Back in May, when the local elections saw Labour’s majority on Sefton Council dramatically reduced and the Liberal Democrats win 17 out of 21 Southport seats, I wondered whether a new era of better working relations could begin for the parties.

The early signs were not good when Labour declined to give the Lib Dems any roles chairing scrutiny committees and the tension between the two has been clear to see ever since. Accusations, and denials, of a lack of openness regarding issues such as the MLEC expenditure have again become commonplace.

Matters came to a head at a full council meeting on Thursday in discussions over Southport beach and what has become a very hot topic of the Botanic Gardens Aviary. Read our main story below to see exactly what happened, along with one separate point of agreement on an important but lesser discussed issue.

And if you haven’t quite had your fill of council arguments, I’d direct you to today’s edition of The Lancashire Lead for a report of a meeting which made this one look an entirely wholesome encounter and which contained the most the extraordinary outburst I’ve seen in a decade of covering of local politics.

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Southport briefing

💐 Tributes have been paid to a Ken Porter, a well known volunteer who gave decades of service to improving Ainsdale. After retiring in 1992 from the Ford Motor Company, where he held various managerial positions, Ken dedicated years of his life to helping the village alongside wife and fellow community champion Brenda. Ken one of the founding members of the Ainsdale Civic Society and served as its first honorary secretary as well as giving long service as secretary of Ainsdale in Bloom. In 2023, he and Brenda were given the Chairman’s Award at North West in Bloom for their hard work. After the news of his death was announced by his wife, Ainsdale Civic Society said: “His dedication, commitment, and vision helped establish the strong foundations on which the Society continues to build today. We remain deeply grateful for the lasting contribution he made to both our organisation and the wider community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Brenda and all of Ken’s family. They have lost a kind, honest, and devoted man whose love for his community touched so many. He will be remembered with great respect and affection.”

🍔 The prospect of Wendy’s opening a drive-thru restaurant in Southport has moved closer after planning permission was approved. The US fast food chain, which specialises in burgers, is earmarked to replace the car wash facility at Kew Retail Park, opposite the Old Duke pub and near to McDonald’s. The application was submitted last year and did not state the new facility would be operated by Wendy’s but an eagle-eyed member of the public spotted the reference in a technical report submitted with it. It is stated that the new venture will create between 30-40 jobs. The application stated: “The proposed drive-thru will deliver a valuable and convenient facility for nearby commercial uses and the surrounding working population. Locating the development within Kew Retail Park, an established retail destination, avoids the sporadic siting of traffic-generating development, promotes linked trips and helps to minimise the generation of additional vehicle journeys.”

🏠 Sefton Council’s cabinet is expected to vote to allow the beginning of work to develop housing on the former Ainsdale Hope High School site. The school has been closed since 2007 and is one of three sites across Sefton which are being considered as part of the Sefton 2030 initiative which involves a collaboration between the council and its partner The Sovini Group to build 1,000 new affordable homes across the borough by 2030. At the meeting, cabinet members will be asked to approve proposals which will allow Sovini Group to begin early feasibility work on the three proposed development sites. If approved, Sovini will be permitted to carry out surveys and investigate initial design ideas to look at how the sites can best meet local needs. Cllr Phil Hart, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for housing, said:  “Everyone deserves a safe, good-quality home. It’s key to a safe, happy and fulfilling life. Sefton 2030 is about making that a reality in our borough. By working in collaboration with The Sovini Group, we can bring forward currently unused sites that have been earmarked for disposal and turn them into the right mix of over 200 new homes for local people. This is an important step; we are still at an early stage, and nothing will happen at these sites without further approval of detailed plans by the council.”

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Southport-Sefton divide reignited in rows over beach and aviary

Sefton Council was accused of not listening to Southport as it faced more pressure over its decision to close the aviary at Botanic Gardens and its management of the beach.

Cabinet members faced multiple questions about the lack of consultation on the closure plan but insisted it was entirely appropriate as it was an “operational decision” made as part of the budget.

As reported by The Southport Lead last week, the council expects to save £60k by closing the facility, which acts as a rescue centre and houses exotic birds including parrots, but has cited animal welfare issues as the main factor.

At a fractious full council meeting at Southport Town Hall on Thursday, council leader Cllr Marion Atkinson described aviaries as “unnatural” and “inhumane” environments, sparking anger from those in the public gallery.

The decision was described as “crazy” by community volunteers last week as the furious reaction to the news continued at a public meeting attended by around 200 people.

David Cobham, who runs the Botanic Gardens Community Association of volunteers with his wife Ann, told the LDRS: “This park, and especially the aviary, people go back years and years when they brought their children here, when they came here themselves as children with their grandmas.

“It’s really awful.” He described the decision as “crazy”.

Sefton has said the aviary is not keeping up with modern animal welfare standards expected for birds in its care and the costs associated with maintaining its infrastructure are too great, adding that it is one of the last councils in the country to manage a facility that houses animals but has no statutory duty to do so and must focus its limited funding elsewhere.

The council also said the nature of the challenges the aviary faces in terms of infrastructural improvements and meeting welfare needs would make it difficult for any voluntary organisation to take over running the attraction.

An online petition set up by the Botanic Gardens Community Association has been signed by nearly 3,000 people, while activists collecting signatures in the Botanic Gardens ahead of a public meeting last Friday say their paper petition had also secured around 5,000 signatures.

Meols ward Liberal Democrat councillor Daniel Lewis submitted a motion to Sefton Council ahead of its meeting on Thursday, noting the Botanic Gardens Community Association is bidding for Heritage Lottery match-funding for up to £5m. Under the scheme, every £1 the community raised for the Botanic Gardens would be matched with an additional £9 from the National Lottery.

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Cllr Lewis was calling for the £176,000 raised from the sale of a lodge at the edge of the gardens to be allocated towards the bid so that the aviary could stay open.

David Rawsthorne, who founded the Make a Change for Botanic campaign group which raises funds for repairs and maintenance at the gardens, previously described the aviary as “the heartbeat of the park” and said the group wanted answers on the progress of the match funding bid.

While it was unlikely the motion would ever be agreed when government approval was needed to factor that property sale into the general budget, the response did little to ease tensions.

At the meeting, Lib Dem councillor for Birkdale Simon Shaw asked why the council didn’t carry out a public consultation on the decision to close the aviary when such an exercise could have uncovered considerations that hadn’t occurred to the council before.

Cabinet member for health and wellbeing Joanne Williams responded: “There was a great deal of thought given to the decision. It wasn’t taken lightly.

“With regards to consultation […] it had to go through the budget process as well, therefore it’s an operational decision, so we wouldn’t consult.”

This was met with mutters of “outrageous” and “rubbish” from the public gallery, where a group of volunteers from the Botanic Gardens Community Association were sitting.

Cllr Lewis then put forward his motion, saying: “The work done by the Botanic Gardens Community Association is often underestimated. People don’t know just how much those guys do to keep the jewel of the north of the town alive and going. It is a fantastic asset. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, since I was a toddler.”

He said the match-funding is an “incredible opportunity. If we can get that, that’s so much money into Southport.”

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He said he is “disappointed” the proceeds from the sale of the lodge did not go to support the Botanic Gardens, adding: “However much it was sold for, that could have been leveraged 10 times. That would be a massive amount of money. [Botanic Gardens community groups have] already raised tens of thousands of pounds, we can’t ask them to do it alone.”

He asked if the decision was based on funding pressures or on animal welfare. “This isn’t difficult to do. If we want to save the aviary we can save the aviary. It requires a tiny amount of political will, tiny.”

Responding, council leader Marion Atkinson thanked Botanic Gardens volunteers for their work. She said funds from the sale of assets are shared across the borough.

Cllr Atkinson added: “This closure is not about money. […] This is all about the welfare of the birds,” to shouts of “load of rubbish” from the public gallery.

“The animals are currently held in captivity in cages that are far too small. On average, each bird has the equivalent space to fly of four washing machines stacked two by two. The aviary is an unnatural habitat. Aviaries are a legacy of an era that did not care about birds.

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“None of these animals were put on earth for the pleasure of human beings to look at them,” she said, to a shout of “it’s a sanctuary” from the public gallery.

“We should not encourage future generations of birds to be confined to those kinds of facilities. It’s simply inhumane.

“Sometimes nostalgia gets the best of us and we forget what the right thing is.”

Lib Dem councillor Simon Shaw queried why Cllr Atkinson was saying the move was not about money when earlier Cllr Williams had said it was a budgetary decision.

His colleague Iain Brodie-Browne said: “If it was an animal welfare decision we could have had a report to us about the animal welfare decisions. If we are to rehome them, are we to fly them to Africa? It is nothing other than a smokescreen […] You sneaked it in the back door.”

Green councillor Neil Doolin said he has read research suggesting that: “If animals have been born into captivity, sudden freedom or change is not the correct approach.

“Birds – parrots in particular – are as intelligent as five-year-old humans […] that is their home and everything they know.”

Concluding, Cllr Lewis said that if it is not about money: “Give them £60,000 a year. Anyone going to do it? No, because it is about the £60,000.

“You just called the people who work for the aviary animal abusers […] it’s an animal rescue centre. They are saving birds.

“We can do the right thing here, but I’ve given up on the Labour-run Cabinet. […] The Labour council will not listen to people in Southport.”

In the end his motion was rejected by 32 votes to 27.

Southport beach

Differences between the council administration and opposition were again highlighted in a subsequent motion which called for the saviour of a section of Southport Beach. This motion, put forward by Cllr Doolin, called for action to keep part of the beach plant and mud-free for the community and visitors.

Debate over the fate of Southport Beach has continued for several years, as local people and politicians consider how to balance the need to conserve habitats with a desire to support the town’s seaside tourist attractions. While Ainsdale, Formby and Crosby are known for their golden sands, the Southport stretch is subject to accretion, the natural build-up of land along a shoreline as more and more sand and sediment is deposited.

That means that as more sediment and silt settles on the beach, the more it begins to resemble a mudflat, with vegetation growing inwards and the council has resisted several calls to take action on this front, insisting that Natural England has limitations on what can be done to affect those changes.

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When The Open came to the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in 2017, I attended on behalf of The Southport Visiter and nine years later I’m back in the media centre, one of a staggering number of large scale temporary structures which have been erected for the eight-day competition.

One change this time around is that among the hundreds of reporters, photographers and other media workers, I appear to be the only accredited reporter here from a Southport title. Rather than being in a section of local press, I instead have a station surrounded by specialist golf magazines and titles from the likes of Spain, France and Norway.

It says a lot about the decline of local news in that time period and if a major event like this does not have journalists from the town in attendance, then what of the much lesser known happenings? This absence is part of what The Southport Lead hopes to address and if you appreciate out work, please do consider taking a paid subscription to help enable it (and, as always, a huge thanks to those who already do so).

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Southport briefing

🚑 North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is investigating concerns that staff inappropriately accessed the medical records of victims of The Southport Attack. According to the HSJ, which also broke news that staff at that dozens of workers at Aintree Hospital had snooped on records without legitimate reasons, reported yesterday that NWAS is investigating its own brief and that family members of the affected victims are aware. NWAS chief executive Salman Desai said: “We have identified concerns about potential inappropriate access to patient records and are formally investigating the matter. We will contact families and patients who may have been affected as our enquiries progress. Any inappropriate access to patient information will be treated extremely seriously. We are deeply sorry for the concern and distress this may cause.” The dad of one of the surviving girls described it as an appalling breach of trust.

📞 BT has again been defeated in an attempt to install tall advertising screens on Lord Street. The telecoms company has seen a second planning application seeking to replace a phone box with its more modern replacement which features a 72” illuminated screen on each side. Named BT Street Hubs, the installations have become common on high streets across the country as the company seeks to capitalise on falling usage of phone boxes. However, Sefton Council ruled that installation one outside of Westminster Tea Rooms would constitute an inappropriate development in the Lord Street Conservation Area. A planning officer’s report stated: “The hub would be an obtrusive, overly large structure which would be entirely out of character with the immediate townscape, with the finally detailed cast iron verandahs and the 19th century listed buildings. It is noted that two redundant phone kiosks are to be removed to the north outside of 219 Lord Street, whilst decluttering of the streetscape is welcomed, this benefit is then undermined by the installation of a further item of street furniture in the form of the large hub. While there are public benefits to the proposal, as indicated within the removal of the existing phone kiosks, the benefits do not outweigh the harm caused and as a result the proposal fails to overcome the reason for refusal.”

🚗 Multiple cars got stuck on Ainsdale beach after sustained dry weather left the surface unsuitable. Sefton Council announced on Monday it had temporarily closed the beach car park in order to carry out work to make the area more suitable for vehicles ahead of what is predicted to be another hot and busy week. The council said: “The recent spell of hot, dry weather has left areas of sand on the beach extremely soft, making it unsafe for vehicles. Over the weekend, a number of cars became stuck, so we’ve taken the decision to temporarily close beach parking while work is carried out to improve conditions. Contractors will be moving the top layer of loose sand to expose a firmer surface underneath, helping us get the beach ready for the rest of the week when visitor numbers are expected to increase. Due to this, there is currently no beach parking available at Ainsdale. Limited parking is available inland near Ainsdale Beach, and visitors may also wish to consider Crosby or Southport if visiting the Sefton Coast today. The beach remains accessible by public transport, including Merseyrail and local bus services. We apologise for any inconvenience.”

🗣️ Calls for action to support Queenscourt Hospice, Botanic Gardens’ aviary, Southport beach, and Smedley Hydro will be made at a full Sefton Council meeting on Thursday. Motions from councillors due to be heard at the Southport Town Hall meeting include a request from Liberal Democrat Mike Sammon for the council’s chief executive to lobby the Health Secretary and local MPs to support the hospice’s fairer funding campaign and from fellow Lib Dem John Pugh to seek to protect both jobs and the historic Smedley building when the Government stops using it for functions such as processing passport applications. Another Lib Dem, Cllr Dan Lewis, is behind calls to divert funding to save the aviary - as covered in our previous edition. Meanwhile, Green group leader Cllr Neil Doolin will ask for action to preserve the remaining sandy section of the beach either side of the pier and for support in seeking in bringing Merseyrail into public ownership.

⛔ A serial criminal has been banned from locations in Southport, Birkdale, Ainsdale and further afield in Sefton after his latest conviction. Steven King, of no fixed abode, was handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) at Wirral Magistrates Court last week which includes restrictions on entering Lord Street, Chapel Street, Ocean Plaza, Sainsbury’s Local in Birkdale and Tesco Express in Ainsdale. The 42-year-old faces prison or a fine if he breaches the order which was issued as part of a new Pan-Merseyside Antisocial Behaviour Partnership (MASP) which was launched by Merseyside Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Chief Superintendent Karl Baldwin, chair of the MASP, said: “We understand the impact on businesses of anti-social behaviour and crime on our communities, especially those businesses who suffer loss, stress and inconvenience when they fall victim to theft. We know that the causes of antisocial behaviour are complex, and that it takes the right agency, at the right time, with the right approach to stop it. To achieve this, the golden thread is agencies coordinating their efforts, sharing information and tackling the problem together. When partners share information and use all the tools at our disposal, we can proactively take early, coordination action like this. When the public rightly asks ‘who is responsible for dealing with antisocial behaviour’, we are striving for the answer to be ‘we all are: together’. Keep reporting issues to us and we will take action.”

