On the Town again for St Patrick's Day

FOR the 1st time since 2020 O'Learys Irish Bar, has been able to hold a St Patricks Day celebration. The atmosphere in the venue, located on Cable Street, despite the being fewer people than normal. But it was fantastic to see so many being able to let their hair down again and enjoy some catching up time. O'Learys was not the only bar observing St Patricks Night traditions, in fact, even The Atkinson, on Lord Street was light up in green! Did you celebrate St Patrick Night?

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Appeal for witnesses following fatal road traffic collision on Formby Bypass

ON the morning, Tuesday, 15 March 2022, emergency services attended an incident involving a cyclist and a BMW car, at around 11:05am, on the junction of the A565 (Formby Bypass) and North End Lane. Following the road traffic collision, the driver of the car stopped at the scene and...

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Letter to the Editor:- "Damien Moore given petition about NHS being privatised"

"WHEN the NHS was founded there were 7 Hospitals in Southport. Now we have ½ a main Southport Hospital and the small mental health Hartley Hospital with space for 40 patients which replaces the old Greaves Hall which had 1000 staff and over 700 patients. ½ a Hospital because Southport was planned to..."

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Merseyrail teams up with Rail Ombudsman on campaign to empower young rail users

MERSEYRAIL is partnering with local Schools in the Liverpool City Region alongside the Rail Ombudsman to educate a new generation of rail users on safety when using the network. The Rail Ombudsman has launched the:- "Young Person's Train Guide" which is a rail byelaw campaign aimed at young people empowering...

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IAS launches free legal advice scheme for Ukrainians

THE Immigration Advice Service (IAS) has announced a new scheme that will offer free legal advice to Ukrainian nationals and residents who are both in the UK or attempting to migrate to the...

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Bill Esterson MP praises work of Church collecting donations for Ukraine

BILL Esterson, the MP for Sefton Central, praised the work of a Blundellsands Methodist Church whose members are collecting goods to help those affected by the war in Ukraine. Mr Esterson also said he had received messages a number of...

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Holywell couple who helped schools in lockdown shortlisted for UK Biz award

A couple who converted their company van into a mobile office to reach Schools around the North West during lockdown and help teachers remotely teach children have been shortlisted for a national business award. Steve Sinnott, 39, and partner Hannah, 35...

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HMRC urges caution as fraudsters seek to hijack personal tax accounts

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning customers not to share sensitive personal information online to avoid their identities being used to commit tax fraud. HMRC is aware that criminals are attempting to obtain customers' Government Gateway logins and other personal details, enabling...

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Liverpool looks to AI to improve highways investment

LIVERPOOL City Council has turned to Artificial Intelligence in a bid to improve the state of the City's roads. The Council's Highways and Transportation team has set out a new evidence based approach using a mix of AI and photography to devise a multi million pound programme that will improve more than 100...

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Mayor launches new Skills Action Plan to help employers fill record number of job vacancies

LIVERPOOL City Region (LCR) Mayor Steve Rotheram has launched a new Skills Action Plan to help employers meet a record increase in job vacancies since the onset of the COVID19 Pandemic. The strategy follows the unveiling of an ambitious ₤9.4m...

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Cole Murphy is officially the North West's 'Young Neighbour of the Year'

A School boy from Skelmersdale in the Northwest has been crowned as the Regional winner in the UK's Young Neighbour of the Year Awards by Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch for cleaning and picking up litter every day in his local area. Cole Murphy, 14, who is a...

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Bill Esterson MP warns School is at risk of missing out on rebuild due to survey uncertainty

BILL Esterson MP has warned that a Sefton School may miss out on a vital rebuild due to out of date surveys being used to assess its bid. Mr Esterson said Lydiate Primary School on Lambshear Lane has deteriorated significantly...

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Merseyrail passengers encouraged to 'be who you are' with new installation at Moorfields

MOORFIELDS ticket office has been transformed into a celebration of individuality with a new pair of wings encouraging passengers to pose and 'be who you are.' The office has been adorned with a glitter wall, flamingos...

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Major high rise training exercise in Kirkby

A Knowsley tower block played host to a major training exercise this week when fire and rescue services from across the North West put their high rise procedures and interoperability to the test. Around 100 emergency service staff, 12 fire engines and multiple support vehicles descended on the unoccupied Gaywood Green, on Broad Lane, Kirkby, on Monday, 14 March 2022, as part of the...

