Author: Pat Regan

Mixed and rather chilly weather seemed to keep the town rather quiet this weekend. Nevertheless, cafe food and entertainment ensured that some people stayed around on Sunday. As usual, various types of swans were observed on the Marine Lake. Various transport options were also available. The message this weekend seems to have been to make the best of the sunshine while it lasts. Pat Regan © http://pat-regan.blogspot.com/ More… https://www.otsnews.co.uk/pictures-easter-sunday-crowds-southport/

News has broken that the UK’s shale gas commissioner Natascha Engel, a former Labour MP, has resigned. Ms Engel has claimed her departure was due to her ‘being throttled by rules preventing mini earthquakes.’ She has also stated that the government was “pandering to what we know to be myths and scare stories” about shale gas extraction. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48081314 Nevertheless, unlike the domesticated media, some folk are asking one searching question ‘Did she fall or was she pushed?’ Unearthed is Greenpeace’s journalism project. They have been investigating this woman’s actions. Engel has apparently admitted to habitually deleting correspondence from important meetings with…

Crowds of eager visitors invaded Southport seafront today to enjoy the Easter sunshine. As temperatures rose, many over-heated folks and a few ‘hot dogs’ decided to take the plunge at high tide, which was flooding in just after 1.00 pm. With it being Easter Sunday, any closed shops potentially missed out on a huge amount of passing trade. Some folk even tried to escape to Ireland but appeared to change their minds once past the pier. Others took a more leisurely mode of transport to reach the end of the pier. No shortage of trade at Pleasureland though… Raspberry syrup…

Kevin provides a professional mobile DJ and kids’ entertainer service for Southport, Liverpool, Wirral, Wigan and other Merseyside/ Lancashire areas. Professional sounds and lights, great selection of music from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, right up to today. Kevin has many years of experience and is famous for his popular theme nights and family parties. School and children’s parties welcome. Contact details: http://www.kevinlindendisco.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Kevin-Linden-Discos-and-entertainment-308369362542244/ kevinlindendisco@hotmail.com Call:  07919 892737

Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre was the venue for a Citroen 2CV event yesterday morning. The meeting was organised by Catherine Beardshaw and Andi Donaldson. Southport pals, Dave Elsby (Motor Engineer) and Jason Regan (Founder of Citroen 2CV Appreciation group) attended the event. Dave works on all manner of vehicles and can be contacted on the following numbers. Landline: 01704 507268. Mobile 07980 713661 Citroen 2CV Appreciation Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1710547292574642/ Cheshire Dragons 2CVGB North Wales & Cheshire https://www.facebook.com/groups/428192793974336/ More 2CVs last year. https://www.otsnews.co.uk/southport-lads-venture-forth-2cv-gb-registers-day/

For Southport folk of the older generation, the Grand National still stirs up wonderful memories of the superhorse Red Rum. He was a true champion greatly renowned for his jumping ability. He was also one of the more lucky ones as he never fell in 100 races. https://www.otsnews.co.uk/film-crews-descend-upon-southport-beach-ahead-of-a-red-rum-special/ Nevertheless, the Grand National has a more sinister side. Up for Review suffered a fatal injury in the National on Saturday after it was brought down at the first hurdle. The RSPCA stated: “The RSPCA is deeply saddened and very concerned to see that three horses, Forest Des Aigles, Crucial Role and…

The extremely pleasant February weather has resulted in a few striking sunsets. This was the scene at Ainsdale beach this evening. The last moments of the sinking sun mark the end of another day… Pat Regan © http://pat-regan.blogspot.com/  More https://www.otsnews.co.uk/solar-halo-spotted-southport-pier/ https://www.otsnews.co.uk/fiery-sunset-cold-irish-sea/

Marine authority training for potential pollution event on the Sefton Coastline This morning, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) commenced ‘Exercise Coldstart’ on Ainsdale’s shoreline to test their contractor response to a potential oil spillage event. Councillor Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We’re urging people not to panic. The exercise is not real – but it provides a unique opportunity for us to help other agencies like the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to test their plans and will provide a wealth of insight and mutual benefit to Sefton and other Merseyside coastal Local Authorities in terms…