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Inside The Open as opportunity and big money come to Southport

By Jamie Lopez

“Wow, this is some town you got.” Staying in a rented house around a 10 minute drive from the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, American tourist Justin is among the estimated 300,000 visitors to this year’s Open Championship.

Wearing merchandise he bought on a visit to the official Liverpool FC shop at the start of this trip to England, the 41-year-old spoke to The Southport Lead in the spectator zone at Royal Birkdale on one of the practice days which still attract big numbers.

While bemoaning the lack of air conditioning as Southport basks in a heatwave, Justin is very positive about his visit to the North West of England, from the scenic coastline to the friendly welcome and much more.

The international spotlight is back on Southport as one of sport’s biggest events returns to the town for the first time since 2017. Since then, economic troubles, the covid pandemic, and an unimaginable tragedy have affected the town and hit visitor numbers. There are high hopes that The Open can reverse some of those effects.

Within the spectator zone are bars, hot food, corporate-sponsored activities, and a 24,000sqft official shop. Inside there, the offering ranges from a £6 ball to £45 umbrellas, 70cl bottles of the official gin for £57, into three figures for clothing - including a £305 cashmere jumper - and much more for equipment such as a £400 golf bag. It is packed with a queue outside and, suffice to say, The Open is big money.

Ahead of the championship, Mark Darbon, chief executive of the golf governing body R&A, said the benefits to the wider region would be “really significant” with increased spend on “local goods and services, accommodation, bars and restaurants from visitors to the championship” as well as through marketing the area for future visits and direct employment on-site.

According to independent research commissioned by The R&A and Tourism Northern Ireland, last year’s championship resulted in an economic impact of more than £280m, well up from previous years. According to research by YouGov, it produced £191 million in destination marketing benefits thanks to global exposure in TV and online coverage.

Sefton Council’s tourism department has been keen to support residents and businesses through the championship, knowing how crucial an opportunity it is to have this many visitors to a town which depends on tourism. Among its information to business owners, it said: “The Open is one of the world’s largest sporting events and brings significant economic benefit to host communities. Its return to Royal Birkdale represents a major opportunity for Sefton’s businesses across hospitality, retail, accommodation, food and drink, visitor services and the wider local economy.”

At Birkdale, Jamie Kennedy, Director of Digital Content at Golf Digest, was among those singing the praises of the host club and town, also describing the wider area as “underrated” and eulogising about an evening playing golf in Formby during sunset. He said: “Birkdale is a great venue. It ticks a lot of boxes. Course, setting, area, visuals, layout, routing etc. It’s going to surprise and impress a lot of fans this week.”

From Churchtown to Ainsdale and beyond, businesses have been preparing for the influx of visitors. Windows in the town centre and villages have been decorated for the occasion and opening hours extended in a bid to capitalise on the heavy footfall and a long-overdue efforts to tackle weeds and clean up the surrounding area have been carried out by the council.

While most are golf themed as they look to attract, Sally Bee, from the Sally Bee Lifestyle shop in Birkdale Village, has dedicated one of her shop windows to the Elsie’s Story charity.

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It’s safe to say the decision to close Botanic Gardens’ aviary has been received incredibly badly.

The decision was actually taken earlier this year when the council passed its budget, with only a small line on a very long spreadsheet giving indication of the plans.

I suspect that the opposition Lib Dem councillors are, like me, kicking themselves for not noticing the inclusion, which gave a £60k saving from the Green Sefton budget.

Any lack of scrutiny is being made up for now though, with thousands of people signing petitions against the closure and a public meeting held on Friday.

Southport briefing

🏌️Drones will be forbidden from flying over the Royal Birkdale Golf Club while it hosts The Open Golf Championship. A temporary flight restriction zone has been implemented as part of the policing operation during the major event and is now in place until July 21 which means that from 6am-10pm each day no unmanned aircraft is permitted to fly above the course. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Secretary of State for Transport agree that it is necessary and in the public interest to introduce Restriction of Flying Regulations under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 for unmanned aircraft for reasons of public safety and security. Merseyside Police Matrix Inspector Carl McNulty said: “This is a standard measure which has been in place in previous years for large scale public events. Specialist resources, made up of Merseyside Police officers and officers from regional and national teams, including air support, will be in place for the duration of the event and we are also working with partners including the local authority, other emergency services, and businesses in the community to ensure this is a safe and secure event.” Anyone who wishes to seek consideration for the safe and appropriate flight of a drone in these areas must obtain permission through the Merseyside Police Counter Drone Team on 07971688873 or via email: drone.exemptions@merseyside.police.uk

🪧 Sefton Council workers could go on strike after a row over pay. Workers at the authority are among thousands across the country represented by Unite the Union which is balloting for strike action after rejecting this year’s pay offer. They have turned down a pay offer of 3.3% from the national employers, who set council workers pay, as they believe this fails to address years of below inflation pay offers and pay freezes. Employees hree other Merseyside councils and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority are also being consulted. Workers being balloted work in various council roles including waste and bin collections, street cleaners, street lighting, teaching assistants and home care staff. In a statement, Unite the Union said the latest pay offer represents what it described as a “real-terms pay cut” and claimed it was not involved in any negotiations. Sharon Graham, Unite the Union general secretary, said: “Council workers are struggling to keep their heads above water after over a decade of pathetic pay deals. Employers are again trying to cut the real terms pay of workers instead of investing in our members, who do vital jobs in our communities. Unite will not stand by and allow our members to have another paltry pay deal inflicted on them. They have our full backing in their fight for fair pay.”

🚆 Trains will not run between Southport and Wigan over five days at the end of the month. Network Rail is replacing ageing tracks near Parbold from Monday 27 until Friday 31 July and will instead run rail replacement buses between the town and Wigan Wallgate, with trains from Manchester terminating at Wigan. Network Rail described it as vital engineering work and said it involves teams replacing sections of track, as well as sleepers and ballast. Once completed, it says, it will lead to better ride quality and a reduction in delays and speed restrictions in the area. Derek Davies, project manager for Network Rail, said: “Our teams will be replacing nearly a kilometre of track, sleepers and the ‘formation’ below the railway, as the current track is nearing the end of its life. Once renewed the track will benefit from improved drainage and offer a more resilient, smoother, and more reliable railway. We know there is never an ideal time to close the railway and we are using this closure to complete multiple pieces of work, avoiding the need for two or three weekends of disruption. The work has been planned into the school holiday period when passenger demand is lower. We would like to thank passengers for their patience during the closure.” During the disruption, Northern customers will be able to use their tickets to travel on Merseyrail’s Southport-Liverpool services, and Northern’s Liverpool-Manchester, Preston-Ormskirk and Preston-Manchester services.

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Scale of public outcry makes up for lack of scrutiny in decision to close Botanic Gardens aviary

By Jamie Lopez

A public meeting to discuss how to save Botanic Gardens’ aviary had to be postponed after a woman collapsed.

A huge turnout left dozens unable to even enter the building as Patrick Hurley MP led a meeting in response to a fierce backlash at Sefton Council’s decision to close the aviary. The local authority has cited both budgetary and welfare reasons as to why it can no longer support the long-running attraction beyond next March.

The decision to close the aviary, which has been in use for more than 85 years, is set to save £60k annually and was agreed in the council’s budget in March but had seemingly gone unnoticed until the decision was passed onto the team which maintains the aviary earlier this month. The news sparked a furious response and Sefton Council only confirmed it publicly after the news was shared online by volunteers.

It has since published a FAQ list on its website to answer many of the concerns about the decision and Cllr Joanne Williams, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are proud to have continued running the aviary long after most other councils across the country stopped operating facilities housing animals entirely.

“It is no longer possible for it to operate to the high welfare standards that are rightly expected of a modern site. For that reason, the decision has been taken to oversee the aviary’s closure.

“While many will be saddened by this decision, I’d like to assure everyone that the animals’ welfare will continue to be our top priority. I’d like to personally thank everyone who has supported the aviary over the years, including the wonderful staff and volunteers who have cared for the animals on a daily basis.”

Labour MP Hurley called and hosted the meeting which also heard from David Cobham, Chair of the Botanic Gardens Community Association which is responsible for much of the upkeep and maintenance across the park and is responsible for some 8,000 hours of voluntary work annually.

Addressing the assembled crowd at the Settle Inn, the cafebar situated inside the park, Hurley said he had been given no prior indication of the plans but that his office has been working to understand the problems and how to address them since it was made public, including by speaking with the RSPB and other aviaries.

He said: “It’s easy to criticise the council but it’s much more difficult and much more productive to see what we can do to either change their mind or find a way forward rather than just saying ‘its them people over there and they don’t know what they’re doing and if I was in their shoes I wouldn’t make this decision.

“Having said that, if I was in their shoes I wouldn’t make this decision.”

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It may seem impossible to imagine a time when West End shows would transfer to Southport but that’s exactly what happened in the heyday of The Garrick Theatre.

With a capacity of 1,600, the Lord Street venue replaced the Opera House which had been burned down and was of huge importance to the town. Like so many theatres of its kind, it would go on to become a bingo hall and that is how most currently in Southport will have known it. Mecca Bingo never reopened after lockdown and while, there are big promises for the site, a lack of activity has raised cynicism about what comes next - where have we heard that before?

This week, the Theatres Trust named it among its ‘at risk’ theatres - we take a look at what that means and what it actually happening there.

Southport briefing

🧑‍⚖️ Phase Two of the Southport Inquiry will open today, exactly one year after the first day of Phase One. While the first phase sat at Liverpool Town Hall, the Phase Two opening will take place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in St Paul’s, London. It is expected to last for around a year and its focuses have been informed by the findings so far, with including to examine the adequacy of how people fixated by violence are managed and what is stopping the various agencies from working more effectively together. As part of this, it will also consider the role of internet and social media in influencing and such people to prepare and carry out violent attacks; the sale of bladed weapons online (the killer was easily able to order from Amazon and hunting stores); and the harm caused by online spaces which promote extreme violence. Today’s hearing will comprise of the chair’s opening and an introductory opening statement by counsel to the inquiry. The main hearings will start in September.

📚 Plans to convert the former Broadhursts Bookshop into housing have been approved. The much-loved shop operated on Market Street for more than 100 years and as well as generations of Sandgrounders, famous visitors in its history included HG Wells, Rudyard Kipling and Johnny Cash. It closed down in August 2024 following the death of owner Laurie Hardman who had worked there for 55 years and his stepson Harvery Brown later told The Southport Lead the building had extensive safety issues which were too expensive to address. Earlier this year, proposals were submitted to convert the the first, second and third floors into accommodation and planning permission has now been approved. The change will see the ground floor retained for commercial use.

🚗 The future of the Esplanade Car Park in Southport is back on the agenda again as Sefton Council prepare to discuss it at their September Cabinet meeting. Councillors will consider options and recommendations for proposed third-party development on the site on September 3, although the meeting will at least partially be held in private on the grounds that confidential information relating to financial or business affairs is likely to be discussed. There had been an exclusivity agreement in place with GSL Developments to create a new £75m Cove Resort, but this expired in October. This resort would have offered multiple leisure activities including an outdoor lagoon, thermal spa and four-star hotel but its owner has stayed silent on the plans throughout, while Sefton Council now says it “continues to explore all options” for the future of the site. The fate of the Esplanade had been on the agenda for discussion at December’s Cabinet meeting, but was subsequently removed. The same happened in February and June. An update in a report published in June by Cabinet member for housing and regeneration Paulette Lappin stated that there was still an exclusivity agreement in place with GSL Developments and that matters were progressing but during a during a regeneration and skills overview and scrutiny committee meeting at the end of last month, executive director Stephen Watson said that this was published in “error”. He said: “The exclusivity agreement it refers to expired late last year, and options are under review for the future of that site.” Before the Cove resort plan came into being at the Esplanade site, Southport Community Energy Ltd had been working with Sefton Council on the planned replacement of an out-of-operation wind turbine with a much larger device which could have contributed to a community benefit fund worth over £1m. However, plans for the Cove resort then emerged, and GSL Developments was granted the exclusivity agreement for the site.

🎺 Live music will return to Lord’s Street Bandstand over the next two weekends. The free events will be held from 1pm-4pm on consecutive Sundays and are scheduled to coincide with the huge influx of visitors coming to town for The Open Golf Championship. Named Bandstand Revival, the event will also celebrate the huge amount of ongoing work being done by the Lord Street In Bloom Garden Volunteers working with the support of Green Sefton and local businesses to transform the historic Bandstand Gardens in recent months. Richard Owens from Southport Matters said: “Bandstand Revival comes from an idea from local residents. We worked with the Lord Street In Bloom Garden Volunteers and other local partners to showcase what can be done at the Lord Street Bandstand. Back in 2025, at a listening exercise run by Southport MP Patrick Hurley, residents told us that they would like to see the bandstand on Lord Street brought back into use. Since then, the Lord Street In Bloom Garden Volunteers have worked tirelessly to improve the area with lots of new planting restoring the flowerbeds to their former glory.” The volunteers are aiming to raise £10,000 to carry out the work and to buy new plants and flowers. You can donate here and see the full lineups here.

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What next for ‘at risk’ Garrick Theatre?

By Jamie Lopez

Southport’s historic Garrick Theatre has been included on the Theatres at Risk Register for the fifth year running.

The Lord Street venue, which was built in 1932, has a storied history and has played host to West End shows and stars such as Julie Andrews and Laurel and Hardy but currently sits as a building site amid ambitious but slow-moving plans to redevelop it.

There are plans to transform it into a first-of-its-kind theatre spa hotel in a move which is hoped to be a catalyst for greater investment and regeneration in the southern end of Lord Street as well as creating a new major attraction.

Planning permission has been approved for the project in 2024 but so far construction has been limited to remedial repairs and preparatory work. The Southport Lead understands that the main building work had been planned to start much earlier had it not been for the slow nature of the planning process.

While broadly supportive of the proposal to secure its future, the Theatres Trust has expressed concerns over how feasible the plans are and what impact it will have on historic features within the building. As such, it has included the Garrick in its Theatres at Risk Register for 2026.

Announcing the publication of its annual register this week, which saw the nearby Preston Guild Hall added for the first time, the advocacy body said: “The 2026 Theatres at Risk Register comprises of 39 theatres across the UK under threat of closure, redevelopment or severe decay, which all have the potential to be revived for their local communities with the right support.”

