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.”

Subscribe now

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.

Subscribe now

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.

Read more

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

Share

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.”

Subscribe now

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.

Read more

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.

Subscribe now

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.

Subscribe now

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.

Subscribe now

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.

Read more

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.

Subscribe now

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”.

Read more

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.

Subscribe now

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.”

Share

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.

Read more

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.

Subscribe now

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.

Read more

One of the big shocks of last week’s Sefton Council election - covered here in our previous edition - was a man known to have denied the Holocaust among other conspiracy theory posts winning a sear.

Jay Cooper, now Cllr Jay Cooper, hadn’t responded to any news stories about his online activities ahead of the election and was duly elected to represent the people of Bootle West - defeating a sitting Labour cabinet member by 16 votes in the process.

He has now finally spoken publicly about the matter, though his apology has fallen well short of convincing his political rivals.

Southport briefing

🌹 Lancashire County Council will form a cross-party group to ensure that the recommendations from The Southport Inquiry are properly implemented. The council was given 12 recommendations by inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford which included carrying out a comprehensive review of how its children services assess and manage online harms, improving support and training for social workers, and bolstering its training around Prevent referrals and autism diagnoses. Sir Adrian expects a progress update by October and an action plan is to be implemented to ensure adequate work is completed by then, with the group to be led by County Councillor Simon Evans, who is Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Children’s and Families. A report seen by The Southport Lead states: “The council is deeply sorry for the failures identified in the report and for the part it played in the systemic shortcomings that preceded the attack in Southport. There are no words that can ease the grief of the families who lost loved ones, or the pain of those who were injured and traumatised”

✊ Southport MP Patrick Hurley has given his backing to Keir Starmer as dozens of his Labour colleagues called on the Prime Minister to announce he would step down from the role. Hurley was one of more than 100 MPs who signed a letter giving their support to Starmer and in a series of interviews he warned change of the potential negative impacts of such a change during a time of national and international instability. He said: “The one challenge we have got as a government is to get our economic performance back up to a decent standard in order to better fund our public services and do all the good Labour things we want to do. And we won’t be able to do that if we continue with the destabilisation we saw with Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak and a whole litany of Conservative prime ministers who came and went and did no good for the country. The last thing we should do is tear a leaf out of their book.”

🚶 More than £180,000 was raised for Queenscourt Hospice at the annual Star Trekk walk. The record total came as 2,000 people took part in Friday’s walk, which started at Adventure Coast Theme Park, benefitted from sponsorship by local and national companies and involved live entertainment along the route. As previously reported by The Southport Lead, hospice bosses have warned the facility is at risk of closure amid a funding crisis which sees it losing £2m a year. Alex Hegarty, Event Fundraiser at Queenscourt Hospice, said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the support shown for this year’s Star Trekk. To see 2,000 people come together in support of Queenscourt Hospice was incredibly special, and raising more than £180,000 so far is simply amazing. Events like this would not be possible without our sponsors, volunteers, entertainers, local businesses and every single person who signed up and took part. The atmosphere throughout the evening was unforgettable, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make Star Trekk 2026 such a huge success. Roll on 2027!”

🙏 An appeal has been launched to find the next of kin for a man who died in Southport. Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley Coroner’s Office is asking for help in relation to 62-year-old Howard Bamber, who died at home on on Scarisbrick Street on May 5. According to Merseyside Police, there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Anyone with any information is asked to call 0151 934 2972 or email hannah.lavery@sefton.gov.uk

Subscribe now

Newly-elected councillor who called Holocaust a hoax quits Reform UK - but not the council

By Jamie Lopez

A man who was elected to Sefton Council after posts containing Holocaust denial were made public has quit Reform UK but vowed to continue his role as councillor.

Jay Cooper won 705 votes at last week’s election to be elected in Bootle West as one of five Reform winners across Sefton and the only one outside Southport.

