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Sefton Council is now confident it has the measures in place for its play areas to start opening after being closed as part of nationwide “lockdown” restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19.

Initially, the Borough’s four largest and busiest play areas, at Crosby Lakeside, Kings Gardens and Hesketh Park in Southport and Botanic Gardens in Churchtown will be open by Saturday 25 July. Others will follow on soon after.

In line with Government guidance the Council’s Green Sefton team is carrying out new risk assessments for each site and considering how to apply the guidance to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection. At the same time, these inspections are being used to identify any faulty or damaged equipment, which will be removed or disabled before re-opening.

Children will have to be accompanied and supervised by parents, guardians or carers while using play areas. Groups should not enter play areas and each child should have only one family member accompanying them.

People are expected to maintain a two-metre social distance from anyone outside their family or support bubble. And they are being asked to restrict visits to half an hour at busy times and not return for two hours, to allow everyone to have a turn.

Parents, guardians and carers should ensure their children’s hands are sanitised before and after using any play apparatus. They should also clean or sanitise seats and handles before using the equipment.

People are asked to avoid touching their faces and to cough or sneeze into a tissue or arm when a tissue is not available to prevent risk of infection. Food and drink is not permitted and visitors should take their litter home with them or place it in a litter bin away from the play area.

New signage is being erected at all playgrounds to remind users of the measures designed to keep everyone safe. A limited amount of equipment such as certain swings will have to remain out of use for the time being to enable people to maintain social distancing.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “Throughout this ongoing coronavirus pandemic, our priority has been to protect all our residents, which is why we have been carrying out this thorough process to ensure play areas can open safely in line with the Government’s guidelines.

“With over 100 sites, more than 2,000 pieces of equipment and a limited number of staff this is a time-consuming process that will take several weeks to complete totally.

“However, we are determined to put all the measures in place to minimise the infection risk at each location and are asking parents, guardian and carers to work with us by following the guidelines to keep themselves and others safe when they visit.”

People should not use not use play areas if they or anyone they live with has symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive or if they have been advised to isolate by the NHS Test and Trace service.

Cllr Moncur added: “As with each stage of the restrictions being lifted by Ministers, Sefton Council is adapting its facilities and services to meet the Government’s guidelines but this needs to be a measured and thorough process.

“And it needs to be one on which the public works with us so we can re-open and recover gradually and steadily and avoid risks to our friend and loved ones as well as avoiding the setbacks faced in other parts of the country.”

The Council is delighted that the Government has announced the 2021 census will now include a question on whether someone has served in the Armed Forces.

For the first time in the history of the census, it will now include a question on previous service in HM Armed Forces, providing a detailed snapshot of the number, profile and potential needs of military veterans living in England and Wales.

It has been estimated that there are 2.4m veterans currently living in the UK, who make up part of a wider ex-service community which includes their spouses, partners, dependent children and widow(er)s. However, little is currently known about the exact numbers, location and needs of this significant group.

Including an Armed Forces question in the next census would provide public bodies, charities and local authorities such as Sefton Council with valuable information to ensure they are able to deliver the best services they can for our Armed Forces community, whether they are still serving, veterans, and their family members.

The Royal British Legion, which led the campaign, is at the heart of a national network offering a range of support and services to the Armed Forces community.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said: “I’m delighted that the 2021 census will now include this vitally important question and will significantly improve our understanding of the Armed Forces in our local community.

“As a council will be able to use this new information to help shape our services, ensuring that we can deliver the best possible service to servicemen and women when its needed.

“We are also delighted and are extremely grateful to have supported The Royal British Legion who have campaign to make this happen.”

With face coverings becoming compulsory in shops from Friday 24 July, foodbanks across Sefton Borough are now accepting donations of face masks or coverings in addition to other items.

South Sefton Foodbank, Southport Foodbank and Shoreline Foodbank are accepting donations of face coverings using the Foodbank Collection Points in local supermarkets and shops.

Donations could range from disposable masks to homemade coverings, which the Foodbanks will then distribute to their users.

Debbie Shelley Manager at South Sefton Foodbank and Richard Own Chief Executive Officer at Compassions Acts, said: “People are incredibly generous in their donations of food and toiletries to support the foodbank, if amongst the things they would like to donate to us they include face coverings this would be really helpful.”

They added: “We realised that face coverings are not always easy to find and represent an additional cost for people who may already be facing financial challenges. By donating face coverings you will be helping people to access the services they need to support them at this time. We are reliant of the kindness of local people to support the foodbanks in the north and south of the borough. These are challenging  times with more  people using the foodbanks for support, we cannot thank local people enough for their ongoing generosity”.

Face coverings should cover the mouth and nose while still allowing the wearer to breathe comfortably. They can easily be made from things people have at home like an old t-shirt, or by simply tying a scarf or bandana behind your head. You can leave a donation at your local supermarket at the Foodbank collection point.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Many vulnerable people in our communities are facing a number of issues and worries at the moment so I am pleased to see this initiative to help ensure masks and face coverings are available to everyone across the Borough.”

She added: “I hope the people of Sefton will continue to show the generosity they have throughout the pandemic and remember to add masks or face coverings to their donations when they visit the supermarket.”

Find details of foodbanks in Sefton here

For more information and FAQ’s on face coverings, click here

Maghull’s Meadows Leisure Centre will, once again, be the venue for a coronavirus mobile testing centre from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.

Sefton Council, NHS Southport and Formby CCG and NHS South Sefton CCG are supporting the Mobile Test Sites, which provide clinical diagnosis tests to tell people if they currently have the Covid-19 virus.

Tests are available for anyone but they need to have made an appointment first at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.  Essential workers still need to book through www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers.

Key NHS employees can attend regional testing sites at Liverpool John Lennon Airport as well as Haydock and Manchester Airport without the need for an appointment.

Testing is vital to the ongoing work to overcome COVID-19 and enables key workers who test negative to return to that work. Approaching 7,000 people have been tested so far at Sefton’s Mobile Test Sites, which have been supported by Sefton Council, NHS Southport and Formby CCG and NHS South Sefton CCG.

Following news of an increase in confirmed cases of young people with coronavirus in south Liverpool, Sefton Council’s Interim Director of Public Health has joined Liverpool health bosses in reminding people in that age group that they are susceptible to infection by COVID-19.

Recently, around half of the cases confirmed in south Liverpool were people aged 15-24. This led health officials in the city to issue a reminder that the illness can infect anyone, regardless of age.

Young people reminded coronavirus symptoms may be mild but you’re still infectious to friends & loved ones.

Through the Government’s NHS Test and Trace service, anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted and will need to share information about their recent interactions. It is important you follow the NHS guidance to stop the spread of coronavirus in Sefton.

Find out more about the NHS Test and Trace service.

Responding to an announcement that that Sefton Council will receive an additional £2,569,782 from the government to help pay for its response to the coronavirus, the Council’s leader Ian Maher said today: “We welcome the Government announcement of additional funding for the Council, however, although we have been clear with government like all authorities have, on the level of support that is required, the funding allocated remains significantly lower than what is needed.

“Sefton Council continues to face financial pressures on services for our vulnerable children, families, disabled people and communities, and for all our income losses.

“The Council now needs to take steps to tackle the in-year shortfall and the impact this loss of funding will have on the budget next financial year, and beyond, meaning our communities are again being asked to compensate for a lack of government support.”