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'Where the Arts Belong' takes centre stage at the Bluecoat

THIS year, visitors to Liverpool's historic Bluecoat have the chance to discover the outcomes of the initiative, with a programme of talks and events with the artists themselves, namely:- Francisco Carrasco, Suki Chan, Gav Cross, Alan Dunn, Roger Hill, Philip Jeck, Brigitte Jurack, Mary Prestidge, and Jonathan Raisin. Galleries featuring...

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Big Heritage seeks big ideas for new U-Boat attraction at Woodside Ferry

A multi million pound scheme centred around historic WW2 German submarine U-534 is under way in Woodside, Birkenhead, and Big Heritage are inviting everyone to have their say. The submarine, 1 of only 4 surviving U-boats out of over 1100 built; was sunk by RAF bombers in 1945 and...

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Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester to boost ties with Ireland and Northern Ireland on joint visit

BOTH the Mayors of the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester will visit Ireland later this month as...

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Businesses to benefit from extension to Plug In Van and Truck Grants

BUSINESSES will be supported to make the switch to electric as the Government commits to a 2 year extension of Plug In Van and Truck Grants, that will cover 2024/25) The move is expected to support the purchase of tens of thousands of greener vans and trucks and will help make the UK less reliant on imports of foreign oil, improving the security....

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Liverpool Against Racism's 'Together we progress'

MUSICIANS, artists, actors, athletes, historians, media personalities, politicians and activists will unite in Liverpool in a City wide statement of solidarity against racism and hate. A week long series of impactful, thought provoking, entertaining and creative events will form Liverpool Against Racism (LAR) - a unique festival which doesn't shy away from shining a spotlight on the subject of the prejudice endemic in today's...

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Advice to dog owners during lambing season

THE CLA (Country Land and Business Association) is urging dog owners in the North of England to ensure their pets are under control around livestock to avoid the risk of sheep being badly injured and killed during the lambing season. Lambing season can be a wonderful time of the year, but livestock worrying, which can be caused when dogs chase or attack sheep, can have serious effects on...

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Will rising petrol prices kill physical events in the North West?

WITH petrol prices soaring past ₤1.50 per litre, will in person events become a thing of the past for North West businesses? This week, the UK saw petrol prices rise to record levels, averaging 163.71 pence per litre for standard unleaded. With the war in Ukraine as brutal as ever, European sanctions on Russian oil are only getting stricter, with the price of fuel likely to keep...

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Tips to stay safe as fuel theft set to spiral due to huge hikes in prices

USED car buying service ChooseMyCar is warning UK drivers to be mindful of fuel theft, as the level of the crime is set to significantly rise due to soaring fuel prices. Theft of petrol and diesel from vehicles is a crime that costs UK drivers millions of pounds, every...

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CLA responds to launch of Nature Recovery Green Paper

THE UK Government has published a Nature Recovery Green Paper that is designed to help meet its target of protecting 30% of the England's land by 2030 to support the recovery of wildlife. The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) responds… The paper's wide wide ranging proposals...

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Applications to open for Landlord Licensing

APPLICATIONS open on Friday, 18 March 2022, for Liverpool City Council's new Landlord Licensing Scheme, which will cover around 80% of privately rented properties when it begins in April. The new scheme, which runs until April 2027, is based on poor property conditions, targeting the 16 wards in the City...

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Bill Esterson MP talks politics with Edge Hill students

BILL Esterson, who is the MP for Sefton Central, has recently talked politics with 1st year students at Edge Hill University, along with the UK's Shadow Minister for Business and Industry. In the talk at the Ormskirk campus, he took and answer questions about his work with his constituency and what he does within the UK's Parliamentary. We are also told that the students also asked Mr Esterson about...

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Final call for families to #GetConnected

FAMILIES in Liverpool have a month left if they want to #GetConnected in this School year. Families across Liverpool eligible for free School meals will receive a text message from the Council reminding them that they are eligible to take up the Council's offer of a free 12 month 4G connection. The commitment to get vulnerable families online is 1 of the Council's 10 Post Pandemic pledges. Families receive a MiFi router, meaning they can get online quickly...

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Quiz at Skies Music and Cocktail Lounge

STARTING on 30 March 2022 is a brand new pub quiz, that will be held every Wednesday, at 9pm, in the Skies, on Lord Street, Southport. The Coffee Shop / Bar will be providing...

