Liverpool plunged into strictest Level of restrictions

LIVERPOOL City Region has been placed into the 'very high risk' level following a shocking rise in Covid19 cases. Level 3 lockdown with pubs, forced to close and household mixing will be banned from Wednesday, 14 October 2020. The new restrictions for the Liverpool City Regional:- Liverpool, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens, Sefton and Halton. It will mean:- ALL pubs and bars can only remain open when serving a:- "substantial" meal, such as lunch or dinner and will only be able to serve alcohol when serving meal. Wedding receptions no longer be allowed for as long as the area remains at Level 3. People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor or outdoor setting, whether at home or in a public space. People should avoid travelling into or through:- "very high" risk places except for work, School, accessing youth services, caring responsibilities or if they are in transit. Those living within the area should not travel outside it and avoid travelling, unless for work, School, accessing youth services, caring responsibilities or if they are in transit. Anyone within the restrictions should not stay overnight in another area, if they live in a:- "very high" area. People who live elsewhere, also, should must not stay overnight within a:- "very high" area.

JCI to hold interactive panel discussion:- "What's The Future?"

SATURDAY marked World Mental Health Day and the Junior Chamber International (JCI) whose members are in about 124 countries, including the UK, are stressing the importance of looking after your mental health and looking out for the mental health of those around us. The global, not for profit business organisation, for 18 to 40 year olds, says that within these unpredictable and challenging times, its vital we all help each other. They are organising a Virtual Conference, on Friday, 27 November 2020, entitled:- "What's The Future?" for its members. The interactive panel discussion will focus on acknowledging, understanding and finding solutions to the mental health impact of Covid19 within business. "We've got a fantastic line up of panellists: Vikas Shah MBE, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, Maria Perkins, Youth Worker and Programme Co-ordinator, at Youth Action NI, Dave Smithson, Operations Director at Anxiety UK and Emma Kerrywood, Senior Branch Manager, at Linley and Simpson Estate Agents and JCI UK National President in 2013. The discussion will be facilitated by Hannah Woodcock, content writer at Hallmark Cards and JCI UK's Community Action Director, in 2019." If you haven't heard of JCI, they are all about helping its members to gain opportunities for:- cv-enhancing skills, give back to your community, network with business leaders, experience new cultures and have a lot of fun. If you want to find out more and to join, please visit:- JCIUK.Org.UK.

Pleasureland's Norman Wallis joins industry leaders on Parliamentary Podcast

PUTTING lives 1st, retaining great staff and finding new ways to deliver the best experiences safely for colleagues and customers has put the hospitality industry in unimagined territory; says Southport Pleasureland CEO Norman Wallis. Sharing a leadership platform with Lord Blunkett and other business influencers for a Parliamentary Review Leaders Council podcast, Mr Wallis offered his own thoughts and experiences of how the industry is moving from survival to success as uncertainty becomes the new normal. During his interview Mr Wallis said that leaders who put their efforts into finding solutions rather than dwelling on the negatives had been better placed to deliver success; and safety.

Norman Wallis daid:- "Plan for the worst and hope for the best is all anyone can do. We have put in as many precautions as possible. The one thing we can't do is 'make' the public do the right thing.”

He was referencing the investment in time and money; all committed to making safety measures robust, yet simple for visitors to follow. “We must do the right thing. We have to remember, as business leaders facing these challenges (of additional investment and revenue reductions thanks to numbers restrictions); We may have been skint before, but we've never been dead before. Lives matter so much more.” That's the blunt message Mr Wallis delivered during his conversation with interviewer Scott Challinor.

He said that, as a business offering entertainment for families, he was proud of the way his industry; which has been affected more than most others; has responded, but it needed more help. The Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; chaired by Lord Blunkett and part of the Parliamentary Review portfolio; is currently in the process of talking to leadership figures from across the nation about what leadership means in Britain and Northern Ireland today. Norman Wallis from Universal Attractions was invited onto an episode of the podcast, which included an interview with Lord Blunkett.

During the podcast, which aired before the Chancellor's latest lockdown and hospitality industry support packages were announced, Mr Wallis continued:- “No 1 can plan long term any more. We're working in weeks rather than months. We are planning to create a Covid safe environment for a Christmas attraction. You can't automate our industry, our staff make the experience and they love doing that for our visitors. In these times ours is one of the businesses that can offer an opportunity to step away from worries, in a protected environment, and help people regain their balance; and reconnect with fun. Seeing kids smile has a very positive effect on their parents and grandparents. I don't think things will go back to the way it was, but change is a natural process; we have to accept it and move forward. What has happened is people have come together and helped each other and help the planet. We need to continue to cultivate that and kill the throwaway society for a more holistic way of living.”

Scott Challinor commented:- "Hosting a show like this, where you speak to genuine leaders who have been there and done it, either on a national stage or within a crucial industry sector, is an absolute honour."

