Sefton Council commissioned:- 'Winter Hub' for Sefton snaps up National Awards

SEFTON'S new Winter Hub has won the Winter Services category of the National Highways Awards. Located in Netherton, the Winter Hub is Sefton Council Highways team's 'gritting HQ. It has the capacity to store 3,500 tonnes of salt; 2 ˝ times that of the previous depot which is what's needed to treat nearly 470 kms of the Boroughs' main road network.

Sefton Council commissioned the Winter Hub after its previous depot was deemed no longer adequate. The Council commissioned it through the Winter Service Contractor and joint award winners:- Graysons H&E Services and purchased the facility upon completion.

This winter, Sefton Council successfully operated its fleet of gritters from the new facility for the 1st time. In addition to the storage warehouse, the site also includes office accommodation, staff mess room, toilets, meeting and training rooms and office space.

The Hub was entered in the Winter Service Category of the National Highways Awards, which is for projects that show a significant improvement in winter services.

Making the award, the judges said that the Sefton Council and Graysons H&E Services scheme has provided the Borough with a new depot that meets the requirements of the latest guidance. They described it as:- "a good example to other Authorities how the guidance can be achieved."

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Locality Services, welcomed the news, saying:- "We were pleased to have this new, purpose-built facility open and operational to keep the Borough's roads safe over the winter and were absolutely delighted when it picked up this prestigious national award. The 'Winter Hub' is a fantastic investment for the Council that will allow us to deliver winter services effectively and efficiently both now and long into the future. And, despite its name, will provide us with an improved and cost effective base for our operations all year round."

Firm foundations of new Bootle driving range

OVER 90 cubic metres of concrete has been used to create the foundations of the new driving range at Sefton Council's Bootle Golf Course. Weighing 200 tons; the equivalent of up to 100 African elephants or approaching 4˝ million golf balls; the concrete platform will provide the base for the new driving range's 10 bay shed. Work on the ₤240,000 development by contractors Davies Building and Maintenance started in March. New fencing has been erected and preparatory groundwork has been carried out. The new driving range will include practice facilities and a dedicated coaching bay and will enhance Sefton Council's popular Bootle Golf Course. Golfers will be able to get more practise using the fully floodlit facility during the evenings and winter months when it's not possible to play on the course. Future phases of the site's development will include seeding the outfield and construction of the main shed.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:- "I'm pleased to see work progressing and this solid base being laid for our new driving range, which when completed will provide Sefton's golfers with a firm foundation for their game. Practise facilities were 1 of the things local people told us they wanted to see when we consulted them, and the new driving range will help attract new players and make golf more accessible to all."

Peter Davies, MD of Davies Building and Maintenance said:- "Having worked for Sefton over the last 20 years, we are looking forward to completing another exciting project for the local community."

Since they re-opened in line with national lockdown easing in April, Green Sefton's Bootle and Southport courses have been busy. Almost 13,000 golfers have taken advantage of a 2nd year of frozen green fees, which mean adult prices start from just ₤13. Also, an additional 90 under 16's signed up for junior memberships, which give them a year's free play at the Council's Bootle and Southport courses. Over 60's can play for ₤9 Monday to Friday and a round for young people aged up to 16 is just:- ₤8. Contract prices, which provide 12 months' play, have also been frozen and start from just:- ₤110. People can find out more about these value offers and about Sefton Council's Bootle and Southport Links courses at:- Sefton.Gov.UK/Golf.