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REST Centre for
street drinkers planned
CONSULTATION is starting
over a proposal to establish a facility for street drinkers in
Liverpool City Centre. It is being proposed that a REST
(rehabilitation, education, support and treatment) Centre be set up
in a former drugs dependency unit in Roscoe Street.
The move follows a successful pilot project in the summer of 2012 in
a temporary location in Renshaw Street which identified the need for
a permanent facility.
The Centre would allow health agencies to engage with street
drinkers. It aims to support individuals and work with them, helping
them, reduce their alcohol intake. It will also help them access
other services such as housing and homeless support.
Street drinkers will be allowed to consume alcohol on the premises
but at all times will be supervised and helped to change their
lifestyles.
It is intended that the Centre should operate between 12 noon and
8pm, 7 days a week, during the summer, but there will be flexibility
on its opening times depending on the time of the year.
Councillor Peter Brennan, Mayoral Lead for Community Safety said:-
"Street drinkers are quite vulnerable people many of whom lead
chaotic and disorganised lives, often because they have extremely
difficult backgrounds. But, however, harrowing their situation it is
recognised that they can pose a nuisance and can be intimidating to
passers-by.
If we just try to continue with the present policy of Police
enforcement it means that large amounts of Police and health
services' time and resources are taken up on this issue and it does
nothing to get to the root of the problem. The proposed REST Centre; which is in an area where street drinkers already gather; will
give them access to health and other agencies who have the expertise
over many years to help them turn their lives around
The pilot facility resulted in fewer arrests and admissions to
accident and emergency units and demonstrated a need for a more
permanent indoor facility in a location which uses a new approach
over street drinkers. But it is important that we get local
people and businesses' views and give them the chance to raise
issues they may have so we are starting a consultation process about
this very important issue."
Residents and businesses have been invited to a meeting on 8 April
2014,
at the Student Union building in Maryland Street.
It is intended that, subject to all necessary consents being in
place, the REST Centre will be operational from the summer which is
the peak time for street drinking. So do you agree with
this idea? Email us your views to:-
news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you
think!
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Well-being event
on 10 April 2014
SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk
Hospital NHS Trust is hosting a well-being event at the Salvation
Army, Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5AJ between 10am and 1pm on
Thursday 10 April.
Visitors will learn about improving their physical, emotional,
spiritual and mental well-being and find out about self-care advice
from the Trust and voluntary sector representatives.
Stands offering advice will include the Trust falls, audiology,
sexual health and pharmacy services. Creative Alternatives, the
local innovative remedy for stress, anxiety and depression, will
also take part. The event will culminate in a performance by Good
Vibrations, the Trust pain management service patients' choir.
There will also be information on accessing financial benefits,
mental health and spiritual well-being, and advice on applying for
benefits, healthy eating and cooking, and holistic therapies.
Free parking is available at the back of the building and
refreshments will be provided.
Liverpool City
Council Agrees Way Forward on LDL deal with BT
LIVERPOOL City Council and
BT have finalised the deal which will transfer the full ownership of
Liverpool Direct Limited (LDL) to the City Council.
It comes after several months of negotiations between the parties,
reflecting the financial position of the Council and the changing
local government marketplace.
LDL currently provides a range of services to the Council as part of
the partnership created in 2001. These include HR and payroll; IT
and web services; customer access; and revenue and benefits
services.
The implementation of the new arrangements will take place over the
following 3 months, with the transfer of ownership scheduled for 1 July 2014.
Under the new arrangement LDL will become wholly owned by Liverpool
City Council, continuing to deliver services to the City Council as
well as to its existing third party contracts.
Mayor Anderson said:- "We have enjoyed a long and successful
partnership with BT through LDL, which has brought commercial
expertise, service transformation and resources to the City. The
staff of LDL have worked tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of
Liverpool. This transformation has only been achievable due to
the sustained collaborative working between BT and their respective
teams of staff. However, as part of our 3 year budget strategy; to find
£156m savings following government funding reductions – it was right
that we agreed to move LDL in a different direction.
We are very grateful to BT for their continued support. Although
this partnership is ending, the City will continue to benefit from
BT's commitment to Liverpool through its continued sponsorship of
the International Festival of Business and ACC Liverpool, as well as
the delivery of the Mayoral Schools Programme, bringing IT
investment to the City's young people." |
