That’s my Friday night …. ... See MoreSee Less

Late humour ... ... See MoreSee Less

Useful for all budding electricians ... See MoreSee Less

At Thursday’s Council meeting Councillor Mike Prendergast put forward a motion to have the cycle lanes along Queens Road, Hoghton Street and Talbot Street removed.

Most Southport councillors supported the motion. Only Southport’s Labour councillors opposed the motion with the Labour councillors for Birkdale, Kew, Norwood and Ainsdale all voting to keep the unpopular cycle lanes.

Councillor Prendergast said, “It is genuinely disappointing that all Southport councillors were not able to support the call to have the lanes removed. They have proven to be woefully ineffective in encouraging people to cycle, they’ve harmed local businesses and reduced accessibility to town centre services for those who rely on their cars.

The fact is that the way these lanes have been installed and imposed on areas that don’t want them has probably set the cause of active travel back significantly in Southport.

As I explained during the debate, we want to see safe cycling infrastructure in areas where people want it and will use it. We want to see measures taken to help us meet our climate change obligations; Hoghton Street could have been an ideal place to see the installation of EV charging points, for example.

What we are against, and have been from the start, is wasting public money on schemes that hardly anybody wanted. Simply spending a grant from central government because you can without thinking through the consequences is not a sensible way to use tax payer money.

The measures were described as an embarrassment during the meeting, and I agree. The continued refusal of the Sefton Labour Party and Southport’s Labour councillors to recognise this and simply dig their heels in just adds to the embarrassment.

Unlike Southport’s Labour councillors, we will continue to stand up for local residents.” ... See MoreSee Less

POV: You're chasing down your friends and family 🚨🏎️

Book tickets now to join in the fun this weekend, tickets from £15.99 👇 👇 👇 👇
www.southportpleasureland.com/

#daysout #weekendfun #familydayout #themepark #attraction #rides #northwest #southport #southportpleasureland #tickets #fun ... See MoreSee Less

# **[Disappointing that all Southport councillors were not able to ban support cycle lanes](www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/news_list/Disappointing_that_all_Southport_councillors_were_not_able_t...

At Thursday’s Council meeting Councillor Mike Prendergast put forward a motion to have the cycle lanes along Queens Road, Hoghton Street and Talbot removed.

Most Southport councillors supported the motion. Only Southport’s Labour councillors opposed the motion with the Labour councillors for Birkdale, Kew, Norwood and Ainsdale all voting to keep the unpopular cycle lanes.

Councillor Prendergast said, “It is genuinely disappointing that all Southport councillors were not able to support the call to have the lanes removed. They have proven to be woefully ineffective in encouraging people to cycle, they’ve harmed local businesses and reduced accessibility to town centre services for those who rely on their cars.

The fact is that the way these lanes have been installed and imposed on areas that don’t want them has probably set the cause of active travel back significantly in Southport.

As I explained during the debate, we want to see safe cycling infrastructure in areas where people want it and will use it. We want to see measures taken to help us meet our climate change obligations; Hoghton Street could have been an ideal place to see the installation of EV charging points, for example.

What we are against, and have been from the start, is wasting public money on schemes that hardly anybody wanted. Simply spending a grant from central government because you can without thinking through the consequences is not a sensible way to use tax payer money.

The measures were described as an embarrassment during the meeting, and I agree. The continued refusal of the Sefton Labour Party and Southport’s Labour councillors to recognise this and simply dig their heels in just adds to the embarrassment.

Unlike Southport’s Labour councillors, we will continue to stand up for local residents.”

Reported at qlocal.co.uk/southport ... See MoreSee Less

Winter grazing cattle have now been successful collected from the
Green Sefton enclosures #Ainsdale & #Birkdale Local Nature Reserve.
Big George the English Longhorn thanks responsible dog owners for keeping pets under control on the site.
Grazing cattle are due to return in October.
Please continue to keep dogs under control while on coastal reserves to avoid disturbance to ground nesting birds and away from flooded areas due to breeding amphibians and other wildlife.
Sefton Council Lancashire Wildlife Trust ... See MoreSee Less

It’s tomorrow !

20/04/2024

Tickets

www.southportbachchoir.uk/tickets-main ... See MoreSee Less

Those who are at increased risk from COVID-19 can book their spring vaccination appointment now✅

People that are eligible:
Aged 75 or over (on 30 June 2024)
Have a weakened immune system
Live in an older adult care home

Vaccinations start from Monday 22nd April and continue until Sunday 30th June, but bookings have opened this week.

Find out more www.sefton.gov.uk/spring-vaccine-bookings ... See MoreSee Less

# **Removal of cycle lane motion voted down by all labour Councillors including those in Southport **

At Thursday evening council meeting, April 18th, labour councillors voted to keep cycle lanes, including all Labour Councillors in Southport.

Conservative, liberal democrats voted for their removal.

