same household/support bubble as the child, attends at junior fixtures.
    3. Spectators to junior fixtures must socially distance, we advise face coverings are worn and that a distance of 2m is made from the touchline.
    4. People should seek to attend at fixtures within 15 minutes of kick off – not sooner, please do not arrive too early, as your attendance may conflict with other teams seeking to leave the venue and would increase the chances of contact with others/ infection.
    5. All visitors, including spectators are asked to register your attendance using the QR codes on display at the entrance to changing rooms. These remain open only for officials and toilets.

Park Buildings and Pavilions

These continue to remain closed at this stage. 

Allotments

Our allotment sites remain open to tenants who must limit their activity only to their own plots and adhere to rules on the control of Covid-19 which are displayed at entrance gates including the rule of 6 mentioned earlier. Viewings for new plot holders will begin from 1st April. 

More Information

More information on Coronavirus can be found on the Sefton Council main website. 

We all appreciate the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors (especially right now), but our resources will be stretched again during these challenging times, so if you do visit our sites please take extra effort to care for our environment by either taking litter home or using the bins provided.

If you have further queries, please contact us via email at greensefton@sefton.gov.uk  

April coronavirus testing facilities across Sefton for those with symptoms

24 March 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

One again in April , drive-through Mobile Testing Units will be available across the Borough. These sites are for those 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 April 2021  

  • Thursday 1 April – Litherland
  • Friday 2 April – Southport
  • Saturday 3 April – Southport
  • Sunday 4 April – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Monday 5 April – Southport
  • Tuesday 6 April – Litherland
  • Wednesday 7 April – Litherland
  • Thursday 8 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Friday 9 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Saturday 10 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Sunday11 April – Southport
  • Monday 12 April – Southport
  • Tuesday13 April – Litherland
  • Wednesday 14 April – Litherland
  • Thursday 15 April – Litherland
  • Friday 16 April – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Saturday 17 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Sunday18 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Monday 19 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Tuesday 20 April – Southport
  • Wednesday 21 April – Southport
  • Thursday 22 April – Litherland
  • Friday 23 April – Litherland
  • Saturday 24 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Sunday 25 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Monday 26 April – Ainsdale Hope
  • Tuesday 27 April – Southport
  • Wednesday 28 April – Southport
  • Thursday 29 April – Litherland
  • Friday 30 April – NO MOBILE TESTING

Remaining March dates.

  • Wednesday 24 March – Ainsdale
  • Thursday 25 March – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Friday 26 March – Litherland
  • Saturday 27 March – Southport
  • Sunday 28 March – Southport
  • Monday 29 March – Ainsdale
  • Tuesday 30 March – Ainsdale
  • Wednesday 31 March – Ainsdale

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 Land, L30 3TL
  • Southport Town Hall, PR8 1DA

Those with symptoms seeking 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.

Self-isolation

Should any Sefton resident be required to self-isolate, this means that they must not leave home. Support and advice for anyone who must self-isolate is available here on the Council’s website, including information on financial support.

SMART testing

Only key workers and those with caring commitments during the lockdown should now go for a SMART test if they have no COVID-19 symptoms.*

Full details about testing in Sefton are available on the Council’s website.

Sarah is Sefton’s Number One!

24 March 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized
Picture of award-winner Sarah Vaughan
Award-winning leader of Sefton Council’s NEET Prevention and Early Intervention Service, Sarah Vaughan.

Sefton Council is delighted to congratulate Sarah Vaughan from Career Connect on winning the Highly Commended Award for National Careers Service Manager of the Year.

Sarah, who leads Sefton Council’s highly successful NEET Prevention and Early Intervention Service, won this prestigious recognition for her work with young people in Sefton at the recent Career Development Institute Awards ceremony.

Better outcomes

Part of the Council’s Economic Growth and Housing Department, the service delivers an innovative approach to secure better outcomes for Sefton’s young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). It places a strong focus on those from the Borough’s most vulnerable groups.

Unlike most other Councils, Sefton has introduced working with young people from age 14 up who may be more likely to find themselves without learning or work by the time they reach 16, and this new approach is making a big difference.

In the recent lockdowns, the work of tracking and supporting young people was even more challenging and Sarah’s team moved quickly to design new COVID-safe ways of supporting young people. Sarah led on a scheme to support young apprentices who have been furloughed and also worked with Care leavers and young offenders during this busy time.

Completely committed

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said “As a Council we are completely committed to finding ways to support our young people so they can achieve their full potential.

“Within the last two years, Sarah and her team of Careers Advisors, Coaches and Mentors have enabled Sefton to achieve its best-ever performance in helping our young people to stay in learning and jobs and achieve their goals.

