Experts on hand to check out your kidneys!

DID you know having lower back pain can be a sign of your kidneys not functioning correctly?  People across Merseyside and West Lancashire will have an opportunity to have their kidneys checked at Southport Hospital, on 12 April 2018.

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is celebrating:- 'World Kidney Day' by hosting an information and awareness stand, at Southport Hospital, on Thursday, 12 April 2018, between 10am to 4pm.

The stand is being represented by Doctor Raza and Doctor Wong from the Trust's Nephrology (kidney) department along with the Southport Kidney Fund, who provide assistance to all patients with kidney failure within Southport. The theme of this year's stand is kidney 'disease and obesity.'

Ann Glover, Chair of Southport Kidney Fund, said:- "'We decided to do our bit for World Kidney day because kidney failure is life changing for both the patient and those around them. Southport Kidney Fund is a charity run by patients and carers for other local patients, adults and children, who are pre-dialysis, on dialysis or transplanted. I was on dialysis for nearly s7 years while waiting for a transplant. Then 12 years ago my son gave me a kidney for which I can never repay him. The transplant has freed me from dialysis and prolonged my life, but I still have a lot of health difficulties. Life is never the same after kidney failure. We need to raise awareness of this life threatening problem."

Dr Hasnain Raza, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist at the Trust, added:- "Kidney disease is common, affecting more than 3 million people in the UK. However, it can go undetected as people often have no symptoms.  People with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, who are overweight or have a family history of kidney disease and those from certain ethnic groups, have a higher risk of developing kidney disease. The good news is that depending on the problem, early detection, changes in lifestyle; including having more exercise and a healthy diet can often slow down the progression of the disease, delaying the possible need for dialysis or transplantation."

A5036 Port of Liverpool Access Scheme - Newsletter 5

A5036 Port of Liverpool Access Scheme latest Highways England Newsletter can be access via our site, by clicking on this link. 

Please do let us know your views and thoughts about this controversial scheme and any issues raised in the Newsletter...

Email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.com with your thoughts on this issue.

Continuing to look at a proposed housing development in Formby

RESIDENTS in Altcar Lane contacted us about a planning application that has been submitted to Sefton Council, by Morris Homes (Ref: - DC/2018/00020) to build 24 dwellings on farmland opposite 34 to 70 Altcar Lane. Over the last few weeks we have tried on a number of occasions to get information from Morris Homes about the plans and to try and ease the minds of residents on Altcar Lane and the surrounding area. Sadly we have had no official reply to our requests and are quite shocked that when we do have people picking up phones, they do not seem to know who to contact, or are not willing to give out information. This makes us question why this is and like the residents who have contacted us on Altcar Lane, it has left us thinking, why are they not replying? Information is located on Sefton Council's website, but we are told that many residents are unaware of how to use the online system or how to put in objections or comments about the project. This also raises questions about the planning system in general, which is currently undergoing a major review. At 1st glance the building of the 24 dwellings, continuing the line of houses along the South side of Altcar Lane, appears to be a small development and nothing to worry about, but we are told that many residents are raising concerns. 1 resident commented to us that:- "This is not about building more homes, that are needed for the area, it's about the type of homes, the location and if the area can sustain them."

Altcar Lane resident Michele also added:- "It's been more than 60 years as farmland and we are happy to have horses opposite our houses. Currently there are too many homes being built in the area and not enough provision for Doctors, as well as other amenities or resources, for yet more people."

Another resident, Andy, who is sending us more questions, from him and other residents next week added:- "We now have major traffic issues each morning, trying to get in and out of our road and the reports we have seen do not seem to show a traffic flow analysis that takes into account the new homes that have been built on the old Rosslight Factory site, off Hogshill Lane. Also the Formby Waste Water Treatment Works have also had to be recently expanded and we are told are already very near maximum capacity again. Don't forget that this is next to this development. Among other issues we have spotted is the skating over the water logging of the field they want to build on, which worries us as well. We want to know if the issue of sink holes has been addressed. Formby has seen a rise in the occurrence of small sinkholes, raising questions for Formby residents about water management and urban development within the area. It is also not so long ago when plans to build 90 new homes on this land was rejected. We are concerned that if this goes ahead, the developers will push again to build even more homes on this land."

Railway staff assault in South Liverpool

BRITISH Transport Police (BTP) Officers are continuing to appeal for information in relation to an incident in which staff were threatened in February 2018. A BTP Press Officer told us to us that:- "We initially appealed for information last month and are now releasing updated images of 2 men sought in connection with the incident. At around 11.20am, on Friday, 2 February 2018, 2 men were spotted trying to steal bicycles outside Liverpool South Parkway Station, by using a battery operated angle grinder. 2 members of rail staff saw what was happening and challenged the pair. They responded by becoming abusive towards the staff, swinging the angle grinder towards their heads. They then ran off."  Officers would like to speak to the men in this image as they may have information which could help the investigation.  Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by calling:- 0800 405040 or texting:- 61016, with reference:- '394 of 2 February 2018.'