In the weeks before polling day, Cooper was exposed for sharing conspiracy theories including stating his belief that the Holocaust, misspelled as Hallocaust, was a “hoax”. To back up this claim, Cooper added: “There wasn’t even 6 million Jews in Europe at the time. Propaganda.”

Despite repeated requests, Reform UK refused to comment on Cooper other than to say it was looking into his posts. When Nigel Farage was questioned after Cooper’s election, he said the newly-elected member was not welcome in the party but still Reform UK has refused to state whether any action was or would be taken against him.

Cllr Cooper, who had also refused to engage with the media, has now issued an apology in which he sought to minimise the effect of his previous comments without clarifying what he actually meant.

Writing on his Facebook page, which has now been renamed to include his ‘Cllr’ title, Cooper: “I apologise this has took so long. I want to start by addressing comments I made regarding the Holocaust last year.

“The Holocaust was real. I was not denying the existence of the camps or the systematic murder carried out by the Nazi regime. I have visited Auschwitz multiple times and have seen firsthand the conditions and historical evidence of those atrocities.

“My comments were poorly expressed and have understandably caused concern and upset. I was not denying the suffering of millions of victims or the crimes committed by the Nazis. I accept that my words failed to reflect the seriousness and sensitivity this subject demands, and for that I sincerely apologise. I would also like to apologise to anyone who was offended or hurt by my comments.”

At no point in his statement did Cllr Cooper explain how the idea of the Holocaust being a hoax was a case of something being “poorly expressed”.

Cllr John Pugh, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Sefton, was left confounded by the apology.

He said: “It’s hard to equate the author of this measured and apologetic statement with the previous poster of atrocious conspiracy theories or know which is the real thing.

Read more

On Thursday, I was among the many who spend around eight hours at an equestrian centre as a very unusual local election count took place.

Labour has retained control of Sefton Council and the Liberal Democrats enjoyed big wins in Southport, while the Conservatives have reduced to zero. Meanwhile, having promised to take over the council, Reform UK’s total number of elected councillors could share a taxi to council meetings - not counting the one who has already been abandoned by the party.

Today’s edition goes beyond the headlines as we dig deep into what can be learnt from Thursday’s election.

Subscribe now

Southport briefing

🚓 A man banned hit with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after repeatedly offending has been accused of stealing from a shop he is banned from entering. John Durnin, of London Street, was issued with the CBO in March which banned him from entering the Tesco Express on Chapel Street. However, he is accused of stealing from the store in recent weeks and has now been charged with breaking the CBO and three counts of theft. The 42-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 4 June. Sefton Area Commander: Karl Baldwin said: “Retail Crime and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order are serious crimes. They have a huge impact on businesses and feelings of safety within our neighbourhoods. Through the work of the Merseyside Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the Preventative Orders Team we are securing more of these orders against those that commit anti-social behaviour and crime.”

🙏 The yoga teacher who was injured in the Southport Attack shared updates on her campaign to reduce knife harm with hundreds of legal professionals and with members of the Royal family. Leanne Lucas launched her Let’s Be Blunt campaign in a bid to save lives after the attack and is working to promote the adoption of kitchen knives with rounded ends instead of pointed tips. She recently spoke at the second annual Journey to Justice summit in Liverpool before meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales at a Buckingham Palace garden party.

🫶 The family which runs Funland, the carousel and its nearby fish and chip shop thanked the community for its support as on-site work finally begun on the repair and restoration of Southport Pier. Contractors AE Yates were on site last week carrying out further assessments ahead of 16 months of work which will finally see the landmark reopen. Serena Silcock-Prince, Silcock Leisure Group Head of Operations, said: “The whole community came together and has been really united on this cause. Southport Pier is such a much-loved landmark for not just Southport but also the whole of the Liverpool City Region, and beyond. It attracts so many families to Southport who love its health and wellbeing benefits – we’ve all missed walking along it[…] I can’t wait to walk along Southport Pier again, and so many people are saying the same!”

