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Beach-goers guide to Sefton’s natural coast this Easter

15 April 2022
Amy Hitchmough
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Sefton’s environmentally protected coastline stretches for 22 miles and is a nature haven that offers something for everyone. If you’re thinking of heading to Sefton’s natural coast this weekend, there’s a few things you should know.

Travel smart

Those thinking about visiting one of Sefton’s coastal gateways are reminded to travel safely, thinking about ways to walk or cycle where they can.

People should plan ahead to avoid traffic delays and are reminded to park responsibly away from residential areas.

Beach parking is available at Ainsdale-On-Sea and the car park will be open until 7pm over the four-day Easter weekend. The men’s, women’s and disabled toilet facilities have now re-opened at Ainsdale after a recent refurbishment.

Please be aware Southport beach car park will be closed 15th – 20th April due to high tides.

Beach car parking charges for 2022:

  • ÂŁ8 per day for cars at Southport beach
  • ÂŁ10 per day for cars at Ainsdale beach
  • ÂŁ16 per day for horseboxes or minibuses
  • 50% off the above rates after 4pm subject to car parking management arrangements
  • ÂŁ30 season ticket for Sefton residents and those who drive an electric or hybrid vehicle
  • ÂŁ60 season ticket for non-Sefton residents

Season tickets can be purchased online by visiting Beach Parking – Seasonal Contract Application (sefton.gov.uk)

Male sand lizard on the Sefton Coast
Male sand lizard on the Sefton Coast

Environmental sensitivity

Visitors are also reminded of the environmental sensitivities and how they can play their role in protecting the landscape by taking litter home and not lighting fires or BBQs anywhere at the coast.

Littering, fires and BBQs can have a detrimental impact on Sefton’s wildlife. Our natural coast is home to an incredible array of flora and fauna – from the famous Red Squirrels, to the rare Natterjack Toads and Sand Lizards.

The range of dune habitats and rare species found along Sefton’s coast are unique and protected as a site of special scientific interest.

Please do your bit to keep our natural coast clean and safe for all to enjoy.

Support in Sefton for Homes for Ukraine scheme

15 April 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Sefton Homes for Ukraine logoTo help sponsors in Sefton offering their homes and their Ukrainian guests when they arrive, Sefton Council has set up web pages containing the information they may need, including a set of Questions and Answers.

These can all be found by visiting www.sefton.gov.uk/homes-for-ukraine and following the links.

Households

Sefton Council’s and its partners are in touch with households across the Borough offering their homes to people from Ukraine fleeing the war, under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

To ensure the scheme is safe for sponsors and their guests when they arrive, the Council is carrying out the required checks. It is also putting safeguarding procedures in place and organising for payments to householders and their Ukrainian guests once they arrive.

Essential services

The Government has said that under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Ukrainians will be guaranteed free access to NHS healthcare, including mental health care. The Council has been working with healthcare colleagues to ensure that those arriving under the scheme will have access to essential services and any specific support they need.

School places will be available and Ukrainian children arriving under the Scheme will also be able to work and receive benefits.

To help support Ukrainian individuals and families arriving Sefton through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ initiative, Sefton CVS and Sefton 4 Good, in partnership with Sefton Council and local VCF sector organisations, has launched a Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal.

Community response

The Appeal will help to provide a community response, such as settlement grants for individuals and families; providing social, cultural and community networks and activities, language support, travel cards, clothing, IT and equipment and other needs as they are identified.

You can donate here, via the Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal fundraising page here.

 

 

Two Sefton COVID test sites, in Crosby and Netherton, being dismantled this week

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

This week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be dismantling the former COVID testing sites at Crosby Library and Netherton Activity Centre.

Additional vehicles

Work to demobilise the sites on Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th April is likely to mean additional vehicles around both sites, which could cause some short-term delays.

Netherton Activity Centre will remain open and Leisure Centre users are not expected to be affected by the work. Crosby Road Car Park will, however, be closed.

Both sites are scheduled to be officially handed back to Sefton Council on Tuesday 19th April.

Plan

All Sefton COVID testing sites for people with and without coronavirus symptoms were closed by 1st April in line with the Government’s ‘Living with COVID’ plan, which saw free testing for people without symptoms end.