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A scandalous decision of P&O ferries has left 800 staff without jobs with no consultation or warning!

THE UK Government said it will review its contracts with P&O after it fired its employees with plans to replacing them with cheaper agency workers. It is not often you hear such a chorus of cross party MPs branding a well known firm's actions as:- "callous," "disgraceful" and even "dastardly!" In an emergency Commons statement, Robert Courts, the UK Transport Minister, said the tactics were:- "completely unacceptable." and Conservative MP Huw...

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Community trigger activated for Duke Street park in Formby to tackle antisocial behaviour

FORMBY Labour Councillor Nina Killen has welcomed a "community trigger" to tackle antisocial behaviour at Duke Street park. A community trigger brings together different agencies, such as the:- Police,, Local Authority and British Transport Police, to discuss how they can work together to address antisocial behaviour. Duke Street park has had issues with antisocial behaviour intermittently for a number of years, and the issue is usually worse around Halloween and Bonfire Night...

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Fire Service calls on public to make fire safety a priority following fatal flat fire

MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) is urging people to make fire safety a priority following the tragic death of an elderly woman, who was the occurred in a ground floor flat, in Kirkdale, on Saturday, 12 March 2022. A neighbour passing the flat had noticed blackened windows at the property and raised the alarm immediately by dialling 999, at around 3.48pm. We are told that MFRS Crews on scene at 3.51pm. On arrival 4 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rapidly entered the building and began fighting...

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All Covid19 travel restrictions removed in the UK

THE Government will remove the remaining restrictions on international travel for all passengers ahead of the Easter Holidays, the Transport Secretary announced. As 1 of the 1st major economies to remove all its remaining Covid19 travel restrictions, this is a landmark moment for passengers and the travel and aviation sector. From 4am, Friday, 18 March 2022, all Covid19 travel restrictions will be lifted, including the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) for arrivals into UK, as well as all tests for passengers who do not qualify as vaccinated...

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More than 370 Museum and Galleries eligiable for DCMS/Wolfson Fund

MUSEUMS and galleries across England are being encouraged to apply for a share of ₤4 million of new funding to improve displays, protect collections and make exhibitions more accessible to visitors. The cash boost has been added to the joint DCMS/Wolfson Fund as the fund marks 20 years of the 2 organisations working together to support the arts and culture. Both DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation will contribute an extra ₤2 million through their partnership as the Government ramps up its plans to level...

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Consultation over future governance of City

RESIDENTS in Liverpool are set to be asked their views on how the City is governed from 2023. It follows the passing of a motion at a Full Council meeting in January, which asked Council officers to draw up and implement a full and meaningful consultation over the future model of political leadership in the City. A report to the Cabinet on Friday, 18 March 2022 proposes a letter is sent to every household in the City, with a secure link to an online portal, to answer the question:- "How would you like Liverpool City Council to be run?" The options are the...

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Zero Carbon Commuting is the answer to rising fuel costs

THE repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are causing rapid increases in the cost of fuel across the UK. Against a wider backdrop of high inflation, many people are seeking to save cash as the cost of living soars. Prices threaten to reach all time highs of ₤2 per litre, leaving many wondering if they'll soon be able to afford to use their cars at all. Mobilityways, a certified social enterprise, believes Zero Carbon Commuting to be the answer. "The cost of relying on this type of fuel is more than financial, with serious..."

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73% of parents from the North West say social media companies are not doing enough to keep children safe online, a YouGov study finds

73% of parents from the North West say social media companies are not doing enough to keep children safe online, latest polling by YouGov has found. It follows reports that some social media companies are planning to roll out end to end encryption which scrambles messages so only the people sending and receiving a message can read it. This could result in social media platforms no longer being able to detect cases of child sex abuse on their...

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NICE guidelines to improve diagnosis, assessment, and prevention of FASD

ADOPTION UK welcomes NICE's (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) latest quality standard which sets out how health and care services can improve the diagnosis, assessment, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). There are thousands of children, young people, and adults with FASD living in the UK, many undiagnosed. FASD is a brain based neurodevelopment condition resulting from an alcohol exposed pregnancy. FASD is the most common known cause of...