Elections lessons as Labour hold Sefton, Lib Dems take Southport, Reform continue to confuse and a Holocaust denier wins the vote

By Jamie Lopez and Mia Hadjigeorgiou

Labour lost 15 seats including a cabinet member as the party narrowly regained control of Sefton Council at Thursday’s local election.

Boundary changes meant that for the first time in more than 20 years, every single seat on the council was being contested and with that came the rare opportunity for major change at the local authority.

Labour has controlled the council for 14 years but amid a collapse in support for the national party, and with it the rise of Reform UK and the Green Party, local figures were seriously concerned that role could be lost in Thursday’s vote.

Indeed, early on at the count as rumours spread that Labour could lose its majority, some feared it may not even end as the biggest party and that its leader and multiple cabinet members could lose their seats.

In the end, this didn’t materialise and the party won 36 seats - two more than the 34 needed for a majority. That represented the loss of 15 seats and saw the departure of former Birkdale ward councillor Sonya Kelly, who is among the more highly regarded councillors and whose departure sparked compassion and disappointment across multiple parties.

It also saw defeat for Mhari Doyle, the cabinet member for Public Health and Wellbeing who had represented Norwood ward in Southport and instead stood in Bootle West, seemingly in the hope of securing a safer seat to continue her role. Instead, she was defeated by Reform candidate Jay Leslie Cooper, a man who was exposed for anti-Semitic and conspiracy theory posts but is now an elected councillor - more on that later.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, the council leader, said she was delighted to have retained control of the council while acknowledging the disappointment of her lost colleagues. One of the frequent criticisms the group has faced is an apparent sense of secrecy and unwillingness to engage with other parties but when questioned about this Cllr Atkinson dismissed the concern and said she would discuss the suggestion.

In Southport, the story was one of success for the Liberal Democrats. The party had hoped to strengthen its position as the official opposition with an increase on its previous nine seats. One councillor told The Southport Lead the party expected to win between 12 and 18 seats and in the end it reached 17 - all but four of those available in Southport.

Those remaining four were taken by Reform UK, a result which fell well below its expectation but also belied the fact that the party earned a significant share of the vote and should not have its popularity dismissed.

Here are some of the key lessons from Thursday’s elections:

Labour cling on - just

For Labour, there was only one aim which was to retain control of the party. It previously held 51 seats and there was no hope of achieving anything close to that. Indeed, in the early stages of the count multiple sources told The Southport Lead they feared Labour would not even be the largest party, with one describing the expected result as a “shitshow”.

In the end, the pessimism was overstated and Labour was bruised but not beaten and still has twice as many seats as any other party. Cllr Atkinson is expected to continue as leader and told us that it was a case of business as usual.

She said: “Thank you to the people of Sefton who voted Labour. We will keep going with our adult social care, where we’ve got a CQC strong ‘good’; our OFSTED with Children’s Services; we have been shortlisted for the most improved council across the country; so yes thank you to everybody, we can keep on doing that.”

One thing which remains to be seen is whether the reduced majority will mean the controlling party makes more effort to have cordial relations with its opposition.

Resurgent Liberal Democrats enjoy big Southport wins

The mood about Southport’s Liberal Democrat could simply be described as euphoric. Having seen Labour make gains in Southport at recent elections and then a threat to the right from Reform UK, people could be forgiven for thinking the Libs Dems were becoming a spent force locally. The reality was far from that.

Across Southport’s 21 seats, the party claimed 17 and beat the Conservative group leader and the supposedly senior figures of Reform while Labour languished in the distance. The target now is to continue that growth and topple Labour’s majority.

Cllr John Pugh, the town’s former MP and now Lib Dem group leader, said the results meant the Libs Dems are now the voice of ‘Progressive Southport’.

He continued: “We set out as being people who want to get things done, recognise that things were difficult and issues were complex and we contrasted that with Reform who basically said ‘just get rid of one set of fellas or girls and you get another set in’ and that actually is not the way to problem solve in this world. There’s no magic to any political party or individuals in it, it does require application and so on.

