Stanley High School has confirmed that 2 “Covid cases linked to the school” have been reported. OTS has been contacted by several parents who said that the entirety of Year 11 has been sent home. The report from Stanley is the second time in 7 days that a Southport-based school has confirmed that someone connected with their premises has tested positive, after Merefield School in Ainsdale temporarily shut completely last week. OTS is also investigating unconfirmed reports that a third school has been informed of a positive covid test. A statement on Stanley High School’s Facebook page said: “We have…
Author: James Cave
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced a host of new coronavirus restrictions for Merseyside yesterday following a drastic rise in new cases throughout the region. Here’s what the new restrictions mean for Southport are the surrounding areas: What are the new rules? Residents in Merseyside, Warrington, and Lancashire will be prevented from socialising with anyone who does not live in their household or social bubble in homes or gardens. Venues in the hospitality industry are limited to table service only and will be forced to closed between 10pm and 5am every day until restrictions are lifted. Residents are also advised to…
Anti-racism groups held a peaceful ‘Refugees Welcome’ demonstration on the steps of the Town Hall yesterday. A number of speakers gave speeches promoting tolerance and defending refugees through a megaphone. A planned opposition far-right ‘anti-immigrant’ march organised by demonstrators with known EDL connections attracted just eight people, who were invited to vacate the town by police following a dispersal order. The group was also countered by the Merseyside Anti-Facist Network. A heavy police presence around the Town Centre was visible throughout Saturday morning. Several officers stood watch over the Refugees Welcome meet, while officers could also be spotted guarding the…
Hospital bosses have been forced to deny a claim from West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper that the Children’s A+E department at Ormskirk will close permanently overnight. A statement has been issued by the Trust in response to the claim that the department “will now permanently close from 10pm each evening.” The department has shut its doors from 10pm each night since April, with emergency paediatrics patients being diverted to Alder Hey. In August OTS News was the first media outlet to ask the Trust when the department was to fully reopen. While preparing that piece, it was alleged to OTS…
Merseyside residents are reporting that they were told that the nearest Covid-19 testing centre was in 250 miles away in Fife. While Sefton’s two walk-in test centres, Southport and Bootle – both managed by the Department for Health, have appointment capacity, it appears to be laboratory processing which is preventing appointments. When reporters from OTS News tried on two different occasions to select a Covid-19 testing centre, the two nearest options presented were Telford and Wallasey. There is also a shortage of home testing kits throughout England. NHS testing boss Sarah-Jane Marsh said: “Can I please offer my heartfelt apologies…
Sefton Council have spoken out after numerous signs promoting social distancing measures through the Covid-19 outbreak have been vandalised. In Southport Town Centre dozens of floor signs on pavements have had denials and conspiracy theories scrawled over them, while a tourist information sign in Ainsdale has been vandalised twice. A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “We are aware that public and private signage, designed to encourage social distancing and keep our communities safe, has been vandalised in Southport Town Centre. “As well as protecting individual businesses and their customers, these temporary measures are there to support our communities to help…
Tickets have gone on sale for another Southport FC away friendly. The Port will travel to Warrington Town, managed by former Port boss Paul Carden on Tuesday 1st September. Tickets are available from the Warrington Town website and cost £6 for adults, £3 for concessions and £1 for juniors. 600 spectators will be permitted to watch the fixture. Southport take on Marine at the Marine Travel Arena on Wednesday which will be Southport’s first game in front of spectators since the Covid-19 lockdown. The Yellows will also take on Barrow in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Pure Stadium this coming…
Tomorrow’s scheduled friendly fixture at the Pure Stadium between Southport FC and Huddersfield Town has been cancelled following Huddersfield’s latest COVID-19 test results. Huddersfield have confirmed there have been a small number of positive tests for COVID-19 during the latest round of testing at Canalside. The individuals concerned cannot be named due to medical confidentiality, but will now self-isolate in line with government protocol. Port were looking forward to welcoming the EFL Championship side to the Pure Stadium in a highly anticipated fixture which had been due to be live streamed to supporters. Huddersfield Town is now under the ownership…
Marine FC are expected to announce a friendly with Southport FC on Tuesday 25th August which could be the Sangrounder’s first game with spectators since the Covid-19 lockdown. Ticket numbers would be limited to 200, with the friendly due to take place at the Marine Travel Arena in Crosby. However, there is no guarantee that away fans would be permitted into the stadium. New government advice says that clubs from Step 3 and below, which includes Marine but not Southport, can prepare to host spectators at their home grounds. In a statement on Marine’s website, the Crosby club said: “Following…
Dan Rix of Lord Street’s Master Barber’s Shop has completed a 1300-mile motorcycle ride around the UK in aid of the Make-A-Wish foundation. BarbersRide started in 2017 and sees barbers from across the UK ride around the country raising money for the charity. The ride has raised over £39,000 for charity since its inception. This year’s event started in Southport at Master Barbers and rode on to Llanelli, Bournemouth, Leigh-On-Sea, Northampton and Baildon. The multi-award-winning shop is run by Dan along with his father Robert who has been involved in the industry since 1962. You can donate to Make-A-Wish through…
