Just months after venue hosted Tom Jones and Status Quo - Salt and Tar is set to get a major funding boost

A proposed £585,000 funding boost from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is set to build on the success of Bootle music venue Salt and Tar; just months after it hosted Tom Jones and Status Quo.

More than 11,000 people attended the 3,000-capacity outdoor venue at Bootle Canalside in just 4 days last summer to enjoy acts including:- Tom Jones, Status Quo and local favourites Red Rum Club.

A Sefton Council initiative, Salt and Tar was established with £2.1m of Combined Authority funding and was granted permission to operate for 5 years in 2021.

The additional funding will enable improvements to secure the venue's future as a long-term cultural asset and allow 'wider aspirations' for the multi-use events space. Work is expected to start following the 2025 events programme, subject to detailed design and planning approval.

The funding, which is part of a £2m package that would support Sefton Council to deliver 4 projects across Bootle and Seaforth, will be considered at this month's Combined Authority meeting on Friday, 15 November.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "Salt and Tar is a brilliant example of the sort of cultural asset that we want to support and protect. This funding means not only can we secure a long-term future for this much-loved venue, it will also bring new opportunities to Bootle and Seaforth, creating jobs, boosting local learning and contributing to the area's vibrant future."

Other projects in line for funding include:- up to £785,000 for the refurbishment of St George's House, up to £580,000 for improvements to Sefton Community Learning Centre on Cambridge Road, and up to £50,000 to support the Bootle Strand Commodity Trading School.

St George's House is an office block set within the Strand shopping centre that requires renovation before it can be brought back into use. Sefton Council is proposing to undertake these renovations unlocking 8,000 sq.ft of office space. The Council then plans to relocate some staff from its existing offices on Balliol Road into the refurbished space. A start on site is targeted for Spring 2025 with completion later that year.

Sefton Community Learning Centre on Cambridge Road, Seaforth, provides high-quality adult learning programmes to help residents from across the borough into further education, training, and employment.

Improvements to the centre will allow provision of new Hospitality programmes, supporting the ambition for new uses in the Town Centre and the creation of a night-time economy. The investment will improve digital connectivity and ensure the upper floors of the facility are fit for purpose, increasing the number of learners who can access courses at the centre. A start on site is currently targeted for early 2025.

The Bootle Strand Commodity Trading School already operates in Bootle Strand, delivered by Merseyside Expanding Horizons.

Developed in collaboration with experienced commodity trader Mat Halsall, the pilot project launched in 2023 and has delivered training to 16 students; with 9 having secured employment in the commodities industry.

The investment will see a permanent, specialised facility created in Bootle Strand to expand the reach of the programme. It is expected the new facility will be operational for a new cohort starting in September 2025.

Councillor Mike Wharton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Business, Investment and Trade, said:- "This funding would enable us to support Sefton Council in their ambitious and innovative plans for the whole of Bootle and Seaforth, creating jobs and opportunities for local people. Salt and Tar's success so far has been a real boost for the whole area and is exactly the kind of project we should be supporting."

Councillor Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said:- "We're really pleased to see this funding being earmarked for Sefton and it shows the confidence in what we're doing here. It will help us to continue some of the great work taking place to support the local economy and improve facilities to make best use of them for the local community."

Conservatives Call on Sefton Council to Introduce Free Parking Scheme for Southport Town Centre

AT Thursday's Sefton Council meeting, Conservative Group Leader, Mike Prendergast, will be asking Sefton Council to bring forward a free parking scheme in Southport to support Town Centre businesses. Many businesses in Southport Town Centre have reported drops in footfall with many struggling to make ends meet. The recent budget has heaped more pressure on small businesses with huge increases in National Insurance on the horizon and warnings from the Bank of England that economic growth will slow down because of Labour's tax raising budget.

Mike Prendergast said:- "Whenever you speak to Town Centre businesses there are many issues that affect them but 1 issue that comes up time and time again is parking in the Town Centre and the negative impact this has on local traders. Southport is not unique in having issues within the Town Centre, with competition from online and other nearby towns, but there are things we can do to help and I think introducing a free parking scheme would help many local businesses and encourage visitors to our town. We are asking Sefton Council to seriously look at this and have put forward suggestions such as 3 hours free, perhaps in midweek, to increase footfall. Even within Southport there are areas like Ocean Plaza and Central 12 which already offer free parking schemes and this makes it harder for Town Centre businesses to compete. We need to give people incentives to come into the Town Centre rather than putting up barriers. If we want Southport to thrive, then we need to do something about it and support local businesses by creating an environment that encourages businesses to set up in our Town."

Talented young children from Express Performing Arts can’t wait to perform in front of the crowds at Southport Festive Fun Day!
Report and photos by Andrew Brown.

THE brave stars of the future, aged just:- 3 to 5 years old, will be among 14 local Dance Schools taking part in Southport’s biggest ever Christmas Party.

They will dance on a stage on a section of Lord Street closed to traffic for the day in a packed day of entertainment being organised by:- Southport BID, Sefton Council, Southport Royal British Legion and Southport Pleasureland.

Organisers are really keen to be able to champion talented young people and get them involved.

The fun day will feature an exciting array of local dance groups, character shows, bite size pantomimes, fairground rides, and three very special guests with Lemar, Toploader and Gemma Collins.

Express Performing Arts are a regular sight locally through a variety of shows, while they host regular classes at St Simon and Jude’s Church and Argyle Tennis Club in Southport.

Their ethos is that:- "the world of performing arts possesses the power to produce confident, positive, well-rounded communicators, bringing out the best in every individual no matter what their ability."

Express Performing Arts owners Lisa Walshe and Danielle Clark said:- "We have enjoyed being involved with Southport BID’s Festive Fun Day for the past three years. We love taking part! It’s always a fantastic family event, and it’s really exciting that this year it’s going to be the biggest 1 yet. Our children taking part are between:- three and five years old. It’s an unforgettable experience for them and for their families watching on as they perform on their stage in front of such a large audience supporting and cheering them on. It inspires their love to perform and helps to build their confidence. For many of them, this will be the 1st time that they have been on stage. It will be something special for them. We’re looking forward to our children being announced as support acts for Lemar, Toploader and Gemma Collins! It feels really good to be involved. We can’t reveal exactly what we’ll be doing yet but it will be something Christmasy; and then we’ll perform a little 70s surprise! You’ll have to wait and see. We will be one of 14 Dance Schools taking part in the event. We’re enjoying working with the other Dance Schools in Southport. This is such a brilliant way of bringing our local community together. The Southport Festive Fun Day is such a big event this year. There is so much happening, it’s definitely an event that people won’t want to miss. Once our children have finished performing, it’s a perfect time for them and their families to watch the other acts on stage, or go and try the Southport Gingerbread Trail, or see the sparkling Christmas tree, or have lunch together, or visit one of the other festive events happening in the Town Centre. There is so much for families to do in Southport on the day of the Festive Fun Day."

Southport Festive Fun Day will be hosted by much loved Southport Performer Kelly Bond, and Alex Toal of Greatest Hits Radio, who will entertain the crowds with a special DJ set later in the day.

Festive fairground attractions will delight the crowds, and fun activities such as:- facepainting and creative workshops will prove to be popular attractions.

Local businesses will also be joining in the fun. Visitors can enjoy festive markets at The Atkinson and Cambridge Walks, Christmas Grotto’s at The Vincent Hotel and Wayfarers Arcade, as well as lots more to be announced.

The Fun Day performances will take place on Lord Street, Southport, between:- 12pm and 6.30pm on:- Saturday, 23 November 2024.

The Festive Fun Day is being organised by Southport BID and Sefton Council.