“We have improved so much that Sefton is now ranked 4th best out of 151 local authorities across the country. With the difficult times we have all been through recently, this  is truly amazing performance. So, we know we have got some great people working with us in Sefton and Sarah’s award has just confirmed it!”.

Sarah was not alone in receiving an accolade, as her team member Rob Jones was also shortlisted as finalist in the Careers Advisor of the Year category.

Find out more about Career Connect.

More about the Career Development Institute.

Beach car parking 2021 – season tickets

24 March 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News, Southport, Uncategorized

Under current lockdown restrictions, people can only head to the beach if it is local to them for their daily exercise. As restrictions ease from Monday 29th March more people can socialise outdoors, but people should still only plan to visit the beach if it is local to them. 

There is a freeze on the car parking season tickets for all Sefton residents, which was introduced last year, meaning they can continue to enjoy the beaches at Ainsdale and Southport, and save money after just three visits.

The specially reduced ticket costing just ÂŁ30, also remains available to anyone driving an electric or hybrid car, as part of measures to encourage the use of more environmentally-friendly transport.

Meanwhile, the standard day visitor rate for the car park will increase by £2, to £10 per day this year to cover the costs of improvements being undertaken by the Council’s Green Sefton Service and to generate income for the long-term care of Sefton’s unique 22-mile coastline.

Beach car parking charges for 2021:

  • ÂŁ10 per day for cars
  • ÂŁ16 per day for horseboxes or minibuses
  • 50% off the above rates after 4pm subject to car parking management arrangements
  • ÂŁ30 season ticket for Sefton residents and those who drive an electric or hybrid vehicle

Beach parking reopens at Ainsdale on Friday 2nd April.

Beach parking reopens at Southport on Saturday 3rd April.

There are approximately 2,000 beach car parking spaces at Ainsdale and 400 at Southport.

Beach car parks will close during certain high tide periods and may be limited in capacity at other times.

More information can be found on the ‘Beaches’ section of the Sefton Council website where season tickets can be purchased. 

 

Sefton Council looking forward to welcoming people back to refurbished fitness facilities

24 March 2021
Charlene Smith
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Health, Latest News, Regeneration, Sefton Council, Sefton Stories, The Atkinson, Uncategorized, Your Sefton
Representatives visiting site including MP Peter Dowd, Cllr Paul Cummins and Cllr Marion Atkinson

Sefton Council is looking forward to welcoming people back to refurbished fitness facilities at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre on Monday 12th April, as lockdown measures are eased.

Work carried out during lockdown means that users will be able to enjoy a brand-new fitness and spin studio, an updated fitness suite and refurbished changing rooms with new toilets. There is also a brand-new reception and social area, a new fitness class waiting area and new meeting rooms.

Cllr Ian Moncur Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing said

“I’d like to thank our staff who have been working hard behind the scenes while the gym has been closed due to the pandemic. It has really paid off as I’m sure our members will enjoy an even better experience when they return.”

“The gym and lake will re-open on Monday 12th April and new members can book an induction from Tuesday 6th April. Fitness classes will commence on Monday 17th May.”

At the site visit, Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said:

“These improvements are part of a ÂŁ3.1 million scheme to transform the whole of Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, which is at the entrance to the beautiful Crosby Coastal Park and adjacent to Anthony Gormley’s Another Place (the ‘iron men’).

“Construction has already begun on the project, which will see new and improved wedding, conference, hotel, dining and bar facilities.

“This transformation is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021 but in the meantime the leisure side of the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, including the gym and the water sports activities, will be open for business as usual throughout the work.”

MP for Bootle Peter Dowd said:

“It has been great to come on site and see how this amazing project is coming along and to get a glimpse of the new and improved leisure facilities first hand.

“As part of the original team who worked on the Lakeside when it opened in 2009, it is fantastic to see the Council still valuing the asset and making these improvements.

“Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre is an incredible asset and I am delighted that this investment has been made in order to improve the service for the local community and visitors.”

Also visiting the site Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Cllr Paul Cummins said:

“I am so pleased that such a significant investment has been put into this fantastic facility which can be enjoyed by people from our borough and beyond.

“The plans for this site are exciting and the development is already coming on leaps and bounds. I am fully confident that this leisure and hospitality offer will be a major benefit to Sefton’s visitor economy.”

Mike Macaulay, Director of Crossfield Construction, commented:

“We are delighted to have started construction on this flagship project.

“It gives us great pride to be entrusted with Sefton Council’s vision to revive the Coastal Park and the wider area.

“Many of our team grew up in Crosby so this project is very close to our hearts and we are committed to ensuring that our work here positively impacts the wider Sefton community.”

Search Box