OTS Exclusive: Hospital chiefs unable to confirm when children’s unit will resume normal hours The A&E department has now been closed overnight for 4 months Children are being taken to Alder Hey by Ambulance in a 40 mile round trip from Southport Hospital chiefs are unable to confirm when the children’s A+E at Ormskirk Hospital will reopen overnight, four months after the partial closure of the department. The department has been closed from 10pm to 8am daily since April. Children requiring an emergency ambulance response are currently being taken to Alder Hey during these hours. S&O NHS Trust says that…
Thousands of students from across the region will receive their A-Level results today, despite not sitting a single exam. However last-minute changes to grading are causing confusion after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson moved to avoid a similar outcry following results in Scotland, where an estimated 125,000 results were downgraded. The Department for Education announced a last-minute “triple lock” on A-Level results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Students will receive results that are the highest from estimated grades, mocks or exams they might choose to take later in the year. Schools and colleges across the region will also distribute results…
A 52 year old man has been arrested for possession of an offensive weapon following an incident on Lord Street, Southport yesterday afternoon (6th August). At around 3:30pm, a member of the public approached two Police Community Support Officers PCSO’s, who were on foot patrol in the town centre. She told them that she had seen a man in possession of a knuckleduster. The PCSO’s located the man, found the knuckleduster and detained him. He was arrested for possession of the knuckleduster and further arrested on suspicion of making threats to cause criminal damage, relating to a matter from earlier…
Sefton Council have moved to clarify the location of the Covid-19 test centre at the Town Hall, after several reports celebrated a change of location. The entrance to the centre was originally planned to be via Cambridge Arcade, but this was moved to Corporation Street after pressure from stallholders. A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “The location of the testing centre has always been Southport Town Hall and this remains the case. “Sefton Council has worked hard with Deloitte to amend the site plans to change the entrance to the Town Hall from the One Stop Shop to Corporation Street…
97 Southport businesses have signed up to the Government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme. You can use the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme at a participating establishment: – to get a 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in (up to a maximum of £10 discount per diner) – every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 3 and 31 August – as many times as you like You do not need a voucher to use this scheme and you can use it at the same time as other offers and discounts. There is no minimum…
Lifeboat crews were involved in different searches for 12 missing children on a busy Friday at Ainsdale Beach. Crowds flocked to the seaside on the hottest day of the year, putting a strain on the local road infrastructure and emergency services. Ainsdale Beach car park was closed for several hours due to the amount of visitors to the beach. In an update through the day, Sefton Police said: “[…] two children have been reported missing at Ainsdale Beach and Southport Beach. Both fortunately have been found. A third young child has also been found alone in the Southport seafront area.…
The North West Film Archive is asking the public to submit videos of their experience of the Covid-19 pandemic to preserve for future generations. The NWFA, part of the Manchester Metropolitan University, is a public archive for films about life in the North West of England. The NWFA said: “We want to create as wide-ranging a picture as possible of what lockdown life was really like in the North West of England during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, so we’re looking to collect your videos of these unprecedented times.” “We’re living through a unique period in our lifetimes – social distancing,…
Birkdale Park Nursing Home has temporarily halted visiting amid concerns of a second wave of Coronavirus, after areas of Greater Manchester had additional lockdown restrictions imposed. Jonathan Cunningham MBE, Registered Care Manager at Birkdale Park Nursing Home and Chair of the North and South Sefton Care Home Group dispatched an email to relatives this morning confirming that visiting sessions have been stopped, effective immediately. As of today residents from Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire are banned from meeting other households indoors. The restrictions do not cover Southport, but the proximity of regions showing increased Coronavirus cases…
A paramotor pilot has completed a dangerous landing stunt by Southport Pier. Video shows the pilot fly close to ground level along the sea wall, before narrowly clearing the Pier and landing. The footage was taken at approximately 20:30 on Tuesday evening. A local flight school called the move “extremely reckless and dangerous”. No licence is required to fly a paramotor but pilots are expected to follow relevant air law and safety guidelines.
A broken down train on the Merseyrail network is causing major disruption on the Northern Line this morning. Services from Southport to Hunts Cross are currently terminating at Liverpool Central. The broken down train is currently Stranded at Aigburth Station. National Rail said: “A broken down train at Aigburth means that trains are currently suspended between Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross. Some services between Southport and Hunts Cross have been cancelled throughout. “Disruption is expected until 08:00.”