Read more

Tomorrow is election day and it is a particularly significant one here in Sefton. Normally, only one third of the council is up for election each year and, on a council where one party holds such a large majority as Labour does on Sefton Council, it means the potential for change is limited.

However, due to the election boundaries being redrawn, this year is different. For the first time in more than two decades every single seat on the council is being contested and no-one is guaranteed to still be in post after the vote.

Coming at a time when national politics is entering unchartered territory with the traditional two main parties no longer the most popular, the potential for change is massive. It was seen last year when Lancashire County Council was won with a huge majority by Reform UK and, while that appears much less likely here, you’ll do well to find anyone willing to give a confident prediction on what to expect.

Today’s newsletter takes a closer look at the election and on Friday, I’ll be in Aintree trying to make sense of things as all 66 results are declared in one venue - wish me luck!

Southport briefing

🍽️ The Brewers Fayre restaurant based at Ocean Plaza could close down amid a major restructure of the business. Whitbread, the company which owns the brand and its associated hotel Premier Inn, announced that it considering closing all of its remaining Brewers Fayre and Beefeater sites following in a move which would also affect the Morris Dancers site in Scarisbrick and potentially affect 3,800 jobs nationwide. The proposals come after Whitbread began a new review of its business in November and criticised higher employment costs introduced in the last budget. It has however also suggested the move would clear space for profitable parts of the business as part of an existing longer-term strategy. Dominic Paul, Whitbread’s chief executive, said: “We plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests and will unlock the addition of more highly profitable extension rooms. Our continued efforts to drive our commercial plan and efficiencies will extend our market-leading position and allow us to take share from our competitors, many of which are struggling to grow.”

🤝 Meanwhile, another Southport hotel has seen a takeover delayed - but its administrators insist the deal is still progressing. The Waterfront Hotel, formerly the Ramada and Bliss Hotel, has been run from administration since the collapse of its parent company and in October, The Southport Lead reported a sale to a new operator was imminent. In their latest update, administrators Paul Davies and Sandra Mundy of advisory firm James Cowper Kreston said they now expect to the sale to be completed within three months but did not specify the cause of the delays. They have also refused to name the prospective purchaser but did say they have taken over the day-to-day management of the hotel.

🐝 People are being encouraged to wear yellow on World Bee Day as part of a tribute to Bebe King. A 5k run is also being held that day - May 20th - to support Bebe’s Hive, the charity set up in memory of the eight-year-old, and runners are also being asked to wear yellow for that. Organised by The Southport Strollers, the community event is open to all and will start from the Lifeguard Hut at Ainsdale Beach at 7pm. The Southport Strollers said: “We’re coming together for a one-off, special community 5k run, in support of Bebe’s Hive CIC. We are inviting voluntary donations to Bebe’s Hive CIC, and will collect cash on the night. This will be an easy, social 5K run - approximately 2.5k out and back. This is NOT a race – there will be no timing, and no prizes - just about a social community event. Please wear yellow, with voluntary donations, cash, all for Bebe’s Hive.This run is about bringing people together, remembering Bebe, and supporting an incredible cause.” To mark this year’s campaign, a special ‘Celebrate Bebe’ t-shirt has been created in collaboration with Westcoast Workwear. The shirts are available now via the online merchandise portal.

Share

Historic result possible as Sefton Council braces for first election of its kind in two decades

By Jamie Lopez, additional reporting by Emma Morgan

Labour faces a battle to hold onto its control of Sefton Council when voters go to the polls tomorrow (May 7).

The party has had control of the council for the past 14 years, with no single council holding more than half the seats in the previous 26 years before that. As the party faces huge challenges and a potential leadership contest nationally, Sefton’s Labour branch will be hoping its support base will have maintained enough locally to defy polls covering the whole country, with potentially thousands of seats expected to be lost nationwide.

