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February coronavirus testing facilities across Sefton for those with symptoms

28 January 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Testing for people with symptoms 

One again in February, drive-through Mobile Testing Units will be available across the Borough. These sites are for those with symptoms â€“ 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:

Dates and locations for February 2021  

  • Monday 1 Feb – Litherland
  • Tuesday 2 Feb – Litherland
  • Wednesday 3 Feb – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Thursday 4 Feb – Southport
  • Friday 5 Feb – Southport
  • Saturday 6 Feb – Southport
  • Sunday 7 Feb – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Monday 8 Feb – Ainsdale
  • Tuesday 9 Feb – Ainsdale
  • Wednesday 10 Feb – Litherland
  • Thursday 11 Feb – Litherland
  • Friday 12 Feb – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Saturday 13 Feb – Southport
  • Sunday 14 Feb – Southport
  • Monday 15 Feb – Southport
  • Tuesday 16 Feb – Ainsdale
  • Wednesday 17 Feb – Ainsdale
  • Thursday 18 Feb – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Friday 19 Feb – Litherland
  • Saturday 20 Feb – Southport
  • Sunday 21 Feb – Southport
  • Monday 22 Feb – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Tuesday 23 Feb – Litherland
  • Wednesday 24 Feb – Litherland
  • Thursday 25 Feb – NO MOBILE TESTING
  • Friday 26 Feb – Ainsdale
  • Saturday 27 Feb – Ainsdale
  • Sunday 28 Feb – Ainsdale

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:

  • Bootle Town Hall, L20 7AA
  • Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, L22 OLQ
  • Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Land, L30 3TL
  • Southport Town Hall, PR8 1DA

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 on the Council’s website here.  

Join the Big Garden Birdwatch from the comfort of your home

28 January 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Sefton residents looking for an activity to get involved in from home during lockdown, are being encouraged by Green Sefton to take part in the RSPB’s nationwide Big Garden Birdwatch.

To join in, people need to choose just one hour over this weekend, Friday 29th to Sunday 31st January, to count the number of birds they see. This can be in their garden or from their doorstep, window or balcony overlooking a greenspace or yard.

While lockdown restrictions remain in place, many residents and visitors who would normally undertake nature walks or visit Sefton’s Local Nature Reserves, may want to see what they can spot from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

The Green Sefton team will be sharing some of their favourite birds (like the Robin pictured below) that people might just be able to spot themselves across the Borough on the Council’s social media channels, as part of the Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend.

A garden Robin perched on a plant pot

People can join the conversation online on the Council’s social media channels – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – and enjoy some incredible wildlife sightings without having to leave home.

The RSPB uses the annual Birdwatch results to increase their understanding of the challenges faced by wildlife, and what might be causing problems for certain types of birds.

People can visit the RSPB website to find bird ID charts, tips for conducting a count and how to submit results online.

John Dempsey, Green Sefton Engagement Officer, said: “With everyone urged to stay close to home, there’s never been a better opportunity to enjoy the winter visitors outside your window during the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.

“Whether you have a garden or yard it’s surprising what you can see in Sefton – many of our homes are relatively close to coastal nature reserves or rich farmland, and birds frequently commute from these areas for easier pickings on feeders and bird tables in winter.

“It really doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned bird spotter or you don’t know your Blackbird from your Greenfinch, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way to enjoy your surroundings, learn a little about the nature on your doorstep and also provide the RSPB with valuable information it can use to track the fortunes of the nation’s wildlife.

“It could be an hour that transforms your life – good spotting all!”

In Sefton, there are a number of Local Nature Reserves home to an array of wildlife including RSPB Marshside, which is home to many species including Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Pink-footed Geese and Wigeon.

The Council’s Green Sefton team works alongside many organisations to undertake important conservation work on its coastal and countryside locations. Find out more on the main Sefton Council website.  

ÂŁ10m Top-Up Grants announced for Liverpool City Region businesses

28 January 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News

A new £10m round of top-up grants will be made available for all 1,500 businesses supported by the first two rounds of the Liverpool City Region’s emergency COVID-related support grants.

Depending on the size of the business, the top-up grants will be worth between £2,250 and £10,500. The funding is the latest in of a series announced by the Leaders, the Metro Mayor and Acting Mayor of the region’s six local councils to support the local economy.

In response to the government putting the Liverpool City Region into Tier 3 back in October, the Combined Authority and local councils launched a ÂŁ40m fund to support businesses operating in the leisure and hospitality sectors, which form a large part of the local economy.

