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Sefton Citizens 4 Good Scheme returns with nominations now open

17 March 2022
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Bootle Strand, Borough Of Culture, Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page

Nominations are now being accepted for a major scheme that recognises Sefton residents who make a positive difference to life in their local communities.

Citizens 4 Good is a joint initiative from Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) and the Mayor of Sefton’s Office and recognises local people for good deeds, kindness and support that they provide to other members of the community.

This is the first round of nominations launched since the Coronavirus pandemic, which meant that the events were put on hold.

Anyone can make a nomination of someone they think deserves to be recognised.

People can nominate any Sefton resident who they think makes a difference the people around them. They may go that extra mile to be a great neighbour, help to organise a local community group, or something else that deserves recognition.

Mike Howlett, Senior Citizenship and Volunteering Officer for Sefton CVS, commented: “Since launching the scheme in 2017, Citizens 4 Good has recognised over 100 people for their kind acts and support for their local communities.

“Over the last two years, during the Coronavirus pandemic, we have heard so many examples of how community members have stepped up to help their neighbours. So I’m sure people won’t be short of local people to nominate.”

Shortlisted nominees will be invited to a celebration event where they will be presented with a certificate by the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Clare Louise Carragher.

The deadline for nominations is Monday 4th April, with the celebration event taking place later that month at Bootle Town Hall .

To nominate a Citizen 4 Good go to www.sefton4good.org.uk/citizens.

For further information about Citizens 4 Good call 0151 920 0726 or email info@sefton4good.org.uk.

 

Walk-through COVID rapid test centres winding down ahead of Government end date

17 March 2022
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

With the Government ending funding for local testing from the start of April, Sefton Council is winding down the Borough’s COVID 19 Test Centres for people without coronavirus symptoms.

This week

Since Monday 14th March, the hours at Sefton’s Bootle Town Hall, Bootle Strand Shopping Centre and Southport Splash World rapid test centres have reduced to 8am to 4pm, from Monday to Sunday. The Strand Shopping Centre remains open 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

Free, rapid LFD test kits remain available at the test centres.

People who require support with testing can also get their test, and advice, at one of the Centres.

Next Week

From Monday 21st March, hours will be reduced to 8am to 3pm. On Sunday 27th March the Test Centre at The Strand will be open from 10am to 3pm.

During the following week, from Monday 28th March all three sites will be closed with dates still to be confirmed.

PCR tests

For the rest of March, people who do have coronavirus symptoms of a new continuous cough, a fever or a loss of smell or taste, can still get a PCR test at one of Sefton’s four local walk-through test centres.

These are located at Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall and are open every day from 8am to 6pm. They will also close after Friday 1st April.

Drive-through Mobile Testing Units will also be visiting Litherland Sports Park, Maghull Town Hall and Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride through March.

You can find a link to the schedule here.  

Book a test

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

Sefton Council is now working to help the people who have been working at its Test Centres through redeployment into other roles.

The Government has informed Sefton Council that it could take up to six months to dismantle PCR test centres after they close.

Mayor of Sefton swung into action to officially open Bootle’s new driving range

16 March 2022
Amy Hitchmough
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Earlier this week, Sefton Council hosted an event to celebrate the official launch of the new driving range at Bootle Golf Course.Mayor of Sefton photographed putting at the new driving range at Bootle Golf Club

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Clare Louise Carragher was joined by pupils from nearby Litherland Moss Primary and Litherland High School and the Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Moncur, to help the new facility swing into action.

Since its opening at the end of January, the 10-bay Bootle Golf Course driving range has proven popular with local players and newcomers to the game. Last week 18,750 balls were sold and 36 under 16s took part in the recent half-term offer of a free bucket of balls.

Speaking at Monday’s event, the Mayor of Sefton, said:
“We proudly describe Sefton as the centre of England’s Golf Coast, and it is wonderful to see the Council continue to develop our sports offering and promote fit and healthy lifestyles.

“The new driving range will mean golfers, both new and experienced, in Sefton will be able to practise all year round.”

For many of the local pupils, Monday was an opportunity to try out the sport for the first time. There were smiles aplenty and air shots all round.

Cllr Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
“As a Council, we have a firm commitment to investment in sports facilities for all of our residents.

“We are fortunate in our Borough to have a wide range of opportunities for golfers and now we hope the new driving range will provide many more people with a chance to try golf and take it up as a sport.

“A huge thank you to Green Sefton for their hard work in delivering and managing the fantastic new driving range facility.”

Sefton Council’s decision to build the new £420,000 floodlit driving range at Bootle Golf Course was backed by local people and course users during a consultation that took place in 2019.

Players can use its 10-bays to practise their swing between 8am and 9pm Sunday to Friday and from 8am to 7pm on Saturdays. Prices are just ÂŁ6 for 100 balls or ÂŁ4 for 50 and people can just turn up to the course shop, pay and play.