Some people can still access free rapid lateral flow tests if they work for the NHS or in social care, are going into hospital, or if they are at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

Details of groups that can still access testing and guidance can be found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/get-tested-for-coronavirus

People with coronavirus symptoms can book a PCR test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus  or calling 119.

Symptoms

Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) in adults can include:

  • a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature);
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours;
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste;
  • shortness of breath;
  • feeling tired or exhausted;
  • an aching body;
  • a headache;
  • a sore throat;
  • a blocked or runny nose;
  • loss of appetite;
  • diarrhoea;
  • feeling sick or being sick.

Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, Margaret Jones, is still stressing that to be full protected from COVID, adults need to have had two jabs and a booster.

To find more local vaccination sites in Sefton, people can visit the NHS South Sefton CCG website at www.southseftonccg.nhs.uk/get-informed/latest-news/walk-in-or-book-a-covid-19-vaccine

To find out more about the COVID-19 booster vaccine, who is eligible, and to book an appointment online through the national booking system, people should visit the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-booster-vaccine .

Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal

11 April 2022
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Sefton CVS and Sefton 4 Good, in partnership with Sefton Council and local VCF sector organisations are launching the Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal to raise funds to support Ukrainian individuals and families arriving in the borough of Sefton through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ initiative.

Assistance

The Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal is all about providing assistance to Ukrainian individuals and families as they arrive in the local community working alongside local supporters and frontline organisations.

The fund will help to provide a community response, such as settlement grants for individuals and families; providing social, cultural and community networks and activities, language support, travel cards, clothing, IT and equipment and other needs as they are identified.

Heartbreaking scenes

Angela White, Chief Executive of Sefton CVS commented: “We are witnessing the devastating and heartbreaking scenes from Ukraine which has led to millions being forced to flee their homes, families and livelihoods.

“Ukrainians will be arriving in Sefton very shortly to stay with hosts as part of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

“Our local community is so very generous in their support of others. Residents, schools and businesses can help by donating to this Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal. This will aim to provide essential assistance and support to Ukrainian arrivals as they are welcomed in our borough.”

To donate please visit the Sefton Ukraine Welcome Appeal fundraising page.

You can find out more about Sefton’s local response and access useful resources, here.

 

 

New website provides reliable health apps to Sefton

8 April 2022
Bridie Finnan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

People in Sefton can now help themselves to live healthier, happier lives using accredited health applications included on sefton.orcha.co.uk.

Health and care partners across the NHS, local authority and voluntary, community and faith sector (VCF) in Sefton have worked with the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications (ORCHA) to develop an online health app library tailored to the health needs of Sefton residents.

Dr Peter Chamberlain, local GP and chair of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:

“This is a fantastic development for people in Sefton. Health apps can provide people with important information to help them manage their health conditions and live healthier and happier lives through exercise and healthy living. The ORCHA Health App Library makes it quicker and easier to access safe, accredited health and wellbeing apps, which can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

There are thousands of accredited health apps listed on sefton.orcha.co.uk and they have been carefully selected to meet the health needs of people in Sefton. They include apps to help people with children and young families, to help people keep active, eat healthier or to support their mental health or manage long term conditions such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease.

Dr Rob Caudwell, local GP and chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said:

“Anyone can use sefton.orcha.co.uk to access health support and information that they can rely on. In addition, we’re training health and care professionals in Sefton on how to use the app library to select specific apps that can help to support the people they care for. For some people using these health apps can enable them to take better care of their own health.”

Liz Ashall Payne, CEO, ORCHA said:

“ORCHA is the world’s leading health app evaluation and distribution organisation and works with the NHS and health professionals across the UK. We continuously review all of the apps on the ORCHA health app library, ensuring that they meet stringent NHS guidelines, to provide health information you can rely on.”

Deborah Butcher, designate place director at Sefton Partnerships said:

“Digital health is revolutionising health and care services, helping to provide care that is more patient-centred and empowering. The apps selected for the health app library are aligned to our local assessment of the borough’s health needs. They give our health and care professionals more tools to support care and they give local people access to reliable, accredited information to enable them to live healthier, happy lives.’

‘This is another great example of how our partnership of NHS, Sefton Council and VCF organisations is working to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Sefton.”

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