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Litter louts who have been caught irresponsibly disposing of rubbish in Sefton have been convicted in court this week, leading to fines totaling more than £1,000

Three people, all from the Southport area of Sefton failed to appear at South Sefton Magistrates court this week (Tuesday, January 16) after they were spotted by enforcement officers littering in the borough.

Phillip Coates, 57, of Scarisbrick New Road, Southport was found guilty in absence and fined £350.

Stephen Knight, 33, of Central Avenue, Birkdale was found guilty in absence and fined £350.

Malcolm Webb, 34, of Part Street, Southport was found guilty in absence and fined £350.

A spokesman for Sefton Council said:

“It’s simple. If you drop litter and our enforcement officers catch you, you will be fined £75.

“If you fail to pay and your case goes to court, then the fine can be considerably higher.

“It’s a criminal offence to litter and we will not hesitate to fine those who deliberately make our beautiful borough untidy.

“People need to think twice before just throwing their waste away and court cases like these highlight what can happen if you are caught. Either take it home or use a bin.”

For more information about litter, visit www.sefton.gov.uk/bins-recycling/litter-and-fly-tipping.

Switching your energy tariff with the Merseyside Collective Switch is both quick and easy, and it could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

Run in partnership with your local authority, the Merseyside Collective Switch aims to negotiate the cheapest energy tariff on the market, which will only be available to its members.

Registration is now open and the winning offers will be announced after February 14.

Two thirds of UK households are on their energy supplier’s standard (and often most expensive) tariff. There are savings to be made by shopping around, and you may find a better deal with your existing supplier with no disruption to your service or billing.  

Delivered by local charity, Energy Projects Plus, and the six Merseyside local authorities, the Merseyside Collective Switch has saved local people over £1.3 million on their energy bills so far.

Previous winning tariffs have included Big 6 suppliers such as British Gas, E.on, SSE and EDF Energy as well as smaller suppliers such as Ovo and Green Energy.

Offers have been included for prepayment meter (or pay as you go) customers as well as direct debit and pay on receipt of bill customers, so there’s something for everyone.

The winning tariffs have often been the cheapest on the market, so better than you could get elsewhere and exclusive to members.

The Merseyside Collective Switch also includes a full market comparison, so if the winning deals aren’t right for you, you can find one that is.

The service is free, and there’s no obligation to switch if you decide not to.

Help and support is available from Energy Advisors who can guide you through your top offers and help you complete your switch.

It only takes 15 minutes to switch and members saved an average of £260 a year on their energy bills in our last round.

By registering, you will have access to the exclusive offers and can make sure you’re not missing out on a great deal on your energy.

Registration closes at midnight on February 14.

To join the Collective Switch visit www.LCRenergyswitch.co.uk or call the local Save Energy Advice Line on freephone 0800 043 0151, where you can also get free and impartial advice about saving energy at home.

Sefton will remember victims of the Holocaust during a special memorial ceremony open to everyone.

This years’ service will be attended by the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson and takes place on Sunday, January 28, at Christ Church, Lord Street, Southport at 1.30pm.

Partners including Sefton Council, the Association of Jewish Ex Service Men & Women, Sefton Equalities Partnership, Sefton Unison, students from local schools and colleges and Christ Church all help organise the annual service.

It will be the 18th tribute paid in Sefton as the ceremony is held on the nearest Sunday to Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD). Each year, Holocaust Memorial Day falls on January 27 – the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.

Councillors and council officers will attend the memorial ceremony in Southport as well as members of the public. All will take part in a minute’s silence.

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson, said:

“Each year on January 27, the world reflects on Holocaust Memorial Day.

“It’s a time for us all to pause to remember the millions of people who have been murdered or whose lives have been changed beyond recognition during the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and in subsequent genocides.

“At the annual service in Southport, we unite the many diverse strands of our communities and demonstrate how the lessons of the past can inform our lives today for a safer, better future.

“The service is an important event in our calendar and if you have the time, please join us to mark this day.”

The service in Southport is open to everyone, with refreshments served at the end.

For more information visit www.hmd.org.uk

Vital tree works are to begin later this month along Chapel Lane, Formby. 

The street tree management, which begins on Monday January 29, is expected to take around one week to complete.

Chapel Lane will be temporarily closed to vehicles while the works take place each day. The road will reopen to traffic during the evenings.

The works will also allow for the planting of seven new trees before the end of March 2018, with replacement trees expected to be a mix of species including non-fruiting horse chestnut.

A study of the Chapel Lane trees by Sefton’s Parks and Greenspaces team have found that five existing trees are in need of pruning works, while five horse chestnut trees were found to have severely declined in recent years.

They must be removed before they pose a significant health and safety risk.

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “The condition of the five large horse chestnut trees has declined significantly over the past few years and sadly they will not recover.

“We have decided to remove them before they pose a more significant risk to the public

“It is always regrettable when we have to remove trees, especially such large, prominent trees that have been part of the landscape for many years. 

“Sefton Council, along with ward and parish councillors, have secured funding to replace the trees.

“Seven new trees will be planted before the end of March 2018.

“We apologise in advance for any disturbance and inconvenience while the works are taking place.”