History of the building

Built in 1932, the Garrick was a replacement for the Opera House which stood on the same site but was ravaged by fire. Designed by Lancashire born Southport resident George Edward Tonge, its original colour scheme was yellow and gold with green and black highlights and was considered the finest of his works. At the time of its opening, it was advertised as the most beautiful building in Europe.

Designed to accommodate touring drama, musicals, opera, and ballet, it was built with a full flying facility and had dressing rooms to enable the hosting of large touring productions. Its opening performance ‘Firebird’, had transferred directly from the West End’s Playhouse Theatre and such a move signified Southport’s status as one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country at the time.

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Regular readers will be familiar with the findings of Phase One of the Southport Inquiry - the judge-led investigation into how the attack was able to happen.

With the second phase set to begin, the government has this week responded to the first findings by saying it intends to implement all of the recommendations from Sir Adrian Fulford.

Once again, we look to focus on the victims and their families as they send a clear message - warm words are welcome but only if it’s met with definitive action.

We have also decided, given the subject matter, to make today’s edition free to read.

Southport briefing

🦚 Sefton Council is facing a backlash over plans to close the aviary at Botanic Gardens. The council says the facility, which was first opened in 1939, is no longer fit for purpose to meet modern welfare standards and that it plans to rehome rather than euthanise all of its birds. Among widespread opposition to the plans, which are forecast to save £60k, Southport’s Liberal Democrats urged the council to rethink its decision and is encouraging the public to sign a petition against it. Meols ward councillor Lauren Keith said: “I live round the corner and take my daughter to the aviary frequently. It’s such an important place for families and for children to learn about animals and a real draw to the park and Churchtown Village. It is a short sighted decision and I am hoping the strength of local opinion will mean that the council will back down on this. My ward colleagues Daniel Lewis and John Dodd will be fighting for a change of mind on this.” MP Patrick Hurley has called a public meeting to discuss the decision which will take place at Botanic Gardens Cafe at 10.30am on Friday, July 10. Cllr Williams, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “It is no longer possible for it to operate to the high welfare standards that are rightly expected of a modern site. For that reason, the decision has been taken to oversee the aviary’s closure.I’d like to personally thank everyone who has supported the aviary over the years, including the wonderful staff and volunteers who have cared for the animals on a daily basis.”

🚓 A Preston man has been charged with theft after expensive fragrances were stolen from a Boots in Southport town centre. Officers from Merseyside Police carried out a joint investigation with Lancashire Police after reports of the theft in May, with a car involved in the crime traced to a house in Preston. Andrei Duduianu, of Dundonald Street, has now been charged with four counts of theft from a shop. The 25-year-old appeared at Wirral Magistrates Court on Friday 3 July and has been released on conditional bail. Sefton Area Commander Karl Baldwin Said: “We are keenly aware of the impact that shop thefts can have on our businesses in Sefton. They are not victimless crimes and can have a devastating ripple effect that could lead to people losing their jobs, prices rising as businesses seek to make up for the lost revenue and more. Our local policing officers remain committed to tackling such offences by working with businesses, the security industry and other partners to disrupt and deter offenders and bring them to justice when these thefts do occur.”

🙅 A restaurant in Churchtown has lost a bid to keep an extension it built without planning permission. Suzie’s transformed the unit at the corner of Botanic Road and Manor Road but did so by building a far larger area than had been allowed and against what is considered acceptable in the conservation area. The business then applied for retrospective planning permission and tried to rally public support, describing the structure as an “awning” and insisting it played a community role. When a first retrospective application was rejected, it submitted modified plans which would have made changes to the boundary wall but that has was been rejected at a planning committee on Wednesday evening. A report prepared for the meeting stated: “Permission was given in 2024 for a single-storey extension to the side fronting Manor Road with the outdoor area between the extension and Manor Road proposed to be used as outdoor seating. The side extension as constructed creates extended dining area and associated staff facilities and storage, aligns with the side boundary with Manor Road and the rear boundary with 1 Manor Road and entirely covers the outdoor space to the west of the site with an attached/covered storage area extending to the boundary with 1 Manor Road. The extension increases the floorspace of the site by nearly double over that approved in 2024 and as a result also increases the number of ‘covers’ that can be accommodated.” It also noted that the increased use had led to more issues for neighbours. General Manager Cara Quinn had previously said the business may be lose two-thirds of its staff if forced to lose the extension. A petition to retain the awning now has over 3,000 signatures and Suzie’s is appealing against the decision.

🏢 Southport’s MP believes the town centre could be transformed through a ‘renovation zone’ which would support the repair and renewal of vacant buildings, along with ‘robust enforcement against unlawful storefronts’. Patrick Hurley spoke in Parliament about how the high street can be revived through combining “retail with culture, hospitality, housing, leisure, health services and other aspects of community activity”. He hailed the opening of the new Warehouse Arts Centre on West Street at the weekend, and called for more vacant upper floors in the town centre to be converted into homes for families. Hurley said: “Our local high streets are the beating heart of our towns and our country, but they have faced profound challenges in recent years. We have seen the rise of online retail, changing consumer habits and years of under-investment in our town centres, and the tax system and business rates have not kept pace with that. The answer to all that is not simply to recreate the high streets of 30 or 40 years ago. The successful town centre or high street of the future will look different. We need to work to combine retail with culture, hospitality, housing, leisure, health services and other aspects of community activity. However, as well as good intentions, we need the confidence and determination to enforce our will. “Across the country, our constituents are increasingly raising concerns that premises appear to be operating outside the law. Legitimate businesses, which employ local people and contribute positively to their communities, should not have to compete with enterprises involved in illicit tobacco, counterfeit goods, money laundering or other criminal activity [...] If we combine robust enforcement against unlawful storefronts with a bold programme of renewal and reinvestment, our high streets can once again become thriving civic centres at the heart of community life.”

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Words alone not enough as Southport Attack families demand action

By Jamie Lopez

The families of the girls who died in the Southport Attack said words alone will not be enough as they demanded personal accountability for the missed opportunities to stop the killer.

Chris Walker, the lawyer representing the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie, reiterated the families’ desire for action as he welcomed the government’s response to Phase One of the Southport Inquiry.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood published the response this week which crucially said it would accept and follow all of the recommendations given by inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford. The retired judge spent a year conducting Phase One, a process which involved hearing heartbreaking testimonies from victims and family members as well as damning evidence about missed opportunities to stop the killer.

Mahmood said reforms were already taking place at Prevent - the anti-terror organisation which three times dismissed referrals relating to Axel Rudakubana - and that a taskforce has been set up to improve the ways in which people with non-ideological fixations on extreme violence are dealt with as well as new legislation being planned to close a clear gap in the current law by criminalising the planning of a mass casualty attack.

She said: “The findings of the report were, rightly, unsparing. The perpetrator came into contact with the state on countless occasions in the years leading up to the attack. Failures in both systems and culture meant multiple opportunities were missed to stop this atrocity.

“That is unacceptable. I am clear that the Inquiry must act as a turning point. In honour of the victims, their families and all affected, meaningful change must now follow.”

Mahmood continued: “We do all of this and more because there is no greater duty than that which we bear, as a government, to keep this country and all who live in it safe.

“Responsibility for what happened in Southport in the summer of 2024 rests with the perpetrator. But there is also an onus on the state to honour the victims, their families and all those affected by working relentlessly to prevent anything like this ever happening again. That is what we will do.”

In his damning 700 page report, Sir Adrian found that from schools and social services to police, Prevent and the killer’s parents, almost everyone who dealt with Rudakubana missed opportunities to identify, address or intervene in his escalating and terrifying behaviour. Both systemic and individual failures were listed and dozens of recommendations for change were given.

Chris Walker, Director of Serious Injury at Bond Turner, speaking on behalf of the three bereaved families said the government’s response “reflects significant progress against the families’ key asks”, particularly in criminalising the planning of mass attacks and the focus on the emerging threat of non-ideological extreme violence. But, he said, key questions remain over how duties to report known threats - such as Rudakubana’s parents hiding his previous actions from authorities - and how accountability for institutional and individual failings will be secured.”

Mr Walker also revealed that Gary Poland - the taxi driver who took the killer to the scene - has since lost his licence. Despite hearing the screams of the children and them being visible in his dashcam footage, Mr Poland waited some 50 minutes before calling 999, instead calling a friend first and even accepting and completing another fare before contacting the emergency services.

Although it said the reasons behind any such decision are private, Sefton Council confirmed that he no longer holds a taxi driver licence following a review into his fitness to hold it which concluded he did not meet the appropriate standards.

Mr Walker said: “The Government has been clear that the ‘missed opportunities’ identified were unacceptable. The families and I firmly believe that, alongside action and legal reform to prevent this kind of attack from ever happening again, there must also be accountability for those who failed to act appropriately. We are engaged with some of these bodies but our demand for disciplinary action remains the same.

“Public statements of regret are hollow if there is no individual accountability, if those people who remain in their position continue to make the same basic mistakes, then this risks similar atrocities from happening. Those individuals who failed the most, must lose their jobs. Otherwise the public will have no confidence that an atrocity like this will be prevented from occurring again.

“We note the Home Secretary’s response to Sir Adrian Fulford’s recommendation to review the ‘duty to warn’ and are keen to engage with the Government on this issue. The Terrorism Act already places legal obligations on individuals to report potential acts of terrorism, and we believe consideration should be given to extending similar duties to known threats involving extreme violence. In addition to a Parental Responsibility law.”

Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, of Fletchers Solicitors, which represents the families of 22 survivors, similarly welcomed the government’s acceptance of the recommendations while making clear that words alone will not be enough.

She said: “Our clients are pleased that the government have accepted all the recommendations outlined by the Inquiry chair, but the parents of these girls are yet to see hard evidence of any real change.

“Much of today’s report outlines consultations and desires to amend policies or guidance across multiple agencies, but until the work is done these are just promises.

“It’s almost two years since the Southport attack devastated this community – but only days ago, another depraved teenager was sentenced for possessing numerous weapons and explosives to carry out a mass killing.

“The families affected by this tragedy need to see firm timelines and detailed plans around how changes will be implemented, and how their impact will be measured. They want to be involved in conversations with these agencies to inform changes. And finally this must not get lost when our new Prime Minister is decided – delivering on these promises must remain a priority for whoever comes into power.”

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There are lots of factors which can cause health inequality and some are far easier to explain than others. One of the more difficult is the reason why the North West has the highest rate of premature stroke deaths in England - by some margin.

In June, clinicians and researchers gathered at the University of Lancashire for a Transforming Stroke Care conference which heard of exactly this issue.

Among those to tell their story was the wife of a Southport man whose quick response helped to save his life. She has shared their story in the hope others will also have the confidence to act quickly.

Southport briefing

🚓 The son of a farmer who was shot dead on his Scarisbrick farm has been charged with manslaughter almost two years later. Thomas Olverson was shot while riding a tractor on Marsh Hey Farm, off Pinfold Lane, in July 2024 and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed arrested on suspicion of murder at the time and his bail was repeatedly extended as investigations continued and in July 2025 Lancashire Constabulary told The Southport Lead that it had submitted a file to the CPS to consider whether charges could be made. Eleven months on, Adam Olverson was this week re-arrested this week and charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm without a certificate, and possession of ammunition without a certificate. The 31-year-old, of Pinfold Lane, is due to appear at Preston Magistrates Court today.

🪖 Southport has been chosen as the host of the 2027 Armed Forces Day national event. The town already hosts a large-scale event each year and thanks to a successful bid will be given £50k of event funding from the Ministry of Defence along with access to military assets such as flypasts, equipment and bands, and planning and communications support. The decision was announced by the Defence Secretary at Sunday’s event in Aldershot which attracted tens of thousands of attendees. Major Nick McEntee, Director of Southport Armed Forces Community Hub described the awarding as a “fantastic achievement” and said volunteers were ready to begin work alongside Sefton Council for next year’s event. Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Jennifer Corcoran said: “Sefton has a proud and longstanding connection with our Armed Forces, and it is a tremendous honour for Southport to host the national Armed Forces Day next year. This announcement recognises the dedication and sacrifice of our service personnel, veterans and their families and also the strong sense of community we have here in Southport. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the country to celebrate, reflect and show our collective support for those who serve.”

🏖️ Britannia Hotels has reiterated its commitment to redeveloping and reopening its Pontins sites. The Ainsdale attraction has been closed since January 2024 and although Sefton Council wants to see it replaced with a “world class” visitor attraction, the hotel company maintains a long-term lease for the site and has no intention of surrendering that. After the latest round of false rumours claiming the site would be used to house asylum seekers, the company issued a statement saying that it is progressing plans for all three of its closed attractions. A spokesperson said: “We continue to undertake surveys, assessments and site management activities at our three vacant Pontins sites. This forms part of our work with an appointed planning consultancy to develop pre-application proposals. These have now been submitted to planning officers at the respective local authorities and we are awaiting dates to discuss their feedback. This will enable us to progress the proposals and secure positive long-term outcomes for all sites.”

🐟 Chippy T has been named as the best in the region. The family-run takeaway, on Ovington Road in Kew, was named winner in the ‘Best Fish & Chips in the North West’ category at the English Fish & Chip Awards as well as being highly recommended in the ‘Best Fish Fryer’ category. Fylde Fish Bar, in Marshside, was highly recommended in the North West category, in Best Dine-In Fish & Chips, and Best Family-Run Business. A spokesperson for the awards said: “Huge congratulations to Chippy T (Southport) for their incredible achievement in Best Fish & Chips in the North West at the English Fish & Chip Awards. This well-deserved recognition celebrates excellence, quality, and dedication to serving some of the finest fish and chips. A fantastic accomplishment for the entire team!”

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‘Don’t delay’ warning from wife of stroke victim who nearly died

By Jamie Lopez

The wife of a former aircraft engineer who suffered a stroke believes he would’ve died if he hadn’t received such quick care as she urged others to be aware of the symptoms.

In August 2025, Mike Andrew suffered a stroke caused by a large clot at the back of his brain having previously shown no signs of illness. His wife Ailsa recognised what was happening and called an ambulance, leading to emergency medication and surgery.

Mike, now 60, still lives with the consequences today, no longer being able to work or drive but Ailsa believes he would be dead without the quick treatment.

She said: “We woke up as usual and Mike was fine but within minutes, I knew something was wrong. He had the textbook symptoms of speech loss, his face was drooping and he couldn’t move properly. I rang the ambulance immediately and made sure to say I think it’s a stroke.

“The paramedics took Mike to Aintree Hospital instead of our nearest A&E as they have a rapid access stroke unit and were able to give him clot busting medication, followed by a thrombectomy at the Walton Centre.

