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

# **Mersey Care volunteer opportunity at Hartley Hospital in Southpor**t

Mersey Care are looking for people who are interested in a volunteering role to support the occupational therapy (OT) team at Hartley Hospital in Southport. This includes undertaking group and individual activities with service users who experience mental health problems.

The volunteer will be involved in working directly with service users who are undertaking activities. The role description can be accessed via this link: Activity volunteer Hartley Hospital 2024

healthwatchsefton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Activity-volunteer-Hartley-Hospital-2024.docx

Volunteers will receive regular supervision and support and have their travel expenses reimbursed in line with Trust policy.

Please note, prior to starting volunteering, you will be required to undertake mandatory training and have references taken up and a DBS check.

If you are interested in volunteering for this role, please contact: volunteering@merseycare.nhs.uk ... See MoreSee Less

# **[Prof Joe Rafferty CBE steps down as Mersey Care's Chief Executive Officer](www.qlocal.co.uk/merseyside/news_list/Prof_Joe_Rafferty_CBE_steps_down_as_Mersey_Care%27s_Chief_E...

Professor Joe Rafferty CBE is to retire on 31 October 2024 as Chief Executive Officer at Mersey Care, having transformed the organisation into one of the largest and successful mental and community health trusts in the country during his 12 years in charge.

Since taking over as Chief Executive in 2012, Mersey Care has almost tripled in size through acquisitions while maintaining or growing its performance. The Trust has also been internationally recognised for its work in restorative just and learning practices, suicide prevention and a leader in digital and data led innovation. Mr Rafferty’s retirement ends 34 years within the NHS, following an earlier career in cancer research.

Mersey Care will now undertake a robust recruitment process to identify Mr Rafferty’s successor, which will begin immediately. This involves engagement with various stakeholder panels representing external partners, service users and carers and staff prior to an interview with the Trust’s Chair, Non-Executive Directors and external assessors. The preferred candidate will also be subject to a range of pre-employment checks and the Leadership Competency Framework for Board Members.

“Helping Mersey Care to evolve into the organisation it is today has been an absolute joy and one of the highlights of my working life, however it has been a lot of hard work for the whole team who have been brilliant to work alongside,” said Mr Rafferty.

“Although in a lot of ways I am sad to be leaving Mersey Care, I’m pleased to handover an organisation that is in good shape, with a talented and committed workforce and an Executive Group capable of leading it through the undoubtedly challenging times ahead. I feel the time is right for me to explore new opportunities and make way for others to lead Mersey Care through a period of consolidation.”

During Mr Rafferty’s time in charge, Mersey Care has transformed its estate by building Clock View Hospital, Rowan View Hospital, Hartley Hospital, Aspen Wood, renovating Leigh Moss Hospital and are currently working on building a state-of-the-art mental health hospital on the site of the former Mossley Hill Hospital, investing a total of circa £300 million.

Under his tenure he has also faced significant challenges like leadership of Cheshire & Merseyside out of hospital response to the COVID-19 pandemic, acquiring the former and troubled Liverpool Community Health, North West Boroughs Health Care NHS Foundation Trust, and acquisition and transfer of services at Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The bigger Mersey Care Trust still delivered an overall ‘good’ rating for the last inspection of the CQC, including ‘outstanding’ for caring and well led.

He is also a founder member of the Zero Suicide Alliance and was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year’s Honours List 2020 for his work on suicide prevention. He became an honorary professor at the University of Liverpool Institute for Population Health Sciences the following year, followed by the award of the Bicentenary Fellowship at Liverpool John Moores University in 2023.

Mr Rafferty was key to establishing a partnership between Mersey Care and the University of Liverpool to create the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC), a ground-breaking research facility based in Liverpool and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research which aims to impact directly on NHS mental health services. Mr Rafferty’s lasting impact and influence has been further reflected by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) consistently naming him in their list of the Health Service’s top 50 CEOs over many years.

Mersey Care’s Chair, Rosie Cooper, said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to know and work with Joe a long time, going back to my days as the MP for West Lancashire. For as long as I have known him and especially throughout his work here at Mersey Care, he has shown what a remarkable leader, innovator and strategic thinker he is, always striving for a better way of doing things which benefits patients, service users and carers.

“Mersey Care, like much of the NHS, has faced a lot of challenges in recent years; the COVID-19 pandemic, the independent review into Liverpool Community Health and the constant pressures on the health and care system. Throughout these difficult times, Joe has demonstrated his great knowledge and expertise, receiving widespread acclaim for his work in forging a path for Mersey Care. His presence and personality will be greatly missed within Mersey Care and the NHS Leadership community, and I wish him well in retirement.”

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

What a busy start of the year we have had at Compassion Acts! ✨

Here is a run down of what provisions we have provided throughout January, February and March.

A huge thank you to our entire team for making this possible and to all of our donors for giving us the means to support so many people. 👏🤍

#compassionacts #southportfoodbank ... See MoreSee Less

# **Friday weather forecast**

Friday afternoon and then Saturday look better ... See MoreSee Less

Late humour … ... See MoreSee Less