Although it was not that warm on the Southport shoreline, a milder than normal Valentine’s Day saw Britain enjoying temperatures in some parts up to 14C. Regardless of the weather, Southport is never short of lovely sunsets. Ainsdale (above) is a great place to watch the sun go down… Life continues at its own pace on the shore… Pat Regan © https://pat-regan.blogspot.com/ More… https://www.otsnews.co.uk/sun-dogs-witnessed-over-hightown/  https://www.otsnews.co.uk/hms-mersey-entering-liverpool/

Controversial tree felling in Formby’s Chapel Lane was supposed to result in stump removal. This was previously stated by the council… Q. What will happen to the tree stumps once the trees are removed? The tree stumps will be removed, and footpath repaired. The stump will be removed as a second operation once the felling has taken place. A stump grinder will grind the woody tissue to below ground level to allow the surface to be repaired and made safe. https://mysefton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Info-for-Web-site-1..pdf Residents in Formby previously felt betrayed by Sefton Council, after discovering the tree felling plans. Hundreds of locals fought…

Known as a 22 degree halo or a sun halo, the ring is caused by sunlight passing through ice crystals in cirrus clouds within the Earth’s atmosphere. Sometimes a higher/larger sun halo is also seen, which is called the supralateral arc. Most halos appear as bright white rings but in some instances, the dispersion of light as it passes through ice crystals found in upper-level cirrus clouds can cause a halo to have colour. Light undergoes two refractions as it passes through an ice crystal and the amount of bending that occurs depends upon the ice crystal’s diameter. http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/opt/ice/halo/22.rxml Above: The halo slowly faded into the…

A black Ford car was involved in a road accident this morning in Formby. This happened shortly before 9.00 am at the roundabout of Church Road and Piercefield Road, near to the Grapes Hotel. The vehicle sustained significant damage to side panels and doors. It is not yet known what actually caused the accident or if any other vehicles were involved. Emergency services attended the scene. Has your road been properly gritted? Claims were made recently by angry motorists that some roads in Formby and Southport have not been gritted. https://www.otsnews.co.uk/sefton-council-slammed-not-gritting-southport-roads/ Above: Ainsdale’s Meadow Lane in 2010. Back in December…

The Met Office gave no fog warning for Southport/Ainsdale this morning. However, this was the scene in Southport after the experts had predicted a ‘bright start’. Sunrise occurred at 8.13 am and the images herein were all taken well after the day had started. Above: Ghostly conditions in Woodvale woodlands at 9.30 am. Above: The view over the railway bridge at Kenilworth Road this morning. Above: The bottom end of Ainsdale’s Meadow Lane was affected by lingering fog. Some areas of the town had denser fog and the pale sun did not peep out until well after 10.00 am. The…

Support helicopters have been operating in and around Altcar Training Camp and the beach area. It was anticipated by the RAF that noise levels would increase within the period stated (13-18 January 2019) and at varying times throughout each day. Chinooks this morning against a cold dull sky, just before the first snow flurry arrived. Above: Snow this morning pictured a little farther north in Ainsdale. Above: Wildcat maritime surveillance and attack helicopters. Above: Wildcat helicopters (seen here at RAF Woodvale) are also used by the Blackcats display team. More information: http://www.nwrfca.org.uk/special-notification-helicopter-operations-altcar-training-camp-residents-formby-hightown/ Pat Regan © http://pat-regan.blogspot.com/ https://www.otsnews.co.uk/raf-woodvales-new-gate-guardian/  https://www.otsnews.co.uk/emergency-response-teams-called-in-after-discovery-of-sinister-object-on-river-alt/ …