“Mike didn’t have high blood pressure or cholesterol and his heart was fine so we’ll never really know the cause of his stroke. He was very stressed at work and that may have been a contributory factor.

“Mike’s stroke has been life changing as he can no longer work as an aircraft engineer or drive but physically, he’s quite well considering. He does have some cognitive delay and struggles with some decision making but we’re very aware things could have been much worse. I know without my immediate action and the decisions made by the paramedics to take him to Aintree, we’re pretty sure he would’ve died.”

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For several years I have been writing about the Burscough Curves - a stretch of railway that was ripped out thanks to the Beeching cuts. Various attempts have been made to convince the government to fund its reopening - with widespread support and just two miles of undeveloped land to reinstate it is often seen an easy win to massively improve Southport’s rail links.

I’ve wrote about the curves many times but only recently actually managed to see stretches of what remains - mounds alongside farmlands and bridges with trees growing out of them - and doing so only makes the prospect seem all the more feasible. No dramatic land changes, no expensive bat tunnels.

And yet, still nothing has been done - Southport continues to have no direct train to Preston or Ormskirk.

Perhaps that will finally change though. A new Lancashire council has been created and it has listed the curves among its potential infrastructure improvements. Combined with an incoming Prime Minister who loves devolution, hopes are set to rise again.

Southport briefing

🔨 Work dismantling parts of Southport Pier will finally begin in the coming weeks. The historic structure has been closed since 2022 and is set to be fully refurbished thanks to £20m of government funding, with work due to take place over more than a year. Sefton council leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said: “You will see some contractor movement in the next couple of weeks. You will also see, coming in July, some dismantling of parts of the pier. A E Yates are on site now, starting work. We promised, we said we would bring our fantastic, beautiful pier back, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” The pier will remain closed throughout the works, and is due to reopen in the second half of 2027.

🍗 The former owner of a popular takeaway has been hit with a six-figure fine after failing to pay £235,000 worth of tax. Sahara. Southport Ltd, which previously operated Sahara on Manchester Road, was fined £127,000 for failing to pay money owed to HMRC and has now been named a list of deliberate tax defaulters published by the government. The company had just one director -Ahmed Ikhlaq - and the unpaid tax related to a period from July 2020 to June 2023. The takeaway is now run by a different company. Kevin Hubbard, HMRC’s director of individuals and small business compliance, said: “We are actively tackling tax non-compliance among high street businesses across the UK, and today’s namings show we will act wherever we find it. Everyone on this list had the opportunity to come forward to make a full disclosure – and didn’t. HMRC will always pursue those who deliberately refuse to pay what they owe.”

🩸 An electrician who was inspired by his mum’s treatment has been celebrated after completing his 75th blood donation. Mark Askie, who works for SeftonArc, made his 75th donation at the Liverpool Blood Centre earlier this month, donating platelets which are a vital component used in lifesaving treatments across the NHS. During his mum’s illness, she relied on platelet infusions as part of her treatment which led to Mark deciding to move from whole blood donation to platelet donation, with 59 of his 75 donations now being platelets. Mark said: “Seeing first-hand how important platelet transfusions were for my mum really stayed with me. If taking a bit of time out to donate can help someone else through a difficult time, then it’s absolutely worth it. I’d encourage anyone who can to consider donating, it really does make a difference.” Platelets are tiny, gold-coloured cells in the blood that help it clot and prevent bleeding. They play a crucial role in medicine, supporting patients in a wide range of situations, with around two-thirds helping people undergoing cancer treatment, but have a shelf life of just seven days which means there is a constant and ongoing need for donations. In recognition of this achievement, Mark will receive an Emerald Donor Card, badge and certificate, marking his outstanding dedication to blood donation.

🏗️ An “historic moment” was hailed as the Sefton Council’s cabinet agreed to enter into a construction contract for Marine Lake Events Centre. As reported in last weekend’s edition of The Southport Lead, the council has agreed to fund an additional £33m towards the flagship project after lengthy delays saw construction costs soar. The new venue will be a replacement for Southport Theatre and Convention Centre and is seen as a key driver of visitors to the town which will play a major role in the local economy. Construction is now set to begin in October after preliminary works that began earlier in the summer, with a target opening date of 2029. Sefton’s executive director Stephen Watson told a cabinet meeting on Thursday inflation was high across the construction sector since the pandemic and war in Ukraine, citing a 40% rise in the price of structural steel but said £12m of savings had been found before reaching the latest cost of £106m. The council hopes to secure the additional funding required for the scheme through central government and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority grants, as well as through borrowing. The opposition Lib Dem group again criticised the council’s unwillingness to share information after the meeting, with Cllr John Pugh pointing out that only the eight cabinet members have been allowed to see a 281-page document. He said: “I think we all understand and respect confidentiality in Sefton, but I am not sure everyone has a grasp of transparency and democracy. Regardless of project or cost this secrecy is bad practice and I will pursue every external means to get the unvarnished facts in front of the public and my fellow councillors.”

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New hopes for long-awaited Burscough Curves reopening

By Jamie Lopez

Fresh hopes have been given to the prospect of reopening the Burscough Curves rail lines.

Restoring the line is among ideas being considered by a new authority which will replace Lancashire’s existing councils under devolution plans. Named the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA), the body has been set up to transfer powers from central government to local decision-makers in Lancashire and could also provide a major boost to Southport.

Under existing government plans, more decision making and funding is being passed onto local leaders in Lancashire. With Andy Burnham, a huge advocate of devolution and improved public transport, almost certain to be the next Prime Minister it is expected that such projects will receive more funding and powers will be passed on to local leaders - though the ongoing argument about whether Lancashire should or will have a mayor continues to complicate matters.

The LCCA has been set up to begin operations during the devolution process which will eventually see 15 councils replaced by three or four and it is consulting on proposals to make dramatic improvements to transport infrastructure. As part of this, it wants to review ideas which were considered and rejected under the government’s Restoring Your Railways (RYR) scheme.

These include re-opening the curves, which total around two miles of railway tracks which linked the Ormskirk-Preston and Southport-Wigan lines and were closed as a result of the Beeching cuts in the 1960s.

While many of the closed lines have been developed over, the two miles stretch across the Burscough Curves remains unused. While the actual tracks were removed, the land they sat on has simply become overgrown and can still be seen in the form of tree-filled bridges and mounds surrounding farmland.

The proposal would involve relaying those two miles of track to reinstate a two-way junction and bring back links between the two existing lines. It would mean that for the first time in 60 years, efficient public transport would be available from Southport to Ormskirk and Preston in a boost for both commuters and daytrippers.

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Currently, public transport is only available for those journeys is only possible in the form of buses which are slow and, in particular in the case of Preston, have very limited services at various points in the day.

Repeated efforts have been made to lobby various governments for their reopening going back to the 2000s and it was mentioned in Parliament by then MP and now councillor John Pugh in 2011: “The Burscough curve is my scheme of first preference. There are two stations, half a mile apart, in a growing, substantial dormitory town. Trains of two major franchises cover two city regions: Merseyside and Preston, as well as central Lancashire. Those two conurbations have been identified as being poorly linked by transport, but linking those two city regions requires only half a mile of track.

“If that were the case in Southwark, Kensington, Walthamstow, Richmond or the Thames Gateway, I have no doubt that it would have been funded and done years ago. Colleagues may play the game for themselves with their own pet schemes. What is a no-brainer in London is often a half-century campaign elsewhere.”

As part of an exchange which ended with the Transport Secretary promising to meet to discuss the project, Southport’s representative spoke of the frustration of seeing plans being discussed but receiving no progress, stating: “I am not comfortable with the strange, Kafkaesque world in which nothing really happens except that the odd consultant gets paid from time to time. The bizarre anomalies that lead to people supporting various schemes continue, but no final decisions are made. I suggest that there is a more intelligent way to do things.”

Speaking to The Southport Lead this week, Cllr Pugh said there needs to be more efforts made to secure transport improvements. He said: “It is good to see mention of the curves within Lancashire’s Transport Plan but Lancashire Council will not be around for much longer and we need the cash rich City Regions of Manchester and Liverpool to engage with this project.

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If you’ve ever looked at the signs on taxis in, well anywhere in the UK, you’ll likely have noticed a weird amount are registered in Wolverhampton. Over one five month period, the Midlands council processed 30 times more applications than its neighbours thanks to a reputation for quicker processing, cheaper fees and a higher pass rate.

Under the current system - one which has been challenged by likely next Prime Minister Andy Burnham is his former job - taxi drivers are able to get a licence in one part of the county and then work in another.

Its an issue which has caused a headache for councils as it is more difficult to challenge those who operate poorly but in Sefton a different problem has occurred - a surge in the number of people applying for licences here to allow them to work elsewhere. What makes this all the more unusual is that no-one at the council knows why, while there were even warnings over a lack of taxi drivers working in the borough just a few months ago.

Southport briefing

👍 Southport MP Patrick Hurley paid tribute to Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister announced his planned departure. Last weekend, Hurley wrote in The Southport Lead that he believed Starmer had done a good job but that it was time to step down with Andy Burnham seen as the ideal candidate to take over. He built on those comments after Starmer made the announcement outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, stating: “Keir Starmer leaves office having changed the course of his party and, as a result, the course of his country. He bequeaths to his successor a Labour Party stronger than the one he inherited, a government that literally millions of people are rooting to do better, and a political legacy that will long outlive the contests and controversies of the present day. History will be kind in its judgement.”

🍸 The first Southport Cocktail Week will take place this summer with more than 20 venues already signed up to take part. Building on the success of the recent Southport Beer Week, Southport BID is organisiung the new event in an effort to encourage people to visit the town centre and try new bars and creations. Each venue will have at least two exclusive drinks created for the event and priced from £5 with visitors needing a wristband to take advantage of the offers. There will also be bespoke guidebooks featuring cocktail listings for each venue, maps and other useful information and money collected from wristband purchases will be donated to Queenscourt Hospice. Southport BID Head of Operations Luke Randles said: “The ambition was to always expand this format to other hospitality events and we are delighted to be working alongside BID businesses to launch Southport Cocktail Week this August. The event will be a celebration of cocktails, creativity, and the vibrant hospitality offer we have in Southport town centre. One of the things that we love about Southport Beer Week is that local businesses really get involved and make it what it is - and that local people really get right behind it too! It’s been a busy year of high-profile events in Southport. We want to complement that with even more for visitors to enjoy. Watch this space for more announcements on similar events later in the year.”

🙌 Sefton Council has been shortlisted for a Social Impact Award at the annual North West Regional Construction Awards in recognition for work done as part of its Active Travel, Place Making and Public Realm Programmes. According to the council, £5.9m of social value has been delivered across multiple schemes, including through engaging with thousands of students, providing hundreds of weeks of apprenticeships, and investing more than over £20,000 towards community projects. The authority and its partners have worked to ensure that major highway schemes, such as Les Transformations de Southport, Maritime Corridor, and Southport Eastern Access, have delivered a wider positive social impact in the community outside of the direct scheme benefits themselves. As part of this, Balfour Beatty worked with local organisations including Sefton@Work, Care Experienced Hub, and Hugh Baird to provide two 45-day placements for T-Level students, a six-month paid placement for a care leaver, 400 weeks of apprenticeships, and 140 staff hours supporting local schools and colleges through workshops and fairs.

🌈 The second part of the annual Sefton Pride celebration is taking part in Southport this weekend following the first half which was held in Bootle earlier this month. On Sunday, a Pride march will travel from Victoria Park and along Duke Street to Southport Market at 12.45pm before there is music, dance, and artisan stalls at a Southport Pride Market organised by Merseyside Queer Markets. Other events include an evening of classic house music with DJs performing at Parkinsons Books and a lineup of films at Southport Bijou Cinema. The Sefton Pride event takes place on the same day as the Southport Armed Forces Day, which will include events at The Atkinson and in Kings Gardens.

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Mystery of Sefton’s taxi licence surge

By Emma Morgan, additional reporting by Jamie Lopez

Sefton has seen a large increase in the number of taxi drivers applying for licences, but only half of applicants are based in the borough. The council is experiencing the highest level of demand ever for the licences, councillors heard at a recent meeting.

At a Sefton Council Licensing and Regulatory Committee meeting earlier in June, principal licensing officer Mark Toohey said around 50 new drivers apply each week and that the number of knowledge tests applicants have to take is also increasing to cope with demand. The council is at a loss as to what is behind the surge.

By April 1 this year, the total number of live taxi licences was 12,957 compared to 10,958 on the same day last year.

Half of those being granted new licences are from outside the Liverpool City Region.

Some 4,109 knowledge tests have been offered to applicants in the past year, compared to 1,165 in 2024/5. The pass rate was 58%, and 993 people did not attend their test, although they will have paid the £50 application fee regardless.

Committee chair Cllr John Kelly noted: “We’ve actually made a few bob out of that then, haven’t we?”

Documents published this week show that in May, Bootle One Stop Shop offered 480 tests, with 142 people failing to attend and 220 people passing and securing a Sefton licence.

At the scrutiny committee meeting, Cllr Dominic McNabb, who represents Thornton and Hightown, asked why there has been a rise in the number of applications, and if it means revenue is up with regards to this area of the council’s responsibilities.

Mr Toohey confirmed there is more money, and said the authority’s reserve fund was looking “fairly healthy”. Extra staff are being recruited to deal with applications.

He said he does not think people apply for licences in Sefton because of the price, which is broadly in line with neighbouring boroughs.

However, he added he believes Sefton is seen as an “efficient” borough when it comes to processing applications, which perhaps makes it an “attractive” place to apply for a licence.

What makes the situation all the more unusual locally is that in August, driver shortages were cited as one of the reasons for fares needing to increase. Among the changes introduced then were new fares which saw the cost of a one mile journey increase by 30p £5.10 and, under a request from the Hackney Carriage Trade - those which operate from taxi ranks - bringing forward higher tariffs from 11pm to 9pm each night. This would mean an extra two hours where fares start from £4 rather than £3.20 and was designed to encourage more drivers to operate later at night and service the night-time economy.

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Under the original schedule, The Marine Lake Events Centre would have opened this year but instead progress hasn’t progressed that far beyond the demolition of Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.

Instead, we now have a situation where the opening date has been pushed back by three years and the total cost has increased by almost 50%.

Critics remain sceptical about Sefton Council’s ability to deliver the major project but it remains defiant in its intentions and will next approve additional eight-figure borrowing to make sure it becomes reality.

Southport briefing

🚨 A body has been found in the search for missing man Stephen Molloy. The 60-year-old, from Southport, was last seen had been missing for almost two week and Merseyside Police and his family had issued repeated pleas for help, warning that Stephen struggles to communicate and was travelling without any money. On Wednesday night, a body was found at Renacres Lane in Halsall, around four miles from where he was last seen. A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “At just before 10pm on Wednesday 17th June we were called to reports of a sudden death on Renacres Lane, Halsall. Emergency services attended the scene and very sadly found the body of a man. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time. His death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed to the coroner in due course.” Merseyside Police, which was leading the missing person investigation, later said the body was believed to Stephen and that his family had been informed.