Lord Blunkett, chairman of The Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland said:- "I think the most informative element of each episode is the first part, where Scott Challinor is able to sit down with someone who really gets how their industry works and knows how to make their organisation tick. Someone who's there day in day out working hard and inspiring others. That's what leadership is all about."

You can listen to the podcast in full here.

Society of Independent Brewers responds to the Prime Minister’s Statement announcing new lockdown measures

THE Society of Independent Brewers have responded to the Prime Minister’s Statement announcing new lockdown measures. The statement from Ian Fozard, Chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers, reads:- “Small independent breweries have been running on empty for months and these new local lockdown measures, without proper financial support, will lead to more job losses and further business closures. Brewery sales have collapsed because of the uncertainty of further restrictions, as pubs fear they will be closed. While pubs that are legally closed are being offered financial support this does not seem to apply to small breweries that will lose more than 80% of their sales. We need a comprehensive package of support, including the extension of the Job Retention Scheme to breweries before it is too late to save our small independent brewers."

Letter to the Editor:- "Living Streets' Walk to School Week 2020"

"LIVING Streets' Walk to School Week is over for another year and we'd like to thank everyone in Liverpool City Region who contributed to making it such a success. Almost 23,000 pupils from 66 Schools, within Liverpool City Region, joined in with pupils across the UK to enjoy the many benefits of walking to School. Many of us have enjoyed walking during the Coronavirus pandemic but families continue to struggle with narrow, uneven pavements, unsafe crossings, and growing numbers of vehicles parked on pavements. Motor vehicles are the biggest source of air pollution and one in four cars on the road at peak times are on the School run. More children walking to School means fewer vehicles on the road and improved air quality for everyone. Families in Liverpool City Region can know that they've helped be part of the solution this Walk to School Week by swapping four wheels for 2 feet. Walking to School not only improves our air quality but is a great way for children to build more exercise into their daily lives, helping them to arrive to School healthier, happier and ready to learn. Once again, a huge thank you and congratulations to everyone who took part in this year's Walk to School Week. We hope you've been inspired to walk to School all year round." Mary Creagh, Chief Executive, Living Streets.

Giant nutcrackers return to Southport this Christmas

THE iconic Nutcrackers will make a welcome return to Southport this Christmas with people urged to support local businesses over the festive season. The 6ft tall decorative figures, which resemble giant toy soldiers, will be placed at strategic points throughout the Town centre to recreate the popular Nutcracker Trail. There will be more to find this year too with 12 figures instead of last season's 10. Watch out for a superb competition to name them coming soon plus those completing the trail, they can enter a draw to take home an iPad Mini.

The Nutcrackers, based on the traditional German symbols of good luck, brought real magic to Christmas shopping in Southport Town centre, back in 2019 with families from across the North West enjoying finding all the figures in between trips to local shops and restaurants.

Southport is also set to sparkle this year with the return of the dazzling 60 ft Christmas tree installation.

The stunning tree's beautiful LED light shows have drawn families into Town for the last 2 years, proving a hugely popular attraction for all generations. And Southport BID, with thanks to funding from local businesses, will continue to install Christmas lights across the Town centre this year with the aim of making Southport sparkle throughout the season.

Work has already begun along Eastbank and more are set to appear along Southport Town centre streets including:- Lord Street, Nevill Street, Chapel Street and London Street.

Southport BID is keen to help create a welcoming atmosphere this Christmas to help encourage shoppers to stay local this season and support our independent businesses.

The BID has also launched its successful Southport Gift Card, which is already accepted at over 70 venues in Southport.

The new Gift Card aims to encourage people to support their:- local shops, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons, Hotels and attractions during the festive season, by keeping the seasonal spend local and bringing people back into the high street to spend them.
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Southport Business Improvement District CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said:- "We are delighted to be bringing the Nutcrackers back to Southport this year for people to enjoy. They were a huge success in 2019, with families loving exploring Town to complete the trail and find them all. It was great fun. It will also provide a safe experience for families to get out and about without crowds, especially should restrictions get tighter. The Christmas lights in the trees bring real sparkle to Southport throughout the festive season. They are made possible thanks to funding which ultimately is paid for by the local businesses in the Southport Town centre area, the BID levy payers. They provide the lights for the whole of Southport to enjoy. Our dazzling, 60ft high LED display Christmas tree in the Town Hall Gardens was a popular sight last year. The multi coloured lights displays were a huge talking point with a huge number of posts about Southport generated through social media, and a positive response from thousands of people in the region. Business owners are working hard to ensure their shops are safe and we want to make sure people feel positive and comfortable to shop local this Christmas. We want to create a package of measures that will support our high street and encourage everyone to engage with the Town centre throughout the festive season. We may not be having a switch on, but with the Nutcracker Trail, the Christmas lights and the dazzling Christmas tree, we have lots in place to make Southport feel festive."

For more details about the Southport BID, please visit their website or Like the Southport BID's Facebook page. To buy the gift card head to:- SouthportGiftCard.Co.UK.

