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Southport Pier temporarily closed to the public

13 December 2022
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News

Ice damage on Southport pierSouthport Pier will be closed to the public until further notice as a result of extreme cold weather damage and ice.

Freezing temperatures, which are forecast to impact the Sefton coast for at least another week, have caused significant and unavoidable damage to the pier’s decking boards.

Treacherous

A build up of ice from coastal winds has also made the surface treacherous underfoot.

Following repeated inspections by Sefton Council and its contractors over the last 48 hours, a decision has now been taken to temporarily close Southport Pier.

It will remain closed until further notice.

Ambitious project

Sefton Council announced earlier this year an ambitious project to replace more than 53 miles of decking boards along the iconic structure.

While the pier has undergone extensive repairs and refurbishments over the last 160 years, a ÂŁ3 million project to replace the wooden decking along its entire 1.1km length was revealed recently by Sefton Council.

Ice damage on Southport pierSafety issue

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “Council officers and contractors had hoped to ensure the Pier remained open to the public during these works.

“However the current extremely cold weather, which has seen temperatures so low that the sea at Ainsdale and Birkdale froze in places, has caused additional damage to the decking.

“Moisture within the planks and joists has frozen causing the decking to lift away from its fixings and we are concerned this could present a safety issue to anyone attempting to walk down the pier.

“The decking has also become incredibly slippery, meaning it is treacherous to walk on.

“While we do not take this decision lightly, the temporary closure of Southport Pier is wholly necessary to keep people safe.

“We fully appreciate this may come as a blow to concessionaires on and around the pier however we are confident that they, like the council, would not want anyone to be put at risk of harm by venturing onto the pier in current conditions.”

Regular inspections

Southport Pier will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. Regular inspections will take place and updates will be shared in due course.

Repairs to the Pier date back to as early as 1890 and during its long history it has fallen victim to incredibly powerful storm damage, boat crashes and numerous fires in the 19th and 20th century.

In 2018, extensive repairs and repainting works were carried out by Sefton Council to the Pier’s steelwork to combat corrosion from the sea.

You can find out more about plans to install 56 miles of new decking on Southport Pier here.

Council once again providing meal vouchers to eligible Sefton families over Christmas & New Year break

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

Pasta and beans dishOver the Christmas and New Year break, Sefton Council will be supporting more than 9,000 local families by providing them with meal vouchers, worth ÂŁ15 per child per week.

Local supermarkets

Vouchers can be used to buy food from local supermarkets, either in-store or online by eligible families who qualify for free school meals.

Accepted by supermarkets across Sefton, the half-term meals vouchers can only be spent on food and essentials and can’t be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, phone top-ups or stamps.

Bleak

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “Sadly, for a lot of families across Sefton and the UK, this Christmas is looking bleak because as people worry about fuel bills, inflation, interest rates and prices in the shops all of which have rocketed.

“By providing around 9,000 Sefton families with these meal vouches for the school holiday period, we can hopefully help to ease some of their concerns and help to make Christmas a little happier and New Year a little brighter.”

Cost of living

Free school meals and how to apply for them is one of the areas covered in the special Cost of Living section that Sefton Council has set up on its website at www.sefton.gov.uk/costofliving.

Other areas include Welfare Benefits, help with rent and Council Tax, debt advice, health and wellbeing, foodbanks & food pantries and a link to the Sefton Support Hub.

Additionally, there are details of the Emergency Limited Assistance (ELAS) scheme, which can provide a one-off payment to Sefton residents experiencing severe hardship, a disaster or emergency.

Toy Appeal

Cllr Hardy added: “Another way people can brighten up Christmas for children across our Borough is to donate to The Mayor’s Toy Appeal.

“Each year, we ask those who can donate toys and gifts for children and young people and every year we are bowled over by Sefton’s generosity.

“People can find out how and where to donate at www.sefton.gov.uk/toyappeal.” 

 

Sefton ice warning reminder after tragic events in West Midlands

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

Broken iceWith a range of freshwater bodies across the Borough, including lakes, ponds, rivers and stretches of canal, Sefton Council is reminding people about the dangers of going onto ice.

Tragic news

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “Today’s tragic news from Solihull is a sad reminder of the dangers of going onto ice on lakes, ponds, rivers and canals and our thoughts are with the individuals and families involved in yesterday’s incident.

“I want to remind people that no matter how firmly frozen surfaces appear to be, the ice can, in reality, be uneven and very thin in places.

“With water temperatures so low, cold water shock can set in immediately. Very quickly this leads to rapid breathing, your blood pressure shooting up and a loss of muscle control and strength, leaving you unable to swim or rescue yourself.”

Never go onto the ice

Cllr Moncur said that the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) advises that people should never go onto the ice to rescue somebody and that they should call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.

He also said people should keep dogs on leads close to frozen water bodies to ensure they stay safe and to prevent the temptation to rescue them should they fall through.

Advice

The RLSS UK advises that if you do fall through ice, you should:

  • Keep calm and shout for ‘help’.
  • Spread your arms across the surface of the ice in front of you.
  • If the ice is strong enough, kick your legs to slide onto the ice.
  • Lie flat and pull yourself towards the bank.
  • If the ice breaks, work your way to the bank-breaking the ice in front of you anyway
  • If you cannot climb out, wait for help and keep as still as possible. Press your arms by your side and keep your legs together. Keep your head clear of the water.
  • Once you are safe, go to hospital immediately for a check-up.