🚧 The former Conservative Club on Bath Street could soon be converted to housing under plans submitted to Sefton Council. The historic venue served the town for eight decades in part as a snooker club and most recently as The Central Club but has been closed since last year. Now, applicant Siri & Jays Limited wants to transform the building into what it describes as seven luxury flats. Its application states: “The historic use of the site as a Former Snooker Club now empty will not present a loss of Visitor Accommodation nor have a negative impact on surrounding properties. The proposed building change of use of a redundant empty snooker club property to Luxury Self Contained Flats including existing facade improvements such as the replacement of previously replaced windows with Heritage Slim Framed Metal Windows and associated façade repairs can be seen as a positive regeneration and contribution towards preserving the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, as well as the overall street scene in general.”

Delays and soaring costs - but council insists Marine Lake Events Centre is still happening

By Jamie Lopez

The projected cost of Southport’s flagship new events centre has risen by almost 50% - but Sefton Council insists it remains committed to building it.

An extra £33m of borrowing is planned to fund the soaring cost of the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) which is now expected to come in at £106m, up from a previous forecast of £73m.

Delays to the major development have involved the departure of two lead contractors and come at a time when inflation has had a severe effect on construction projects across the county. As well as the soaring costs, the delays mean the MLEC is now expected to open in 2029, having originally been planned for this year.

Despite the extra time and money involved, the council has frequently reiterated its commitment to building what will be a replacement Southport Theatre and Convention Centre (STCC). That building had fallen into a state of disrepair and was no longer considered fit for modern use.

The awarding of a £37.5m Town Fund Deal by the previous government had made it possible to demolish and replace STCC and the initial plan involved £33.5m be funded through that source alongside money from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Sefton Council.

However, the repeated delays mean a further £33m is required and next week the council’s cabinet will be asked to approve extra borrowing to fund that extra cost and take its total contribution up to £55m.

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In the aftermath of last month’s local elections, calls for Keir Starmer to quit as Labour leader and Prime Minister grew louder and a sense of inevitability grew as Health Secretary Wes Streeting quit and others looked set to follow.

Southport MP Patrick Hurley was among the voices calling for calmness and offer some support to Starmer. One of the factors in that may have been the lack of a suitable alternative but on Thursday, Andy Burnham won a huge election win to return to Parliament as the MP for Makerfield in the first step of an effort to become the next Prime Minister.

Writing in The Southport Lead, Hurley explains why he now does believe it’s time for Starmer to plan his exit and why he will be backing Burnham to be his replacement.

Access to this edition is free to all but, if you haven’t already, please consider taking a paid subscription to keep independent, local journalism alive and well in Southport.

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I’ll be back in your inbox with a regular weekend edition tomorrow.

“To everything there is a season. A time to win power and a time to wield that power”

By Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport

To everything there is a season. A time to rally around a leader, and a time for call for change.

Yesterday, I went on the radio and requested that the Prime Minister sets out a timetable for him to pass the torch on to someone new. This wasn’t an easy thing for me to do. I’ve been loyal to Keir Starmer, both publicly and privately. I supported the changes he made to the Labour Party after 2019 because they were necessary.

After our second-worst election defeat in history, Labour had to rebuild trust with the public. We had to show that we were serious about governing again.

On that measure, Keir succeeded beyond what almost anyone thought possible.

He is, and will remain, a monumental figure in Labour politics. He took the party from a position where many people thought we might be out of power for a generation to one of the biggest election victories in our history. He ended fourteen years of Conservative government and restored Labour’s credibility with voters. Whatever happens next, that achievement deserves recognition. He will go down in history as one of the most important and most effective leaders the Labour Party has ever had.

That is why I have found the current debate so difficult. My concern is not really about personalities. Rather, my concern is about whether the way we are governing matches the scale and urgency of the challenges the country faces.

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Britain is carrying the weight of problems that have built up over many years. Economic growth has been weak for far too long. Public services are under pressure. Too many people feel less secure than they did a decade ago. Too many young people struggle to see a route to a decent life through work, home ownership and family life. In many towns, people feel that things no longer work as well as they once did.

None of this is Keir Starmer’s fault, and so I’m not looking to apportion any blame to him. Indeed, it was obvious in Opposition that he understood the scale of the challenge. This is what he said in 2023, nine months before the General Election:

“Our job in 1997 was to rebuild a crumbling public realm. In 1964 it was to modernise an economy left behind by the pace of technology. In 1945 to build a new Britain out of the trauma of collective sacrifice. In 2024 it will have to be all three.”

To everything there is a season. A time for diagnosis, and a time for treatment.

What I hear from people in Southport is not a demand for miracles. They know the scale of the inheritance. They know fourteen years of decline cannot be undone overnight. But they are increasingly asking when they are going to start seeing the benefits of change. They want stronger growth, better public services and a greater sense that government is moving with purpose.

I think we’ve become a bit too comfortable announcing plans, reviews and taskforces when what the public increasingly want is decisive, urgent action. There is nothing wrong with a review. There is nothing wrong with a strategy. Good government should be thoughtful and evidence-based. But there comes a point when people want decisions to be made and change to be delivered.

Keir’s strengths as Leader of the Opposition were exactly what Labour needed after 2019. He was careful, methodical and cautious. He rebuilt trust in the party and put us back into contention for government. Government, however, requires something more. It requires speed. It requires urgency. It requires a willingness to take decisions and push them through.

To everything there is a season. A time for caution, and a time for action.

The qualities that are needed to rebuild a political party after a historic defeat are not always the same qualities that are needed to drive change through government. That is not a criticism of Keir. It is simply an observation about the different challenges of opposition and power.

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Which brings me to Andy Burnham. I’ve long admired him, even while I voted for others to be party leader when he stood in both 2010 and 2015. Whether campaigning for justice for Hillsborough families, standing up for Greater Manchester during Covid, or arguing for greater devolution, he has shown a willingness to act – and act decisively – rather than simply comment. People respond to that because they can see the difference it makes.

I remain proud to be Labour. I want this government to succeed. More importantly, I want the country to succeed. But loyalty to a leader can never come before loyalty to the people who sent me to Parliament.

The question now is not how Labour can win power from the opposition benches. The question is how we use it. How we generate stronger growth. How we rebuild public services. How we deal with the challenges from overseas. How we solve the country’s problems. How we make life better for ordinary working people.

To everything there is a season. A time to win power, and a time to wield that power.

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It’s been another depressing week for those of us concerned by the constant spreading of conspiracy theories on social media. In national news, the source of an arson attack on the Prime Minister’s home was reported by the BBC to be a Russian diplomat, with the incident running alongside a complex social media operation.

Despite this, you’ll find no shortage of people on X - or even Southport Facebook groups - who are far more convinced of baseless rumours to which they are content to apply zero critical thinking or questioning.

Back here in Southport, it’s been another week in which false rumours about Pontins being used for thousands of asylum seekers have been spread and successfully convinced a lot of people to believe a load of rubbish. That is the focus of today’s newsletter.

Southport briefing

🚓 Drugs and cash were seized and two men arrested as police carried out early morning raids last Friday. Cocaine and more than £2,500 were seized from a house in Southport, with a 34-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug and possession of criminal property. In Birkdale, a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon when a knuckleduster was found. Merseyside Police said the warrants build on recent disruption activity carried out by the County Lines Task Force and Southport Town Centre teams and that enforcement activity over the past few weeks has resulted in 19 arrests, the seizure of significant quantities of drugs including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and magic mushrooms. A total of £11,000 cash has also been taken off the streets. Sefton Area Commander Karl Baldwin said: “This latest arrest follows ongoing disruption work by dedicated teams committed to protecting communities and reducing the harm caused by drugs in Southport. Our message is clear – we will not tolerate this criminal activity. We will continue to pursue those responsible while safeguarding our communities.”

🎖️ A surgeon who played a key role in helping children injured in the Southport Attack has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to children and young people. Vittoria Bucknall, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Alder Hey Children Hospital, is said to have been crucial to the survival of several children and was nominated by a parent of one of those who she treated. That child had been airlifted to Alder Hey with more than 30 stab wounds and a life-threatening bleed and needed two six-hour surgeries led by Vittoria and her team.

🍽️ A much-loved Churchtown restaurant will close its doors for the final time this weekend after more than 12 years. Owners Rob and Dan Smallman cited ‘the challenges of the current climate’ as they announced this week that La Tabella will open for the last time on Sunday. They said: “To all of our customers, thank you for your loyalty, support and memories over the years. We are truly grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey.”

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False Pontins rumours spread by accounts monetising Facebook hate

By Jamie Lopez

False rumours that the former Pontins site is being used to house asylum seekers are being spread by accounts monetising anti-immigration misinformation.

The holiday park closed its doors in January 2024 and has largely been out of use ever since. The land it sits on is owned by Sefton Council but Pontins’ owner Britannia Hotels has a long-term lease on the site and has shown no willingness to give that up.

As previously reported by The Southport Lead, Sefton Council wants to see the site demolished to make way for an improved and modernised facility as part of its wider plans for the Ainsdale Beach gateway while Britannia says it is drawing up its own idea on how to redevelop and reopen the attraction.

Meanwhile, the site’s current use is limited to occasional activity for police units training their dogs.

Despite the lack of activity on-site, it has become commonplace for misinformation to spread online claiming it is being used as accommodation for asylum seekers, with the claims leapt on and shared by right-wing pages.

One such occasion occurred last year when a large group of Asian people were visited walking onto the beach and while they were there to collect samphire - a a sea vegetable that grows on shorelines and salty mudflats and can often be found along the Sefton coast - huge engagement was claimed by posters claiming they were staying at Pontins.

This week saw an old video resurface and presented as new to repeat false claims about Pontins being used as asylum housing. The video, which was shared widely among pages and groups who encourage others to question what the read in the media, used the presence of a small group of workers on site who said they had no knowledge of future plans as definitive evidence that 3,000 people would soon be moved in.

Among the most prominent to share the old video as being both new and truthful was an account called Bad Boy Explores which allows people to subscribe for £2.79 a month. The page’s creator explained he had visited the empty site 10 months ago before stating that the old video was new.

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Back in 2019 while I was reporting on the town for The Southport Visiter, Sefton Councillors declared a climate change emergency along with a warning that “business as usual is no longer an option”.

Over the past week or so, two reports have been published which touch on the same issue. The first, a major piece of research by Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), used business analysis provided by CBI Economics and The Data City to show the economic importance of net zero projects.

The second was from the council’s own officers and detailed disappointing progress on efforts to cut carbon emissions as part of a target of achieving net zero status by 2030. At a time when Reform-led councils are scrapping net-zero projects and its MPs lobby for an end to such work, Labour-run Sefton insists it is continuing with its efforts. The question of whether it can actually achieve them remains unanswered.

Southport briefing

🙏 The family of missing man Stephen Molloy have issued an appeal to help find him. The 60-year-old is particularly vulnerable and was last seen in the Town Lane Kew area on June 4th. Extensive searches have been taking place since then and it is believed Stephen could have remained local or travelled towards Crosby but he is not believed to have had any money with him and has limited communication skills. In a statement issued through Merseyside Police, his family said: “The family are extremely distressed and concerned for Stephen’s safety and well-being. He has learning difficulties, possibly suffering with dementia and is very vulnerable. He will most certainly be feeling very disorientated and overwhelmed. Despite the extensive efforts of Merseyside Police, he remains missing. Stephen has very limited vocabulary and would find it very difficult to ask anyone for help. It will only be through a keen-eyed member of the public informing the police that they may have seen Stephen, that he will be found. Please, please report any possible sightings to Merseyside Police.” Stephen is described as 6ft tall, of slim build and with dark brown hair and was last seen wearing a black jumper and blue jeans. Police have asked people to check their dashcams to see if he is captured on their footage since he went missing and those who live on or near farmland are told it is possible he may have sought shelter within their grounds. Anyone who sees Stephen is asked to call 999.

🎖️ The detective who led the investigation into the Southport Attack has been named in the King’s Birthday honours. Detective Chief Inspector Jason Pye has been awarded the King’s Police Medal, an honour given to recognise gallantry or distinguished service. DCI Pye said he was deeply humbled by the award and described it as the pinnacle of his career. He continued: “But I accept it with a profound awareness of the tragedy that brought us together, the young lives so heartbreakingly lost, their families, and those who survived but will carry the impact of that day for the rest of their lives. This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs first and foremost to my family, whose strength, compassion, and steadfast support carried me through the most difficult moments and made every challenge surmountable. It also belongs to my colleagues, whose dedication and integrity never wavered, and those affected whose resilience, and tenacity gave me the strength to keep going through the hardest moments.” Serena Kennedy, the former Merseyside Police Chief Constable who led the force at the time of the attack and other major incidents including the Women’s Hospital Bombing, has been awarded a damehood.

🏖️ The Atkinson has been awarded a £248,000 grant to deliver an ambitious community engagement programme celebrating seaside entertainment and preserving its cultural legacy for future generations. The grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund will enable the Atkinson to preserve the artistry of British seaside entertainment, create a new oral history archive, and expand opportunities for cultural engagement across Sefton. At the heart of the project is a ‘Southport: That’s Entertainment’ which involves a call for the public to share their memories of the town to contribute to an oral history archive. These recordings will be digitally archived on the local history website, Sefton Looking Back, ensuring free and lasting public access. A newly appointed Heritage Officer will work alongside a network of volunteers and cultural partners to deliver an extensive public programme, including training opportunities, workshops, talks, audio recordings and creative activities. In collaboration with Sefton Council for Voluntary Service, two rounds of community grants will further broaden participation, enabling local performers, artists and community groups to develop their own creative responses to the project. As a lasting legacy, Southport: That’s Entertainment will contribute to a temporary exhibition in The Atkinson’s art gallery in 2027 and directly inform the development of a new permanent exhibition in the museum, set to open in 2028. Cllr Liz Dowd, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement at Sefton Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Southport and a real boost for our communities. Southport’s seaside heritage is part of who we are, and this project will help people of all ages share their stories and feel proud of where they live. It’s also a great example of how culture can bring people together, support recovery, and create new opportunities for creativity and learning across the borough.”

