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Southport’s Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a manifesto that it hopes will enable the continuation and development of its work to bring investment into the town, deliver an exciting events programme and provide a voice for the business community.

BIDS have become an essential part of some of the most successful towns and cities around the UK, each operating on the basis of a five-year term.

This would be the second term for Southport’s BID, which if agreed, would run from 2019 to 2024.

As one of the largest in the country with 950 current members, the levy businesses contribute would bring around £2million across the five year term to be invested directly into the town, in addition to the investment that the BID would proactively attract into Southport.

With a board made up of local independent businesses and on-going consultation with levy-payers, the direction of the BID is always in line with what is important to the retailers, restaurateurs, attractions and accommodation providers of Southport.

Rob Uffendell, Chair of Southport BID, says, “We know that increasing footfall and expenditure is key to the businesses that we represent, that the creation of business opportunities is critical, as is securing investment opportunities for the town.

“The way that we will achieve success in these areas is through strong collaboration and partnership work, vibrant and colourful plans for our events programme and an ambitious belief in the inward investment that we can achieve.”

The launch of its manifesto also gives the opportunity to highlight some of the major achievements made since 2014, all of which have laid foundations for the coming years. These include over £250,000 investment as the sole funders of Southport’s Christmas (and all year round!) lights, funding Lord Street’s famous floral displays, and the launch of a Southport Independents Marketing Campaign, which gave vital exposure to the town’s incredible small businesses.

The BID has also worked closely with core local organisations as the voice for Southport’s businesses, including Sefton Council, Merseyside Police and Marketing Southport. Accomplishments have included the BID’s work to secure £2million from the Coast Community Fund in conjunction with Sefton Council and its on-going leadership role in a National Lottery Heritage Fund bid that focuses upon the historic properties between Lord Street and the Promenade and aims to complement the restoration of King’s Gardens.

It is also currently working on plans to submit an application to the Government’s recently launch High Street improvement fund.

The Southport BID Ballot papers will be dispatched to businesses on 6 May 2019, with the result being announced on 4 June 2019.

All Southport Businesses within the BID district with a ratable value threshold of above £7,000 will be eligible to vote.

For further information visit www.SouthportBID.com or contact the Southport BID office on 01704 538 382.

Sefton residents needing advice on their sexual health will be able to get help and advice from a new clinic opened this month.

The new community sexual health clinic in Bootle is £260,000 investment in the service by Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust in Sefton Sexual Health Service.

It opened on 4 April on the fifth floor of St Hugh’s House in Stanley Road and incorporates services previously available at the nearby May Logan Centre and the PACE service for under 19 year-olds at Bootle Health Centre.

The opening coincides with the relaunch of Sefton Sexual Health website, www.seftonsexualhealth.nhs.uk. As well as a feature that help users quickly find the service they need, it contains information on all contraception methods, STI testing and treatments.

Matron Wendy Hicks and service manager Lynne Hindle said: “We are thrilled to be able to open our new sexual health clinic in south Sefton offering an integrated sexual health service to all who live, work, study and play in the local area. We hope the new website will support service users to access the right service at the right time for their sexual and reproductive health needs.”

Silas Nicholls, Chief Executive, added: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to work with our public health partners Sefton Council to deliver this new service.

“It represents a significant investment by the Trust in a service which is as much about preventing disease as it is about treatment. ​

Sefton Sexual Health clinics at Southport Centre for Health and Well-being, Maghull Health Centre and Netherton Health Centre will continue as usual.

Five train stations across the Liverpool City Region will see millions of pounds invested to improve disabled access by installing new lifts to provide step-free access to platforms.

The upgrades are part of a £300m national funding package from Department for Transport known as the ‘Access for All’ programme, aimed at making it easier for all passengers to use the rail network.

The stations in the region which Merseytravel and the Liverpool City Region successfully lobbied to become part of the scheme are Birkenhead Park, Broad Green, Hillside, Hunts Cross and St Michaels.

Funding for the construction of a new lift for the Northern Line platform at Liverpool Central station has also been confirmed.

In all 73 stations, including those in the Liverpool City Region, will receive funding over the next five years as part of the national programme.

The money from central government will need to be matched by local funding, and the exact amount that will be spent on the five stations will be determined following scoping work for each specific project.

Have you seen this man?

We are appealing for help in finding a 58 year-old man who is missing from home in Southport.

Mark Poole was last seen at 2.30am today, Friday 5^th April, walking down Clifford Road towards Lyndhurst Road.

He is described as white male, of large build, with grey hair and grey stubble.

When last seen he was wearing a black coat with a ripped pocket on the right side, a maroon and beige checked shirt, black jeans and black lace up shoes.

Anyone who has seen Mr Poole or knows of his whereabouts is asked to DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact the Missing People charity on 116 000.