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Sefton launches new schemes to support the Hospitality Sector

24 August 2020
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Sefton Council has been given additional funding to support the safe reopening of its high streets and other commercial areas to help support the hospitality sector.

The funding will help support the Sefton business community, with measures that enable safe trading in public places.

As part of this project, Sefton Council is looking to extend the pavement areas outside local businesses, especially where the pavement area is limited.

By using the parking bays, this will allow for social distancing where it would be difficult to do so otherwise, whilst still having consideration for all users of the highway, especially those with disabilities.

The two main areas where this will be implemented are Coronation Walk & Union Street Southport as we want to focus on our local high streets.

The Council has already implemented the road closure on Court Road from The Grand Casino to Union Street, helping businesses in this area increase their trading and to add life and character back into the local area.   

The area will also be enhanced with planters which have been designed, built and installed by the Southport Flower Show to create an attractive area for customers to use.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said: “We understand how all businesses have been impacted by Covid-19, none more than the hospitality sector.

“We have been working with businesses over the last few weeks to ensure they could open safely while we all play a part in keeping residents and visitors safe.

“These new initiatives will help us achieve this and at the same time help these independent businesses trade successfully over the next few weeks.

“A lot of the infrastructure being used has been designed and made by The Southport Flower Show again showing how we can and will support local businesses.

“We do hope these initiatives are a great success and we will continue to look at other areas.”

Lisa Mendi, Local business owner (Bistro Bar Med and Medhito Cuban Latin lounge on Coronation Walk) said: “We are so happy to be able to now offer our customers outside seating.  Thanks to Sefton Council who have made this all possible, we are absolutely delighted. 

“All our lovely customers old & new will now be able to enjoy their Tapas from Bistro Bar Med sat outside whilst sipping sangria. 

“Then continuing their evening listening to the delights of chilled Latin beats & enjoying some cocktails whilst being outdoors (please check our Facebook page for other nights.)”

The council have also adopted a new temporary pavement licence process, a streamlined consent route to allow businesses to obtain a licence to place temporary furniture, such as tables and chairs, outside cafes, bars and restaurants quickly.

If any other businesses are interested in how this project may be able to assist, please contact the Sefton Tourism Department on Tourism@sefton.gov.uk or to apply for a temporary pavement licence visit: www.sefton.gov.uk/parking,-roads-travel/temporary-pavement-licence.aspx

 

The M58 Junction 1 slip roads are now open

21 August 2020
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council

Sefton Council and Highways England are pleased to confirm that the new slip roads opened to traffic on Friday 21 August at 11.00am

The construction of the ‘missing’ slip roads at junction 1 on the M58 will provide a northbound off slip and a southbound on-slip.

The new junction will also reduce traffic on the A59 and some residential roads, as well as improving journey times between Maghull and North Liverpool.

As part of the works, we’ve also completed a section of cycle track which will extend into Kirkby helping to improve Active Travel throughout the Borough.

Funded jointly by Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the delivery of the M58 Junction 1 slip roads was one of the Council’s key commitments set out in the Sefton Local Plan.

Sefton Council has led on the development and delivery of the scheme in conjunction with Highways England and contractor John Sisk and Sons.

Contractors John Sisk and Sons, having scored so highly on the Considerate Constructors assessment, have completed the work with as little disruption as possible to the local community whilst ensuring that the project leaves a positive legacy.

Cllr John Fairclough, Cabinet Member for Locality Services said: “I would like to thank motorists for their continued patience and cooperation while these works have been undertaken.

“we understand the delivering of an infrastructure project of this size and complexity inevitably creates disruption.

“The benefits of the new Junction will reduce travel time, making it much easier for people in the local area to access the motorway network, while reducing traffic and air pollution on congested roads.

“The new junctions will also help facilitate potential future development in the Maghull area.”

 

Rob Heywood, Route Manager for Highways England said: “We’ve worked closely with Sefton Council to develop the new slip roads and are pleased to hear they have opened today. Adding two new slip roads to this junction will help ease traffic congestion in the local area and allow for new homes and jobs to be created.”

Free junior golf membership worth ÂŁ80 now available to under 16s

21 August 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

We are now offering under-16s free junior golf memberships which gives them a year’s no-cost play at its Bootle and Southport courses.

To qualify for the memberships, which are worth ÂŁ80, under-16s need to register at the Bootle Golf Club or Southport Golf Links shops. They need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must provide proof of age.

Their free membership means that for the next 12 months they can then book a tee time and play as normal and it will cost them nothing.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Worth £80 each, these memberships providing under-16s with free golf at our Bootle and Southport courses, are excellent value.

“Golf is a sport that requires regular practise and training and the ability to play for free at any time might help one of our local young people emerge as the next Tommy Fleetwood.”