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Bill Esterson MP praises work of Maghull researcher recognised in Parliament

BILL Esterson MP has praised the work of a research associate from Maghull who was recognised in Parliament at the finals of a competition celebrating science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Dr Josephine Moran, a biological sciences researcher at the University of Manchester, was shortlisted as a finalist of the STEM for BRITAIN competition 2022 for her research about how the deadly bacteria Listeria avoids immune systems, beating hundreds of other applicants. Jo attended Parliament...

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UK parents say lockdown Home Schooling has made them smarter

BRITISH parents say they are now more intelligent because of lockdown Home Schooling, with 31% admitting they learnt new things while helping their children. When Schools closed, millions of parents were suddenly forced to take on a teaching role in their homes, but despite the challenges, new research1 by Oxford Home Schooling has found that many adults have come out of it feeling smarter than before. 11% say home education has made them brainer than they were pre-Pandemic and 28% are now more confident helping their children with...

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The North West receives more than ₤3.4 million investment from Bikeability Trust improve access to cycle training

THE North West will receive ₤3,436,148 to help more children learn to cycle with Bikeability. The funding is part of a record ₤20 million investment for the Bikeability Trust from the Department of Transport. It will be used to deliver cycle training for children and families. Bikeability has trained more than 3.6 million children since 2007. This funding has the potential to deliver ½ a million training places for children and their families across the UK, supporting even more...

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CGIUKI and CBI respond to latest 'Parker Review' data

ON 16 March 2022, the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland (CGIUK) informed the media that they "welcomed" the publication of the update report from Sir John Parker's review committee on:- 'Improving the Ethnic Diversity of UK Boards.' Peter Swabey, FCG Policy and Research Director, at The Chartered Governance Institute for England and Ireland (CGIUKI), said:- "We welcome publication today of the latest update of the Parker Review, showing the original target set by the review committee has nearly been met, with only 3 FTSE 100 companies..."

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Call for evidence launched to better support people with acquired brain injuries

PEOPLE whose lives have been affected by acquired brain injuries (ABI) are being invited to share their experiences and give ideas on how to improve the care and support available. The Government is asking people to come forward with their views on how to ensure a better quality of life for those who have experienced brain damage after birth. Acquired brain injuries can be caused by traumas such as:- road traffic accidents, assaults and falls, or by medical issues like tumours or diseases, such as meningitis. More support is needed to find ways...

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A new chapter for this World Book Day

PUPILS at Holy Family Catholic Primary are celebrating World Book Day with a bundle of 10 new books for their School library, donated by the Morrisons Foundation in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Anna Ingram, Community Champion, at Southport, presented the books to the School, saying:- "I'm so proud to be helping kids in our community through the donation of these wonderful books. The challenges of the past couple of years really have been difficult for us all, but particularly younger children who not only missed out on School, but also..."

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North West manufacturers see mixed start to the year

MANUFACTURERS in the North West have seen a mixed start to the year, according to the latest quarterly Manufacturing Outlook survey from Make UK and business advisory firm BDO. According to the survey, output in the Region was flat at a balance of +0% compared to the last ¼, while orders for both the UK and domestic markets were low by historical standards in balances of just +10% and +13% respectively. This reflects the continued difficult conditions being experienced by the automotive and aerospace sectors on which the North West...

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CLA calls for Government action on oil and gas companies

THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is calling on Government to prevent energy companies from profiteering from the current energy crisis, and if they do, to impose a windfall tax on those that do. Mark Tufnell, President of the Country Land and Business Association, said:- "Rising oil prices put further pressure on to the rural economy, including farmers, and threaten the viability of small rural businesses. They can often can plunge families into fuel poverty. People living in rural communities..."

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Liverpool running club running 200k over the 40 days of Lent raising money to tackle the global hunger crisis

LIVERPOOL locals Patrick Gaul and Simon Holleron from the Liverpool Irish Rovers running club are running or walking 5km every day for the 40 days of Lent as part of CAFOD's Walk Against Hunger challenge. The challenge raises money to tackle global hunger. Patrick and Simon have a combined fundraising goal of ₤500. Patrick and Simon from the Liverpool Irish Rovers will be running in the City's parks, particularly Sefton and Calderstones. To celebrate St Patrick's Day, 17 March...

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SoS - Save our System

ON 7 September 2021, the Government set out its new plan for adult social care reform in England, Build Back Better. This includes a lifetime cap on the amount anyone in England will need to spend on their personal care, alongside a more generous means test for local authority financial...

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