Quotes today on social media:

Cllr Sinclair Hesketh d'Albuquerque
> Independents, Lib Dem’s and Conservatives voted for their removal but sadly, the entire Labour group, despite most of them not living in Southport voted for them to remain and they obviously won. Absolutely terrible result but we now know that Labour are FOR the cycle lanes in Southport. Make your vote count in May!

Others
> Good to know that the opinions of so many people don’t count in Sefton.
> that’s why, (a) it’s absolutely pointless having local elections and Councillors in Southport, and (b) why Southport desperately needs to be removed from Sefton
> I’m almost speechless at the lack of backbone of some of our local councillors!
> All Southport labour councillors voted to keep the cycle lanes permanent despite the wishes of the people and businesses

The motion that was put forward by Mike Prendergast was:
> Removal of Temporary Cycle Lanes
> This council recognises that the temporary cycle lanes installed in Southport (Talbot Street, Hoghton Street and Queens Road) were a mistake that should be rectified by their removal.
> They are damaging local businesses, limiting access to town centre services to those who rely on their cars and have reduced the amount of parking available in Southport town centre.
> Therefore, this council acknowledges that a mistake has been made and resolves to remove the temporary cycle lanes at the earliest opportunity ... See MoreSee Less

# **[Information for visitors to Sefton coast this weekend](www.qlocal.co.uk/merseyside/news_list/Information_for_visitors_to_Sefton_coast_this_weekend-55069...

Over the last couple of weeks, the Sefton coastline has endured a range of adverse weather conditions, including 10-metre-high tides, strong winds of more than 50mph and 3-meter-high waves crashing against our seafronts.

As the weather begins to settle, the Council’s Green Sefton team are sharing a few reminders for people planning on visiting the Borough’s beaches.

**Debris and driftwood**

The stormy weather blew a substantial amount of litter and debris inland which will take some time to clear completely. Green Sefton are working to remove it as quickly as possible, and unfortunately in cases like this machinery is not as effective as removing it by hand.

Debris and litter can pose a range of hazards and people are reminded to take care, particularly those with young children or walking their dog.

Driftwood may also be found washed up across our coastline. We ask people to please leave this alone as driftwood, seaweed and other natural debris provide an invaluable habitat for a host of invertebrate creatures.

Elsewhere, contractors have been engaged to repair and replace handrails where they have been damaged. We ask people to take extra care while this work is being carried out.

**Beach clean ups**

For anyone wanting to help with the clearance, Green Sefton and local community groups host voluntary beach litter picking events regularly. For the latest information, keep an eye on Green Sefton social media channels:

Facebook @GreenSefton

Instagram @GreenSefton

X @GreenSefton_

**Coastal erosion and defences**

It is also important for visitors to stay away from areas prone to coastal erosion for their safety. This includes the space north of the coastguard station at Crosby beach, which should be avoided because the ground is unstable after recent erosion from the stormy weather.

There is a public consultation underway on Crosby Interim Coastal Defences and people are encouraged to have their say on the plans to protect coastal paths. The consultation specifically focuses on the King Charles III coastal walking path and a national cycling route which is at risk of being washed away.

People can find out more and have their say at: [yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov...astal-defences](yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/green-sefton/crosby-interim-coastal-defences)

**Windblown sand**

Owing to repairs being carried out on the Telehandler, the specialist piece of equipment Green Sefton use for sand removal, visitors to Crosby Coastal Park may notice a greater level of sand than usual on the coastal footpaths.

As on any coastline, pathways will always be prone to windblown sand, an inevitable outcome of living by such a beautiful and dynamic landscape.

Our Green Sefton team undertake regular observation and maintenance to ensure that these coastal footpaths and cycleways are kept as clear as possible. This work is undertaken as quickly as resources allow.

To find out more about our beaches, please visit: [www.sefton.gov.uk/beaches](www.sefton.gov.uk/beaches)

Image: Green Sefton on Facebook

Reported at qlocal.co.uk/merseyside ... See MoreSee Less

Tomorrow some of the Ribble Vets team are taking on the challenge of walking the Yorkshire 3 Peaks! ⛰️ this year we are raising money for Woodlands Animal Sanctuary, UK Sepsis & England Amputee Football Association!

If you would like to sponsor the team please follow the link below ⬇️

www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ribblevets3peaks?utm_term=WNzabGx4v

#yorkshire3peakschallenge #ribblevets #charityevent ... See MoreSee Less

# **[Safe dog ownership a focus as Sefton Council approves Dog Control PSPO](www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/news_list/Safe_dog_ownership_a_focus_as_Sefton_Council_approves_Dog_Co...

Residents in Sefton are being reminded to keep their dogs and others safe as the Council renews its Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

At yesterday’s Full Council meeting (Thursday 18th April), members agreed to keep the current PSPO in place for another three years.