The borough’s unique layout - spanning staunch Labour-supporting areas in the south to more unpredictable and diversely supported parts in the north - make it all the more harder to predict. Combined with the growth in support of Reform UK and the Green Party nationally and a smattering of strongly supported independents in various wards, confident predictions of this year’s result are hard to come by.

While Reform UK won a large majority at Lancashire County Council last year, few expect similar to occur here in Sefton. The Southport branch lies in disarray, with one candidate exposed for hateful social media posts by this title and no-one within any level of the party willing to say who is even in charge locally.

Among the political figures who The Southport Lead has spoken to in recent weeks, few are willing to make any sort of prediction on the overall outcome of tomorrow’s election. Labour hope to remain in power but few are willing to speculate on whether they will still hold a majority of seats or will have to rely on the support of others to approve their plans.

For the Liberal Democrats, there is a sense of opportunity to make inroads and have greater representation on the council and there is an expectation that it will remain the second largest party. The Greens meanwhile are also hoping to gain an increase on their current one councillor, with seats targeted both in Southport and elsewhere in the borough. For the Conservatives, key seats in its target Southport wards are the main focus.

Read more

It should be easy to get between Wigan and Southport - two large towns with a direct rail link and around 20 miles distance. Yet on Wednesday, that journey took passengers four hours and involved getting off a broken train between stations, moving onto another train to cover just a portion of the remaining distance, and then a late night coach tour of country lanes by a lost driver.

The most frustrating thing for some is just how unsurprising the farce was. Today’s newsletter looks at the shambolic journey and yet more frustrations with Northern Rail.

Southport briefing

🚓 A Southport man has been charged as part of an investigation into the supply of contaminated heroin. As reported by The Southport Lead, one death and several overdoses have been recorded in the town in recent weeks and are all believed to be linked to the same batch of drugs contaminated with nitazenes, a synthetic drug which mimic the effects of heroin but can be far stronger and more unpredictable. Last week, police arrested a man and woman on suspicion of manslaughter and the male, Carl Gardiner, has since been charged with drugs offences. The 51-year-old, of Leyland Road, is accused of three counts of possession of a Class A drug - cocaine, heroin and etonitazene (a type of nitazene). The woman, a 32-year-old from Waterloo, has been bailed pending further enquiries.

❤️ Sergio Aguiar paid tribute to daughter Alice after completing the last leg of his challenge to run all six of the major marathons. Alice was among the three victims of the Southport attack and Sergio completed the extraordinary effort to raise funds for the Alice’s WonderDance, the charity set up as her legacy. After completing last year’s London Marathon, Sergio decided to take on the six majors this year and after comleting Berlin, Chicago, New York, Tokyo and Boston, he returned to London and ran the full course alongside David Stancombe, who lost daughter Elsie in the same attack. Afterwards, Sergio paid tribute to Alice on social media, writing: “It’s not about the medal, but about you, Alice, your magic, your legacy, your name, your beautiful smile, your long, beautiful hair. Everything I do and will continue to do is for you, to show the world the most beautiful and sweet daughter with such a pure heart, the best daughter parents could have.”

🤐 Reform UK is remaining silent on reports of a fallout between the national party and its Southport branch. Amid rumours that Larry Sweeney has been dropped as the official chair of the Reform UK Southport, the national party has refused to engage with questions from The Southport Lead or other media. Southport’s Lib Dem group pointed out that Sweeney is no longer listed as chair on the party’s website, while it is understood that there are concerns over the nature of some of the local branch’s campaigning and the selection of problematic candidates. These include Mark Ormsby whose hateful social media posts were uncovered by The Southport Lead last week. Sweeney told The Liverpool Echo that he remains a candidate but would not discuss his role as chair.