🚬 Smokers and former smokers aged 55-74 are being urged to take part in a lung cancer screening programme before it leaves Southport. The six-month programme ends next month, with health checks continuing until July 1st and a CT scanner based at Dunes until July 18th. The screening is a chance for them to have their lung health checked and have treatment early if any problems are found, with the programme starting with a 30-minute health assessment over the phone. If you are assessed as being at an increased risk of lung cancer, you will be offered a low dose CT scan. More than 6,700 Lung health Checks taken place in North Sefton as part of the programme and approaching 4,000 have been referred for Low Dose CAT scans. Cllr Joanne Williams, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “This type of screening can reduce the number of people dying of lung cancer by 26% in men and between 39% and 61% in women, so I’m glad to see that over 6,700 people in North Sefton have come forward for the programme. The scan is simple and quick, and you get your results about four weeks later. The vast majority of people are found to be totally fine and their lungs completely healthy.”

⛔ A prolific thief has been banned from entering various stores after being handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). Craig Walsh, of Braemer Avenue, was issued with the CBO after being convicted with of five theft offences from supermarkets and stores in Birkdale, Southport and Formby. The 38-year-old is currently in prison for a separate robbery offence and was remanded into custody and upon his release will be banned from entering B&M Express, Morrisons, Tesco Express, Tesco and Central 12 retail park in Southport. Walsh is also banned from Boots in Formby, Spar and Aldi in Birkdale. Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Graham Fisher said: “Walsh targeted numerous retailers across Sefton which can have a devastating effect on employers leading to staff losing their jobs and prices rising as businesses seek to make up for the lost revenue and more. Through the work of the Merseyside Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the Preventative Orders Team residents in Sefton can expect to see an increase in Criminal Behaviour Orders which are powerful tools in dealing with repeat offenders. We remain committed to supporting our local communities and retailers in Sefton, by taking firm action against these criminals and preventing these crimes.”

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Net zero projects boosting Sefton’s economy but council efforts have stalled

By Jamie Lopez and Emma Morgan

Net Zero projects are worth £180m to Sefton’s economy and contribute to 2,300 jobs across the borough.

That’s according to a new report published by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) with business analysis provided by CBI Economics and The Data City which found that the projects contribute a total of £9.7bn to the North West region and 111,800 jobs.

When the sector’s full economic footprint including supply chain-induced effects are factored in, it means such projects contribute to 3.1% of the borough’s economy and 2.5% of its jobs.

Louise Hellem, CBI Chief Economist, said: “This report makes clear the sustained scale of the opportunity in the UK’s net zero economy. It shows that clean power and decarbonisation are no longer future ambitions – they are already a significant and growing part of the UK’s industrial base.

She added: “At a time when the UK must strengthen energy security and drive growth, the net zero economy is becoming central to the country’s future competitiveness. With global competition intensifying, government and business must work together to attract investment and scale up delivery. The UK cannot afford to step back from an industry already contributing £100bn to the economy and with huge future growth potential.”

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The report found that for every £1 in value generated by the net zero economy, a further £1.85 is generated in the wider economy. Jobs supported by net zero businesses were 48%, more productive than the UK average, generating £119,300 in economic value per full-time job. This led to higher-than-average wages, with these jobs coming with an average pay of £43k.

Meanwhile, Sefton Council is falling behind on its net zero transition with early progress now seemingly stalling. Back in 2019, the council voted to declare a ‘Climate Change Emergency’ to help protect future generations and with that declaration came a renewed commitment to reduce carbon emissions and aim to be a ‘net-zero’ local authority by 2030.

At the time, then Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regulation and Compliance Cllr Paulette Lappin said: “This is now a time for action and we will work closely with our partners across the Liverpool City Region to make sure we do all we can to tackle climate change in our beautiful borough and the world.”

A meeting of the authority’s Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee this week heard that the net zero transition has stalled in the past year.

Emissions have been cut by 43%, or 4,854 tonnes of CO₂, since that declaration but across 2025/26, the council only reduced its emissions by 16 tonnes, a negligible amount in percentage terms.

The council achieved a 41% reduction in emissions in the four years after it announced its target, primarily through a switch to a clean energy tariff, but then only managed a 2% cut in 2024/5.

In a report prepared for the committee, the council said: “This plateau reflects the increasing difficulty of decarbonising remaining emissions and the need for continued action.

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Last year, the body of Southport man TJay Waters was found on the town’s beach. It was the tragic culmination of a search which had gone on for four months following the 34-year-old dad absconding while being moved between hospitals after being sectioned.

A pre-inquest review was held this week and, as a result of decisions made there, various people who dealt with TJay before he was last seen will have to explain how he was able to escape and then to remain undetected. Read on for the full story

Southport briefing

🚁 Aerial and land searches have been carried out as part of a search for a missing and vulnerable 60-year-old man. Stephen Molloy has not been seen since Thursday night and an extensive search has been ongoing involving helicopters and police officers combing through land around where he was last seen near Town Lane Kew. Merseyside Police has issued a new appeal in which it said it is believed he could still be nearby or may have travelled further afield to Crosby. The force is asking for anyone who has driven through the area, including taxi and delivery drivers, in the past few days to check their dashcams to see if they captured an image of Stephen or anyone matching his description. Detective Chief Inspector Dave Jones said: “Stephen’s family are becoming increasingly concerned about his welfare and want him to get in touch to let them know he is safe. We have carried out significant enquiries and searches to locate Stephen or establish his whereabouts [...] We don’t believe he has any money, so if you have offered Stephen a lift or have helped him in any way then please let us know [...] Stephen is vulnerable and struggles to communicate. It’s possible that he’s taken shelter because he feels safe in dark places. I’d therefore ask anyone who has an outhouse or any form of shelter in a front or rear garden that could be accessible to please check. If you live on or near farmland it could also be possible that’s he’s sought shelter within your grounds. We will act on any information provided so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you see him or you think you may have any information that could assist our ongoing enquiries.” Stephen is described as around 6ft tall, of slim build and dark brown hair. When last seen, he was wearing a black jumper, blue jeans and carrying a bright yellow bag but it is not believed he still has the bag with him. Anyone who sees Stephen is asked to call 999.

🔥 A man who started three fires on Southport Pier in December and January has avoided a custodial sentence. Gerrard Doherty admitted three counts of arson after repeatedly setting fire to the pier’s decking and has been given an 18-month community behaviour order (CBO) and must also complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activities. As part of the CBO, Doherty is banned from entering Southport Pier, being in possession of any articles in a public place that may be used to start a fire, or lighting any fires in a public place. Breaching the order can lead to arrest, imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Chief Superintendent Karl Baldwin chairs the partnership, and said: “The sheer recklessness of starting fires means that such an order needs to be in place as a deterrent to Doherty. The consequences of his actions could have been devastating, like any arson carried out in our communities. CBOs and other preventative orders need multi-agency working to be achieved, and are powerful tools in dealing with antisocial behaviour.”

🔥 Comedian and singer Jason Manford has been announced as the host of Bebe’s Hive’s inaugural fundraising ball. Taking place at Victoria Park on November 7th, Bebe’s Ozdust Ball is inspired by the world of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz - two productions especially loved by Bebe - and will bring together leading West End performers, live entertainment, fundraising and community support in aid of Bebe’s Hive CIC. The event has already generated overwhelming support, selling out in just four minutes following its initial release. Due to continued demand, a limited additional ticket release may become available in July. Lauren King, Bebe’s mother and Managing Director of Bebe’s Hive, said: “Jason has always been a huge favourite within our family, and in May 2024 Bebe was lucky enough to meet him before attending The Wizard of Oz theatre production, where Jason starred as the Cowardly Lion. He was incredibly kind to her, taking time for photos and making her feel truly special - a memory our family will always hold close. We are incredibly honoured that Jason is supporting Bebe’s Hive and helping us bring this evening to life. His warmth, humour and connection to musical theatre make him the perfect person to host such a meaningful and joyful night in Bebe’s memory.” All proceeds from the evening will support the development of Bebe’s Hive and its mission to create a safe place where little hearts can heal, create and find hope after the loss of a loved one.

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Death of dad who absconded after being sectioned to be examined by jury

By Jamie Lopez

A jury will hear the inquest of a dad who died after absconding while being transported between hospitals.

TJay Waters was being moved between two locations after being detained under the Mental Health Act in March when he was able to get free. A sighting of him at Cash Convertors in Southport town centre on March 5 last year was confirmed but he was then not seen until his body was discovered four months later.

A pre-inquest review today heard that despite a post-mortem investigation being carried out, it has not been possible to determine how or when he died. A full inquest will be held in October which will examine the circumstances of when he was last seen and the care he received.

Appeals to help find TJay were shared last year as his mum Sandra desperately searched to find him. Originally from Burnley, the 36-year-old lived in Southport and was known to travel to Lancashire and Sandra’s search efforts included travelling to Manchester, Preston Blackpool and Bolton to try to locate him.

It was not until July 13 that TJay’s body was found off Southport beach. The news was only confirmed by Merseyside Police in September once identification was complete.

Among the issues to be addressed at the pre-inquest review on Tuesday, was whether the circumstances of TJay’s death involved a breach of his right to life under Article 2 of the European Court of Human Rights. If it had, the inquest would take a wider scope and examine not just how, when and where TJay died, but also the broader circumstances of his death including any potential failings by state authorities.

Elizabeth Wheeler, assistant coroner for Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens, explained this could only happen if it was arguable that the authority had a duty to protect his life, had breached this duty, and that the breach caused the death.

Although TJay had been sectioned and was therefore under the state’s responsibility, Ms Wheeler concluded that as the cause of death remains unknown, the final element of the three requirements cannot be proven.

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Fourteen months have passed since police carried out a series of raids at The 79th Group and it is expected to be years until the full ramifications of that are seen.

We’ve previously reported on findings including a £1m purchase of carried out weeks before administrators were called in and the fact the company never owned two flagship property development sites for which it attracted investment.

Today’s edition looks at the latest findings and activity in recent months, which includes the sale of those shares, the enforced bankruptcy of the directors, and their attempt to challenge the warrants which led to the initial raids and arrests. Read on for the full story.

Southport briefing

🐝 A charity created in memory of Southport attack victim Bebe King can open a specialised support hub in the town centre after winning planning permission. Bebe’s Hive will operate from the former Sefton Council One Stop Shop in Cambridge Arcade and is in the process of transforming the unit into a welcoming space which will serve as a creative, child-led healing for bereaved children, focusing on love, memory, and connection. In its planning application, Bebe’s Hive states that the hub will be a “safe place where little hearts can heal after loss.” The project also said that it is designed to be private and closed to the public, adding: “At Bebe’s Hive CIC, our gentle, creative child grief support aims to help children find comfort, express their feelings and begin to heal – turning love and memory into something beautiful through art, play and imagination.” The plans involve adding an activity and education space, therapy rooms and sensory rooms inside the premises, but the appearance of the listed façade will be retained. Bebe’s Hive said that it is significant for the organisation that the support hub is also very close to the Town Hall gardens, which are set to undergo a £10m redevelopment to create an open-air performance and gathering space in a redesign which has involved the families of the three girls. The charity told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it is now working with local architects and construction firms on the final designs for the hub.

📃 Sefton Council says is working with healthcare partners on a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) improvement plan and on the recruitment of new educational psychologists after an Ofsted inspection identified delays in child assessments. The inspection marked an improvement on the previous one in 2019 but found that children with SEND have inconsistent experiences and outcomes. In February, the council ran a recruitment campaign for educational psychologists, which was unsuccessful, but it said that work is ongoing to address the issue. In a meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday evening, Cllr Diane Roscoe, said there is a national issue with the training of educational psychologists affecting other areas as well as Sefton. Elsewhere, a new report published by the council shows that 46.8% of EHCPs it issued were delivered within the required 20-week timeframe in 2025, a 2.3% decrease on the previous year. However, this proportion is just above the national average of 46.4%. The council’s SEND improvement plan, which is being worked on with partners, will be submitted to the Department for Education on June 19. The proposals will be discussed at the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

👉 Sefton residents are being asked to volunteer welcoming visitors when The Open comes to the Royal Birkdale Golf Club next month. The event will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Southport and friendly and enthusiastic volunteers are wanted to help the Open Help team by providing directions, sharing local knowledge and assisting with the smooth flow of people around key locations. Volunteer roles will be given shifts of up to six hours and be based at off‑course locations, including transport hubs, Park & Ride sites, walking routes and course access points. Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “The Open Championship is a globally recognised event and a fantastic opportunity to showcase Sefton and Southport at its very best. Our Open Host volunteers play a vital role in creating a warm and welcoming experience for the thousands of visitors who will join us from around the world. I would encourage anyone who is passionate about their local area and enjoys meeting people to get involved and be part of this truly special event.” Last year’s winner of The Open pocketed £2.3m in prize money while the event is expected to result in an economic impact of around £300m across the region.

🔫 A Birkdale man was among four arrested after four guns were found in Merseyside woodland. Officers recovered two revolvers and two semi-automatic pistols off Northern Perimeter Road, Netherton, on Tuesday and all four have been forensically recovered to assess if they are available. After the discovery, a 21-year-old from Birkdale, a 22-year-old from Crosby, a 20 year-old from Netherton and a 21 year-old from Maghull were arrested on suspicion of possession of a prohibited firearm. The Birkdale man has since been released on conditional bail, while Paul Pilson, 21, of Kingfisher Gardens, Maghull and Reo Bradley, 22, of St William Way, Crosby have both been charged with conspiracy to possess firearms, namely prohibited weapons. Joel Lawson, 20, of Stonyfield, Netherton, has been charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

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New findings from 79th Group administrators as directors launch legal action

By Jamie Lopez

Investors in the collapsed Seventy Ninth Group are being warned it could take years to finish tackling the company’s affairs amid efforts to trace its international accounts and a legal challenge from its directors.

The international asset firm operated from headquarters at Southport Business Park and attracted investment for operations including property development and gold mining. Having grown from a small, family-run business it grew to have operations far beyond the UK, including Europe, the Middle East and Canada.

In February 2025, City of London Police (COLP) raided multiple properties connected to the business in February, resulting in four arrests and the seizure of cash, luxury watches and jewellery. The force said its investigation related to “suspected widespread fraud” involving the sale of unregulated loan notes to investors in exchange for promises of high returns. It has since been described as one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in UK history, though the directors insisted after the police raids that no wrongdoing had taken place.

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The business collapsed into administration months after the arrests with more than £200m owed to investors. The Southport Lead subsequently reported that the company had completed a £1m investment in a mining company in the period between the raids and the start of administration.

The Southport Lead has also reported that the company’s complicated setup - which involved dozens of individually registered businesses using shared bank accounts - has left administrators with a huge challenge in unpicking its affairs. Among the initial discoveries were the fact that two development sites for which it attracted investors were never owned by the company.

Multiple sets of administrators have been appointed to deal with the complicated company affairs and in April an extension to the administration period was agreed, meaning the process can continue to run through to April 2028.

The latest report detailing their investigations was filed this week and among the new information, administrators from Quantuma Advisory Limited and Kroll Ltd explained they have now completed a sale of the shares in mining company First Class Metals PLC (FCM). The 41% stake was offloaded in two deals amassing a total of £1.022m and therefore recouping the initial investment. A further £24k was recouped by selling a company-owned vehicle which was in the possession of one of the directors.

