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Issue:- Saturday, 24 October 2015

Headlines and reports on this page = 3 news items. Page - 2.

Southport BID launches campaign to change behaviour towards chewing gum disposal

IN partnership with:- 'Chewing Gum Action Group', representatives from Southport BID highlight pieces of discarded gum, using fluorescent chalk, on the pavements of Corporation Street, to support a national campaign to reduce gum litter.

Now in its 10th year, the annual campaign sees representatives from the chewing gum industry, Government and environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy working with councils and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across the whole of the UK to develop local initiatives to reduce chewing gum litter.

Corporation Street, which links the 2 busiest shopping streets together (Chapel Street and Lord Street) has been transformed like never before, as part of a campaign launched by Southport BID to reduce gum litter in the town centre.

Partnering with Sefton Council and The Chewing Gum Action Group (CGAG), an organisation chaired by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and funded by the chewing gum industry to tackle gum litter in the UK, the grey pavements on Corporation Street were transformed with brightly coloured circles to highlight the significant amount of gum that is dropped.

The Southport BID Team took to Corporation Street to circle every single piece of discarded gum at the junction with Chapel Street using water soluble fluorescent chalk, and witnessed the public reaction to the eye catching measle like patterns created across 1 of the busiest areas in Southport. The gum will then be removed by specialist gum removal company, Primoserve making the streets cleaner and more attractive.

Enda Rylands, Southport BID chair, said:- "We want the people of Southport to feel immensely proud of where they live which is why we have partnered with the Chewing Gum Action Group this year to raise awareness and proactively tackle the issue of gum litter. Year on year, chewing gum litter is costly and difficult to remove, therefore we hope that this campaign will encourage gum chewers to bin their gum the right way and understand that they can play a part in making Southport a more attractive place for all our visitors."

Supporting the campaign this year, Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, said:- "Dropping chewing gum on the street is simply anti social behaviour and needs to stop. We are delighted to support this project with the Southport BID to help clean the streets of Southport of chewing gum. Enforcement officers will be out during the campaign and people need to know that by dropping something as small as a piece of gum on the floor could see a fixed penalty notice of Ł75 being issued. Please don't do it and instead take your litter home or use one of the many bins provided."

L to R: Paul Clifford (Primoserve operative), Rhys Clifford (Primoserve operative), Steve Smith (Public Health manager, Sefton Council), Nigel Sharp (Networking and Training Coordinator, Keep Britain Tidy), Nick White ( Operations Manager, Southport BID), Lee Western ( Operations Director, Primoserve) and Enda Rylands ( Chair, Southport BID)

Now in its 10th year, the annual campaign sees representatives from the chewing gum industry, Government and environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, working with Councils and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across the whole of the UK, to develop local initiatives to reduce chewing gum litter.

As part of the campaign, Southport BID will also deep clean 10,000 square metres of paving. CGAG campaign co-ordinator Kristian Bentham added:- "Every year for the past 10 years, the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign has delivered some positive results. Through our creative campaign this year, we wanted to highlight that dropping gum is still littering and one that greatly affects the local area. We have no doubt this year's visual campaign will raise further awareness and have a lasting impact on residents and shoppers. We are delighted to be working with Southport BID this year to help them create a cleaner place to live and work."

In total 9 BIDs and local authorities from across the UK are taking part in the 2015 campaign.

For more information, please click on here.

Security boost for County Road businesses

A range of measures are being introduced to make Walton a safer place for businesses and shoppers. The 3 point security plan is being launched to make traders on County Road more secure and ensure it is a desirable place to shop. The work will see CCTV on the road using cameras previously used to monitor the decommissioned bus lanes, and the installation of high powered security lights in alleyways to deter thieves from entering the rear of businesses. In addition, a 24 hour monitored alarm system; CountyCall; is being installed at dozens of businesses, to tackle security concerns. It will give up to 200 retailers a link to a control room, monitored by local telecare provider VNC Lifeline. An SOS facility will be discreetly fitted into the retail units, with agreed protocols and code words established so that in the event of a burglary, VNC Lifeline will summon emergency assistance to the retailer, via their Control Centre, particularly benefiting those businesses associated with the night time economy. It is all part of work being spearheaded by the County Road Community Interest Company (CiC) and the local Mary Portas High Street Innovation Fund which has secured money to deliver improvements in the area.