Adult prices to play a round at Bootle Golf Course start at just £9. Information about Sefton Council’s Bootle and Southport Links courses, including prices, can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/golf.

People can also contact the Bootle Golf course office on 0151 928 1371 to book tee times.

At their meeting on Thursday 10th March, Sefton Council’s Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the Council’s Green Sefton team to seek a commercial partner to invest in its Southport Golf Links course.

Improvements for the course itself and the on-site White House Café building are included in the plans.

At the time Cllr Moncur said an investment partnership would enable the Council to achieve its huge, long-term potential and deliver the kind of course on which local golfers have said they would like to play.

Person takes a swing at Bootle's new driving range Golf club and ball at the new driving range in Bootle

Sefton Health Chief’s concern about possible rise in COVID cases when Government ends free LFD testing in April

16 March 2022
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News
Photo of Home Testing Kit components
Home Testing Kit components

With the number of COVID cases in the UK once again on the rise, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Moncur, has expressed concern that the Government is ending free LFD COVID testing from Friday 1st April,

Protect

Cllr Moncur said: “From Friday 1st April rapid LFD tests that people can use to make sure they are not carrying the coronavirus without showing symptoms, will no longer be available free for most people.

“Using regular LFD tests has let us know when we have the COVID virus without feeling unwell or showing the symptoms, and as a result we have been able to protect others and not pass it on unwittingly.

“I am worried that with COVID case numbers and hospitalisations in the UK already rising, people will not be able to afford to start paying pay for tests when they face huge rising prices in the shops and at petrol stations, an eye-watering leap in the cost of domestic fuel, increased train fares and, from next month the Government’s National Insurance hike.

“This could lead to a rise in infection levels across Sefton’s communities and increased pressure on our medical services again.”

Support

Currently, people in Sefton can collect free, rapid LFD test kits from the Borough’s COVID 19 Test Centres at Bootle Town Hall, Bootle Strand Shopping Centre and Southport Splash World rapid test centres. People who want support with testing can also get their test, and advice, at one of the Centres.

However, with the Government ending funding for local testing from the start of April, these test centres will close.

Cllr Moncur also says he is worried that the charges for tests, which could be as much as ÂŁ6 each, will mean households on the lowest incomes, already making difficult decisions about whether to eat or heat their homes, will have to make a further choice on whether they can afford a COVID test before visiting someone who is potentially vulnerable.

Vulnerable

He said: “Once again, despite the Government’s talk about levelling up, those least able to pay are being put at the most risk with a greater chance they might unknowingly passing on COVID to those vulnerable relatives, friends and colleagues.

“We will continue to give out the free test packs at our Test Centres while stocks last until Thursday 31st March when we have to close them.”

Sefton Council is continuing to advise that people remain cautious and considerate to others, continuing to wear face coverings in busy indoor areas and on public transport and maintaining social distancing where necessary.

For the rest of March, people who do have coronavirus symptoms of a new continuous cough, a fever or a loss of smell or taste, can still get a PCR test at one of Sefton’s four local walk-through test centres. These are located at Bootle Town Hall, Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall and are open every day from 8am to 6pm. They will also close after Friday 1st April.

Drive-through Mobile Testing Units will also be visiting Litherland Sports Park, Maghull Town Hall and Southport, Esplanade Park and Ride through March. A link to the schedule can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/testing-in-sefton

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

New council Tech Rooms will support refugees across Sefton

16 March 2022
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Borough Of Culture, Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Libraries team are set to install special technology rooms in Southport, Bootle and Crosby, designed to help refugees and isolated residents throughout the borough.

Funded via a grant Arts Council England, the brand new state of the art ‘Tech Rooms’ will be installed at The Atkinson Library, Bootle Library and Crosby Library, with its primary uses being to help refugees and asylum seekers access language courses, while also helping isolated residents connect digitally with distant family members.

Use of the Tech Rooms, which come fully equipped with top of the line audio and visual communication equipment, will also be available to small business owners and students from across the borough.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “We’re delighted that our bid for Arts Council funding for this project was successful and we can now begin creating these highly beneficial Tech Rooms.

“Primarily we envisage the rooms being of the most benefit to those residents who are ‘digitally isolated’ and need a way to reconnect with family and friends who are far away.

“We also will use the rooms to facilitate specialist language learning for refugees and asylum seekers so they can better integrate with their communities and study in a safe, high tech environment.

“There are also huge benefits for local businesses, small enterprises and home workers who will now have access to the highest quality digitally enabled workspaces.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive Officer, Arts Council England, added: “Our artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries are experts in making villages, towns and cities better places to live, work, visit or play.

“This investment means they’ll be able to help more people across England to lead happier, more creative lives.”

Sefton Libraries were successful in securing a Libraries Improvement Fund grant of ÂŁ68,000 for the project from Arts Council England. Work to create the rooms will begin from April.

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