Families and schools are being urged to take part in Southport Eco Centre’s recipe competition, which launched this week as part of #FoodWasteActionWeek.
The best entries will be turned into recipe cards and made available to schools and community groups across the whole North West region.
Find out more on the Eco Centre website. The closing date for entries is 28th March.
Southport is set to receive £37.5m in government funding for a range of exciting projects across the town centre and sea front, following submission of a Town Investment Plan in October 2020.
The £37.5m awarded to Southport is one of the largest Town Deals that the government has agreed nationally and across 101 towns.
This success is a clear sign of confidence in the town, the quality of the projects put forward as part of the Town Investment Plan, the involvement of local people and businesses and the work of the Town Deal Board over the last year.
The funding will help to invest in existing attractions and the creation of new all- weather attractions in the sea front area, as well as the creation of new enterprise hubs to help attract and grow businesses in the town centre. The Town Deal will ultimately help create over 1,000 new jobs plus more than 300 construction jobs and an extra 1 million visitors per year are expected to visit.
Following a hugely successful consultation and engagement process, the largest conversation ever had with those who live or work in the town, a Town Investment Plan was submitted reflecting many of the priorities that residents, business owners and visitors consider vital for the regeneration of the town.
This funding will allow Southport to positively tackle the economic challenges faced as we emerge from the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rob Fletcher, Chair of the Town Deal Board said: “The hard work of Town Deal Board has been rewarded in this funding announcement. The Board has ensured that the views of the many have been included in the submission.
“We are pleased with the announcement and are now looking forward to continuing to work with Sefton Council, who will be responsible for delivering a remarkable range of projects which will support our communities, business and young people and make Southport the place to be.”
Following the announcement, Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “After an incredibly hard year for the town’s businesses and residents, the announcement of this funding is a really positive way to start 2021. The Council, working with Town Deal Board and its partners, are ready to get started on many of the key projects as soon as we can.
“We will continue to seek further public and private investment to the Town to ensure the Town Deal is the catalyst to unlock many new opportunities.
“I would like to thank the Chair and all Town Deal board members for their hard work and support, and I would also like to recognise Cllr Marion Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, for her contribution and close collaboration with all board members.”
Sefton Council and the Town Deal board are now turning their attention to making sure that projects are ready for delivery and able to access the funding allocated as quickly as possible. Further updates will be provided on the exciting projects supported by the Towns Fund during 2021.
Testing for people with symptoms
One again in March, drive-through Mobile Testing Units will be available across the Borough. These sites are for those with symptoms – a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell – and can be booked by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
Planned dates and sites may be subject to change if testing is required in other locations:
Remaining dates and locations for March 2021
Walk-through test centres
In addition, local walk-through test centres are open every day from 8am to 8pm, providing easy access to COVID-19 tests for people who do not have access to a car and for those who have symptoms and should not travel by public transport.
The four local test centres are located at:
Those with symptoms seeking tests, need to book ahead of going to either the walk-through or drive-through sites. It’s quick and easy to book by calling 119 or going online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
Self-isolation
Should any Sefton resident be required to self-isolate, this means that they must not leave home. Support and advice for anyone who must self-isolate is available here on the Council’s website, including information on financial support.
SMART testing
Only key workers and those with caring commitments during the lockdown should now go for a SMART test if they have no COVID-19 symptoms.
Full details about testing in Sefton are available on the Council’s website.
A Sefton Landlord who had been previously prosecuted in 2019 for operating a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without the required licence and fined £5,000.00, has now been ordered to pay back the housing benefit and universal credit that they received for a year whilst the premises was operating without the licence under a “Rent Repayment Order”. This equates to a further £13,293.27 . This follows an unsuccessful appeal by the landlord, against the “Order”, to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) in February 2021.
Landlords who fail to licence their properties in line with the relevant legal requirements will be at risk of prosecution or receiving a Civil Penalty Notice (up to a maximum of £30,000) and potentially a Rent Repayment Order.
68 Civil Penalty Notices have so far been issued on Landlords, for failure to licence houses that are privately rented, since Sefton’s licensing schemes began. The average level of fine for each has been £3,500.00
Sefton’s Housing Standards team are actively seeking out any properties that do not have the required licence and enforcement action is being stepped up by the team. To check if your property requires a licence visit Sefton’s website https://www.sefton.gov.uk/housing/private-housing/
Anyone can check if their property has the required licence by visiting the Council’s public register of housing licences https://housinglicensing.sefton.gov.uk/online-application/public-register/
Licensing schemes aim to improve the conditions and management of privately rented properties across the designated areas of Sefton. A well-managed privately rented sector plays an important role in meeting the Borough’s housing needs.
To celebrate World Book Day, Sefton Libraries are collaborating with renowned storyteller John Kirk for an interactive story hunt, and families across the Borough are urged to get involved.
The virtual adventure will take families into the ‘Enchanted Forest’ for 30 minutes of imaginative family fun. People can join the story hunt on the Sefton Libraries Facebook page at 2pm on Thursday 4th March, World Book Day. The ‘Enchanted Forest’ is suitable for families with children aged 3+.
Story hunts have become extremely popular across the country, and around the globe, as parents and carers have had to think outside of the box when home schooling and keeping their families entertained.
Storyteller John Kirk, who works with libraries and museums to deliver engaging virtual story telling experiences like no other, has worked in collaboration with Sefton Libraries on many initiatives in the past to encourage children to foster a love of reading.
Sefton Libraries will also be hosting a special digital story time on its Facebook page to mark World Book Day at 10am on the day. Story time volunteer Karen Bonell will be reading ‘The World Book Day Monster’ by Adam and Charlotte Guillan.
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “Our libraries service has been doing a fantastic job throughout the lockdown ensuring that our communities still have access to books, magazines and newspapers, as well as supporting families to encourage children to pick up a book through their story time videos.
“There has been huge demand for our online services as people have been spending more time at home and I am delighted that we are able to help mark World Book Day this year in such a creative yet safe way, from the comfort of living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen tables and makeshift home classrooms! Please do get involved.”
Andrew Farthing, Sefton Libraries Manager, said: “It’s vital for children in Sefton to have access to books, and to have opportunities where they can transport their minds to faraway fictional worlds. The power of reading and storytelling can spark inspiration in young minds, build their confidence to read independently and often prompt a lifelong love of reading – something that really boosts mental health and wellbeing.”
During the pandemic, Sefton Libraries have switched the majority of their activities online. Through their Digital Library Services, people across the Borough have been able to access e-books and e-audiobooks using services such as the BorrowBox and RBdigital apps. Staff have also been able to provide additional support to communities such as help with downloading apps, setting up email or staying in touch using Zoom or Skype through their IT helpdesk sessions every Monday.
Additionally, the libraries team has become involved in the ‘Reading Friends’ initiative, aiming to tackle loneliness by bringing people together remotely to read, chat and share stories.
Details of Sefton’s Library Services and how they are working during COVID-19 can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/libraries.
World Book Day aims to changes lives through a love of books and shared reading. Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.