Southport FC will return to competitive fixtures on Saturday, October 3rd. The Sandgrounder’s first competitive fixture will be in the Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round. Southport will play either 40 or 42 league fixtures, depending on how the clubs are split regionally into North and South divisions. The season start date was confirmed after a meeting of the National League Board. The final league match of the season will be 29th May 2021. The end of season playoffs are scheduled to take place in June 2021. It is still unconfirmed whether supporters will be permitted entry into the opening…
A family on a day out in sunny Southport got the fright of their lives today after their baby became trapped in their locked car. The family, from Manchester, were left in full-on panic mode after their car door closed with the keys, and more importantly their young baby, still inside. The vehicle was parked in a car park at Ocean Plaza next to Southport Pier. The car automatically locked and with a spare set over 30 miles away at home in Manchester, there was little that could be done. Luckily local firm Stanleys Security Ltd were on hand to…
Sefton Police have confirmed they have attended an incident this evening where it was found youths were attacking swans with stones in Botanic Gardens. Sefton Police said: “Whilst on patrol in Southport this evening (Sat 25th), one of the jobs Local Policing Team Officers were asked to attend was an incident where a group of youths were reported to have been throwing items at swans in Botanic Gardens and distressing the birds. “We were informed of the incident at 7:40PM and went straight to the park, but the youths described as responsible were not found. We had alerted the local…
A man is lucky to be alive this morning after being struck by a car on Lord Street in the early hours. Emergency services attended the incident at 3:15am to find a grey Volkswagen had collided with a member of the public. The incident occurred outside the Scarisbrick Hotel. The man was transported to Aintree Hospital for treatment. His injuries are believed to be serious but not life-threatening. A police spokesperson said: “A silver Volkswagen Golf car has struck a member of the public and enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances. “The member of the public was taken to…
Southport FC have announced they will play two pre-season friendlies away at Witton Albion and Nantwich Town. The Sandgrounders will play Witton Albion on Tuesday 11th of August and Nantwich Town on Saturday 5th of September. The club said on southportfc.net: “With the restrictions regarding Covid-19 evolving all the time, it remains to be seen whether our pre-season games will be played behind closed doors or how many, if any, can be held in public.“ “The club is in dialogue with the relevant authorities and other clubs as we look to finalise a full schedule so the players are ready…
Damien Moore joined with the Conservative Party in Parliament on Monday night in voting against measures that would protect the NHS in future trade deals. New Clause 17, which would have guaranteed the UK’s ability to control medicine prices, maintained the current level of patient data protection and assured NHS staff wages and rights was defeated in the House of Commons. 340 MPs, including Southport MP Damien Moore, voted against the amendment. 251 MPs voted in favour. New Clause 17, originally submitted by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and supported by the Labour Party, was a suggested amendment to the…
A number of patients were evacuated from treatment areas at Southport Hospital last night, as fire crews were called to investigate smoke coming from a roof space. Fire crews were called to the Southport & Formby District General Hospital at approximately 4.11am. Crews were on scene by 4.19am with three engines attending. A number of patients were evacuated to a safe space during the incident and the hospital temporarily ceased accepting emergency patients via ambulance. No actual fire was discovered during the incident. Southport & Ormskirk NHS Trust Chief Operating Officer Steve Christian said: “I want to thank everyone for…
This Friday, June 24th at 7.00pm, the Merseyside Rotary Clubs situated North of the Mersey are holding a Virtual Variety Show to raise vital funds for Queenscourt Hospice and Woodlands Hospice. The show is being broadcast on Zoom and comprises a whole host of entertainers from Classical singers, Choirs, Rock and Pop Bands, comedians and other acts. All acts and organisers are giving their time completely free of charge and the show will be family-friendly. Tickets are available from rotaryvarietyshow.eventbrite.co.uk for £10 plus a booking fee. So do something different this Friday, enjoy a great show and support the two…
Dangerous anti-mask campaigners have daubed potentially life-threatening graffiti on a busy main road in Southport. The sign which usually boasts a tourism promotion has been covered in graffiti reading ‘masks > vaccine > microchip. Please wake up’ in an apparent attempt to claim that the government-mandated wearing of masks to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus will lead to an Orwellian style microchipping future. There is zero evidence that any coronavirus vaccine will be used by the government to microchip members of the public. The baffling message has been seen by thousands of people driving in and out of the…
Thousands of pounds has already been raised for a young Southport boy suffering from a rare form of Leukaemia. Lewis Wright has recently been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, news which has left his loving family reeling in shock. Lewis now finds himself currently in Alder Hey children’s hospital. AML is a rare type of cancer, with around 3,100 people diagnosed with it each year in the UK. The risk of developing AML increases with age. It’s most common in people over 75. His family have now set up a donation page to raise funds to give Lewis a special…