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Afghan appeal clothing banks filled to capacity

A group of people of mixed races at a table learning EnglishThousands of kind-hearted and generous residents have pulled together to donate to the Sefton Afghan Appeal to help those families who will be settling in the borough across the coming weeks and months.

Sheer generosity

The sheer generosity of communities across Sefton has in fact been so overwhelming that all eight donation points are now at maximum capacity and can no longer receive clothing donations.

Monetary donations are still being gratefully received and the Sefton Afghan Appeal online hub remains live for anyone who wishes to selflessly contribute to helping displaced families

Over £3,000 has already been donated and organisers are seeing this figure claim each day, showing an unwavering support for those who have been forced to flee their homeland.

Despite only launching at the start of September, the Borough-wide appeal has seen all eight donation drop-off points filled to capacity.

Welcoming and caring

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “We are all too aware of the devastation and conflict taking place right now in Afghanistan and, like many others across the UK, we are doing all we can in Sefton to help support displaced families who have been forced to flee their homeland.

“Sefton’s communities have once again shown just how welcoming and caring we are as a Borough and we are delighted with the amount of clothing donations we have received.

“As a council, we offered eight of its buildings to act as donation points for the appeal and to have them filled within just a few weeks is an incredible feat.

“Nevertheless, we are continuing to work closely with partners to ensure we are doing everything in our power to help.

“Please, if you can afford to do so, give generously to our online financial appeal and lend your support to these families many of whom have arrived with very few belongings but the clothes they are wearing.”

Fantastic response

Angela White OBE, Chief Executive at Sefton CVS, added: “On behalf of Sefton CVS and Sefton4Good, I would like to thank everyone who has donated valuable funds or newly-bought items to support the Sefton Afghan Appeal over recent weeks.

“We have received a fantastic response from local residents and organisations who have helped to raise over £3,000 so far which will enable us to provide bespoke items to directly support Afghan families arriving in Sefton.

“We will be continuing our online fundraising for the Sefton Afghan Appeal, but due to the overwhelming generosity of local residents we are unable to accept any further donations of clothing or goods at this time”

For more information regarding the Sefton Afghan Appeal or to donate, please visit www.sefton4good.org.uk.

For all enquiries about the Sefton Afghan Appeal, please email afghanappeal@seftoncvs.org.uk.

Sign-up for HR focused business event with InvestSefton and Liverpool Chamber

InvestSefton, the Council’s business growth team, is hosting its first face-to-face business workshop since the start of the pandemic.

Taking place on Tuesday 28th September 2021, 10am – 1pm at Bootle Town Hall, local businesses will have the chance to network and learn more about HR matters as ways of working have changed dramatically over the course of the past 18 months.

The workshop will cover:

  • The challenges of remote working
  • Employment law and HR
  • How to support employees
  • Other HR related topics
  • Q & A session

Any business, of any size, within any sector – as long as they are located in Sefton – are eligible to attend.

InvestSefton in partnership with Liverpool Chamber are hosting the session which will be delivered by Morecrofts Solicitors, a Liverpool based law firm specialising in both private and commercial law.

Social distancing will be in place to ensure that the event runs safely.

To book a place, businesses can contact Dom or Sharon from the InvestSefton team on 0151 934 3452 or via email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk

Bootle Town Hall is next to Bootle Oriel Road Train Station, or if arriving by car there is a car park available at the Town Hall or on street pay & display parking.

To find out how InvestSefton can help your business you can also visit their website: www.investsefton.com

Have your say on Crosby Town Centre Regeneration proposals

Residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to have their say on proposals to develop Crosby’s town centre.

Sefton Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to regenerate Crosby. Among the proposals are new access routes and highway improvements ahead of developments on the Green Car Park site. In addition, there will be improvements to other car parks and junctions in the town as well as better access for people walking and cycling.

Crosby Town Centre map outlining proposed improvementsCooksland and Allengate car parks will have new layouts, better utilising space and increasing the number of spaces available. The car parks will be future-proofed to include electric vehicle charging spaces and easy pedestrian routes will be created to connect the car parks with the town centre high street.

Also, the junction of the A565 Liverpool Road / The By-Pass and the B5193 Islington / Coronation Road / Church Road junction will be reconfigured to enable traffic to move more freely around the edge of the town centre and access parking.

Cllr Maher, Sefton Council Leader said:
“This is an exciting step in the regeneration of Crosby town centre and the delivery of the Crosby Investment Strategy. Our plans will help to ensure Crosby’s historic town centre is a vibrant and diverse place to live, work and visit.

“The Council has an ongoing commitment to supporting the community, listening to valued feedback, and working and living among the community so we are already well aware of how much this regeneration plan is needed to boost south Sefton.

“I strongly encourage people to take part in the public consultation and have their say on the future development of Crosby town centre.”

A plan for the regeneration in Crosby was developed by the Council and following consultation was approved in 2015.

