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Sarah is Sefton’s Number One!

24 March 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized
Picture of award-winner Sarah Vaughan
Award-winning leader of Sefton Council’s NEET Prevention and Early Intervention Service, Sarah Vaughan.

Sefton Council is delighted to congratulate Sarah Vaughan from Career Connect on winning the Highly Commended Award for National Careers Service Manager of the Year.

Sarah, who leads Sefton Council’s highly successful NEET Prevention and Early Intervention Service, won this prestigious recognition for her work with young people in Sefton at the recent Career Development Institute Awards ceremony.

Better outcomes

Part of the Council’s Economic Growth and Housing Department, the service delivers an innovative approach to secure better outcomes for Sefton’s young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). It places a strong focus on those from the Borough’s most vulnerable groups.

Unlike most other Councils, Sefton has introduced working with young people from age 14 up who may be more likely to find themselves without learning or work by the time they reach 16, and this new approach is making a big difference.

In the recent lockdowns, the work of tracking and supporting young people was even more challenging and Sarah’s team moved quickly to design new COVID-safe ways of supporting young people. Sarah led on a scheme to support young apprentices who have been furloughed and also worked with Care leavers and young offenders during this busy time.

Completely committed

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said “As a Council we are completely committed to finding ways to support our young people so they can achieve their full potential.

“Within the last two years, Sarah and her team of Careers Advisors, Coaches and Mentors have enabled Sefton to achieve its best-ever performance in helping our young people to stay in learning and jobs and achieve their goals.

“We have improved so much that Sefton is now ranked 4th best out of 151 local authorities across the country. With the difficult times we have all been through recently, this  is truly amazing performance. So, we know we have got some great people working with us in Sefton and Sarah’s award has just confirmed it!”.

Sarah was not alone in receiving an accolade, as her team member Rob Jones was also shortlisted as finalist in the Careers Advisor of the Year category.

Find out more about Career Connect.

More about the Career Development Institute.

Beach car parking 2021 – season tickets

24 March 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Latest News, Southport, Uncategorized

Under current lockdown restrictions, people can only head to the beach if it is local to them for their daily exercise. As restrictions ease from Monday 29th March more people can socialise outdoors, but people should still only plan to visit the beach if it is local to them. 

There is a freeze on the car parking season tickets for all Sefton residents, which was introduced last year, meaning they can continue to enjoy the beaches at Ainsdale and Southport, and save money after just three visits.

The specially reduced ticket costing just £30, also remains available to anyone driving an electric or hybrid car, as part of measures to encourage the use of more environmentally-friendly transport.

Meanwhile, the standard day visitor rate for the car park will increase by £2, to £10 per day this year to cover the costs of improvements being undertaken by the Council’s Green Sefton Service and to generate income for the long-term care of Sefton’s unique 22-mile coastline.

Beach car parking charges for 2021:

  • £10 per day for cars
  • £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

Beach parking reopens at Ainsdale on Friday 2nd April.

Beach parking reopens at Southport on Saturday 3rd April.

There are approximately 2,000 beach car parking spaces at Ainsdale and 400 at Southport.

Beach car parks will close during certain high tide periods and may be limited in capacity at other times.

More information can be found on the ‘Beaches’ section of the Sefton Council website where season tickets can be purchased. 

 

Sefton Council looking forward to welcoming people back to refurbished fitness facilities

24 March 2021
Charlene Smith
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Health, Latest News, Regeneration, Sefton Council, Sefton Stories, The Atkinson, Uncategorized, Your Sefton
Representatives visiting site including MP Peter Dowd, Cllr Paul Cummins and Cllr Marion Atkinson

Sefton Council is looking forward to welcoming people back to refurbished fitness facilities at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre on Monday 12th April, as lockdown measures are eased.

Work carried out during lockdown means that users will be able to enjoy a brand-new fitness and spin studio, an updated fitness suite and refurbished changing rooms with new toilets. There is also a brand-new reception and social area, a new fitness class waiting area and new meeting rooms.

Cllr Ian Moncur Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing said

“I’d like to thank our staff who have been working hard behind the scenes while the gym has been closed due to the pandemic. It has really paid off as I’m sure our members will enjoy an even better experience when they return.”

“The gym and lake will re-open on Monday 12th April and new members can book an induction from Tuesday 6th April. Fitness classes will commence on Monday 17th May.”

At the site visit, Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said:

“These improvements are part of a £3.1 million scheme to transform the whole of Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, which is at the entrance to the beautiful Crosby Coastal Park and adjacent to Anthony Gormley’s Another Place (the ‘iron men’).

“Construction has already begun on the project, which will see new and improved wedding, conference, hotel, dining and bar facilities.

“This transformation is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021 but in the meantime the leisure side of the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, including the gym and the water sports activities, will be open for business as usual throughout the work.”

MP for Bootle Peter Dowd said:

“It has been great to come on site and see how this amazing project is coming along and to get a glimpse of the new and improved leisure facilities first hand.