Other deals include lending £300k to Seventy Ninth Air - a related company based in the Isle of Man whose administration is being handled by FRP Advisory. That money will be used to bring a private jet up to serviceable standards and achieve a better sale value.

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Back in January, a hoax threat was sent to Greenbank High School which was so extreme it left the headteacher feeling physically sick. While there ultimately was no danger, the potential of was terrifying and led to hundreds of parents arriving at the school to remove their children.

It goes without saying that a threat to children will provoke an even more heightened response in Southport than elsewhere and it is all the more chilling that those both directly and indirectly affected by the events of July 2024 were present at the school when the email was sent.

Amid plenty of (understandable) hysteria and (less understandable) misinformation online, it is testament to the school’s response that few details were made public at the time. Had the full details of the nature of a threat which proved not to be credible been circulated that day, the panic and terror would have been significantly greater.

On Monday, the man responsible for those threats was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court and the full details of his actions were made public for the first time. I was present for that sentencing hearing and today’s newsletter gives a full account of the threats three different schools faces and how leaders were forced to respond to a situation they never could have expected.

Southport briefing

🌻 New signs have been installed at the entrance to Southport showcasing recent success in the Britain in Bloom competition. Southport’s bid for the Royal Horticultural Society’s awards last year landed the Overall Winner award, marking the first time that the national title was brought to Sefton. Southport In Bloom also took home a Gold Award and the Judge’s Highlight gong, while Southport was named the Best Coastal Town at a glittering ceremony in Brighton. New signs were installed by Sefton Council last week showcasing the success. Cllr Joanne Williams, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Southport In Bloom becoming the Britain In Bloom Overall Winner was a huge achievement, especially as it’s the first time the national title has come here to Sefton since it started being awarded in 1963. It only makes sense to put up a permanent monument to that win, reminding visitors that they’re coming to a beautiful and green town, full of passionate and committed people who work hard to keep green spaces looking their best. Hopefully everyone involved will feel a burst of pride every time they drive into Southport and get a reminder of what their efforts led to.”

⚽ Former England, Everton, Barcelona and Manchester City footballer has been announced as the first player taking part in this year’s Southport FC charity match. Duggan played last year and her return was announced on Monday, one day after she took part in Soccer Aid. Tickets are now on sale for the event which returns in August and last year saw a host of ex-footballers and celebrities take part to raise money for local causes including charities set up to honour victims of the Southport Attack. The club said: “After an incredible day last year that saw over £48,000 raised for families across Southport, we are coming back together once again for another unforgettable day for our community. Priority tickets are now available for supporters who attended last year’s match, with general sale opening next week. Expect more celebrities, familiar faces from last year, entertainment, atmosphere and a brilliant family day at Haig Avenue We are expecting this one to sell out and together, let’s see if we can raise even more this time around.”

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Hoax attacker threatened violent assault on school attended by child survivors of Southport murders

By Jamie Lopez

Victims of the Southport Attack were among those at school when a hoaxer threatened to attack and kill all girls and women with a gun and knife.

Greenbank High School was forced to implement emergency safety procedures and hundreds of parents rushed to retrieve their children after an email was sent by Thomas Rigby in which he warned he was travelling to the school and would kill everyone present.

The threat turned out to be a hoax but caused fear and anxiety for staff, pupils and parents, including those traumatised from the attack which occurred 18 months earlier.

Rigby, 21, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after admitting making threats to three schools across Merseyside over the space of a week in January. The court heard that on each occasion, he contacted the generic email address for the school and threatened to carry out deadly attacks supposedly in response to the treatment of transwomen.

He described this treatment as oppression and tyranny but at no point did he give any indication that anyone involved in any of these schools had done anything wrong or ever interacted with Rigby and the only link between the three is that they are all only attended by girls. The court heard that he was heavily influenced by drink and drugs while carrying out the offences.

On the other two occasions - at Holly Lodge Girls’ College in West Derby and The Belvedere Academy in Liverpool, he claimed he was already hiding inside the building waiting to strike and in all three he warned the only way to prevent the attacks would be for women and girls to make a public apology. On the final occasion, he demanded that Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, its chief constable, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham all join in the public apology.

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Greenbank hoax.

The Greenbank email occurred on Friday, January 23, four days after the first incident at Holly Lodge.

Iain Criddle, prosecuting, told the court an email was sent at 12.53pm to Greenbank which warned that the writer was travelling to the school via taxi from Widnes. It said: “I am on my way to the school with a revolver and a machete and I’m going to shoot and stab all of your girls. You terfs are going to learn to stop mocking, deadnaming and misgendering transwomen like me. If anyone attempts to stop me, they will be shot and I will release a blood agent into the school which will poison you.”

He went on to reference the tyranny and oppression of transwomen and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to stop him, adding that the only way to stop him would be for all girls and women in Southport and Merseyside to publicly apologise.

The school was forced to quickly find a way to respond, with safer schools police officer PC Andy Ritchie and headteacher Davina Aspinall alerted within minutes. A ‘shelter mode’ was initiated which is one step down from a full lockdown and involves children being brought inside for their classes and all doors and windows secured. Ms Aspinall noted that the email landing during lunchtime made the matter all the more difficult, with more than 1,000 pupils scattered around the buildings and outdoor areas.

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The sheer number of victims of the Southport Attack meant that they were taken to multiple hospitals across the region. Almost two years on, it has been made public - thanks to excellent journalism from the HSJ - that dozens of staff at Aintree University Hospitals searched up the records of victims treated there when they had no reason to do so.

What’s more, leaders at the trust decided against telling those involved - a decision which has sparked further anger. The matter was however referred to various regulatory bodies and today’s edition looks at the responses from those groups as well as the impact on those involved.

Southport briefing

🚨 A lorry driver died after crashing into a house in Banks. The tragic incident occurred at around 7.30am on Thursday when the HGV crashed into a home on Long Lane, near its junction with Chapel Lane and Bond’s Lane. Nobody in the house was harmed. A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “It was reported that a HGV collided with a house. Thankfully, no one in the house suffered any injuries. Emergency services attended and, very sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services a man in his 50s died at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to the coroner in due course. If you witnessed this incident, have any CCTV/dashcam/doorbell footage, please call 101 quoting log 318 of 28th May.”

🚓 A Porsche driver fled the scene after a crash with a bus which left an bus passenger badly hurt. The crash occurred at 12.55pm on Wednesday in Birkdale Village, near Cove, and the woman remains in hospital with serious injuries. The Porsche driver failed to stop and police are now appealing for information. Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson said: “In particular, I am keen to speak to anyone who saw the incident or the build up to it. I know that there were a large number of people in the area at the time, including pedestrians and motorists. I also appeal to local residents and businesses who may have CCTV systems and who have not yet spoken to my officers to review their footage. If you believe that you have captured the incident, please get in touch. Equally I also appeal to anyone who was in the locality at the time who may have dash cam in their vehicles. Both front and rear cameras can often record vital evidence without the driver being aware. Please review your systems and again I appeal for you to get in touch if you can help”. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0151 777 5747, email: sciu@merseyside.police.uk, or via @MerPolCC on social media with reference 26000423261

📱 Sefton Council has launched a virtual family hub which it says will allow people to access trusted advice, guidance and support services in one place. Named Family Life Toolkit, the portal is available online or via an app and brings together a wide range of information for parents, carers, children and young people on subjects including early years support, health services, education, SEND, and parenting advice. It also includes an integrated booking system to allow families to browse and book onto local services, activities and support sessions directly through the platform, removing the need to navigate multiple systems and a live chat function. Cllr Diane Roscoe, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said: “We know that families want clear, reliable and easy-to-access information, and this new family friendly platform delivers exactly that. By bringing services together in one place, we are helping families get the support they need more quickly and confidently.”

Have a story you think we should be featuring or digging into? Tip-offs and info welcome to jamie@thelead.uk

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Hospital trust facing fresh questions after dozens of staff access Southport Attack victims’ record

By Jamie Lopez

The hospital trust where dozens of staff accessed the records of Southport Attack victims is facing further questions from regulators.

Some of the victims - both adults and children - were taken to Aintree Hospital for emergency care when they suffered injuries in the attack and in the aftermath, some 48 employees at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) were found to have searched up records with no legitimate reason to do so.

The trust uncovered this during a routine audit and says it has taken disciplinary action but decided against telling the families of those involved. Instead, the information was only made public when the trust accidentally published the unredacted details of an upcoming board meeting onto its website and the information was seen by Zoe Tidman, a reporter from the Health Social Journal (HSJ).

UHLG said it had reported the data breach to authorities including the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) but had decided against telling the victims on the basis the information may retraumatise them. It is understood that, unlike when similar occurred after the Nottingham Attack, none of those who faced disciplinary action have lost their jobs as a result.

Among those who had their files accessed was adult survivor Leanne Lucas. She told the HSJ: “I am absolutely devastated and horrified that my privacy has been invaded when I was at my most vulnerable. Nothing will take away my gratitude to the staff who saved my life, but 48 people not involved in my care abused their position of trust to access the files of victims who have suffered unspeakable trauma. The decision to keep this from me for almost two years is a new low. I am speaking out as I want this scandal and the attempted cover-up by senior management exposed for what it is.”

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The ICO has now told The Southport Lead that it is not planning any criminal investigation against those involved but will consider it if any new information emerges. Meanwhile, the CQC says it will be monitoring the trust’s own review of whether it complied with its own legal obligation for a duty of candour to the patients.

A CQC spokesperson said: “The trust reported the data breach to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and also notified CQC, NMC and the local Integrated Care Board (ICB). We were kept informed of the immediate action taken by the trust to prevent any further access to patient records without legitimate reason and to manage the matter in line with its internal policies.

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For so many people, a bank holiday heatwave can only mean thing - it’s time to head to the beach. That’s exactly what happened on Monday as huge numbers headed to the Sefton Coast… and its infrastructure did not cope.

Emergency rescues, broken trains, antisocial parking, police being deployed to close roads, and naked cyclists being assaulted - there was a lot that happened. Today’s edition attempts to unpick some of that as the finger of blame is pointed here, there and everywhere.

Before that, some good news. The Lead’s local network - which includes us - has been nominated for Best Local & Community Newsletter at the Publisher Newsletter Awards 2026. It is judge-led, rather than votes, but thank you for your continued support. The best way to keep it going is to take a paid subscription.

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Southport briefing

💓 Some of the surviving children from The Southport Attack have met for the first time since the incident. According to The Guardian, six of the girls met again for the first time in the Easter holidays for a relaxed playdate in which they did pilates, shared cupcakes and wore yoga outfits specially made for those who wanted to hide their scars. One of the girls involved described the meeting as “like having big sisters”. You can read more here.

🤝 Local businesses are being invited to attend free masterclasses to help them take advantage of increased visitor numbers expected this year. Following on from recent digital and social media sessions, two more InvestSefton events will take place in June designed to help businesses enhance their guest experience. Hospitality expert Andrew Kemsley will lead two-hour sessions on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th June at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa. The event on Monday 8th June will be from 6pm to 8pm and the Tuesday 9th June event will be from 10am to 12 noon. There will be ½-hour opportunity for networking before each workshop. On June 24, InvestSefton will be holding its Economic Forum, which is described as a “flagship event in the local business calendar” and will feature presentations from a range of speakers including the Bank of England’s Ken Clark and award-winning writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce. It includes a breakfast networking from 8.15am before the main, two-hour session from 9am. There is also a business Support Marketplace from 11am. Places can be booked for any of the events via email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk or 0151 934 3452.

🍻 The Guest House has been named as CAMRA’s Pub of the Year 2026. The century-old boozer, located on Union Street, received the during Southport Beer Week, with Southport & District CAMRA Chairman Doug Macadam and Vice Chairman Dave Williams and Chairman Doug Macadam handing the award to Gail Heyes.

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Bank holiday chaos as Ainsdale struggles to cope with influx of visitors

By Jamie Lopez

Congestion, anti-social parking, public transport woes and emergencies contributed to a chaotic day as huge numbers headed to the seaside on Bank Holiday Monday.

Rare May temperatures of around 30°C during a half term bank holiday led thousands to Sefton’s beaches but capacity proved an issue as Ainsdale and Formby struggled to cope with the influx of visitors.

With Southport beach currently closed to cars and big crowds expected, Sefton Council had warned people against parking irresponsibly and to use public transport where possible.

The first warning was barely heeded in Ainsdale with so many cars left by double yellow lines and on cycle lanes as well as irresponsibly outside nearby homes - a frequent source of frustration for those living on the likes of Westminster Drive and its surrounding roads - that 700 parking tickets were issued. So many cars arrived that car parks were quickly at capacity and police cars were brought in purely to block access.

Those using trains also ran into trouble as a points failure badly affected Merseyrail’s services and those trains which did run struggled to cope with capacity, leading to large queues in the heat.

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As frustration boiled over, numerous reports of aggression and anti-social behaviour were condemned by both Merseyside Police and Sefton Council. On Monday, Superintendent Phil Mullally issued a plea for people visiting the coast to be patient and respectful, adding: “We are receiving multiple reports of disturbances at train stations, on beaches and the roads. While we are dealing with these reports, the demand and disruption being caused to other visitors, businesses and residents is unacceptable.

Among those incidents, a man involved in a tandem naked bike ride was said to be assaulted while cycling on Ainsdale beach. The couple had earlier been seen cycling along the Tarleton Bypass and have previously cycled through the town as part of practice for a much longer charity ride.

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Among the stories of the local elections this month were Labour’s majority being reduced and the Liberal Democrats enjoying a major resurgence. The combination of these two factors raised some hope that the working relationship between the parties - which has often been difficult - could improve.

The first test of that came this week and the early signs suggest that hope was misplaced with the Lib Dems once again being critical of the ruling party’s willingness to open up to more scrutiny from other councillors.

Today’s newsletter looks back at Thursday’s full council meeting, which was overseen by a new mayor and saw the formation of Sefton’s first ever Green Group.

Southport briefing

🏠 Work has begun on the construction of 270 extra care apartments for older people and those with supported housing needs across Southport and Maghull. Some 141 properties will be built in a £50m development on Blowick Moss Lane in Southport, of which 118 will be apartments in the main extra care facility, 18 will be in separate, independent living buildings and five will be mews houses. The apartments will have one, two or three beds and housing association Torus has said that they will be available for affordable rent or shared ownership schemes. Both developments will have an on-site bistro and hair salon, as well as a communal lounge and outdoor spaces including landscaped gardens with bird and bat boxes and hedgehog houses. The housing association has said that it has incorporated “an array of energy efficient measures” into its designs, with solar panels on the roofs and all apartments having hot water heat pump cylinders and electric panel heaters. Managing Director of Torus Developments, Chris Bowen, said: “Providing high-quality, purpose- built properties for the area’s ageing population is vitally important. These two extra-care schemes will provide everything people need to live independently or with some additional support.