Universal Credit failing Southport Mum who writes in desperation to Southport MP for help. OTS News received the following letter (which we print as written and unedited) today from a desperate Southport mother, who is struggling hard under the new Universal Credit scheme. Attn: Damien Moore MP Southport Friday 11 January 2019 From Melanie Houghton Southport Merseyside “Dear Damien Moore, Hope you are well, I have never written to my MP before, however I do feel that it’s time that I speak up for myself as a White British female citizen of Southport, Merseyside, United Kingdom. I am a qualified…

With the icy weather arriving, spare a thought for the poor old birds. Suet blocks and fatballs are a valued source of energy and particularly popular with all tit species. Avoid netted fatballs because birds have been known to get snarled up in the netting. Instead, use a fatball feeder or place straight on the bird table. Feeders come in a diversity of styles. Metal ones are normally longer-lasting. Mesh feeders are mainly used for supplying peanuts and pellets. Seed tubes will attract an extensive range of birds when filled with sunflower hearts or mixed seed. Niger seeds are a…

A Westminster committee is the latest organisation to condemn the UK Government’s flagship welfare reform, Universal Credit. In a recent report, the Public Accounts Committee (a select committee of MPs which scrutinises government spending) says the rollout of Universal Credit by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is leading to increased debt, rent arrears and food bank use. Public Accounts Committee Chair Meg Millier MP said: “This report provides further damning evidence of a culture of indifference at DWP – a Department disturbingly adrift from the real-world problems of the people it is there to support. Since the Department…

Reports indicate that Sefton Council has approved developers’ eco-destructive plans to create in excess of 1000 homes. The majority of properties will be built in Southport and Formby areas with the rest in Aintree, Hightown, Maghull, Waterloo and Blundellsands. Protection for our vanishing countryside has been further diminished, it is claimed, thanks to the Coalition Government’s 2012 publication of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Updates are on the following link. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/updates This potentially means that more fragile green spaces and wildlife habitat will be lost to the mega-rich, fast building, profiteers across the land that get so wealthy (with…

Former Sefton councillor, David Barton, was recently acquitted of money laundering. His father, David Barton senior, was however previously convicted of multiple frauds and thefts following the longest trial in the history of Liverpool Crown Court, which lasted over a year. Judge Everett jailed Barton for 21 years. https://www.otsnews.co.uk/judge-jails-care-home-boss-barton-21-years/ ‘Despicably greedy’ care home owner jailed for stealing millions from pensioners David Barton senior, 64, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court last summer for what Judge Steven Everett described as the “most brazen” case of fraud he had ever seen. He was found guilty of four counts of conspiracy to defraud,…

Southport’s latest Xmas tree (situated at Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, Lord Street) has been greeted with mixed reactions from the public. Is it a thing of magical Yuletide beauty or a giant unorthodox monstrosity? One either loves it or hates it. One advantage of not having a real tree (either at home or in town centres) is the avoidance of toxic chemicals used extensively by the real Xmas tree growing industry. Potentially cancer-causing weedkiller now officially associated with real Christmas tree growing Many families feel that Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a spruce, fir, etc. The happy sight of…

British Geological Survey has now recorded at least 21 tremors due to shale gas drilling operations in the Blackpool area, during this December alone. Safety measures must be halted for 18 hours if a quake of more than magnitude 0.5 is detected, which has happened several times since October. The strongest recorded to date this month was of a magnitude of 1.5, which was felt in the Fylde region on 11 December. This occurred at a depth of one kilometre beneath the earth. Fracking supporters have sought to play down the many fracking-induced tremors experienced this year as being largely…

Roxy has gone missing, have you seen her? Apparently, she went missing from an area close to Southport fairground. Have you received such a pet, possibly as a gift, in innocence? Please share this news and help to get her home. If anyone spots her please ring one of the numbers given on the photo. Pat Regan ©  https://pat-regan.blogspot.com/2018/12/missing-dog-roxy-have-you-seen-her.html See also… https://www.otsnews.co.uk/is-he-tango-or-teddy-lost-dog-at-halsall-brings-in-a-flurry-of-concern/  https://www.otsnews.co.uk/missing-dog-southport/

