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Sefton Council to seek progress update on Crosby’s former Carnegie Library refurbishment

7 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Uncategorized

Committed to the restoration of the historic former Carnegie Library in Crosby, Sefton Council is asking the project contractors for an update of its plans to be progress the scheme.

Committed

A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “The Council remains wholly committed to doing all it can to support the long-term restoration of the former Carnegie Library building and has demonstrated a commitment to working with the successful third-party bidder for the scheme.

“However, after a period of inactivity on site we are seeking confirmation from said third-party bidder that this project remains deliverable.

“Sefton Council remains eager to bring this much-loved asset back in to use, and to prevent further deterioration of the building itself, we are taking preventative steps to protect its fabric and ensure it is wind and water-tight in the intervening period.”

Grade II listed

Sefton Council previously announced, that a tender process had been carried out with the successful third party having produced a business plan for the building that would include the creation of a flexible business hub for start-up and smaller businesses and a community café. This plan would also facilitate the repair and refurbishment in line with its status as a Grade II listed building.

The Council spokesperson added: “We hope to be able to continue with the current contract, but are actively monitoring progress to determine the most appropriate next steps”

“ This building is valued by the Council and the local community, and therefore we will take the necessary steps to ensure that this building is brought back in to use.”

Council freezing Ainsdale and Southport beach car park season ticket costs for Sefton residents

5 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News, Uncategorized

Aindsdale Beach Car ParkSefton Council is continuing the price freeze on season tickets at its Ainsdale and Southport beach car parks for all Sefton residents.

Just £30

This means Sefton residents who are regular visitors to the coast, will pay just £30 for the annual tickets. And, as part of Sefton Council’s drive to combat climate change, the £30 offer is also available to any electric or hybrid car users.

A £2 reduction to the standard day visitor rate will mean parking on Southport beach will cost just £8 per day, while the daily cost at Ainsdale beach will remain at £10. Prices are halved after 4pm subject to available space and the cost for horseboxes or minibuses at both sites is £16 per day.

Beach parking re-opens at Ainsdale on Friday 1st April and at Southport from Tuesday 5th April, because of high tides.

Season tickets are now available to buy online at https://forms.sefton.gov.uk/beachparking

Ainsdale, which has 2,000 spaces and Southport, which has 400, are among just a handful of on beach car parks across the UK. Unsurprisingly they are closed at some high tides and there may be limited in capacity at other times.

Less-polluting

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing said: “I am pleased that we have been able to retain the £30 season ticket cost for Sefton residents and to also offer that price to people with less-polluting electric or hybrid cars.

“Income from our beach car parks will be used to improve facilities for visitors and reduce inconvenience for local residents along our coast, as well as to fund the vital conservation work of the Nature Reserve and preserve the natural beauty of our coastline for generations to come.”

Car parks provide essential funding support and contribute to the provision of Green Sefton services, including the delivery of a Coastal Visitor Action Plan to ensure Sefton’s coastline is safe for residents and visitors.

People queuing for ice creams on Ainsdale BeachAction Plan

The Coastal Visitor Action Plan for 2022 will include seven additional rangers on the ground and the launch of evening patrols along the coast.

Following extensive consultations, two areas of improvements recognised were to car parking and toilet facilities at Ainsdale-On-Sea.

The implementation of a new ‘off beach’ car park at Ainsdale Beach is set to be operational by the end of 2022, subject to final planning approval.

Toilet facilities at Ainsdale-On-Sea will be undergoing refurbishment work in March to prepare them for reopening from 1st April as the beach car park re-opens. The men’s, women’s and disabled people’s toilet facilities will be re-opened.

Beach car parking charges for 2022:

  • £8 per day for cars at Southport beach
  • £10 per day for cars at Ainsdale beach
  • £16 per day for horseboxes or minibuses
  • 50% off the above rates after 4pm subject to car parking management arrangements
  • £30 season ticket for Sefton residents and those who drive an electric or hybrid vehicle
  • £60 season ticket for non-Sefton residents

Find out about Sefton’s Nature Coast and countryside.

Sefton Council’s Public Engagement and Consultation Panel asked to consider plan for Southport’s historic Botanic Gardens

4 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News

Next week’s meeting of Sefton Council’s Public Engagement and Consultation Panel will be asked to consider proposals for a consultation on the future development and improvement of Southport’s historic Botanic Gardens.

Long-term vision

If the report is approved, the Council’s Green Sefton service will be asking residents, regular park users, visitors, and the dedicated volunteer groups to steer the longer-term vision for the Botanic Gardens.

It is expected to ask people for their views on plans to restore many of the park’s Victorian buildings and help the Council to develop new attractions that would bring more visitors and generate income that would be earmarked for the park’s maintenance and management.

Boost

As well as offering better facilities for local communities, developing Botanic Gardens would generate a positive boost to the local visitor economy and support the creation of new jobs.

