GP surgeries and pharmacies across West Lancashire are starting to vaccinate thousands of people against flu, whilst ensuring that coronavirus social distancing measures are followed. This year will be the most comprehensive flu programme in UK history, with more people eligible for the free NHS vaccine than ever. If you are eligible, please do not call your practice, your GP practice will be in touch to let you know the plans for you to get your vaccine. Those eligible for a free flu vaccination this year are: people who are on the shielded patient list and members of their household…
Author: Community Contributor
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) will be offering vital fire safety advice to thousands of over 65s this week as part of a national campaign aimed at making our homes safer. Each year, Older Person’s Day is 1st October – an annual campaign MFRS runs in support of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Home Safety Week. Over the last eight years, MFRS has visited close to 10,000 people over the age of 65 on that day alone. Each year as part of the campaign, firefighters, advocates and volunteers from all departments of MFRS visit more than 1,000 homes and…
Every year in November, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust’s chaplaincy and spiritual care service offers a memorial event for the remembrance of loved ones. This year, because of the Covid-19 restrictions, it is not going to be possible to offer an event where people gather in large numbers. However, alternative plans for the hospital and the community to remember loved ones are in place. Trust Chaplain Martin Abrams explains: “During the early months of the pandemic the rainbow became a symbol of solidarity and support for the NHS. At its most simple, colourful pictures were put in windows to…
Liverpool Christmas Ice Festival is back with a bang this winter, with a host of exciting attractions as well as Gold Standard health and safety measures to ensure a fabulous COVID-19 safe day out for all the family. The festive event again takes place at Pier Head, which will be transformed into a winter wonderland with family-friendly attractions including a covered outdoor ice rink, ice slide, ice-themed rides, funfair, food stalls and Christmas market. This year’s ice rink will be the biggest-ever, but no increase in capacity means there’ll be even more space for skaters to enjoy themselves, as well…
Searching for housing in London often turns into a real full-time job: it can take weeks to find a dream apartment. We’ll explain where to look for your future home and what pitfalls to fear for those who want to find housing themselves. How to start looking for rental apartments in London? Check out these popular districts: this is what you want to decide on in advance. Most of the celebs living here can be found at networthspot.com who can afford some of the exclusive luxurious living spaces here. Stratford Stratford is a neighbourhood in east London famous for hosting the…
This Land is an ambitious multi layered portrayal of Tony Heywood’s and Alison Condie’s experience and time spent within Sefton’s constantly evolving coastline. The exhibition splices personal memory with local fables and engages with the physical reality and geological forms unique to the Sefton coast. This Land presents an abstract, otherworldly rendition of a uniquely special environment. This Land is a multi-media exhibition interweaving film, sculpture, painting, music and botanical field study in order to create a personal portrait of the Sefton coastline. Heywood & Condie spend much of their time in Formby in order to explore and dwell within…
Residents in Litherland have Come Together with Sefton Council and prolific artist Paul Curtis to give an iconic Beatles mural a new lease of life. Yesterday (Tuesday, September 22) essential maintenance works began on the gable end of a property on Croxteth Avenue in Litherland after it began to show signs of natural deterioration. Owing to the nature of these works, a partial section of the internationally renowned Beatles mural, which is displayed on both the gable end and garden wall of the house, would need to be removed. Understandably saying ‘Let It Be’ to the permanent removal of the mural…
Slimmers in Southport are making a ‘comeback’ as their Slimming World groups reopens, with local consultants, Fiona, Liz and Viv who are excited to announce that they are now running groups across the week at the Fleetwood Hesketh, Fylde Road. The social club is now a hub of activity for Slimming World members with groups running Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM and Saturday AM. Viv has been running a successful group on a Saturday morning for a number of years at the Fleetwood Hesketh and Fiona will now be running the Wednesday morning group. Liz’s group in Crossens has been unable…
It’s that time of year again when Woodlands are stocking up on food and bedding for their animals to keep them warm and fed over the winter months. They are therefore reintroducing their Buy A Bale Appeal, which allows you to donate one of three amounts, depending on how much you are happy to spend, which will go towards the increased bills the charity incurs over the winter. The animal charity can spend in the region of £3,400 annually on hay and straw for their animals with the majority of this needed during winter because the animals spend more time…
Four friends have completed a gruelling 80-mile coast-to-coast walk across northern England to raise money for a wildlife charity. Donald Gordon, Phil Morrison, Mike Cooke and David Seymour set off from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria on Sunday (September 13), following the Hadrian’s Wall trail all the way to Wallsend in Tyne and Wear, arriving the following Sunday (September 20). The self-styled “Coastbusters” have raised £1,400 so far for The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, which looks after 38 nature reserves across the North West. The charity protects wildlife and wild places on land and sea across Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Donald,…
