Genuine concern or blatant political engineering? Mr Moore seems to be ignoring the fact that CARES (Coalition Against Removal of kids Emergency & other Services) took the petitions they had raised to No. 10 Downing Street. These should of course already be officially logged. Therefore, is this MP completely dismissing the hard-fought efforts of local campaigners and many residents from 2003 onwards? Why has it taken Southport’s MP Damien Moore 5 years to get interested in the loss of our vital Children’s A&E services? Sadly even this large CARES-based petition was not enough to get the authorities to return our…
Author: Pat Regan
The last Birkdale and Cambridge Walks craft fairs of the year occur this Saturday and Sunday. BIRKDALE TABLETOP VINTAGE AND CRAFT FAIR Saturday 3rd December, 10am till 3pm sees the Birkdale Tabletop, Vintage and Craft Fair at St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Road, Birkdale. You can peruse numerous different rooms exhibiting a wide array of items, due to the large number of delightful stalls held within. CAMBRIDGE WALKS FAIR Sunday 4th December from 11am to 4pm. Cambridge Walks in the heart of Southport Town Centre (accessed via Eastbank Street or Chapel Street) is the base for this popular craft fair. A veritable cornucopia of…
The Market is based at ‘We Grow’ in Churchtown, which is a social enterprise run by Autism Initiatives that provides supported work placements for young autistic people to gain real work skills and build their confidence for future employment. We grow and sell vegetables, fruit, and herbs from the onsite shop in Churchtown and deliver locally. Autism Initiatives is a national charity formed in Southport in 1972, celebrating its 50th year, and supports autistic people of all ages, their families and carers across the UK and Ireland.
Carers UK has published some important research revealing how unpaid carers are struggling in the cost-of-living crisis. A survey of more than 12,400 unpaid carers found that: 27% are already struggling with their bills 16% are in debt as a result of their caring role 16% are using bank overdrafts to cope 8% are using food banks Carers UK calls on the Government to make radical improvements to the Carer’s Allowance (currently £69.70 per week) to meet this situation, and their full report can be accessed on the following link: https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/campaigns/cost-of-living-crisis While Silver Voices supports the recommendations, Carers UK ignores…
The irresponsible mini-Budget of last week will inevitably lead to a new age of austerity with savage public expenditure cuts across the board. This may be exactly what some of the extreme ideologues behind the Truss Government want: a ‘small state’, widespread privatisation and taking on the public sector trade unions. Even before the mini-Budget chaos in the markets, we were facing major public service cutbacks. In August, the Independent Institute of Fiscal Studies pointed to a £44 billion gap in public expenditure totals over the next three years as the plans had been based on the inflation rate of…
Southport MP Damien Moore is apparently launching a new petition to return the children’s A &E back to Southport. https://www.otsnews.co.uk/mp-launches-campaign-to-bring-childrens-ae-back-to-southport/ What has happened to make Mr Moore decide to launch a petition now? He has been the town’s MP since June 2017. Has he only just realised there is no urgent care locally for children? It is now almost twenty years after these vital hospital services were first taken away. Don’t get me wrong here, I applaud ‘anybody’ who can work to return our services. I sincerely hope that as the town’s MP he can find the right people to…
Press Statement: Budget ‘Forgets’ 12.5 Million Older People: While billions of pounds are being borrowed to fill the pockets of bankers, corporations, businesses and the wealthiest working age people in society, the income of older people was not considered by the Chancellor at all. The majority of state pensioners pay little or no tax and national insurance There was no confirmation that the Triple Lock would be restored to the state pension and Silver Voices had hoped that the increase due next April would be brought forward to 1 October The health and social care levy has been scrapped with…
Pictures from the show – taken on Sunday 11 September, 2022. Additional information: https://www.facebook.com/southportclassicandspeed
This Saturday 20th August, starting at 10am until 3pm. The venue is St Peters Church, St Peters Road, Birkdale, Southport, PR8 4BY. Is your little one missing pre-school/nursery during the holidays? Story Time… New to the fair is a short story time, with Cath (local stall holder) reading a selection of short stories/songs. Your child can bring their own teddy bear or choice of soft toy to listen and bring the stories to life, something very magical and totally free! Ideal for pre-school and primary school age. The story time event starts at 12 noon, and we please ask if…
The Maker’s Market is a super monthly event, hosting lots of talented local artisans showcasing their handmade crafts and goods. Please come along and visit us for a special gift or a treat for yourself. You can relax in our pop-up cafe too for freshly made light lunches and homemade cakes. Holy Trinity Church Hall, Rosemary Lane, Formby – this Saturday 6th August, 11am to 4pm.