🚨 Two people from Southport have been charged and another two arrested as police launched an operation to track down outstanding suspects. Named Operation Sprint, the action targeted those suspected of posing the greatest risk to victims and communities and saw multiple units deployed to bring in 10 suspects across Sefton. Among those, 42-year-old William Larkey was charged with failing to appear at court for drugs offences and minor traffic matters and Catherine Norris, 43 and of Braemar Avenue, was charged with failing to appear at court for drugs matters. She has been remanded into custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday 4 May. A 42-year-old man from Southport was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and coercive control and a 22-year-old man from Birkdale, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, harassment, coercive control and possession of a controlled drug. Sergeant Lucas Gallen, Sefton Proactive Team said: “Today’s results demonstrate our determination to actively pursue those suspected of causing harm in our communities. Operation Sprint is about safeguarding victims and putting suspects before the courts. We will continue to use all available resources to keep Sefton safe.”

Broken train and lost bus add to Northern Rail woes

By Jamie Lopez

A botched Northern Rail journey which saw passengers moved from a broken train and onto a bus which got lost has been described as an “absolute disgrace”.

The embattled rail company is facing more calls to make urgent improvement after a farcical journey which saw a train break down between stations due to engine failure. Passengers were able to travel a little further on another train before being moved onto a coach which was almost unable to make its way between Burscough and Southport.

The journey left Wigan just before 8pm on Wednesday but passengers were not able to return home until after midnight. Among those to share their frustrations, one passenger had managed to travel between London and Wigan significantly quicker than Wigan and Southport.

According to those on board, the train lost power mid-journey and, after a long period sat on the broken train, they were eventually told to get off and onto another train which only took them as far as Burscough. From here, a coach had been brought to complete the driver but passengers report the driver getting lost and struggling down dark, narrow country lanes in the large vehicle before again struggling to find Meols Cop Station.

Southport MP Patrick Hurley has frequently lobbied Northern Rail to improve its service and described the events as farcical but unsurprising.

Speaking to The Southport Lead, he said: “This is just yet another example of the shoddy service that Northern are performing and are delivering on the Manchester-Southport line. We’ve had situations for years where there’s been serial underinvestment in that line. We’ve routinely had rolling stock that isn’t up to scratch.

“We routinely have service cancellations and delays which means that people are late for work in the morning, are late getting home in the evening and, as we saw with the situation this week, you can’t even guarantee that the train is going to be able to reach its destination at all.”

Read more

A big welcome to all the new subscribers who signed up following Sunday’s edition which detailed the hateful posts of a Reform UK candidate who hopes to be elected in Birkdale. It was good to see our story picked up by the Liverpool Echo this week, albeit without any credit to ourselves - nothing new there. If you’d like to support us to continue publishing original journalism on a page not cluttered with adverts, please do consider a paid subscription (and thank you again to those who already do).

Today’s edition focuses on a tragic and worrying outbreak of a high strength synthetic drug which has been circulated around Southport. So far, one death has been reported alongside a series of other overdoses which has sparked concern among police and public heath bosses.

Southport briefing

🚧 Pre-construction work begins at Southport Pier this week ahead of the 14 month project to refurbish and reopen the historic structure. Among the tasks taking place this week are further checks on the condition of the pier to assess its deterioration since full surveys were carried out. A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “The first task contractors will have is to assess the current condition of the existing paintwork on the structure’s columns. We want to ascertain if there has been any deterioration since previous assessments were undertaken. If the condition is good it can be left as is, however if not we will also need to repaint the whole structure as part of the repair works.” This is expected to take five days and will be followed by checks of the stability of the ground under and around the pier in the coming weeks.

