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Merseyrail services running every 45-minutes on strike days

3 January 2023
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Merseyrail services will run every 45-minutes on Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Friday 6th & Saturday 7th January  due to strike action by RMT members of Network Rail.

Although Merseyrail staff are not part of this industrial action, it will involve Network Rail staff who operate the signalling systems and provide maintenance support.

A 45-minute service, calling at all stations on selected lines, will run between 07:30 and 18:30 on Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Friday 6th & Saturday 7th January  to help passengers make essential journeys.  

As is normally the case during industrial action, there will be no rail replacement buses in operation. Those needing to travel outside the hours of service are advised to make alternative travel arrangements.

However, on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th January, rail replacement buses will run on the Kirkby line between Kirkby and Moorfields, due to planned engineering works relating to the opening of Headbolt Lane station in 2023.

A summary of services that will run on Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Friday 6th & Saturday 7th January is as follows. 

Southport line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.  

Chester and Ellesmere Port lines: No trains will operate between Chester and Rock Ferry or Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry. Trains will run every 45 minutes between Rock Ferry and Liverpool Central, calling at all stations. 

New Brighton line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.  

West Kirby line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.  

Hunts Cross line: No trains will operate between Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross. 

Ormskirk line: On Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 January, trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations. However, on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January, two trains will run per 45 minutes, calling at all stations to support the increased number of passengers expected to travel on the line as a result of the Kirkby line being closed for engineering work.

Kirkby line: On Tuesday 3 January and Wednesday 4 January trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations. On Friday 6 January and Saturday 7 January no service will run on the Kirkby line due to planned engineering work as part of the construction of the new Headbolt Lane station. Rail replacement buses will run every 30 minutes between 0700 and 1830 to Moorfields station. Timetables will be available on the Merseyrail website a few days in advance.

On Thursday 5th January, train services will begin at approximately 07:00 in the morning. A limited rail replacement bus service will be in operation from the busiest stations prior to 07.00. Passengers are advised to visit the Merseyrail website for full details or speak to a member of station staff.

To help customers get into the city centre, rail replacement buses will run as follows:

  • Southport 05:45 calling at Formby 06:15, Waterloo 03:35 and Moorfields 06:55
  • West Kirby 06:00 calling at Birkenhead North 06:20 and Moorfields 06:50
  • Formby 06:00 calling at Waterloo 06:20 and Moorfields 06:40
  • Ormskirk 06:00 calling at Maghull 06:20 and Moorfields 06:50
  • Kirkby 06:00 calling at Fazakerley 06:10 and Moorfields 06:40
  • New Brighton 05:45 calling at Birkenhead North 06:05 and Moorfields 06:35
  • Moorfields 06:35 calling at Hamilton Square and Birkenhead North 07:00
  • Chester & Ellesmere Port 06:00 calling at Bache 06:10 and Moorfields 06:50
  • Hooton 06:00 calling at Rock Ferry 06:30 ad Moorfields 07:00

On Sunday 8th January a normal timetable will operate apart from Hunts Cross and Kirkby lines due to planned engineering works.

If you have assisted travel bookings or require assisted travel between strike days please contact Merseyrail here, or use the National Passenger Assist App.

Ticket Information

Passengers with advanced tickets for the strikes dates can use their ticket up to and including Tuesday 10 January.

You can find out more here.

Use online services if you run out of regular medication advises Regional Medical Director Dr Michael Gregory

30 December 2022
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

The public across the North West are being urged to use online services if they run out of regular medication over the extended Bank Holiday weekend.

Earlier this week the Regional Medical Director Dr Michael Gregory asked the public to ensure they had enough medication to get through the extended New Year weekend.

NHS App

And he said that downloading the NHS App was the best way to ensure you could quickly order repeat medication throughout the year.

However, if people do run out over the weekend, Dr Gregory asked people to use online services at www.111.nhs.uk to request an emergency supply, and leave ‘phone and face to face services free for those requiring urgent assistance.

Last weekend, the number of calls to 111 for repeat prescriptions more than doubled on Christmas Eve compared to each of the days before.

Busiest period

Dr Gregory said: “This period is traditionally the busiest in the calendar for the NHS with services being really busy.

“We want to keep as many front-line clinicians available to treat people who are ill and need help urgently. So please help us by ensuring you do whatever you can to reduce the pressure on our services,”

“Hospitals, 999 and the 111 call handling service have all seen a significant increase in demand in recent days.

