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Merseyrail has announced a smoking ban at all stations on its network from 1 December.

From this date, passengers will not be allowed to smoke in any public areas of Merseyrail stations or platforms with the exception of car parks.

The move comes off the back of the national Stoptober campaign, and is part of Merseyrail’s commitment to cleaner air and the comfort of its passengers across the network.

Vaping and e-cigarettes are also included in the ban, and Merseyrail staff and Byelaw Enforcement Officers will be actively requesting passengers to stop smoking on platforms and other areas of stations from December.

Warnings will be issued to anyone smoking on platforms on 1 December, however those that continue may be fined from 1 January 2020.

Andy Heath, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said: “The comfort of passengers on our network is absolutely paramount to us, so I am pleased to announce a smoking ban across all of our stations and platforms.

“Those who wish to smoke will be able to do so in station car parks or off station property, however we want all passengers to be able to use our trains and stations comfortably and without the risks of passive smoking, such as lung cancer, asthma and pneumonia.”

Four Sefton schools were recognised at the prestigious Educate Awards ceremony on Friday 15 November. The awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, is now in its eighth year and is the largest education awards in the North West.

• Formby High School won Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary School category
• Katherine Lockley from St Thomas CE Primary School won School Support Star of the Year Award
• Bedford Primary School came runner up for the Eco School Project of the Year Award
• St Oswald’s CE Primary School was named runner up for the Spirit of Enterprise Award

Over 700 guests gathered for the Educate Awards ceremony held at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, hosted by broadcaster Simon ‘Rossie’ Ross. On the night, 21 awards were handed out to schools in the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

Formby High School won the award for Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary School. Sport plays a big part in the school and there is staff wide support for the subject, with non PE staff also helping to take teams and deliver extra-curricular. Formby’s inclusive approach also means that its new KS4 curriculum focuses on health, fitness and wellbeing.

Katherine Lockley from St Thomas CE Primary School was honoured with the School Support Star of the Year Award. Katherine has worked at St Thomas’ CE Primary School for 31 years, devoting her whole career and life to the children, families and communities she serves.

As well as being an amazing teaching assistant, Katherine has single-handedly helped to raise thousands of pounds through her myriad of fundraising events – believed to be well in excess of £100,000 over the years! The school has one of the smallest budgets in the Sefton LEA and without Katherine’s fundraising, St Thomas’ would not be able to continue to invest in providing new resources and improvements to the school.

During the evening there was a number of incredible performances by schools including a tribute to The Beatles by Riverside Primary School, a surprise flash mob from LIPA Sixth Form, a Mary Poppins recital by The Belvedere Academy, whilst Wirral Grammar School for Boys & Wirral Grammar School for Girls sang hits from the musical Chicago and over 60 students from St Julie’s Catholic High School’s performed a medley from its own original production called ‘This is Liverpool’.

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, says: “A huge well done to Katherine Lockley and Formby High School on their fantastic award wins.

“We are so proud to host an event which champions the creativity, diversity and dedication of teachers, school support stars, schools and colleges from across the North West.

“This year we have been inundated with exceptional entries and so congratulations to all the winners, runners-up and finalists for 2019.”

Associate sponsors include: All About STEM, Angel Solutions, CER, CPMM Media Group, DMR David M Robinson Jewellery & Watches, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, Liverpool Learning Partnership, LSSP, Progress To Excellence Group, Satis Education, School Improvement Liverpool, Signature Living and Winstanley College.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision in Southport on the afternoon of Friday 15 November.

At 2.25pm, emergency services were called to Marshside Road to reports of a collision between a Peugeot and a bicycle. The male cyclist has been taken to hospital for assessment of a head injury. The driver of the car stopped to assist.

Road closures are currently in place at Marshside Road at the junction of Marine Drive and the junction of Fleetwood Road. Road users are asked to avoid the area and take an alternative route.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact @MerpolCC or 101 with reference 526.

Sefton Council is joining other local authorities in asking residents to give ‘Paws for Thought’ this Christmas before making a commitment to buying a dog, after a young puppy was found abandoned in a borough shopping precinct.

The adorable yet terrified puppy was rescued by Sefton Council dog wardens after being found wandering around Stella Precinct in Seaforth earlier this month (November 2).

Sadly the puppy, now nicknamed Kenny by his rescuers, was left unclaimed and he is now being put forward for adoption to a more loving owner via the Merseyside Dogs Home.

Kenny is just one of a nearly 150 stray dogs which have been abandoned or lost in Sefton in the last year through no fault of their own. 

He will now receive a thorough TLC package including inoculations, nourishment and a warm kennel.

Sadly Kenny, while being physically fine to be rehomed, is suffering emotionally and shows signs of heightened anxiousness and fear as a result of his abandonment. 

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “Sadly some people still regard dogs as a disposable item and some of the dogs we rescue are found to be in such a horrific state of neglect.

“In exceptionally rare cases, the heartbreaking and difficult decision is made to put an abandoned dog down. This can include dogs which have been fatally injured, show irreversible aggression to humans and other animals, or are found to be banned breeds.

“Across the region, dog wardens are forced to make difficult decisions because of by neglectful and unforgivable human behaviour.

“We are hopeful that Kenny will recover and find himself in a loving home in time for Christmas but the message needs to be clear; a dog is for life and a huge responsibility to take on.

“If you are not prepared to, please do not adopt or buy a dog you cannot or do not want to look after. 

“Please give ‘Paws For Thought’ this Christmas.”

Sefton Council works closely with Liverpool, Halton Knowsley and Animal Wardens Ltd in its dog warden scheme and all utilise the support of the Merseyside Dogs Home to help give unwanted and stray pets a new home.

Last year alone the four councils and Merseyside Dogs Home managed to rehome nearly 400 stray dogs.

For more information about Kenny or any of the other dogs at Merseyside Dogs Home, please visit https://merseysidedogshome.org.

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