Historic Meols Hall in Southport has been awarded ₤125,000 from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund

THE money will enable the landmark venue in Churchtown to secure ongoing restoration and conservation of items such as books and paintings. It will also enable the endless replacement of the fabric of the house such as:- window frames, gutters and tiles. All of these are ongoing necessities to keep Meols Hall as the owners have promised to; a gem of the North West, redolent with history and hope for the future. Meols Hall owner Catherine Hesketh said:- "We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded ₤125,000 from the National Heritage Culture Fund. This will enable us to provide for the treasured buildings and collection of Meols Hall. The knockon effect of Covid19 threatened the very existence of Meols Hall: the collection, the buildings themselves, the weddings, the local events and fundraisers were all under threat if the Government had not stepped in. Thank you."

Meols Hall is 1 of 445 heritage organisations across the country which will receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the ₤1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the Coronavirus pandemic. A total of 445 organisations will share ₤103 million, including Meols Hall and The Atkinson in Southport, to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the sector. With no weddings able to take place at the moment, Meols Hall has a huge gap in its funding, but the award will help it to ride the current storm.

The wedding business is small, but its contribution to the local community is considerable, from the caterer, to the cake maker, the photographer, the florist, the DJ, the classic car company, the glass hire folk, to the rubbish collectors and so many more, the symbiotic relationship between Meols Hall and the community is worth preserving. A Meols Hall spokesperson said:- "It doesn't look as though there will be any viable weddings for a long time to come. The grant will give the staff an opportunity to Covid proof Meols Hall and come up with imaginative alternatives for our buildings, grounds and our community. Perhaps we will take a leaf out of the venue in Chelmsford's book and start drive-in weddings. We are now in a position to move forward thanks to the Culture Recovery Fund."

This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund; funded by the Government and administered at arm's length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government's ₤1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain's museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans. Other famous heritage sites across the country will receive funding, from Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire to Blackpool's Winter Gardens, Blyth Tall Ship to the Severn Valley Railway, the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire to the Piece Hall in Halifax. The funds will save sites that are a source of pride for communities across the country. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:- "As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post Covid."

Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator, Historic Royal Palaces, said:- "There's no truer way to experience the past than to walk in the footsteps of those who have lived it; that's why preserving our built heritage is so important. At Historic Royal Palaces, we care for six nationally significant buildings, opening them to the public and preserving them for future generations. Sadly, the pandemic meant that we had to stop some of our critical conservation work. The grant we have received from the Culture Recovery Fund will enable this work to resume; so we can give some of Britain's most historic buildings the care and attention they deserve, while supporting the specialist craftspeople who are vital for the future of our national heritage. We are enormously grateful to the Government for this support."

Meols Hall, the Tithe Barn and adjacent buildings and grounds are conditionally exempted properties on grounds of their national interest. Redolent with history, Meols Hall is the oldest manor house in Southport, dating back to the 15th century and has remained in the same hands for 27 generations.

It was extensively remodelled in the 1960's by Roger Hesketh and features in, among other books, The Latest Country Houses, 1945 to 1983, by John Martin Robinson. It houses a fine collection of family paintings, furniture and china.  Catherine Hesketh said:- "Sadly, we couldn't open to the public this year, but the building doesn't just self mothball, the collection doesn't stop needing conservation just because Covid gets in the way of visiting. Thanks to this grant we will open next year in fine order and will have put in place measures that will ensure that staff and visitors are safe. We will host fundraising events and our magical weddings. We will continue and we will be an even shinier star in the firmament of Southport."

Duncan Wilson, Historic England's Chief Executive said:- "It is heartening to see grants, both large and small, from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund helping heritage sites and organisations across the country which have been hit hard by the effects of Covid 19. These grants range from giving skilled craft workers the chance to keep their trades alive to helping heritage organisations pay the bills, and to kick starting repair works at our best-loved historic sites. The funding is an essential lifeline for our heritage and the people who work tirelessly to conserve it for us all, so that we can hand it on to future generations."

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund said:- "It is absolutely right that investing in heritage should be a priority during this crisis and this support by the Government is crucial. Heritage creates jobs and economic prosperity, is a major driver for tourism and makes our towns, cities, and rural areas better places to live. All of this is so important for our wellbeing and will be particularly vital when we start to emerge from this incredibly difficult time. Our heritage is still facing a perilous future; we are not out of the woods yet. But this hugely welcome funding from the Government, and the money we continue to invest from the National Lottery, has undoubtedly stopped heritage and the organizations that care for it being permanently lost."

Kate Mavor, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said:- "This support for our nation's heritage is fantastic news. Over the last few months, our teams have been working hard to welcome visitors back safely to the great castles, stone circles, abbeys and historic houses in our care. This funding will help us invest to safeguard the historic fabric of these much loved places, which everyone can learn from and enjoy."

Total UK cases COVID19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region