Assistance

If you see someone fall through the ice, the RLSS UK says you should:

  • Shout for assistance and phone the emergency services – call 999 or 112.
  • Do not walk or climb onto the ice to attempt a rescue.
  • Shout to the casualty to ‘keep still’ and offer reassurance to keep them calm.
  • Try and reach them from the bank using a rope, pole, tree branch, clothing tied together or anything else which can extend your reach.
  • When reaching from the bank, lie down to avoid being pulled onto the ice.
  • If you cannot reach them, slide something which floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, across the ice for them to hold onto to stay afloat whilst help is on the way.
  • If the casualty is too far away, do not attempt to rescue them. Wait for the emergency services while calming and reassuring the casualty.

Vital

Cllr Moncur added:
“This is all vital advice from the Royal Life Saving Society UK which can help to save lives but the very best way to stay safe is not going onto the ice at all.”

 

Another reminder for Sefton households with prepayment meters not to miss out on fuel bills support

9 December 2022
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

An electricity prepayment meter. Photo: Caroline FordSefton households who have prepayment meters are once again being reminded to ensure they use vouchers they should have been sent through the Government’s Energy Bill Support Scheme. 

Missing out

It has been reported that data from the top-up company PayPoint and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy shows that across the UK, 1.3 million vouchers have not yet been redeemed. This means that many of the UK’s most vulnerable families could be missing out on an estimated ÂŁ80 million of Government support. 

Under the Government’s energy support scheme, all households in the UK should receive ÂŁ400 this winter.  

Households’ direct debit accounts are being credited automatically each month from October to March. Homes with a prepayment meter should receive a ÂŁ66 voucher posted from their supplier in the post, to us when topping up. 

Unclaimed

But according to PayPoint, as many as a quarter of the expected vouchers for the first months of the scheme have not been claimed. It reported that 75% of October’s vouchers had been used so far and the figure for November was 63%. 

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, urged Sefton households with prepayment meters to check whether they have received their vouchers and if not to follow up with their supplier. 

Bills almost double

She said:  â€œWith domestic energy bills now almost double what they were last winter, alongside rising prices in the shops, inflation at a 40-year high and interest rates rising, people need all the help they can get.  

“I know the vouchers are each valid for three months so it may be that people have been saving them for the kind of really cold weather we are having now. 

“However, I want to make sure that those households with prepayment meters, who are already forced to pay more for their energy than other customers, are not missing out on this support.”

Ninety days 

Most suppliers are sending out the vouchers, valid for 90 days, to arrive in the post by the 17th of each month. The vouchers can be cashed at Post Offices or other locations such as PayPoint shops. 

People struggling with the Cost of Living crisis can find advice and support at: 

Help for rough sleepers throughout Winter 2022

9 December 2022
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council is highlighting details of where anyone who finds themselves sleeping rough or knows someone who is, can find help and support this winter.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “This Council has a long-standing commitment to helping people suffering from homelessness and supporting those rough sleepers who may find themselves in a vulnerable position, without a safe and warm place to call home.

“I am very proud of the work our teams do to help combat rough sleeping.

“Nobody wants to find themselves bedding down for the night on a cold pavement or stairwell and we are fully aware that with each new day, people may find themselves in need of support through absolutely no fault of their own.”

Unsafe

Cllr Hardy urged anyone with nowhere to stay or who feels unsafe about returning to their home, or who is facing homelessness to contact the Housing Options Team by emailing housing.options@sefton.gov.uk calling them on 0151 934 3541 or visiting www.sefton.gov.uk/homeless. The team will assess their case and provide housing options.

People can also find out about local organisations providing support by visiting www.seftondirectory.com and searching ‘homeless’.

Committed

Cllr Hardy added: “Through our recently commissioned Integrated Homeless Service and our Housing Options team, the Council is committed to helping people facing homelessness and supporting vulnerable people who may find themselves sleeping rough.

“I would urge any members of the public who suspect people are having to sleep rough in Sefton, by calling the Rough Sleeper Outreach Team via Light for Life on 01704 501256 or 07918 746042 outside normal office hours and weekends.’’

People can also email the Light for Life team at shc@lightforlifesefton.org.uk.

Veterans in Sefton is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation that helps veterans who are homeless or living in unsuitable housing. Based at The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre in Bootle, Veterans in Sefton can be contacted on 0151 933 0800 or 07591 825204 out-of-hours.

Veterans in Sefton (ViS) has also been commissioned to provide support to people who are currently serving or who have served in the Armed Forces. This covers regulars and reservists, their families and their dependents, who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

ViS is based at The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre in Bootle. For any further help and information from ViS people can call 0151 933 0800 or 07591825204 out-of-hours assistance.

StreetLink

If you are concerned about someone over the age of 18 that you have seen sleeping rough, you can use the StreetLink website or App to send an alert. The details you provide are sent to the local authority or outreach service for the area in which you have seen the person, to help them find the individual and connect them to support.

www.streetlink.org.uk

It is important to note that if you think the person you are concerned about is under 18 please do not contact StreetLink but instead call the police.

If you think the person you are concerned about is in immediate danger or needs urgent care, please call 999.

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