The new PSPO is based on the current guidelines and reinforces the need for responsible dog ownership across the Borough. As well as highlighting an offence for not safely disposing of dog fouling, the Order:
* Restricts the number of dogs that can be walked by one person to a maximum of six dogs on or off the lead.
* Prohibits dogs from entering enclosed playgrounds and fenced sports pitches, including multi use game sport facilities.
* Prohibits dogs from entering marked sports pitches during specified times.
* Requires dogs to be kept on a lead within defined picnic sites and family areas in parks.
* Requires dogs to be kept on a lead within all designated carriageways (A and B classified Road) and footways.
* Requires dogs to be kept on a lead within all cemeteries and crematoria.
* Requires dogs to be placed on a lead when directed by an authorised officer to prevent a nuisance or behaviour by the dog likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to members of the public.
* States that dog leads must be no greater than 2 metres in length when used in the public spaces.

Peter Moore, Sefton Council’s Assistant Director of Place (Highways & Public Protection), said:

“We know that the majority of dog owners in Sefton are responsible and follow the measures in the Order already, meaning that the extension of the PSPO will have minimal impact on them.

“However, by renewing these measures for a further three years, we can continue to highlight the need for responsible dog ownership and retain important powers for addressing people who do not act responsibly, helping us to ensure that Sefton’s green spaces, footpaths and highways remain welcoming for everyone.”

The PSPO applies to all publicly accessible land in the Borough, so the Council is urging Sefton’s dog owners to treat all public spaces with care and to understand the rules that apply in the places they take their dogs. This includes removing dog waste and placing it in an appropriate bin as well as keeping dogs under control at all times.

While many dogs are friendly to strangers and other animals, those they meet may be nervous and would prefer to not be approached by a dog. It is recommended to keep dogs on leads wherever possible. Full details of the rules can be found at [www.sefton.gov.uk/dogs](www.sefton.gov.uk/dogs).

The details of the PSPO were decided following an in-depth consultation with 340 residents, organisations, and community groups.

A PSPO is an official measure that is an enforceable part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. They are used to protect the public from behaviour that is likely to have a harmful effect on their quality of life.

People can find out more about the PSPO, including affected areas at [www.sefton.gov.uk/dogs](www.sefton.gov.uk/dogs).

Reported at qlocal.co.uk/southport ... See MoreSee Less

# **Parliament debate about better rail links between Lancashire and Merseyside**

Damien Moore MP for Southport was involved in a debate on Midge Hall Railway Station on Wednesday 17 April 2024 alond with Katherine Fletcher MP for South Ribble.

The full debate can be read at Hansard at this link

hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-04-17/debates/1296F064-A38F-4A29-992D-C9CE44602EB7/MidgeHallRa...

Damien Moore's contribution to the debate as follows:

I commend my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Katherine Fletcher) for all her efforts to improve rail connectivity in the areas mentioned in the debate. It is great to have her as my constituency neighbour, working really hard on this issue, which is important to our constituents for all the reasons she highlighted. She has continually campaigned on Midge Hall railway station since she was first elected, and she is not letting her constituents down today.

Connectivity between regions is as important as connectivity within regions. Liverpool is in Merseyside and Preston is in Lancashire. We thank the Department for Transport for the extra funding going to both areas—they are getting about half a billion pounds to spend from the money that would have been spent on HS2. The temptation is always to spend such funding in a single area, but connectivity between the areas is important because of all the economic activity that goes on between them. That should be further enhanced by people being able to move between the areas by an easy train journey, rather than a complicated journey that they would be less likely to make.

Connectivity is also important because we have an education triangle in the area and people living within it find it hard to get around it. There are universities at both ends of it, which people should be able to get to easily. However, people living in the middle of the area find it incredibly difficult to get to a mainline station, so they make car journeys rather than take the train. That is a retrograde step when we think about our carbon footprint.

We are working on the issue. There are a huge number of stakeholders in my constituency and that of my hon. Friend, including businesses and those in the education sector. The Ormskirk, Preston and Southport Travellers’ Association, which is one of the rail passenger forums, has continued to support our efforts in making the connections that are incredibly important to our constituents.

I thank the Department for Transport for its efforts in prioritising regional connectivity, but connections between regions might need a ministerial steer. When people in the affected communities think about their journey to work, college or university, they do not think about who their political representative is; they just know the journey is difficult and want someone to step in to resolve the problem. My hon. Friend and I are doing everything we can to resolve that problem for them. It is a really important time to seize the opportunity to improve the quality of the life for our constituents. I know my constituents in Southport want to see these improvements, as do my hon. Friend’s constituents in South Ribble.

I am sure the Minister is aware that we will continue to campaign for these concerns to be resolved until we see a feasibility study that will, I am sure, unlock these projects and make them a reality, making life easier for our constituents. I hope the Minister has taken that on board. We need a conversation about connectivity Toggle showing location between areas because of the passengers affected in those blackspots. Rather than the money being spent on great services within each area, helping connectivity between our constituencies is equally important.

Reported at qlocal.co.uk/southport ... See MoreSee Less