Southport Classic and Speed Sprint Revival Demonstration Event

AINTREE Circuit Club have told us that they are delighted to reveal that we will now be running a closed road demonstration run along a ½ mile / 820m section of Marine Drive. This will revive the historic sprint course that used parts of Marine Drive up until the early '60s prior to the establishment of the Coastal Road. For 2022, this will be a non-competitive, un-timed, low speed event for a small number of invited cars and drivers. Cars will run individually along Marine Drive with the Start opposite the Southport Offshore Rescue Trust with the Finish on the approach to The Pier, opposite Ocean Plaza. The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Clare Carragher, will undertake the formal Ceremonial Flagging off of cars with the Union Flag with cars starting at approx' 1 minute intervals. The road will be closed under a TTRO from:- 1.30pm until 5pm, with runs expected to start at around:- 2.30pm. The Public will be able to view the event from the Seaside Promenade Terraces and from The Pier. Cars will also be on show in The Victoria Park Paddock from late morning until they are driven to the event start area.

For Public Safety, most of the landward side of Marine Drive will have prohibited areas that will be clearly designated and controlled by Marshals. During the event, Marine Drive access will be closed from:-

►  Weld Road Roundabout.

►  Victoria Way.

►  Junction with Fairway.

We are also informed that an approved Diversion Signage Schedule and advanced notice signage will be implemented by our contracted Traffic Management Organisation.  Also, we are told that the Aintree Circuit Club have been  directly in contact with all Businesses and Organisations who are directly affected by the Road Closure and Diversion and that this has also been advised by Sefton Council Highways. We are told that the Club has also undertaken a Consultation Process for both 2022 and in advance for 2023.

Aintree Circuit Club added:- "We are also asking for Volunteer Marshals for the event… They will be required from:- 12.30 to no later than 17.00, for course duties, mostly to ensure that the public don't stray into prohibited areas. Refreshments will be provided for Marshals as well as entry into our £200 Marshals cash prize draw! If interested in Marshalling, please visit:- https://1drv.ms  for more information."

Recall Parliament now to address energy price rise crisis, says Bill Esterson MP

SEFTON Central MP Bill Esterson is calling for an immediate recall of Parliament to address the energy price cap as bills were predicted to soar to more than £5,000 per year. Mr Esterson, Shadow Minster for Business and Industry, says Labour's plan would ensure families' bills did not rise a penny this winter, saving households £1,500 immediately, getting energy costs under control and helping tackle inflation.  Mr Esterson also backed calls for the Government to reverse their home insulation failures and adopt Labour's Warm Homes Plan that would save British families £11.4 billion on energy bills in just 3 years.  Mr Esterson said:- "Labour would freeze the energy cap for consumers. Remember we are talking about the difference between a price cap of £1,971 now, a predicted increase to £3,500 next week and £4,200 in the Spring, with much higher rises still to come, potentially, all the way to £5,500 without Government intervention. Freezing the price cap is the key policy measure that should be implemented this coming week, which is why we are calling for Parliament to be recalled to take the decision to do so. Labour has a fully costed plan to help deal with this energy emergency. Parliament should be recalled so that MPs can make decisions now to give millions of people peace of mind by stopping energy bills going sky high. And the Government must adopt Labour's Warm Homes Plan now. Under the Conservatives, home insulation rates have plummeted, with insulation rates falling to below 15 times less than the rate the last Labour Government were achieving before 2010."

Labour's fully funded £29bn plan would be paid for by extra tax from oil and gas giants who are making eye watering profits.  The emergency package announced by Labour leader Keir Starmer would reduce energy demand and lower bills in the longer term by insulating 19 million homes across the country over the next decade through Labour's Warm Homes Plan.  Mr Esterson said:- "Labour told the Government to implement this plan a year ago. If they'd acted, they could have insulated 2 million of the coldest homes by this winter; saving the typical household an additional £1,000 every year on their energy bills. Insulating homes would not only support over half a million jobs in the construction and associated sectors, but would also safeguard the UK's energy security by reducing our demand for foreign energy. Labour's plan would cut national gas imports by up to 15%. Labour would stop bills rising now, insulate homes to bring down bills in the long term, and create sustainable energy for the future; helping people get through the winter while providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy."

Looking at the energy price rise, our newsroom, on our Southport and Mersey Reporter Facebook and Twitter accounts asked you, our readers, to respond to a number of questions on this topic. What we found was a very worrying picture. So we are asking our readers, what do you think would be the best way to deal with this growing crisis? Let us know your thoughts on this news topic... Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Facebook or Twitter.