Funding
success for Southport
THE transformation of
Southport Market into a social space to enjoy food, drink and
markets is 1 step closer to reality with the Governments
Acceleration Grant announcement. The resort has been awarded a
₤1million grant from Central Government's Town Deal Fund, which
is designed to go towards capital development projects. This
funding will complement the work which is well underway on a
comprehensive bid by the Southport Town Deal board for a larger
grant of ₤25 million from the fund.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for
Regeneration and Skills, says:- "This is a very welcome
grant and helps us in our long term vision for Southport. We
have been working extremely hard on plans for Southport Market
as part of our Southport master plan for some time, recognising
how important such a social space would be to the local economic
and tourism sector. It will bring a market culture experience to
the Town that some Cities across the UK have successfully
introduced already and which European towns and cities have
become celebrated for. It also continues to show Sefton Councils
commitment to Southport providing further opportunities to
support independent businesses"
Rob Fletcher, Chair of the Southport Town Deal board, welcomed
the news, saying:- "We have been working incredibly hard
to try and make our ambitions a reality and we are in a
fantastic position ahead of us submitting full plans for a
₤25million bid later this year. Our plans can now move forward
at pace with Southport Market being the key focus, with ₤900,000
of the grant allocated to this project. The remaining ₤100,000
will be used to transform the Lord Street tree lights working in
partnership with Southport Business Improvement District (BID)
to ensure our beautiful boulevard is bathed in the very best
light."
Mark Lawler, Managing Director of Baltic Creative and member of
the Southport Town Deal Board, echoed these sentiments. Mark
said:- "We recognise how important this kind of investment
can be for giving a kick start for further growth throughout the
resort, as well as having the potential to spark further
enhancement of the area surrounding the market. As a seaside
town that is renowned for its great food and drink offer we
think that this will be the perfect complement to Southport's
already impressive social offer, which is already recognised for
championing independent businesses."
The Southport Market project business case will now go to
Cabinet and Council for approval in September 2020, with a view
to ensuring completion of the project by the end of the
financial year, in accordance with the conditions of the grant.
For further information and to have your say on the Southport
Town Deal, visit:-
Sefton.Gov.UK/Southport2020
Mobile Coronavirus testing units are
scheduled to be at locations across Sefton every day in August
OVER 7,000 tests to
tell people whether they have the COVID-19 virus have already
been carried out at drive through sites, located in:- Bootle,
Crosby, Litherland, Maghull and Southport. Confirmation of
August dates for the sites, which are supported by Sefton
Council, NHS Southport and Formby CCG and NHS South Sefton CCG,
follows on from a timetable that saw units deployed across
Sefton Borough every day in July 2020. Tests at mobile centres
are available for anyone but they need to have made an
appointment 1st at:-
NHS.UK/Coronavirus or by
calling:- 119.
Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher said:- "I am proud
that in April Sefton hosted Cheshire and Merseyside's very 1st
mobile Coronavirus testing site, in Southport, and that since
then we have established five regular venues where over 7,000
tests have been administered. Drive through tests for people to
find out whether they had the COVID-19 virus were available
somewhere in Sefton every day in July and are scheduled to take
place throughout August as well. Coronavirus is still very much
with us and to prevent its spread and the need to reintroduce
restrictions, it's important that anyone who has the Coronavirus
symptoms of a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss
or change in their normal sense of taste or smell visits:-
NHS.UK/Coronavirus or calls:-
119 to book a test."
Essential workers can book through:-
Gov.UK/Apply-Coronavirus-Test-Essential
Workers and key NHS employees can attend regional testing sites
at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, as well as Haydock and
Manchester Airport, without the need for an appointment.
Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer at NHS South Sefton and NHS
Southport and Formby CCGs said:- "Although Coronavirus
often has more serious consequences for older people and those
with existing health conditions, please remember that people of
any age can catch and pass on the virus to friends and loved
ones without knowing it. It can take several days for symptoms
to appear, so that is why it is so important to wear a face
covering, keep washing your hands and maintain social distancing
to reduce the risk of spreading this serious illness throughout
your community. As soon as you have any of the COVID-19
symptoms, you, and anyone you live with should self isolate, and
you should arrange a test as soon as possible. The Government's
NHS Test and Trace service will call you in a day or two with
your results and explain what needs to happen next. We also
strongly urge anyone who has been contacted through Test and
Trace to respond and share information about their recent
interactions."
Cllr Maher added:- "Recently, the Government handed
councils the powers to impose local restrictions in the event of
a spike in Coronavirus cases, but we see the use of those powers
in Sefton very much as a last resort. If people of all ages
across the Borough act responsibility, follow the guidelines on
hand washing, distancing and face coverings and respond quickly
if they suspect they have symptoms of the virus or are contacted
by the Test and Trace service, there should be no need for
restrictions to be reintroduced."
There will be testing units at Litherland and Southport, on
Thursday, 30 July 2020 and Friday, 31 July 2020.
Total UK cases COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region
and surroundings
THE total number of UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory
confirmed, within the UK, has risen by 846 cases and the total
number now stand at 302,301, that includes tests carried out by
commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National
totals.
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added to the
total, was sadly reported to be 38 according to the Department
of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a
positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS
laboratory is 45,999.
In England, there are a total of 260,534 confirmed cases. North
West - total of 45,896 confirmed cases. The number of laboratory
confirmed cases within the following Local Authorities, in and
around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-
► Liverpool, 2,541 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 1,567 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 2,062 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 1,204 confirmed cases
► Halton, 699 confirmed cases.
► Blackpool, 1,046 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen,
1,374 confirmed cases.
.
Under local lockdown
warning
Numbers up by 34 cases.
► Bolton, 1,976 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 1,341 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 2,037 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 2,237 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 7,079 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 3,235 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 2,102 confirmed cases.
Under new local lockdown
measures!
Numbers up by 29 cases.
► Rochdale, 1,854 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 1,728 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 1,599 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 1,415 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 2,177 confirmed cases.
An urgent warning has
also been issued to residents in Pendle...