Improvements already underway include the ordering of two new floating fountains that will aerate the water in the lake, which are currently on their way to Southport from Italy, where they are made. Around £30,000 of short-term works, including the Botanic Gardens lakeside mural to be repainted by its original artist Robert Newbiggin are also progressing. Plans are also being drawn up to use recently raised funds to make further improvements.

Using the outcome of the planned consultation, Sefton Council intends developing a £5 million programme to improve Botanic Gardens supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund Bid.

Lottery Fund Bid

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:
“Southport’s Botanic Gardens are incredibly popular and mean so much to so many people and carrying out this planned consultation would enable us to plan their future and together a Heritage Lottery Fund Bid that is in line with people wishes and views.”

Southport's Botanic Gardens lake
Southport’s Botanic Gardens lake

Fundraising

The £8,500 cost of the new aeration fountains is coming from fundraising efforts from the Make a Change for Ben group. The Group donated the sum to the Botanic Gardens Community Association, a long-standing voluntary group overseeing maintenance and activities at the park. Sefton Council is overseeing the installation.

In November, Sefton Council announced that artist Robert Newbiggin will be creating a replacement mural that will adorn the lakeside area of Southport’s Botanic Gardens. Robert painted the current mural was around 14 years ago. It has weathered in the elements over the years and now Robert has offered his time, at no cost, to replace the mural. The new design will depict Victorian scenes within the park, reminding people of the history of the site and its inclusion on the Historic Parks and Gardens Register.

Details of the Sefton Council Public Engagement and Consultation Panel, which talks place at 10am on Friday 11th March can be found here.

Sefton’s Human Libraries project success at Liverpool City Region Culture & Creativity Awards

4 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Human Libraries AwardWorld Book Day was a bit special this year for Sefton Council’s Libraries service as they are celebrating a win at Wednesday night’s Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.

Winner

‘Human Libraries’ a joint project with the Arts Council and Sefton-based not-for-profit company Rule of Threes was the winner in the Awards’ Covid Response.

After lockdown, Human Libraries, a programme of artist-led workshops, projects, commissions and happenings in community libraries in Bootle and Crosby, immediately switched online.

Despite restrictions, Human Libraries was still able to continue with blended activities, such as an online cookery tutorial. Participants were able to pick up ingredients from Bootle Library, which was closed but operating click and collect at the time and then take part in the online class. Staff supported residents by attending virtually, where they still all cooked together and enjoyed the benefit of social interaction.

Dedication

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “This success at the LCR Culture Awards recognises the dedication of library staff and artists who drove the project through the most difficult of circumstances.

“The innovative way the project changed its delivery was seen as a model of best practice in unprecedented times is a tribute to our won teams and out partners, Rule of Threes and the Arts Council.

“I want to congratulate everyone involved.”

Find out more about Sefton’s Libraries.

Sefton Council Leader says finances ‘resilient’ after budget meeting

3 March 2022
Martin Driver
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council
Cllr Ian Maher
Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher

At a meeting today, Sefton Council agreed a Council Tax rise of 2.99%, which will mean an extra 66p per week for Band A properties and an additional 88p weekly for properties in Band C.

Resilient

Afterwards, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher said: “Thanks to careful management, the Council’s finances remain resilient despite a reduction in funding of over 50% since 2010 by the Government, which has also failed to recognise just how hard our Borough has been hit by those cuts and the Covid pandemic.

“Rather than provide the resources we need to deliver services for local people and businesses and ensure a brighter future for all, the Government is, once again, forcing us to increase Council Tax to make local people pay for vital services instead.

“In Sefton this rise will be just 66p per week for the majority of homes because they fall into Band A.

“I know that when households across Sefton are facing a huge leap in the cost of heating their homes, rising prices in the shops and at the petrol pumps, increased train fares and will soon be hit by the Government’s decision to raise National Insurance payments, even 89p per week is another cost they could do without.

Vital

“But it does mean we will be able to provide the vital functions to support our most vulnerable, protect our communities and provide care for those who need it. We will also continue to run the facilities and services that people of Sefton rightly expect and deserve.

“I am glad the Government has come up with the one-off £150 Council tax energy rebate, but I am afraid for many families, some of which are still feeling the effects of Ministers’ decision to cut Universal Credit by £20 per week, that payment will only scratch the surface.

“If this country is really going to build back better after austerity and Covid and any real kind of Levelling Up is going to happen, we need to see the Government facing up to the reality that we need sustainable, three-year financial settlements that would enable us to plan strategically and support our frontline services.”

Grant payments

Cllr Maher went on to highlight that Sefton Council has continued to feed pupils who would otherwise have gone hungry in the school holidays and has supported local businesses by processing over 23,000 grant payments totalling over £97 million, with a further £1.3 million in the pipeline.

He added: “Finally, I would like, once again, to say thank you to residents and businesses across Sefton for everything they have done to care for those around them protect them from the worst of Covid; and to thank the Council’s and our partners’ hardworking staff who have delivered services to keep us all safe and well during incredibly difficult times.”

You can find a link to the meeting papers here.

How your Council Tax is spent in Sefton.

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