“If you use the online service for repeat medication you will be able to request an emergency supply of your medication to tide you over until your GP Practice opens again. Visit www.111.nhs.uk to access this.

“It’s important that A&E and other emergency services are kept free for life-threatening emergencies.”

The ‘Living Well’ bus is returning to Sefton on Tuesday 3rd  January

30 December 2022
Alex Jones
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

The Living Well Bus is returning to Sefton to offer the seasonal booster to those eligible, as well as first, second or booster COVID-19 vaccines to anyone needing to get up to date with their jabs.

DecorativeThe bus will be parked at Lidl on Wellington Road, Seaforth L21 6PD from 10:30am to 4pm on Tuesday 3rd  January. 

Simply turn up

There is no need to book, so residents can simply turn up throughout the day to take advantage of the onboard clinic.

Free health checks are also available for residents aged 18 and over if time and capacity allows, which include a pulse check and blood pressure check, cholesterol and blood glucose check and a BMI check.

Perfect opportunity

Jan Leonard, primary care lead for Sefton at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “This is the perfect opportunity for people to get up to date with any COVID-19 vaccines they might have missed, so they can feel confident when out and about and visiting friends and family.

“The ‘Living Well’ bus is designed to help fit around people’s busy lives by bringing the right services to them.

“The service, which is led by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has recently been recognised for its impact in local communities after being shortlisted for an HSJ Partnership Award 2023 and we’re proud to be bringing the service to Sefton.”

You can find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine, who is eligible, and how to book an appointment online or find other walk-in vaccination sites on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.

 

Bootle Canalside events area to be branded ‘Salt and Tar’

20 December 2022
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Bootle Strand, Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News

SALT AND TAR: MADE IN BOOTLE is the proposed new brand for the Canalside Event space, Sefton Council’s January Cabinet meeting will hear.

Referring to the town’s rich industrial heritage, with the Brotherton’s Tar Distillery on Hawthorne Road and the area’s historic link to the salt trade, the Salt and Tar name is described in the report as ‘easy to remember’ and ‘short, sweet, and creative’. The report forms part of the updates Strategy and Business Plan, to be presented to Sefton Council’s Cabinet meeting on Thursday 5th January 2023.

Catchy

When tested with over 100 people, they said the brand is ‘catchy and flows well’, ‘something you would remember,’ and linked with the area’s history.

A three-day Comedy Weekender in May and a Music Festival stretching over two weekends in July are among the highlights of Salt and Tar’s emerging 2023 events programme.

Jason Byrne, Jo Caulfield and Scott Bennett are among the stars lined up for the comedy dates, which will be held in a 500-seat marquee. Chris McCausland, Daliso Chaponda, Nina Gilligan and Brendan Riley are also on the bill.

Concept design illustrating what the future re-purposed Strand could look and feel like.Music Festival

And Bootle band Red Rum Club, hot on the heels of their USA and UK tours, are confirmed for the Music Festival with around 3,000 tickets already sold.

A Food and Drink Festival, outdoor cinema screenings, community events and live music, markets and beer festivals are also being planned as well as a Christmas event.

Work on the site is underway with the fence along the canal having already been removed. Detailed plans to provide an attractive entertainment complex with covered areas, bars, food outlets and canalside access are being progressed and the project is scheduled to be completed for opening in Spring 2023.

Footfall increases

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said: “We know Canalside events attract people to The Strand and Bootle town centre Our community Christmas event on the site, and other activities in the centre, led to a 62% increase in footfall on the day compared to the same Saturday in 2021, and a 220% increase in footfall in The Strand’s Palatine compared to the previous year.

“This new Salt and Tar branding of the site combined with an exciting and developing programme of events for the coming year will help to cement the area’s role and contribute to the revitalisation of The Strand and wider Bootle town centre economy.”

Concept design illustrating what the future re-purposed Strand could look and feel like.Levelling Up

Sefton Council submitted a bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund in July for a £20 million to underpin a regeneration scheme to transform Bootle town centre, focused on The Bootle Strand and canalside area. The Government is now expected to announce the outcome of the Levelling Up bidding process early in 2023.

January’s Cabinet meeting will also be asked to approve a new Business Plan for The Strand, which sets out how re-purposing The Strand will create an enhanced and more diversified town centre, support the growth of a night-time economy and deliver new amenities needed by local people and businesses.

Among the proposed changes are better retail provision and the introduction of alternative uses including health, education, and technology. Additionally, the adjacent Canalside site will continue to be developed, along with the introduction of new green corridors and improvements to The Strand’s public spaces.