Sefton Council has also been reminding golfers about their money-saving Twilight tickets for Bootle and Southport, which start from 4pm and cost as little as ÂŁ8.50.

Find out more about Sefton Council’s golf courses.

Sefton’s mobile coronavirus test site dates confirmed for rest of August

21 August 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Uncategorized

Mobile coronavirus testing units are scheduled to be at locations across Sefton nearly very day in August.

If you have the COVID-19 symptoms of a high temperature, persistent cough or loss of taste or smell  – however mild – you should get a test.

Tests at mobile centres are available for anyone but they need to have made an appointment first at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus  or by calling 119.

Dates for the rest of August are:

Fri 21    Litherland
Sat 22   Litherland
Sun 23  Litherland
Mon 24 Southport TBC*
Tue 25   Southport TBC*
Wed 26 Crosby  TBC*
Thur 27 Crosby
Fri 28    Crosby
Sat 29    Southport
Sun 30  Southport
Mon 31 Southport

*One of the Mobile Testing Unit teams is a reserve team,  and may deployed to other Merseyside locations on these days.

Walk-through test centres, opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Southport Town Hall, are open from 8am to 8pm. You need an appointment from www.nhs.uk/coronavirus   or by calling 119 or the Council’s Contact Centre on 0345 140 0845.

Confirmation of August dates for the sites, which are supported by Sefton Council, NHS Southport and Formby CCG and NHS South Sefton CCG, follows on from a timetable that saw units deployed across Sefton Borough every day in July.

 

 

Exciting future ahead for Bootle’s landmark shopping centre

14 August 2020
Martin Driver
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Categories: Bootle Strand, Front Page, Latest News, Local Consultation, Regeneration

Sefton Council’s vision for the long-term future of Bootle New Strand Shopping centre continues to progress with the acquisition of adjacent sites and progression of soft market testing regarding options and opportunities for the future of the centre.

This is the first step in realising the Council’s long-term aspirations to redevelop and repurpose The Strand.

In 2017, Sefton Council bought The Strand and earlier this year it secured some of the neighbouring sites. This means the Council can now steer the regeneration of a wider area of The Strand and Bootle town centre.

With Bootle proving to be one of the towns in the UK hardest-hit by COVID-19, the council is reviewing a range of short-term, cost effective “meanwhile” uses for the site while the long-term plans are being considered.

Following the adjacent site acquisitions, demolition works will commence this year, as part of work towards making better use of the canal-side location.  There will be an emphasis on a distinct food and beverage offer next to the canal, and images have been released to show how the area could look like in the future. These interim, “meanwhile” uses will transform the area in the short term while longer term planning and public consultation and engagement with residents, businesses and customers takes place.

Introducing these “meanwhile” measures will mean decommissioning certain areas of the centre. This may contribute to a reduction in rental income, but the Council will work through the financial impact, alongside these exciting new developments.

Pleasingly, in the most recent financial year (2019/20), The Strand made an operating surplus despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting all sectors of society, including retail.  This surplus has been added to previous balances generated and has made possible the investment of £1 million to help fund other Sefton Council services since the Centre came back into council ownership.

This proves that the decision to take the centre back into council control and away from the private sector was the right one for the regeneration of Bootle and the Borough.  If this hadn’t taken place, The Strand would be unsupported and would be in decline with a wide-ranging impact on the local community and wider borough.

There is no retail unit or shopping centre in the UK that has not been affected by the pandemic, as the economy has seen a significant decline leading to the country now being in recession, and The Strand, together with all shopping centres in the Borough, will be no different in experiencing financial challenges over the coming months and years.  Now more than ever, exciting plans such as these to transform a much loved and valued local asset have never been more important.

As part of the long-term vision for The Strand and Bootle Town Centre, Sefton Council plans to carry out widespread consultation with local residents and partners, including a “Festival of Ideas” in September 2020. The input and perspectives of the public will be key to the success of the centre in the future.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “Sefton Council has big ambitions for the future of The Strand and Bootle Town Centre. They remain central to the area’s regeneration and this is an opportunity to explore other uses for them.

“We want to transform the space so that it is be more open and integrated with the surrounding community. It will be a beautiful public space hosting a wide range of uses and facilities, including retail but also food and drink and leisure opportunities.  We will also evaluate a number of other potential uses to ensure long-term economic, social and environmental sustainability of the centre.

“In particular, we have an ambition to link The Strand to the canal, which can provide not only an attractive environment and space for leisure, but also ‘a green transport corridor’, for walking, cycling and travel by water. This would link The Strand with other parts of the borough and beyond, including the proposed new Everton football stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.”

The illustrations released today are artist’s impressions of how the area could look.

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