Earlier this year, Sefton Council and its partners submitted a £19.2 million bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for a range of schemes to revitalise Crosby town centre after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entitled ‘Reimagining Crosby’, the bid includes plans for the creation of a new, state-of-the-art library, healthcare facilities and town centre living spaces, located on the current Green Car Park site.

The outcome of the Council’s Levelling Up Fund bid is due by late 2021.

Consultation on the plans for Crosby town centre will run for six weeks and close on Wednesday 3rd November 2021. Local residents, businesses and visitors to Crosby are invited to share their thoughts online at yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk

People are also encouraged to share the online survey with others who may be interested and want to take part. People without internet access, can have their say over the phone by calling 0345 140 0845.

For further information, residents can contact the Regeneration Team on regen@sefton.gov.uk

Bavarian bonanza takes over Southport Market

A Bavarian bonanza has taken over Southport Market for the venue’s inaugural Oktoberfest celebration.

Running until Sunday, September 26th, a cultural delight of entertainment, food and drink will be the first of many special Oktoberfest celebrations planned to take place annually at Southport Market.

Speciality German beer will be sold at the Market bar and food stall traders are encouraged to create limited edition Bavarian inspired dishes to compliment the amazing food offer already up for grabs.

To round off the celebrations, the world famous Bavarian Stompers Band will be performing twice on Sunday afternoon at 2pm and 4pm to entertain crowds on their way to the finale of the nearby British Musical Fireworks Championship.

The 2021 Southport Market Oktoberfest will be a pre-cursor to an even bigger Bavarian extravaganza to coincide with the launch of the market’s exclusive as yet unseen events space in later in the year.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “This weekend is going to be a bumper one for Southport and Sefton’s economy with thousands of people enjoying the very best events and entertainment in the North West.

“Not only do we have the famous British Musical Fireworks Championship wowing the crowds in Victoria Park from Friday to Sunday, but we have been exceptionally busy behind the scenes bringing pop-up events to Southport Market.

“This week sees the forerunner to our planned annual Oktoberfest Extravaganza event at the Market Events Space, as we put together an exciting five days of Bavarian delights, topped off with amazing performances by the world renowned Stompers!

“Once we launch our Events Space later in the year, we will be able to put on even bigger and varied celebrations to compliment the incredible successes that Southport Market is already enjoying.”

A number of general admission tickets are still available for all three nights of the British Musical Fireworks Championship, starting from £6, with seated tickets starting from £20. For further details and to book tickets head to www.visitsouthport.com.

Help Sefton Council to shape its flood and coastal erosion risk strategy for the next decade

Sefton Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), is drawing up a new strategy to protect its communities from the risk of flooding and coastal erosion over the next decade.

The new management strategy will outline the clear roles and responsibilities of not only the Council, but other risk management authorities including the Environment Agency, United Utilities, Highways England and the Canal and River Trust.

It will set out the actions that will be undertaken to reduce the risk and impact of flooding and coastal erosion on Sefton’s communities and highlight simple actions that residents themselves can undertake in support of this.  

Arial view of the coastline at Southport
Arial view of the coastline at Southport

Everyone living in Sefton is encouraged to take part in the period of consultation on the draft strategy, ensuring that their views are heard before the plan is finalised in early 2022.

The public consultation includes the opportunity for the strategy, and associated business plan, to be viewed in full, followed by a short survey to gather thoughts from residents.

People can take part online at www.YourSeftonYourSay.sefton.gov.uk and have up until Wednesday 17th November 2021.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

“We are very proud of our unique borough with its 22 miles of amazing coastline and diverse landscapes among our urban residential areas and business hubs. One thing we have in common with the rest of the country, and especially other coastal authorities, is the risk of flooding and erosion and the complex challenges that we face to manage the impact of such events on our communities.

“That is why it’s vital for us to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a local flood risk management strategy, and to seek the views of those who live here in Sefton as we look to shape that plan for the next decade.”

Flood and erosion events can affect not only those living in high-risk areas, but also transport networks, schools, highways and local businesses. They can also have detrimental environmental impacts on rare habitats and species, which is why the Council is dedicated to producing a management strategy that is fit-for-purpose and recognises the increasing challenges of the climate emergency and where targeted and risk-based investment is needed.

The Council’s own plans must align with the Environment Agency’s national strategy that looks 100 years into the future and considers the risks climate change presents and the options to adapt to this challenge.

Cllr Moncur added:

“Over the past decade due to a combination of severe weather events and instances occurring from rivers, sewers and surface water, we’ve seen significant flooding events in neighbourhoods across Sefton, including most recently at the start of 2021 in Maghull.

“These events can have devastating environmental, social and economic impacts, making a sustainable flood risk management strategy absolutely essential for our communities. And is complementary to our on-going work with partners, such as the recently formed strategic flood resilience group, where we share expertise and identify actions that can be taken individually and collectively to reduce the overall risk.

“I would urge everyone across Sefton to take part as we shape this plan for the next decade to ensure their views are heard.”

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