More images from the second day of the show… Lovely weather with warm sunshine greeted the crowds today, at the Southport Air Show. The Black Eagles Display Team cut through the thin clouds. Below: The ever-popular Spitfires put on a fine display over the shore. Below: The P-51 Mustang, the Cadillac of the Skies. The Strikemaster. One of the Blades Team. The scene at Birkdale Beach. No Air Show would ever really be complete without the skills of the amazing Red Arrows. With the crowds and aircraft now finally gone, peace once more reigns supreme and local wildlife rediscovers solitude.…
The weather held out and the planes arrived to thrill the crowds. The famous Red Arrows showing their class… Below: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, consisting of a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane. Below: The old and the new – a Typhoon tails a Spitfire. Below: The Black Eagles Display Team. Earlier this morning at RAF Woodvale. Above, a P-51 Mustang and below a Spitfire.
Visit the Craft Market today (26th June). 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. Lydiate Parish Hall, 288 Southport Road, Lydiate, L31 4EQ. Including a Kids’ Corner and refreshments available. More: https://www.facebook.com/birkdalecraftfair https://www.facebook.com/Magickal-Gifts-and-Treats-527228217682125
Classic Car & Motorcycle Transport Fundraising Event Southport Auto Centre (Wright Street, Southport) held their annual fundraising event today, to help raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support & North West Blood Bikes. A large selection of vintage classic cars & motorcycles was on display. Photos credit: Jason Regan More: https://www.facebook.com/events/799202227703138?ref=newsfeed
Craft Market at St Peter’s Church Hall – located in St Peter’s Road, Birkdale, on Saturday 18 June. There will be a variety of exciting craft items on offer. More details:https://www.facebook.com/birkdalecraftfair
A rare pair of Black Swans have been seen on the Marine Lake in Southport. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust previously recorded a maximum of nine breeding pairs in the UK in 2001, with an estimate of 43 feral birds in 2003–2004. The first specimen was brought to the UK in 1791. They are regularly seen in wildlife parks in the UK, but rarely spotted in the wild. Black Swans are a native Australian species, notably in Western Australia where they are the state bird. OTS News has reported sightings of this species in the area before: https://www.otsnews.co.uk/incredibly-rare-swan-sighted-in-southport/
Dramatic skies developed this week over the Ainsdale sand dunes. The storm was seen moving in along the beach from the north. Before long the system had reached the old Toad Hall area. The dark ominous clouds moved over the hills towards Formby.
Crowds around the Marine Lake this weekend enjoyed the unseasonably temperate sunshine. The warm temperatures this March in the UK have been welcome and reportedly higher than some foreign holiday resorts. Nevertheless, the Met Office is predicting snow in some parts of the UK. They say: It’s a notable change from warm to colder weather, with Tuesday’s cold front bringing the risk of hill snow before wintry showers follow.” Much of the UK is expected to freeze into April. Temperatures are anticipated to nosedive to minus 4C in the north.
In the turbulent aftermath of storms Dudley and Eunice, this afternoon saw Storm Franklin roll into Southport. A tree was washed up under the pier, with the force of the strengthening storm.