🙏 People are being asked to help the family of a dad-of-three who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Leon Skapars, a plasterer who lives in Southport with his partner Crystal and their three sons aged 2, 3, 10, was given the tragic news last week. His symptoms began in early 2025 with haematuria, and back / flank pain. In mid–2025 a CT scan identified an 8cm kidney tumour, with kidney removal surgery carried out last September. He began a course of immunotherapy, but doctors later diagnosed that the cancer had progressed to Leon’s lungs and lymph nodes, along with a recurrence in his kidney. Last week the cancer was reclassified as Stage 4, and incurable. Crystal said: “Leon only received three rounds of immunotherapy before being told his cancer is resistant to treatment. The NHS can no longer offer anything to try to cure Leon—only a daily tablet to slow the disease. If this doesn’t work, Leon may have as little as 12 months to live. If it does, it could give him up to 3 years. We are not ready to accept that this is all the time Leon has left - as a father, as a partner, as someone who still has so much life to live. He has dreams, goals, and places he still wants to see. His children need their dad. Leon has now been enrolled in a clinical trial which, if successful, may help control the cancer for a short time. This gives us some hope whilst we urgently try to raise funds due to the limited treatment options available on the NHS.” You can read more here or donate here.

🏥 An NHS leader has promised Ormskirk Hospital will continue to provide key services after the children’s A&E department moves to Southport. Speaking after West Lancashire councillors laid out fears over potential impacts of the move to their residents, Craig Harris, from the new regional NHS board defended the decision and gave assurances over the future of the hospital itself. He said: “The decision was about making sure there is a 24/7 emergency department for both adults and children at the same site, which will safely and sustainably deliver emergency care for people living in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. “Ormskirk Hospital will remain open and continue to provide key services to patients, including outpatient services, urgent treatment, planned care, diagnostics and inpatient services. There is active investment planned for the site and it’s vital to remember that currently 86 per cent of activity is not A&E.” He added: “Following the outcome of the consultation, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has committed to exploring the possibility of upgrading the walk-in centre in Skelmersdale to an urgent treatment centre.”

🔍 An appeal has been launched for help in tracing the next of kin for a man who died alone in Southport. Paul Cunningham, 62, died at his home on Avondale Road North on Sunday 26 April and Merseyside Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. It is believed he may have had relatives living in Australia and anyone who can assist is asked to contact Coroner’s Investigation officer James Martindale on 0151 934 2276 or by emailing james.martindale@sefton.gov.uk

Subscribe now

Public health warning and arrests as contaminated heroin outbreak causes deadly overdose

By Jamie Lopez

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a contaminated batch of heroin killed a man and caused several others to overdose.

The arrests come amid a public health warning over the presence of nitazenes in heroin being sold around the town. Nitazenes are a synthetic drug which mimic the effects of heroin but can be far stronger and more unpredictable. They have been linked to hundreds of deaths across the country in recent years.

Multiple cases have been seen across Southport of people suffering overdoses as a result of contaminated drugs and on April 13, a 62-year-old man died at his home on Leyland Road. According to public health bosses, the man’s death has been confirmed as involving nitazenes.

Sefton Council said that another eight non-fatal overdoses have been recorded across the town along with an additional case in Crosby which is believed to be linked. A spokesperson said that health, police and treatment services are working closely together to prevent further harm.

Merseyside Police have now confirmed that a 51-year-old man from Southport and a 32-year-old woman from Waterloo were both arrested in Liverpool yesterday this week on suspicion of manslaughter. They remain in police custody.

The presence of nitazenes on the unregulated drug market has risen dramatically in recent years. According to the National Crime Agency, 333 fatalities linked to nitazenes were recorded in 2024 alone but researchers from King’s College London believe the true number is far higher than this.

According to researchers the synthetic drugs can have strengths of up to 500 times that of heroin and can be readily manufactured at low cost. Originally synthesised for use in humans as painkillers, their development was halted due to extreme potencies.

Read more

After a string of controversies in previous General Election, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage promised that his party would have stricter vetting of candidates than ever before. Then last year, it dropped that strictness and we are now seeing the results.

On Friday, the Liverpool Echo reported on one Sefton candidate whose online activity included Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories and shameful comments about the Southport Attack.

Today, we bring you news of another candidate - this time for Birkdale ward - whose social media posts regularly target Muslims, lean into conspiracy theories, and share content from Tommy Robinson and Paul Golding.

Before publication, we contacted the candidate, the Southport branch of Reform UK and the Sefton party - and none had anything to say.

