Children across Sefton have been putting their best foot forward by making an incredible 15,500 ‘car free’ journeys to and from school.
Primary school pupils across the Borough were challenged to use the recent Autumn term to walk more to and from school as part of the national WOW Walk To School Challenge.
The month-long challenge was hosted by the Living Streets Charity, which was set up to encourage more active and healthy forms of travel across communities.
Teachers recorded that pupils across primary schools in Sefton completed an impressive 15,580 journeys to and from school without using a car in October.
These journeys were completed by walking or ‘wheeling’ to school on a bike or scooter.
Pupils at Forefield Community Infant and Nursery School topped the table for the highest number of individual journeys per school, closely followed by Christ Church CofE Primary and Springwell Park Primary.
Cllr Diane Roscoe, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Nearly 800 pupils a day throughout October walking, cycling and scooting their way to school is a fantastic achievement.
“I want to thank all of our schools that took part in the challenge. By encouraging our youngest generations to discover the unlimited benefits of active travel and ending a reliance on the car is ultimately going to have a greater impact on our communities’ future health and wellbeing.
“Active Travel schemes are vital, not only for our health and wellbeing, but also for contributing massively to combatting the effects of climate change.
“We will continue to work with schools, parents and our communities to make journeys to school easier, safer and more enjoyable”
For more information about the Living Streets Walk to School challenge and more visit www.livingstreets.org.uk
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Borough Of Culture
Green-fingered community group are bloomin’ successful thanks to Sefton
A green-fingered community group from Maghull is blossoming after winning a top environment award.
The Friends of Maghull & District CIC group, which have gone from strength to strength thanks to the support of Sefton Council’s specialist crowdfunding project, have recently won the BBC Radio Merseyside ‘Make A Difference’ Environment Award.
Dedication and tireless efforts
Out of hundreds of nominees, the hard working community group behind the Stafford Moreton Way and Woodend projects, were chosen for their dedication and tireless efforts which have transformed large parts of their community.
The Friends of Maghull & District CIC (FOMD) group are one of the flagship successes of the Sefton Crowd campaign – a specialist crowdfunding platform from Sefton Council which aims to support groups who want to make positive changes within the areas they live.
Thanks to Sefton Crowd and generous backers, FOMD CIC have raised an astonishing £36,500 towards environmental projects in Maghull. £30,000 was raised towards creating a safe woodland style greenspace called Bobby’s Wood, while a further £6,500 was raised to transform Stafford Moreton Way into an eco-educational area for future generations.
Kind-hearted people
Dr Frank Sharp (FOMD CIC Director) said: “We want this award to be for the countless amazingly kind-hearted people in our community that have contributed at every level, to make a difference to our environment.
“In addition, we would like to thank Sefton Council’s Sefton Crowd platform which has provided us with an invaluable support system to raise funds for the last two projects.”
Working in partnership with Spacehive, the UK’s leading civic crowdfunding platform, Sefton Crowd is an initiative that gives residents with an idea to improve their community the opportunity to gain funding via Spacehive’s crowdfunding platform.
Incredible schemes and ideas
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Through the Sefton Crowd we have already seen some incredible schemes and ideas brought to fruition.
“This award for the FOMD group is very much deserved and we are delighted that we have been able to support their tireless efforts through our platform.
“We continue to search for and support projects that answer our call for ideas which benefit local people and communities.
“I’m also calling on companies and foundations to join us in offering support – whether funding or in-kind – to the ideas people post on the platform so we can work together to make them a real success. The more people that get involved in Sefton Crowd the more amazing places we can create together.”
Supporting a project can cost as little at £2 and funding may also be available via Sefton Council’s Community Transition Fund.
You can find out about opportunities to back a project or to create your own here.
Southport Market review lauds tireless efforts of traders and staff
Southport Market is going from strength to strength after being buoyed by the growing ‘staycation’ holiday market.
Since reopening in July 2021, the hugely popular food and drink hall in Southport town centre has already served over a quarter of a million meals and 100,000 pints to tens of thousands of visitors.
It has also directly led to a transformation of the surrounding area with a number of new shops and businesses opening up due to increased footfall.
Performance
In a report to Sefton Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s November 8th meeting, a One Year Review of Southport Market shows that the venue has continued to perform very well despite industry-wide challenges.
Tireless work by the traders and Sefton Council staff since the opening are among the factors the report says are behind the market’s success. The support of the local community to the unique investment, which provides a new reason to visit this part of town, has also been important.
Growth
Southport market’s success is expected to grow even more in 2023 with significant changes to the public realm space around Market Street and King Street, which are designed to increase footfall in the area.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said:
“When it was first launched I made a promise that the new look Southport Market would be a great success and a year in, despite the effects of a worldwide pandemic and the hard-hitting cost of living crisis, we are already seeing the fruits of our labour come good.
“This is in no small part down to the work and creativity of our traders who have come together with their culinary skills to produce an international smorgasbord of tasty treats.
“Their own successes have been bolstered by an incredible events calendar put together by Sefton Council’s Tourism team who have transformed our flexible events space time and time again for a series of amazing shows, conventions and fayres.”
One of the key objectives of investing into the new Southport Market was for it to be a catalyst for further investment in the area and Sefton.
Cllr Marion Atkinson continued:
“Most traders in the market are from the local area and have either established new businesses or expanded current businesses, creating over 30 new jobs. The increased footfall has led to several long-term vacant units have become occupied by new independent businesses in both Market and King Street.