🇵🇱 Joanne Chamberlain, Heritage & Participation Officer at the Atkinson in Southport has been awarded the Polish badge of Honour to mark her work with Sefton’s Polish community. At a special event in Manchester to celebrate Poland’s National Day, Joanne was given the ‘Bene Merito’ medal by Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The honorary distinction is awarded to Polish citizens for activities strengthening Poland’s position on the international arena or to citizens of foreign countries for supporting Polish communities abroad. Joanne has coordinated a number of projects with the local Polish community and other partners and continues to work with Polish and Ukrainian groups including Polish artists. Sefton has been twinned with Gdańsk since 1993, and Joanne’s ongoing work with local Polish communities continues to build on this important relationship and shared heritage, including in 2021 when she organised the Courage & Devotion exhibition which celebrated the lives of the Polish airmen who were based at RAF Woodvale during WW2. Joanne said: “I am honoured to receive this recognition from the Polish Consulate. I attended the event as a guest and was completely surprised to be called forward to receive the award. I am proud to support our Polish communities, and it was especially meaningful to share the moment with friends in the room.”

🚨 Two suspected drug dealers were arrested after neighbourhood officers carried out a stop search on Thursday. Officers on patrol saw a woman leave an address on Talbot Street who they believed was in possession of drugs and found her to be carrying a snapbag containing crack cocaine. Another man left five minutes later and was also carrying drugs. A subsequent search of an address led officers to the discovery of more crack cocaine, cannabis, cash, scales and snapbags, some of which had been hidden in a boiler cupboard. A 59-year-old man from Southport was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and cannabis, while a 40-year-old woman of no fixed abode was arrested on suspicion of possession of crack cocaine, possession of cannabis, and possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs. Chief Superintendent and Area Commander for Sefton Karl Baldwin said: “This was fantastic work by our officers who were on patrol in Southport and pro-actively investigated a suspected drugs transaction.Due to their quick-thinking actions, two suspects are now in custody and a significant quantity of Class A and B drugs have been seized. Drug dealing is a blight on our community, causes misery to families and often involves the exploitation of children. We are relentless in pursuing those involved in drug dealing and serious and organised criminality.”

🪨 WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre is set to open what it believes to be the longest stretch of continuous stepping stones in Europe. Currently under development and due to open at an unspecified date in the summer, the stepping stones will span an approximate 67 metres across one of the centre’s lakes, offering visitors a unique and immersive way to connect with wetland nature. The new attraction forms part of Martin Mere’s ‘Wet Meadow and Self-Guided Bug Hunting’ area, an interactive space set within a natural environment which opened in summer 2025. Works have already begun with the pathway in place, and the first stepping stones being placed down. After this is all complete, the water levels will be raised so that all but the stepping stones will be submerged under the water.

🐟 Five Southport chip shops have been named as finalists in the English Fish and Chip Awards. Chippy T, based on Ovington Drive in Kew, has been shortlisted for in three categories - Best Coastal Fish & Chips, Best Fish & Chips in the North West, and Best Fish Fryer; while Marshside’s Fylde Fish Bar is also in the running for the North West award as well as Best Dine-In Fish and Chips and Best Family Run Business. In the town centre, Jackson’s Traditional Fish & Chips is competing in the North West and Coastal categories, The Dolphin is named among the Dine-In contenders, and Harper’s is shortlisted for Best Menu. Jacksons of Hesketh Bank, Tarleton Village Takeaway, and Formby’s The Good Catch are also nominated for awards.

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Old habits die hard at new look Sefton Council

By Emma Morgan and Jamie Lopez

Hopes of a better working relationship between Sefton’s Liberal Democrat and Labour groups were quickly dashed in the first meeting since this month’s local elections.

May’s vote saw Labour retain control with a significantly reduced majority, though it still has 36 of the 66 seats on the council. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems were resurgent in Southport where the party won 17 of 21 seats to see it remain the official opposition with a net gain of eight councillors.

The two parties have repeatedly butted heads in recent years with the opposition accusing the Labour administration of running a closed shop and refusing to allow other councillors to properly scrutinise its working, something strongly denied by senior figures.

The shift in numbers seen at the election had raised hopes that better collaboration could become possible in the near future, all the more so given no longer has any representation in Southport. However, the Lib Dems failed in a bid to see two of their members be made committee chairs at a council meeting this week and the war of words quickly restarted.

In a Bootle Town Hall meeting on Thursday, the membership of the overview and scrutiny committees was discussed, with the Lib Dems calling for Cllrs Iain Brodie-Browne to be chair of the adult social care and health overview and scrutiny committee, and Simon Shaw to head up the audit and governance committee.

Cllr Pugh said that this amendment was for the sake of “proportionality”, adding that it was “not about the merit of the nominees” as both committees have had “excellent” Labour chairs.

“But this is about the principle of scrutiny and separation from the executive”, he said, adding that in Parliament the select committees have chairs from opposition parties.

He said: “The Liberal Democrats are now 27% of the council, and a proportional system would give us at least one overview and scrutiny chair.”

“I can’t think of a good argument against it”, he said, adding that he would be “amazed” if any other councillor could offer one.

“I’m not denying that Labour councillors ask some very searching questions. The issue is the principle of scrutiny, which not only must be independent, but must be seen to be independent.”

His colleague Cllr Brodie-Browne added: “The elections we’ve just been through show there are great swathes of the electorate who haven’t confidence in this place.”

He asked Labour whether they were “burying your head in the sand and pretending it’s business as usual”.

Responding, council leader Marion Atkinson said: “I’m confused because we’ve just heard p…] Cllr Pugh talk about how good our chairs are […] and yet they want to change that.”

She accused the Lib Dems of “politicising things”, adding: “There are 36 of us and 17 of you, that’s where we are.” She added that people “voted for a majority Labour group, that’s it”.

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In 2019, an inspection of Sefton’s Local Area Partnership SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) found that sufficient improvements hadn’t been made following the even worse findings three years earlier.

Inspectors have now published their latest findings on what is a crucial service from a very young age right through to their preparation for adulthood. It is entirely separate to Children’s Social Services which has also seen a much-needed improvement, albeit at a financial cost which appears unsustainable.

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Southport briefing

💗 Teachers across the town have received advice from survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing to help them support pupils traumatised by the Southport Attack. The Bee the Difference project, which is run by Dr Cath Hill of Lancaster University with the National Emergencies Trust charity, brought teachers together to give suggestions and allow them to support each other. More than 1,000 survivors of the 2017 bomb were injured and more than 200 young people shared their experiences with the project to help support others. Speaking to the BBC, Dr Hill said: “One of the things the incredible teachers - one in particular - in Southport has put in place is those young people can now be tracked if they want to through their school career [so] they don’t have to keep retelling their story, which has the potential to retraumatise them.” She added that bringing teachers in Southport together had helped in itself, explaining that “although Southport compared to Manchester is a much smaller geographical area, they weren’t helping and supporting each other as much as you think might happen.” Read more here.

🛩️ The Red Arrows will return for both days of this year’s Southport Air Show. The much loved event returns on August 29 and 30 and the Royal Air Force has confirmed that star attraction will once again perform. While the full programme is yet to be announced, others already confirmed for both days include the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight - featuring the Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota - as well as the RAF Tutor. Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Skills and Employment, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome the Red Arrows back to Southport Air Show in 2026. It’s no secret that they are one of the most iconic display teams in the world and their performances always create a truly special atmosphere along our coastline. We have been working hard in the background for many months to get the Red Arrows and other stunning RAF aircraft to appear. Southport Air Show is a major highlight in Sefton’s events calendar, bringing families, aviation enthusiasts and visitors together for a brilliant weekend by the sea. As well as the spectacular displays in the skies, there will be plenty happening on the ground too, making it a fantastic day out for people of all ages. Events like this play a really important role in attracting visitors, supporting local businesses and showcasing everything Southport has to offer.”

🚧 Work to construct an entrance ramp and access road for the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) finally begins this week. Work is expected to last for around four months and is essential preparation before the construction of the actual building can begin. Once complete, MLEC will be the modern replacement for Southport Theatre and Convention Centre and is designed to be a major source of visitors to the town. Its construction has twice been delayed by the departure of lead contractors but the Sefton Council has always insisted that the project will continue. Of the latest works, a council spokesperson said: “During this period if you’re in the area you may notice an increase in construction traffic, including HGV movements along the Promenade and Lower Promenade, as well as some unavoidable noisy and dusty activity. Teams on site will do their best to minimise disruption wherever possible.”

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SEND improvements hailed at Sefton Council but ECHP waits still too long

By Emma Morgan

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have inconsistent experiences and outcomes across the borough of Sefton although many secure “strong outcomes,” a new inspection of the council’s provision has found. 

The results marked an improvement on the last inspection in 2019, which stated that area leaders had not made sufficient progress to improve the “serious weaknesses” noted previously in 2016.

Sefton Council welcomed the report, which stated that leaders across the borough are “ambitious” for children and their focus on early identification and support improves outcomes, while their “commitment to hearing the voices” of young people helps shape both personalised provision and improvements across the borough as a whole.

The overall quality of education, health and care plans (ECHPs) is variable – although improving – and some lack specificity, and waiting times for neurodevelopmental, emotional wellbeing and mental health services remain too long for some, which increases the risk of unmet needs and pressure on specialist services.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) stated that Sefton Council and partners must work jointly to make improvements. 

The inspection found that children with SEND are valued in the borough and professionals have “clear ambition to secure the best possible outcomes” for them. “Nevertheless, the local area partnership has not realised this ambition consistently in all areas of its work,” and some young people have “varied levels of support,” the report added.

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It is with some trepidation that we return to the issue of riots in today’s edition but, for various reasons, issues relating to the disorder in 2024 continue to progress through the courts’ system two years on.

Today’s newsletter focuses on one such case, an apparently non-rioting man who saw a group of people breaking into a family-run, well respected convenience store… and decided to join in.

This non-drinker helped himself to a crate of beer and 14 months later had police officers knocking on the door of his property where he also happened to be growing cannabis.

Southport briefing

🖥️ A survivor of the Southport Attack said she is disgusted and horrified that dozens of hospital staff accessed her records without any reason. Leanne Lucas was treated by at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group after being stabbed in the attack and only recently learnt of the privacy breach. She said: “Nothing will take away my gratitude to the staff who saved my life, but 48 people not involved in my care abused their position of trust to access the files of victims who have suffered unspeakable trauma. The decision to keep this from me for almost two years is a new low.” According to HSJ, which first reported the story here, records of child survivors were also accessed inappropriately by staff and disciplinary action taken ranges from “informal counselling to a final written warning”.

🍺 A town centre pub cancelled a booking after finding out it was due to host a first meeting of a Southport branch of Restore Britain, the political party set up by Rupert Lowe. The Tavern, on London Street, said it was not informed of the nature of the booking and has since told the group it will no longer host the meeting. On Facebook, the pub’s management said: “While we fully support free speech and understand that people will always hold different views and opinions, we are first and foremost a family community pub and do not feel it is appropriate for us to accommodate political groups or meetings of this nature. For that reason, the booking has now been cancelled. We thank our customers and community for their understanding and continued support.”

🍫 A serial thief has been banned from more Southport stores after again being caught stealing. Zac Cartwright, 34, was already under a banning order but has been handed further punishment after breaching it while stealing more than £150 of confectionery from the Sainsbury’s Local on Bispham Road. The offence took place on December 27 and Cartwright, of Balliol Road in Bootle, went before magistrates this week and was given a new two-year criminal behaviour order which bans him from Chapel Street, any Sainsbury’s store in the town, Tesco Express in Ainsdale in addition to the previous order which includes Eastbank Street and Central 12. That one was issued just 12 days before the following theft.

🛒 Aldi has formally submitted a planning application for its planned new Ainsdale supermarket. The discount retailer wants to add its Southport and Birkdale stores with another location which would see the redevelopment of the Sandbrook Centre which has long been an eyesore. The proposed site is a brownfield plot of land currently housing residential and retail properties which are mostly vacant and in poor condition and are now due for demolition. Sefton Council and Aldi have worked together to bring the plans forward. Aldi says its new development would “bring a new, modern food store to the local area, improving the appearance and environment in the area” as well as enhancing the local retail offer for residents in Ainsdale, broadening choice for shoppers and creating 40 full-time jobs.

🚓 A Southport man was one of nine charged after drugs raids across Merseyside. On Thursday, police kicked down doors across Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley as part of an investigation into organised crime with one property found to contain a shotgun, assault rifle, a revolver, and two other rifles, while a large amount of cannabis and Class A drugs were also seized. Among those charged, Alexander Murray, 41, of Tedder Avenue, in Southport, is accused of conspiracy to produce cannabis, conspiracy to abstract electricity, and possession of criminal property.

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Looter who stole beer during Southport riots loses appeal against sentence

By Jamie Lopez

A man who was jailed for looting during the Southport riots has lost an appeal against his sentence.

Ian Fairfield stole a crate of beer and damaged a shelf as one of a large group of people who forced their way into the Windsor Mini Mart while crowds attacked police officers and a mosque further down Sussex Road.

The riots broke out in July 2024 in the wake of the Southport Attack and following a vigil which was held in the town centre in memory of its victims. Online misinformation led to the mosque being attacked by huge crowds who threw bricks and flaming objects at the building, attacked police officers, and set a police van alight.

As that chaos played out, a mixture of children and adults smashed their way into the Mini Mart, which has since been renamed Windsor Convenience Store, to steal its contents. Its owner, Chanaka Balasuriya, was left to helplessly watch CCTV footage of the break-in from his home, which is near to the Hart Street location of the attack.

Mr Balasuriya had moved to the UK from Sri Lanka 25 years earlier and relocated to Southport in recent years as he believed it would provide a safer location compared to where he previously worked in London. Having been warned of the impending disorder by neighbours who feared for his safety , he’d closed the store early.

According to court documents, he estimated the cost of the damage to the shop was around £6,000 on top of other £15,000 losses including missing stock, while he and his family were badly affected psychologically as well as financially.

It was also stated that police officers estimated that there were about a thousand people involved in the violent disorder, which was “accompanied by appalling racist chants”, that fifty police officers were injured, and that the clean-up operation cost the local authority £17,000.

Among those who broke into the shop was Fairfield. The now 53-year-old was identified on CCTV footage despite attempting to cover his face when entering and leaving the store and admitted it was him when questioned by police.

He also claimed that he was not involved in the riot but was instead in Southport to visit his sister and that he didn’t drink alcohol and believed the box contained soft drinks when he took it.

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