“As part of the original team who worked on the Lakeside when it opened in 2009, it is fantastic to see the Council still valuing the asset and making these improvements.

“Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre is an incredible asset and I am delighted that this investment has been made in order to improve the service for the local community and visitors.”

Also visiting the site Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Cllr Paul Cummins said:

“I am so pleased that such a significant investment has been put into this fantastic facility which can be enjoyed by people from our borough and beyond.

“The plans for this site are exciting and the development is already coming on leaps and bounds. I am fully confident that this leisure and hospitality offer will be a major benefit to Sefton’s visitor economy.”

Mike Macaulay, Director of Crossfield Construction, commented:

“We are delighted to have started construction on this flagship project.

“It gives us great pride to be entrusted with Sefton Council’s vision to revive the Coastal Park and the wider area.

“Many of our team grew up in Crosby so this project is very close to our hearts and we are committed to ensuring that our work here positively impacts the wider Sefton community.”

Transformation of Bootle Canalside moves to next phase

24 March 2021
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Bootle Strand, Front Page, Latest News

The ongoing transformation of Bootle has taken a major step forward as work begins to transform the canalside into an exciting new events and entertainment space

Sefton Council and its partners are working hard to ensure the Bootle Canalside on Washington Parade becomes a new staple destination in the social events calendar this coming summer.

Work is now underway to transform a section of land adjacent to Bootle Strand Shopping Centre into a vibrant space to host a range of events from Summer 2021.

Initial clearance works on the Washington Parade site has now finished allowing contractors to begin stage two of the project, which will see the space opened up to create a dynamic, multi-purpose venue that will sit alongside the waters of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. This would include a food and drink offer, new events spaces and an urban garden. Other enhancements in this area will also improve the environment and open up the canal, with vegetation clearance enabling use of that space.

An exciting calendar of events is envisaged which, subject to restrictions at the time, would include a Food and Drink Festival later in the Summer, and a Christmas Market in December.

The work, which is funded from the LCRCA Town Centre Commission and the LCRCA Strategic Investment Fund, is the first part of Sefton Council’s plans to invest in the improvement of the Bootle New Strand Shopping Centre.

£370,000 of the funding is from the Local Growth Fund, which is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.

The hosting space will aim to bring new activity to the under-used land as the long term regeneration of Bootle develops; stimulating the local economy, transforming the look and feel of the town for residents, businesses and visitors and improving the quality of life for the community

 

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said:

“The plans for Bootle Canalside will transform the space in the interim; creating a multipurpose events space to kickstart the regeneration of Bootle Town Centre

“The calendar of events will be diverse and exciting and after a long, hard year, it is great to be looking ahead to regeneration and recovery at the heart of one of our town centres.”

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“When I was elected, I promised that devolution would make a real difference to people’s lives and communities, and we can see that in projects like this.

“Places like the Strand have always been at the heart of our communities – but too many of them have seen better days. Getting our town centres and high streets back on the up and making them somewhere local people can be proud of again has been one of my priorities.

“The last year has been a tough one, but we’re investing £1.65m to help Sefton Council with their plans to revitalise the area. Working together, we will breathe new life into Bootle Strand and make a hub for people to meet, shop and socialise once again.”

 

Planned events have been facilitated to work hand in hand with the slow easing of lockdown measures and aims to aid the economic recovery of those places hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

All efforts will be taken to ensure all events are safe and compliant with any necessary public health measures and will continue to be subject to lockdown restrictions being eased at the rate currently set out in the government roadmap.

/Ends

 

 

Notes to editors:

Local Growth Fund

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.

That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

For more information visit: https://www.liverpoollep.org/funding/local-growth-fund

 

Images: Artists impressions of what the Bootle Canalside Area could look like in the future

Sefton Council’s reassurance about decision to remove trees on Crown Close, Formby

23 March 2021
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council, Sefton Stories, Your Sefton

Green Sefton logoResponding to recent comments about the removal of trees on Crown Close in Formby, Sefton Council has reassured residents that the work was only carried out as a last resort and in the interests of public safety.

A Council spokesperson said:

“Sefton is a clean, green and beautiful place to live and the Council is dedicated to maintaining its green spaces which includes looking after 90,000 trees in the Borough’s parks and lining its roads and highway.

“We can assure residents that while the decision to remove a tree is never taken lightly, the safety of residents and users of the highway is paramount. Where a tree is posing a threat to the highway or properties, we need to take action.

“The trees on Crown Close were recently inspected following a large tree failing in the November storms. Over the past few years we have had a number of emergency call outs to this area over concerns about the trees’ ability to withstand heavy winds. After careful consideration from our expert tree and woodland officers, the decision was made to remove the larger trees leaving the smaller trees space to mature and thrive.

The Council have received requests to replace the trees in the future and these comments will be taken into consideration.

If residents would like to know more about the continued work of Green Sefton, they can email greensefton@sefton.gov.uk.”

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