This included a ÂŁ9.5m fund, the first of its kind in the country, to support small and micro businesses working in leisure, hospitality and retail. This included funding for the self-employed, sole traders, home-based workers and their supply chains, many of whom have been excluded from government support since the pandemic started.

In a joint statement, the Leaders and Acting Mayor of the six City Region Local Authorities and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, said:

“Local businesses have taken a battering over the past year, but we’ve been doing everything we can to help support and sustain them throughout the pandemic.

“We’ve already given out tens of millions of pounds to help keep 1,500 local businesses afloat and, with the current lockdown, we know things are still tough for many. Today we’re making another £10m available to help safeguard people’s jobs and livelihoods through the next few months.

“We will also be announcing details of a further fund next week to help some of those who have not yet qualified for support.

“While the vaccine rollout continues apace, a return to something resembling normality is in sight. We just need to stick together and make it through the coming weeks and months.”

The additional payments will be made to businesses that received Hospitality and Leisure Grants (First Round: October 2020), and Expanded Hospitality, Leisure and Retail Grants (Second Round: November 2020).

Businesses in Sefton that meet these criteria will be contacted directly by Sefton Council and will have to complete a simple form confirming their previous application details are still correct.

More information about the Council’s COVID support for businesses can be found here. 

Enjoy an ‘Evening With’ to celebrate Sefton’s Borough of Culture year

27 January 2021
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Borough Of Culture, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

The Reader invites you to spend an evening delving into the works of some special guest authors as we celebrate Sefton’s year as the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture.

Joanne Harris
Thursday 18 February, 6pm
Joanne Harris’ short stories are firm favourites with Shared Reading groups. Shehas published novels, short stories, screenplays, libretti, game scripts, two cookerybooks and a musical, and she sings with The Storytime Band. Her many works include Chocolat which was made into an Oscar-nominated film. She will be joining us live to read and talk about the latest in a series of short novels which re-imagine folk stories.

Kei Miller
Thursday 11 March, 6pm
Kei Miller is a Jamaican poet, novelist, short story writer and essayist, with four collections of poems published. His wonderful readings bring out the musical quality of his poems. He will be joining us live to read and talk about poems from his last two books, which looks at how places exist as much in the imagination as in their landscapes, and in nearby bushes which continues his evocations of contemporary Jamaica.

Max Porter
Thursday 25 March, 6pm
Max Porter’s two books are genuinely difficult to categorise. Are they novels? Are they poems? Does it matter? The vibrancy and energy of his writing speaks for itself. He will be joining us to read and talk about Lanny, a book set in a modern English village. It’s part mystery, part myth, part environmental polemic. Max loves being asked questions so come along prepared to really go for it!

Hosted on Zoom, join us for an hour-long Shared Reading followed by live readingfrom the author and questions from the audience.

Tickets ÂŁ2 per person

Book online www.thereader.org.uk

Share your vision for Crosby’s Coronation Park by taking part in public consultation

27 January 2021
Martin Driver
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Local Consultation

Sefton Council’s Green Sefton team has launched a public consultation to gather ideas and thoughts on ways to improve the facilities at Crosby’s Coronation Park.

Residents across the Borough, as well as visitors, are being asked if and how they currently access and use the park, and what their priorities would be for enhancing what’s on offer.

Development ideas might include ways to improve play and sports facilities, and opportunities for improvements to the park pavilion and general landscaping. New ideas are also welcomed to help enhance the existing facilities.  

Green Sefton is working in partnership with the Friends of Coronation Park on the consultation and is being supported by Capacity – a Social Enterprise that helps organisations to rethink and reimagine public services.

At this stage, no specific funding has been identified for investment within the Crosby park. It is anticipated that feedback from the consultation will enable Green Sefton to develop new and existing ideas for the future of the park and use this to bid for external funding.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: â€śWith over 30 parks across the Borough we have a wide range of facilities for all ages and abilities to enable them to enjoy spending time outdoors. Our Green Sefton team is always looking at ways to work with the community to enhance and improve our offer, and so I welcome this opportunity for people to share their vision for Crosby’s Coronation Park.

“It’s a completely anonymous consultation, so all views and ideas are welcomed to ensure the Green Sefton team incorporates the community’s ideas into any potential improvement plans.

“The consultation can be easily completed online and isn’t very lengthy, so please do get involved.”

The consultation is now open and will run until Friday 12th March. People can take part online and are encouraged to share the consultation with others that might like to share their thoughts and ideas.

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