“This continued investment is showing no signs of slowing down and a number of large vacant units within the wider Market Quarter are now currently on the market and contracts are being exchanging at a rate.
“Local commercial agents have told us the area is one of the top investment locations in Southport currently and we firmly believe this is down to the success of the Market.”
Challenges
The report also looks at future challenges faced across the hospitality industry, which Cllr Atkinson says will be monitored closely by Sefton Council as it continues to grow the Market space.
Cllr Atkinson added:
“A rise and fall in the popularity of staycations will have an effect on footfall, as does the ever increasing cost of goods and services as we all feel the impact of a cost of living crisis.
“While some of these pressures cannot be fully mitigated against, we have put in place and will continue to develop a series of measures to encourage footfall in the area, ensuring that the Market remains a focal attraction for many years to come.”
People can find more information about Southport Market at www.southportmarket.com, follow southportmarket on Instagram, @spt_mkt on Twitter or Southport Market on Facebook.
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‘A real honour’ says Bootle superstar Alex Greenwood as she unveils huge hometown mural
“It’s a real honour and if I can inspire just one girl from Bootle to play football then I feel like my job is done!”
That is the message from Bootle Lioness and England Women’s Footballer Alex Greenwood as she officially unveiled a huge mural celebrating her successes.
Proud
The 29-year-old Euro 2022 winning Lioness said she was extremely proud to have a mural commemorating her sporting successes painted onto the front of 320 Stanley Road in Bootle, thanks to joint funding from Sefton Council and REPT Sports.
At the official unveiling on Monday, October 25th crowds of youngsters gathered alongside Alex’s family and national media to officially unveil the mural, painted by artist John Culhsaw.
While all eyes are now on the 22ft mural, Alex is keen to use it as an opportunity to push for greater support for young girls in sport.
Inspire
Alex said : “It’s a real honour to have this mural and if I can inspire just one girl from Bootle to play football then I feel like I have done my job!
“I used to walk up and down this street as a kid and it’s fantastic to know young girls and boys will walk past [the mural] and hopefully be inspired.
“I’ve seen a massive shift in mentality towards female sport and women’s football since the Euros.
“As a collective we are going to keep asking questions of those higher up and demand more opportunities for little girls and boys in the future.
“I really hope there’s another young girl standing here in however many years to come telling the same story.”
The mural sits pride of place on the busy Bootle town centre thoroughfare and be seen by thousands of schoolchildren, shoppers and commuters every day.
Hometown roots
Alex, a former St Monica’s and Savio Salesian pupil, has remained true to her hometown roots and has long been a major influence in the advancement of women & girls football within Sefton, ensuring she takes time out of her busy footballing career to motivate and inspire future generations of sporting stars throughout the borough.
She said: “I would like to thank Sefton Council for this mural.
“It’s really important for me to be able to send a message to young girls in my area that anything is possible.
“Many of the dreams I had while walking the streets of Bootle and playing on the pitches have come true through hard work and perseverance.
“Characteristics that were formed in Bootle.”
Amazing
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Alex has always been an inspiration to our sporting youngsters and we were over the moon when she, along with the other amazing Lionesses, brought home the European Championship.
“To be able to honour Alex in this way with a permanent mural in the heart of her hometown is fantastic and I know that the thousands of schoolchildren who will pass by it every day will be inspired just by seeing it.
“I want to take this opportunity to urge all our young sporting stars to take a look at Alex’s hard work and dedication to getting where she is today as one of the world’s best female footballers. Her progress is a testament to the excellent school and sports facilities we have within Sefton.”
Real honour
Popular Liverpool artist John Culshaw, who rose to fame with his incredible murals of Ringo Starr in Toxteth and Mo Salah in Anfield, designed and painted Alex’s mural said: “It was a real honour to be asked to create this mural.
“I think we have a way of getting behind our stars in Liverpool and for a Bootle girl to bring home our nation’s first piece of international silverware in 56 years is definitely something to be celebrated!
“What better way to show how proud we are than to have this mural in Alex’s hometown.”
Sefton Council, through its Active Sefton team and continued work with sports partners, strives to actively promote, support and improve football facilities in the borough to allow future generations the opportunity and access to the beautiful game.
You can find out more about how to get involved in sport and leisure in Sefton here.
Sefton secures nearly £4 million from housing developers for local infrastructure
Nearly £4 Million of infrastructure investment is set to be spent across Sefton thanks to the Local Authority’s work with developers, a published Infrastructure Funding Statement has shown.
As well as being spent on improvements to highways, public transport and more, the £3.8 million funding from developers will also help boost primary school provision and improved health facilities.
Sefton Council continues to work closely with developers to ensure any impact from new builds is mitigated by a substantial investment being put back into the borough for the direct benefit of the communities who live there.
Throughout the previous financial year (2021/22) Sefton Council agreed proposals with a number of firms which, upon completion of development, could secure over £3.8 million towards improving local infrastructure.
Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “The Sefton Local Plan has helped support local investment in recent years and we are seeing what is perhaps the highest level of developments taking place for many years.
“Now with more developments set to come, we are acutely aware that this could lead to pressure on local infrastructure and services, which is why we have sought to agree a huge funding package that will directly benefit our communities and mitigate any additional pressures.
“The money secured through our agreements includes over £2 million towards increasing local primary school places, plus money to provide health facilities and further public transport investment.
“Additionally this year’s agreements will help secure over 430 new affordable homes with many more expected in the coming years.
“We will continue to work hard to secure significant levels of financial contributions from developers to support services and facilities, and much needed affordable housing, across the borough.”
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