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With a busy weekend of football, Father’s Day and beautiful weather coming up, many people in Merseyside will be getting that first taste of ‘normality’, since Coronavirus restrictions were introduced in March this year.

Although lockdown restrictions have begun to ease, a key challenge for the UK and indeed Merseyside is to navigate these changes – safely.

Many local businesses, health organisations, public health workers and more have been working to introduce local measures to keep the public safe as we ease out of full lockdown.

So, as we make this move, members of the public will notice changes to everyday parts of life including face coverings required when using public transport or attending a hospital setting, along with queues outside the supermarket becoming the norm. 

But the reality is, these measures are stronger when they are embraced by our communities and the people they seek to protect.

Residents across the city region are asked to consider others, especially our most vulnerable, when making plans for the weekend – especially a busy one like this.

That’s why we are urging all residents to stay safe and think twice before leaving home this weekend.

If you do need to travel then please visit Merseytravel’s Re Think Travel campaign for the latest information and important advice.

While we’re able to enjoy a bit more freedom as we move further out of lockdown, I am asking you to consider that, unfortunately, not everybody has the luxury of this choice, especially if they’re vulnerable or caring for someone who is.

• So, the sun may be shining, but if you don’t need pop out – consider waiting a little until it’s a bit quieter.
• While you’re planning how to watch the football, support your team from home and only with the people you live with, or those in your support bubble.
• And this Father’s Day, show your Dad how much you care by calling him to catch up, or meeting from a safe distance.

Together, we can help keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and see Merseyside’s infection rate come down as fast as possible.

Consider others, together, for Merseyside

Sefton residents are being invited to join celebrations of Father’s Day on Sunday 21 June.

Two local clergy, Simon Renison and Nathan Thorpe will each be taking to Twitter and Facebook to celebrate Father’s Day and also to remember those dads who have passed away as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 4pm from Southport Crematorium  and at 5pm from Thornton Garden of Rest , they will introduce themselves and explain the role of the videos before giving their reading of a poem or a psalm.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services said:“The Government’s Coronavirus guidelines have meant that families have been unable to come together to commemorate loved ones who have died while others will be unable to celebrate Father’s Day together this weekend.

“These virtual events have been devised as a way of sharing a message of hope, care and respect through which families across our Borough can come together on Sunday.”

People can find the messages on Sefton Council’s Facebook page.

Cllr John Fairclough added: “I hope these simple messages will provide comfort and consolation to Sefton residents who have lost loved ones before or during the pandemic.”

Sefton Council is seeking feedback from residents in the Netherton area on a proposal to construct 70 new homes and apartments at Buckley Hill Lane, Netherton.

Through its housing development company Sandway Homes Limited, the Council is proposing the development to the east of Buckley Hill Lane on the former Z Blocks land brownfield site.

Letters have been sent to local residents to let them know about the consultation which, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions and the Government’s advice on social distancing, will take place online.

You can find out more about the Buckley Hill proposals here.

People have until the end of Friday 10 July,2020 to provide feedback on the proposals by emailing buckleyhilllane@pegasusgroup.co.uk.

All comments will be considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into the final design and layout of the site before the proposal is submitted for planning permission.

Anyone who is unable to access the proposals online can write to Sefton Council’s consultation agents, Pegasus Group, at Buckley Hill Lane Consultation, Pegasus Group, Queens House, Queen Street, Manchester M2 5HT. Or they can email buckleyhilllane@pegasusgroup.co.uk

The proposed development forms part of Sefton’s Local Plan, which was adopted in April 2017, and is an element of the Council’s commitment to improving the availability of housing stock across the Borough.

A previous consultation on this site undertaken in July 2019.

Young people from Sefton are being invited to join the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Youth Advisory Group

Open to young people aged from 13 to 18 or 25 if they have special educational needs and/or a disability, the group will be part of the City Region’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on young people.

Feedback from the new group will be used to inform policy-making as the city region starts to rebuild after the Coronavirus pandemic. It will also be used for Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s discussions with Government in response to the significant social and economic challenges caused by the crisis.

Established during a virtual meeting on Wednesday 3 June where young people from across the city region discussed their experiences of the Coronavirus with the Metro Mayor, the group will consider and advise on a host of other relevant issues. These will include employment, skills, the environment, culture, transport, mental health and wellbeing.

Fourteen-year-old Alex Leedham who took part in the virtual conversation and is planning to join the Metro Mayor’s Advisory Group said: “I’m concerned about how long it is going to take for our schools and extra-curricular activities such as drama groups or sport to recover from this crisis and consequently how that is going to affect me and other young people as we look towards careers, apprenticeships and further education.

“I welcome the opportunity to have my opinions heard as a young person planning my future.”

Cllr John Joseph Kelly, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding said: “Coronavirus has had and is having a huge impact on the lives of our young people and we will all be dealing with its after-effects for a long time so it is vital that they are able to play an active role in shaping Sefton’s and the City Region’s future.

“I would urge any young people who want to have a say about how they want their world to look beyond Covid-19 to get involved.”

Find out more including how to join the Metro Mayor’s Youth Advisory Group.

Or you can email education@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Too often young people are excluded from the debate when politicians are making decisions. Yet they have to live with the consequences of those choices the longest.

“As Metro Mayor, I want to do things differently and ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear when it comes to shaping the future of our region.”

Find out more including how to join the Metro Mayor’s Youth Advisory Group.