Road or River?

ON 8 December 2020, many parts of the low lying land and roads within the Liverpool City Region had localised flooding as a result of persistent heavy rainfall. Flood warning has been issued, but some areas had roads turning into rivers. The photos where taken by Myles Abberley and Steve Rimmer, as they delivered Eggs, in the South part of Sefton, for Steven Rimmer Eggs Ltd.

As the climate changes, it is possible that we will see far more flooding issues, especially as we are seeing river and sea levels rise, as well as weather patens changing.  Many are now saying that we must to get prepared for more issues like this in the UK, but what we can do?  What are your thoughts? What can we do to help minimise flooding issues?  Send your suggestions to our newsroom by emailing:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

THE Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is encouraging businesses, organisations and individuals across the Liverpool City Region to have their say on a new draft Digital Strategy and Action Plan. The draft documents set out how the City Region will achieve its ambition to become the UK's most digitally connected and inclusive City Region, that maximises the benefits of digital for all of its businesses, residents, and Communities.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Since I was elected, I've been working to make our City Region the most digitally inclusive in the country. The past few months have reiterated just how essential technology is in almost every aspect of our lives; from how we work and learn, entertain ourselves and, especially, in how we keep in touch with our loved ones. Moving forward, digital technology is only going to play a bigger and bigger role in our lives. We've decided to take stock of where we're at and where we want to go by putting together an action plan for our digital strategy. I'm really excited by some of the things we're developing but I know that we don't have the monopoly on good ideas. I'd really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to have your say on the plans and help us make them even better."

Councillor David Baines, Portfolio Holder for Digital Connectivity and Inclusion, said:- "The Combined Authority has led on producing the 2021 to 2023 Digital Strategy and Action Plan, however I am very clear that they are for the whole City Region and will be collectively owned and delivered. We are therefore keen to get detailed input from stakeholders from all sectors and all parts of the City Region. Please take the time to let us know what you think; you will be directly influencing our City Region's digital future."

The draft LCR Digital Strategy and Action Plan sets out 6 key areas through which change will be delivered by partners across the City Region:-

The 6 key areas are:-

1. Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity.

2. Tech for Good and a Smart City Region.

3. Digital and CreaTech Sector Development.

4. Cross Sector Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

5. Digital Skills for Recovery and Growth.

6. Digital Inclusion.

The documents highlight the scale of the City Region's ambition, showcase its distinctive assets and capabilities, and identify where more needs to be done to maximise opportunities. They will act as a framework to inform all aspects of "digital" activity across the LCR, from the Combined Authority's own Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), to the work of its constituent Local Authorities.

They also highlight some of the Region's incredible digital assets, including:- transatlantic internet cables, world leading high performance Computing via the STFC Hartree Centre and IBM collaboration, and a vibrant and growing tech sector. Exciting ongoing digital projects include a 5G health and social care test bed, plans for a City Region wide ultrafast fibre network, and digital inclusion projects for our most disadvantaged.

The Strategy has been produced on behalf of the City Region by the Combined Authority (CA), working with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and following significant input from the 6 Local Authorities. The CA has also actively engaged industry led Sector Boards, academic and research institutions, plus other stakeholders and partners, including voluntary and Community organisations.

To Comment on the Liverpool City Region's 1st Digital Strategy and Action Plan, please visit:- LiverpoolCityRegionalCA.ResearchFeedback.Net and follow the survey instructions. If you cannot access the survey online you can request a copy by calling:- 0151 330 1249.  The closing date for responding is 13 January 2021, and the final draft Strategy and Action Plan will be presented to the LCR Combined Authority in February for approval.