This exhibition celebrates the restoration of a painting given to The Atkinson in the late 19th century. Due to its poor condition, The Triumph of Art by Nicolas Pierre Loir has not been exhibited in over a century. The Triumph of Art by Nicolas Pierre Loir was created as an allegory of the arts, a celebration of music, architecture, sculpture, portrait and history painting. The painting pays homage to Jean Baptiste Colbert, a major patron of the arts and a powerful minister who helped Louis XIV rule over France in the 1600s. An exhibition contextualizing the newly restored painting has…
Lyndhurst Road has caught the attention of local campaigner Lee Durkin this week after he received numerous complaints citing the road, and roads in the surrounding area; such as Bedford Road, Longford Road and Kew Road, as problem areas for speeding. Lee had this to say, “Though there are some traffic calming measures in this area of Birkdale, they haven’t prevented Lyndhurst Road from becoming a hot-spot for dangerous driving. “The roads around Bedford Park are also narrow due to the large number of vehicles often parked along the busy residential streets. “I’d like to see an investigation done by…
GP surgeries and pharmacies across Sefton are starting to vaccinate thousands of people against flu, whilst ensuring that coronavirus social distancing measures are followed. This year will be the most comprehensive flu programme in UK history, with more people eligible for the free NHS vaccine than ever. If you are eligible, please do not call your practice, your GP practice will be in touch to let you know the plans for you to get your vaccine. Those eligible for a free flu vaccination this year are: people who are on the shielded patient list and members of their household all…
Residents across Sefton who find themselves in financial difficulty following the end of the Government’s furlough scheme may be able to seek support from Sefton Council. The local authority’s Emergency Limited Assistance Scheme (ELAS) is available to support local residents who are experiencing severe hardship, a disaster or emergency. Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “We understand that when this scheme comes to an end there will be a number of people who will feel directly impacted and in need of temporary support. “If you need urgent help with the costs of food, winter…
Burglaries Between the 3rd September and the 16th September 2020 burglaries or attempted burglaries have taken place in the following locations: Albert Road (garage), Wavell Avenue, Bibby Road, Everton Road, Bury Road, Dunbar Crescent (garage) Attempted burglaries 1, Property left insecure 1 Scams A variation on a previous scam has occurred in Sefton. A resident received an automated phone call telling her that a court case had been brought against her concerning her National Insurance number. She was told that if she failed to contact them her National Insurance number would be cancelled and it would appear that she was…
Sight loss charity Galloway’s is using National Eye Health Week to promote the importance of good eye health and the need for regular tests. The Lancashire-based organisation warn that people should call their optician and get advice from an eye health professional if they experience a sudden onset of any of the following symptoms: Loss of vision Loss of peripheral (side) vision Blurred vision Pain with or without discharge Light sensitivity Double vision Black spots or flashes of light in your vision Curtain-like disappearance of vision Disturbances in your vision New floating bits in your vision Eye injury or pain…
SMS payments are increasingly becoming popular on online casinos. They are fast, safe, and easy to complete. All you need is a mobile device and an account at an SMS casino. And then you can fund your account instantly even when you don’t have money right away. Like online stores, gambling websites give players two options: pay through a phone bill or a prepaid card. The first option lets you play on credit while you must have money to use the latter. All the same, here are seven helpful tips for playing online casino games while using SMS for payments.…
It’s always a good time to take up a new sport! Getting involved in sport is a great way to keep healthy, make new friends, and give yourself years of enjoyment, and there are lots to choose from. We always hear about the so-called mainstream sports, though, so what about the ones that get less media attention? If you’re considering a new sport but haven’t quite found it yet, then perhaps one of these can become your new passion. Table Tennis If you’ve ever watched table tennis on TV, then you might have seen some of the lightning-fast rallies and…
The United Kingdom is one of the biggest markets for the gambling industry. This is mainly because most forms of gambling are legal in the country. The UK is simply one of the most welcoming markets for the gambling industry. This is why the best UK online casinos carry plenty of casino games and other forms of gambling like sports betting, paid and accessible free lottery sites from all over the world. The locals are simply fond of gambling whether it’s through playing slot machine games or by betting on the FIFA or English Premier League fixtures or matches. The…
Sefton is among 274 councils which will receive emergency funding, the Housing Secretary announced today. Sefton Council will receive £522,561 to provide accommodation for people at risk of homelessness as part of the Government’s commitment to end rough sleeping. During the height of the pandemic, the Government launched an incredible national effort that found secure accommodation for the vast majority of rough sleepers, helping to protect lives and prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. They are now building on that progress with £91.5 million for councils to provide ongoing support and emergency accommodation for rough sleepers. This includes helping…