Councillor Roy Gladden, Chair of the Mary Portas High Street Innovation Fund, said:- "We're determined to make County Road one of the best shopping districts in the city again. The social impact of this project is huge in terms of acting as a deterrent for criminals, reassuring retailers and shoppers and supporting our wider commitment to the ongoing regeneration of North Liverpool."

Terry May, Chair of County Road CiC, who owns the bars Segura and Bernie May's on County Road, added:- "Everyone should feel safe at work. There is a sense of fear amongst staff, and we as business owners are responsible for their wellbeing and protection, so we are delighted with the introduction of CountyCall."

The project is being jointly funded through the Mayor's Neighbourhood Fund in conjunction with County CIC, and has also attracted interest from other partner organisations including Everton FC who are sponsoring part of the project within their 'Blue Mile' initiative in the County Road area. Using the slogan:- "Shopping Like It Should Be", the CIC has already created a brand identity for the area, a newsletter for local businesses, introduced hanging baskets and a series of arts projects including a spectacular mural on the former Ethel Austin building created by street artist Whoam Irony. For more information about:- 'CountyCall' go to the VNC Lifeline website.

4 cars donated to local outstanding charities

NORTH West based Chapelhouse Motor Group have been on Chapel Street, Southport, with Southport Lifeboat volunteers, on 17 October 2015. The firm, who have dealerships in St Helens, Wigan, Southport and Warrington, have donated 4 cars to charity. The chosen groups are, Southport Lifeboat (SORT), Willowbrook Hospice, St Roccos Hospice and also Wigan Youth Zone. At the Southport event, Southport Lifeboat volunteers had the donated car on display, along with their Quads. Staff from Chaplehouse and the volunteers on the day, managed to sell over 1,000 tickets, to the 'donate Ł1 to win a car' collection. Kevin from Chapelhouse Motor Group said:- "There will be more collection days in upcoming and events and locations over the next few weeks in the run up to Christmas. Tickets will also be sold in the Charity Shop in Birkdale. The shop on the corner of Claremont Road and Everton Road. We would like to thank everyone who donated on the day and we hope they continue to support this local, life saving charity!"

If you do not know who these charities are, this is a short background to them:-

► Southport Lifeboat (SORT) - Independent to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Offshore Trust is entirely dependent on donations and fundraising events to provide its 1st class round the clock life saving service, and has helped in the safe return of over 250 people around the Sefton coastline since its formation in 1988.

► Willowbrook Hospice - The Hospice, which is located in Prescot, provides vital care to patients with life limiting diseases in the St Helens and Knowsley area. Since opening in 1997, Willowbrook has treated over 6000 patients at no charge, and it wouldn't be able to continue to deliver such an invaluable contribution to people in the local area if it wasn't for donations and fundraising events, amid modest funding from the NHS.

► St Roccos Hospice - The Hospice, which is located less than a mile away from Chapelhouse Suzuki based on Folly Lane, is largely reliant on kind hearted donations and fundraising events to be able to continue providing such a vital service to Warrington and its residents. Specialising in high quality care for those unfortunate enough to suffer from terminal or life limiting conditions, just a 3rd of St. Rocco's budget is afforded by the NHS.

► Wigan Youth Zone - Despite the original costs being donated by local businessmen Bill and Martin Ainscough, Dave Whelan, along with Wigan Athletic players and the Premier League, the youth centre, which opened in 2013, is still reliant on private donations to match the Ł400,000 running costs each year. The Youth Zone gives local youngsters the opportunity to use such facilities as a sports hall, a music recording studio, outdoor football pitches, a dance studio and a state of the art gym.

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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May Jackam

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:- 'T553015.'

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