An enthusiastic windsurfer takes on raging waters at Ainsdale, this week. Going out to chase the stormy Irish Sea waves. Finding the heavy swells. Back safely on terra firma. Additional images: https://www.picfair.com/users/PatReganphotography Stay safe on the waves: https://howtowindsurf101.com/safety-in-windsurfing/
Subsequent to yesterday’s Ainsdale Beach incident, social media has been alive with claims about a dog attack. https://www.otsnews.co.uk/ambulance-and-green-sefton-services-called-to-ainsdale-beach-following-incident/ One OTS News Facebook poster in fact uploaded comments with pictures of an injured dog, alleged to be the victim of the attack. OTS News has additional photos etc of what is currently suspected to be the alleged dog fight incident. There was indeed a lot of shouting with people also panicking at the time, before the brown dog appeared to run off. Safe at last after a cold dip in the Irish Sea… NB. Photo quality is not great as this…
Green Sefton Services attended an incident on Ainsdale Beach today, shortly after high tide. Witnesses stated that following a lot of shouting an individual had apparently waded out into the stormy waves, possibly seeking to help a washed-away dog. A Sefton ranger’s vehicle arrived and the person, who was by now lying on the wet sand, was helped to their feet. Shortly afterwards, an ambulance attended the scene at the beach entrance.
Recent storms took a heavy toll on many trees in Ainsdale Nature Reserve’s woodlands. Mature pines appear to have suffered the most. Storms Arwen and later Barra did significant damage in the Ainsdale reserve. Above: Old fallen pines, logged and being transported away. Bad news for the local squirrels and birdlife – hundreds of pines now stacked up along the tracks.
Southport Charity Christmas Parade, The biggest vehicle light parade in the North West, donating toys to children’s organisations. https://www.facebook.com/SouthportChristmasParade Previously: https://www.otsnews.co.uk/pictures-southport-charity-xmas-parade-2019/
Ainsdale’s LibDem councillor Lynne Thompson has written to Sefton Council about green bin complaints. Her memo (as below) is being widely shared on social media. Ainsdale Green Bin Complaints – Communication Sent To Sefton Council Head of Service. ‘I am contacting you about the extremely poor communication regarding the decision made to bring forward last Green Bin collection scheduled for 29th November. While I fully appreciate the reasons behind the decision, I believe the chaos that has ensued could have easily been avoided with a little more thought about communication. I received an email on 14 October informing me of…
More images from tonight’s seasonal Yuletide event fun in Formby.
An accident occurred this afternoon on the roundabout of Lord Street and Duke Street. Vehicles involved appear to be a Nissan and a Land Rover Discovery.
The latest and possibly most socially divisive Universal Credit (UC) cut, is now threatening to plunge an immense number of families into various forms of poverty. Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushed his “levelling-up” credentials at the Tory Party Conference. This left many people wondering how such contradiction escaped the notice of those hooray henries cheering for this Ebenezer Scrooge-like PM. The UK Government’s controversial new strategy for economic recovery solidifies fragile class barriers and pushes the poorest families, who are already struggling, into deeper deprivation and debt. Moreover, experts have warned that child poverty was already rising before COVID-19. Poverty…
Southport’s Victoria Park, home of our famous Flower Show, today celebrated over a century of motoring history. Featuring Southport’s record-breaking motor sport legacy, the classics came out in style. The showpiece was a magnificent, themed exhibition of veteran, vintage, classic and contemporary cars from various historical periods. Thankfully, the autumn weather was lovely and the crowds flocked in to see the amazing array of vehicles. https://www.southportclassicandspeed.com/
Despite the showery weather, the UK Hotcars group gathered yesterday (3 Oct.) by the Marine Lake café. Photos credit: Jason Regan. UK Hotcars https://www.facebook.com/ukhotcars Dave Elsby – Mobile Motoring Services https://www.otsnews.co.uk/dave-elsby-mobile-motoring-services/