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Sefton Council is warning people planning on driving to its beaches this weekend that ‘Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?’ is what their day out could sound like as they sit in queues and drive around looking for a legitimate parking space.

The Council is keen to prevent large numbers of people to travel to its beaches, which on previous weekends have seen visitors from as far afield as Manchester, Wigan and Birmingham.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council has said he’s worried that people are ignoring Government advice and appear to be completely ignoring social distancing guidance. After the recent busy weekend for the beaches, which saw an average of 7,000 people on the beaches at any one time each day Cllr Maher warned that as well as risking their own safety, these visitors are also compromising the safety of our local residents.

Cllr Maher said: “Many people living in our coastal areas have experienced an increase in parked cars and we have worked with Merseyside Police to limit access to local roads.

“Also, we have done all we can to address the issue and our enforcement officers have been out issuing parking tickets to cars parked irresponsibly and dangerously during busy weekends but the high volume of vehicles and people can make it impossible for them to work safely.”

Cllr Maher warned that people who do decide to drive to Sefton’s beaches can expect to waste a lot of their day out queuing in hot cars, waiting and driving in circles looking for spaces to park legally, with fraying tempers and increasingly fractious families.

He added: “It’s not how I would choose to spend my weekend and I hope people will agree and take advantage of the attractions and greenspace near their homes.

“And I would ask those local people who do visit our coast and open spaces, to remain respectful, to take their litter home and not to light camp fires or barbecues.”

Cllr Maher also pointed out that a Public Spaces Protection Order preventing the outdoor consumption of alcohol in areas of Formby & Ainsdale Beaches, Southport Promenade and town centre, Crosby & Waterloo including by the Marine Lake as well as Bootle and Formby town centres. The Order can be enforced by Police officers and authorised Council officers and fines for breaching it start at £50.

He also dismissed suggestions that the Council should close Sefton’s beaches pointing out that the Borough has 22 miles of coastline, with hundreds of individual access points, making it impossible.

A peaceful socially distanced protest is expected to take place in Southport on Saturday June 13, to join others in support of the Black Lives Matters movement and to show solidarity with black and minority ethnic communities.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “We are aware of a peaceful protest planned for Southport and we are proud to see our communities coming together for change and championing equality and diversity.

“As a local authority we have a proud history of tackling all forms of racism, hate crimes, discrimination and abuse and continue to do so wherever it may be found.

“We urge all those who are joining the event to ensure they adhere to strict social distancing measures, wear face coverings where possible and avoid close contact with others.”

Last week the Council illuminated Bootle Town Hall and Crosby Library as a symbol of support for equality and diversity across the world.

After three days in Litherland, a Coronavirus Mobile Test Centre will be at Maghull’s Meadows Leisure Centre from Sunday 14^th to Tuesday 16^th June.

Once again, the site will be providing clinical diagnosis tests to tell people if they currently have the Covid-19 virus. Tests are available for anyone but they need to have made an appointment first at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.  Essential workers still need to book through www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers.

Key NHS and care workers can now attend the regional testing sites at Haydock and Manchester Airport without the need for an appointment.

Testing is vital to the ongoing work to overcome COVID-19 and enables key workers who test negative to return to that work. By the time Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s sessions in Litherland started around 3,200 people had already been tested at Sefton’s previous Mobile Test Sites .

The Government has said that through its NHS Test and Trace service, anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.

Those people identified as having been in close contact with someone who has had a positive test result will then be required to stay at home for 14 days. They must do this even if they do not have symptoms, to prevent them spreading the virus without knowing.

People in isolation who develop symptoms can book their own test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. If they test positive, they must continue to stay at home for 7 days or until their symptoms have passed. If they test negative, they must complete the 14-day isolation period.

With the news last week that the R- infection rate in the North West of England is around 1, Sefton Council is reminding people that if they do have to leave the house they should stay 2 metres (approximately 4 steps) away from those who aren’t members of their household. And the Government has announced that from next Monday, anyone using public transport will be required to wear a face covering.

Questions & Answers on Test and Trace and Antibody testing.

After these three days in Maghull, the next scheduled visit for a Mobile Test site to Litherland on Thursday 25th, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June followed by further days in Maghull starting on Sunday 28th June.