Sefton Council and local authorities across the Liverpool City Region have written to the care sector including residential care home owners and managers to update them on measures required by the significant increases in COVID-19 confirmed cases across Merseyside. Letters have also been sent to schools setting out new requirements for visiting adults. The Government has placed the wider Merseyside area on the “area of concern watch list” meaning that our testing data is being reviewed daily by the Government and Public Health England and if increases continue, restrictions could be imposed. Therefore, to protect their vulnerable residents, Merseyside’s Councils…
Sefton Council has joined forces with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to build upon the work that has already been done to make sure the Borough’s businesses are COVID-secure. From Monday, (21 September) to help tackle the spread of coronavirus, spot checks will be carried out on businesses in the Borough to ensure they are managing their COVID-19 response and control measures in line with current government guidelines. The HSE will be supporting the Council’s Environmental Health enforcement teams’ local efforts to help protect staff, customers and visitors from infection. Checks, in the form of phone calls and follow-up…
Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health Margaret Jones has appealed to Sefton residents to show restraint and not to ‘party hard’ before new coronavirus restrictions are introduced from Tuesday. Mrs Jones said: “Of course, with this news of next week’s further restrictions some people will be tempted to go out over the weekend and celebrate before they kick in but I would urge them not to as they could be putting themselves and their vulnerable relatives at risk. “As people party more, they tend to become less inhibited and can forget the need for social distancing, mask wearing and frequent…
Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher has responded to today’s news that the Government has announced new restrictions for Merseyside and Sefton from Tuesday 22 September, in the light of rising numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the City Region. Cllr Maher said: “I know people will be concerned at this news but with infection rates rising in people of all ages across our communities, it is important that we all make every effort to restrict the spread of the virus and these new measures will support that. “This means not socialising with other people outside of their own households…
You may remember back in July Woodlands Animal Sanctuary issued a plea on behalf of Bobby, the gentle black and white gentleman with no tail for a loving new home? Well, he was reserved not long after that and went to his new home last month. The team are thrilled with the home Bobby has found for himself and they could not have wished for a more wonderful family for him. Given he was struggling with sanctuary life both the Woodlands team and his new family were surprised and relieved to see him settle in so quickly, being described as…
The Guest House, Union St, Southport recently received the Southport & West Lancashire Campaign for Real Ale Branch, North Merseyside, Pub of the Year 2020 award voted for by local branch members. Owing to Covid 19 restrictions the usual presentation with many branch members and regulars present was not possible but it is hoped to do a more formal presentation at a later date to licensee Gail Heyes and her valued staff. The Pub of the Year award is a recognition of the quality and variety of traditional beers served in a safe environment and the hospitality provided in this…
The region’s specialist cancer hospital has opened two new wards specifically for patients with blood cancer who need inpatient care and treatment. The blood cancer wards at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool include a stem cell transplant unit, isolation rooms, and a special air filtration system to reduce any risk of infection in people whose immune systems may be vulnerable. The opening of the new wards – which welcomed their first patients yesterday (15th September) – is particularly timely because September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are the fifth most commonly diagnosed…
Inconsiderate residents in the Smollet Street area of Bootle have dumped piles of rubbish in back alleyways, just hours before officers from Sefton Council were verbally abused for raising the issue of rubbish responsibilities. Both the local authority’s Cleansing and Environmental Enforcement Officers, as well as colleagues from Neighbourhoods, attended a rear gated alleyway in Smollet Street, Bootle on Monday, September 14 following complaints over alleged flytipping. Officers attended and removed tonnes of waste from the area, as well as collecting vital evidence to identify those responsible for the dumping of rubbish. However just a matter of hours later, officers…
Many people have come across the term cryptocurrency but lack an understanding of its meaning. Some people may be interested in investing in the digital currency but haven’t done so due to lack of information. Yet, there are many myths and falsehoods peddled around about bitcoin by people who lack enough info or don’t want the digital currency. Cryptocurrency is an internet-based type of money that has a virtual existence. The use of cryptography makes cryptocurrency safe and challenging to counterfeit. Cryptocurrency applies a decentralized system known as blockchain technology. This piece aims to offer you essential information about sectors…
A courageous 12-year-old Southport boy described as “Mr Positive” is undergoing his second round of chemotherapy after he was diagnosed with leukaemia. While his friends at Birkdale High School have returned to class after months of coronavirus lockdown, Lewis Wright has been undergoing treatment for his blood cancer at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. People and businesses in Southport and across the North West are now rallying round to raise money to cheer up a young boy who is going through such a gruelling ordeal. The youngster’s family have been organising a fundraising appeal and raffle to help him…