Many vehicles were out in the Xmas charity parade tonight. Of course, no Xmas parade would be complete without Santa… Rain made the roads slippery in places. Well done to everyone involved… More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/498247287280859/  Pat Regan © http://pat-regan.blogspot.com/ 

Blackpool geological faults and the existing danger from fracking A total of 37 tremors have been recorded since fracking began on 15 October, but none since 4 November. The last tremor was over the accepted government seismic red line level as well, meaning that fracking was expected to halt. The fracking firm requested that the government should reduce its traffic light system protocols that necessitate companies to halt operations if a 0.5 magnitude tremor is registered. Nevertheless, ministers roundly rejected that idea. Anti-fracking campaigners nearby the site have claimed the place resembled a ghost town over the past fortnight. Nevertheless,…

Southport Conservative councillor, Sir Ron Watson, has been named in the Liverpool media as the ONLY Sefton councillor who thinks that fracking is a good idea. There have recently been over 30 seismic events, subsequent to the latest controversial Cuadrilla shale gas operations in Blackpool, which brought wide-scale public condemnation with political calls for fracking to cease. Tory MP for Southport, Damien Moore, has not defined his full position on fracking, but told Parliament that concern was being raised by “very ordinary general people”. This somewhat abstract and limited stance has suggested to the public that a measure of political…

Concern grows as tremors increase New demands for fracking to be stopped have been made after the 36th tremor since the shale gas firm Cuadrilla starting hydraulic fracturing last month. A tremor of 0.7 in magnitude was recorded by the British Geological Survey on Sunday. 5 Lancashire MPs, including Blackpool’s Gordon Marsden, have written to the energy secretary to call for a cessation in view of the unprecedented amount of tremors. Mr Marsden’s letter states: “The Government must accept in light of recent seismic activity, that at the very least it would be just and right to halt fracking at…

A Woodvale family were delighted to discover a Great Crested Newt (GCN) close to their Sandbrook Road garden pond yesterday. The newt initially appeared to be injured. However, after a little TLC, it was carefully returned to the pond area when it started to recover. Species identity was later confirmed via email by a leading officer in the Froglife organisation. https://www.froglife.org/info-advice/amphibians-and-reptiles/great-crested-newt/ Froglife advise: ‘If you do inadvertently disturb great crested newts you should halt the work and return the newts gently to their resting place.’ Lancs Wildlife Trust has also confirmed ID, they advise… “These are a European Protected Species,…

Ainsdale is up there with the winners, as ‘Ainsdale in Bloom’ was awarded GOLD at the Royal Horticultural Societies Northwest in Bloom Awards ceremony this last week. Judged in the Town category because of population numbers and against stiff opposition they came out with flying colours and after receiving Silver Gilt for the last 2 years, which although second to highest, being awarded GOLD in 2018 by the RHS Judges has delighted everyone. Supporting this result Ainsdale Village Church Community Garden and Edda both received OUTSTANDING in their Neighbourhood category. Ainsdale in Bloom Chairman Brenda Porter advised as with all…

Over 30 earth tremors but frackers aim to push on Bravely pushing on, or greed – ridden idiots ignoring clear warnings? Whilst the fracking firm Cuadrilla celebrates the first shale gas from its fracking site in Little Plumpton near Blackpool, public anxiety increases along with the recorded seismic activity. How powerful a quake does the region have to experience before the government wake up? Will it take a seismic disaster before they start to listen to the people and their own MPs? Strongest tremor to date halts fracking at Cuadrilla’s site near Blackpool A 1.1 magnitude tremor was recorded…

A much-loved pre-school in Formby is moving ahead into its next phase, serving children and families in the village and surrounding areas. Footprints@pinetots is the new name for Pine Pixies Pre-School, and is in the process of being transferred to First Steps Enterprise Limited, a childcare organisation which operates across Sefton and Liverpool. Owner Catherine Regan said: “It has been a wonderful seventeen years running Pine Pixies, but I feel it is time for me to move on owing to ill health. I am confident that First Steps will take the pre-school forward from strength to strength.” Above: Catherine Regan…