Southport events centre plan set for extra £17.7m Combined Authority funding

AMBITIOUS plans to build a new multi purpose events centre in Southport are in line for a further £17.7m funding from Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. At a meeting of the Combined Authority (CA) next week, local leaders will be asked to approve funding for the new Marine Lake Events Centre, which includes a 1,500-capacity theatre as well as exhibition and conference facilities. That funding is on top of £2.3m already committed to pre-development work.

The events complex will replace the existing Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, which closed in 2020 and was unable to reopen after the Covid19 Pandemic when the operator went into administration. The planned £73m centre, which includes a lakeside sound and light show attraction, is key to the Liverpool City Region business and tourist economy.

It is expected to create 200 jobs and bring more than ½ a million more visitors to the Town each year, spending an estimated £12.2m. The complex is at the heart of Sefton Council's plans for Southport's regeneration, potentially attracting up to £400m of private sector investment to the Town.

Speaking about the project, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Southport holds a special place in the hearts of so many people in our City Region and beyond as being a family favourite destination for days out and holidays alike. While we're incredibly proud of the Town's history and heritage, I firmly believe that Southport's best days still lie ahead. Building on its legacy as a tourist town, I want to ensure that Southport can continue to thrive and attract visitors for many years to come. Thanks to devolution, we're committing significant investments into projects across our Region, like the new Marine Lake Events Centre, that will give a big boost to local businesses and creating good quality, secure jobs. This is the beginning of a new chapter in Southport's story; and I for 1 cannot wait to see what the future has in store!"

The Town has been awarded £38.5m from the Government's towns Fund, with £33.3m of the total grant allocated to the new events centre. The Combined Authority's Strategic Investment Funding, if approved, will part fund the scheme's development costs. A planning decision is expected before the end of 2022 and, if approved, work on the new complex, would begin 2023. The old centre is scheduled for demolition in spring 2023 with the replacement expected to open in April 2026 to be operated by preferred partner ASM Global, who run hundreds of stadiums, arenas and conference centres around the world.

Councillor Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said:- "As the largest investment project included within the Southport town Deal, the Marine Lake Events Centre will provide Southport with an incredible events space with state-of-the-art facilities to attract a wide range of different types of entertainment events and audiences to Southport. We believe that attractions such as this will create a genuinely unique visitor experience and will only serve to strengthen our visitor economy."

Councillor Janette Williamson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and Third Sector, said:- "Sefton Council has really exciting plans for Southport, to help restore this classic English seaside resort to its former glory. At the heart of those plans is a replacement for the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. Our funding would help unlock that development, creating hundreds of jobs and attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town every year."

More Liverpool children #GetConnected

ALMOST 600 children and young people in Liverpool are being supported to #GetConnected thanks to a partnership between Liverpool City Council and London Grid for Learning.

The Council has partnered with LGfL since 2016 to provide broadband to 73 of the City's Schools and now the Council has received 590 brand new Chromebooks from LGfL to distribute to Schools.

The donation is being made under LGfL's Let's Bridge the Divide initiative and it further supports the Council's post pandemic #GetConnected pledge that gave 1,300 fully funded broadband connections to eligible families.

The Liverpool Schools that receive internet services through LGfL were invited to apply for the Chromebooks to support online learning for pupils, especially those from families who had 4G access through the #GetConnected initiative.

To be eligible for #GetConnected, families needed to be in receipt of income related free School meals.

21 Schools applied for the devices and all received their allocation last week, with primaries, secondaries and special Schools all represented.

#GetConnected was awarded:- "Best Digital Inclusion Initiative" at the annual Socitm Presidents Awards in June with MiFi connections supplied through a partnership with O2.

Tom Logan, cabinet member for education and skills and #GetConnected lead, said:- "We're really grateful to London Grid for Learning for their donation of 590 Chromebooks. Like many Local Authorities, the importance of bridging the digital divide particularly for School children was underlined during the Pandemic, not just making sure that they were able to get online but also had a laptop or tablet they could easily work on. Working in partnership with organisations like LGfL means that our ambition of getting all School pupils digitally connected starts to become a reality and these devices are a great example of the Council working hard with our suppliers to obtain social value for our residents."

John Jackson, chief executive of London Grid for Learning, said:- "LGfL is proud to support Liverpool Council #BridgeTheDivide and deliver better outcomes for children and families. This is a long term partnership and together we've also built 1 of the country's fastest and most secure fibre networks for education in the UK. As a result, children will not only have great devices for those most in need, the children will also have a brilliant and safe online experience. Well done and thank you for the opportunity to support this wonderful City."

Gill Murphy, head teacher of St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Toxteth, said:- "This will really make a difference to our School. The means we have a set of Chromebooks for another class and they can use them every day within the classroom to support their learning. This will also help staff as they'll be able to enhance their classroom provision for children and they will be able to easily set digital tasks for the children. Children will also be able to have a Chromebook if they are ill or isolating at home so they can log on and access learning that has been set in the classroom."