Shoppers and visitors

Generating an evening and night-time economy through new leisure food and drink uses will increase the time shoppers and visitors spend at The Strand. This will help encourage the return of businesses to the Town Centre.

The Cabinet report also provides an overview of the impacts of the cost of living crisis on the retail sector and particularly on Bootle, where the inflation rate for residents will be higher than the national rate – 12%, compared to 9% for the wealthiest households – as local residents spend a higher proportion of their household budget spend on staples such as food and energy.

Exciting vision

Cllr Maher added: “As landlord of The Strand, Sefton Council is in a position to develop this exciting medium and long-term vision for growth at the heart of Bootle which the private sector has historically failed to do. Our intervention will make this happen for our community.

“Our vision reflects local ambitions and aspirations to generate positive economic, social and environmental outcomes for people in the town and where deprivation means the effects of the national cost of living crisis hits particularly hard.

“The particularly harsh effect the national cost of living crisis is having on many Bootle households reinforces the importance of investment to support town centre recovery and resilience.

“What we need is the Government to work with us on this important regeneration project to breathe a new lease of life into an area that is among the most deprived and hardest hit by COVID in the country.  A positive start would be to support us by approving our Levelling Up Fund bid.

“We are determined to build on successes such as this and are committed to ongoing engagement with local people, businesses and other stakeholders to ensure our plans continue to reflect what they need and want to see.

“I welcome the Salt and Tar proposals and the updated Business Plan and hope my Cabinet colleagues will do too.”

You can find details of the January Cabinet meeting here. 

Get outdoors safely across Sefton this Christmas

20 December 2022
Amy Hitchmough
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Sefton’s heritage parks and green open spaces, its 22-mile coastline and its exciting nature reserves are here to be explored this winter.

Whether it’s walking, cycling or simply getting outside for a breath of fresh air, which many people may look to do over the festive break, the Council’s Green Sefton service is reminding residents to take care and respect the landscape when getting outdoors locally.

Cllr Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

“This year we’ve continued to see unprecedented use of our outdoor spaces, particularly throughout the summer months along our beautiful coastline. We joined forces with colleagues and partners to implement our Coastal Action Plan and we were delighted with the support we got from residents and visitors, the vast the majority of whom took note to enjoy our beaches safely.

“Now we’re embracing the seasonal changes and the onset of winter, and I would encourage everyone to continue to make the most of some fresh air when they get outdoors, as well as enjoying everything that nature has to offer in our Borough. That’s not just on our coastline but also our canal walks, cycling routes and Sefton’s many greenspaces and parks.”

Residents are being urged to be prepared for winter differences before getting out and about around Sefton’s parks, coastline, and open spaces.

Cllr Moncur added:

“Similarly, the seasonal changes bring with them amazing wildlife spectacles. Rare migrating birds can often be spotted along our coastline, as can cattle and sheep that through their grazing are helping to manage vital habitats among the dunes. Please do show respect to both the landscape and the wildlife that we are so lucky to have in Sefton.”

A handy checklist covers everything residents, and visitors alike, need to know when enjoying the Borough’s outdoor spaces this winter.

  • Be prepared for winter weather with appropriate clothing and robust footwear;
  • Always check the weather forecast as conditions can change quickly and check tide times before you set out to the coast: www.tidetimes.org.uk;
  • Take care close to water, especially in wet or icy conditions and do not attempt to walk on frozen water, ponds or lakes;
  • Take note of any safety signage at beach entrances -there are no RNLI lifeguard patrols on Southport or Ainsdale beaches during winter;
  • Remember that the evenings get darker earlier so carrying a torch or wearing reflective clothing would be advisable;
  • Remember that some of our gated parks may be locked an hour after sunset;
  • Avoid walking through woodland in high winds and keep away from any fallen or hung up trees until they have been made safe;
  • Follow the Countryside Code;
  • Do not disturb wildlife, livestock or damage habitat – keep dogs under control and away from pools of water or resting birds;
  • Camping, BBQs and fires are not permitted;
  • Leave nothing but your footprints – take all your rubbish home with you, avoid adding litter to full bins and recycle wherever possible;
  • Some facilities like public toilets may not be open in winter months at parks and nature reserves;
  • Beach car parks are closed and will not re-open until the spring – please park responsibly in the parking available nearby;
  • If walking or cycling in remote areas, ensure you take a fully charged mobile phone and be aware that signal may be poor;
  • Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you plan to return;
  • Report any emergency hazards or concerns to Sefton Arc Security on 0151 922 6107.

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