Southport briefing

🚗 The family of a 79-year-old woman who was killed by an unsafe driver are urging people to back calls for the introduction of regular eyesight testing for drivers of all ages. Marie Cunningham and friend Grace Foulds were killed in Southport in November 2021 when she was hit by driver Glyn Jones who had continued driving despite being told by various professionals – on nine occasions over a 10-year period – that his sight did not meet the legal standards for driving. With three weeks remaining on the Government’s consultation process around its proposed new Roads Safety Strategy, the Cunningham family are asking people to add their voices. As part of the consultation, public opinion is being sought on proposals to introduce mandatory eyesight tests every three years for drivers aged 70 and over as well as whether compulsory eyesight tests should start from a younger age. Sue Rimaitis, Terry Cunningham, Lynn Cunningham and Steve Cunningham are calling for compulsory eyesight tests to be introduced every 10 years for drivers. Sue said: “We have campaigned so hard and pushed for this consultation, because it’s not just about what happened to our mum and our family. It’s about all families. To anybody thinking about whether to give their opinion or not, I’d stress that it’s about them too. It’s about their family: their mum, their dad, their siblings and their children. We know that there are so many people out there getting behind the wheel knowing they shouldn’t still be driving. It’s a chance they are taking; it’s like playing Russian roulette with lives.” You can take part in the survey here.

🏃 Two dads whose daughters were killed in the Southport attack said running has brought them so close they have become “like brothers” as they prepare to run the London Marathon together. Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe both ran last year’s London Marathon separately in memory of their daughters Alice and Elsie - but this time they are running alongside each other. David told the BBC: “Last year we ran it as two dads, and this time around we’re running it as two friends. We wanted to run it together because of how close we’ve got.” Read more here.

🚓 A Southport teenager was among five boys arrested over a robbery in Formby. Last Saturday, a 15-year-old boy was threatened by a group of other boys on Duke Street before having his phone, cash, bank card, sunglasses and watch stolen. Three suspects aged 14, 14 and 15 were found nearby and arrested on suspicion of robbery and on Tuesday, two 16-year-olds including the Southport boy were also arrested. All five have been conditionally bailed pending further inquiries. Local Policing Inspector Graham Fisher said: “We understand the concern that such offences can cause to victims and their families. I want to assure local residents that we take these reports very seriously.”

🔥 A warning has been issued after a wildfire caused significant damage to Ainsdale nature reserve. Fire crews and the staff from the council’s Green Sefton service responded when the blaze broke out on Monday and the cause has not yet been confirmed. Common cause are disposable barbecues and discarded cigarettes, with some 500 fires reported along the coast in a six week period in March and April last year. Mark Shaw, Service Manager for Green Sefton, said: “Sadly, it hasn’t taken long after the weather improving for us to see our first wildfire on the coastline. Visitors to the coast can help us ensure that it isn’t repeated. Any item that involves the use of fire, from cigarettes and firelighters to portable barbecues, runs the risk of causing an incident if abandoned or left unattended. With that in mind, none of these items should be used anywhere along the coast. This restriction is in place to prevent potential harm to people, plants, animals and the land, as well as to save fire and rescue services from responding to needless fires.”

Share

Fresh questions for Reform UK’s vetting over Birkdale candidates posts

By Jamie Lopez

Reform UK is facing pressure to drop a Sefton Council local elections candidate who posted Holocaust denial and conspiracy theories online.

Nigel Farage’s party is being urged to dump a second prospective councillor in as many years, following Irene Davison who was due to stand in Blundellsands last year.

The calls come in relation to Bootle West candidate Jay Leslie Cooper who attracted headlines after being found to have described the Holocaust as a hoax, shared 9/11 conspiracy theories and said the deaths of three girls in the Southport attacks were “at the hands of Labour”. Today, The Southport Lead also highlights troubling posts from another candidate standing in a Birkdale seat.

The deadline for nominations has now passed and the nominated candidates will appear on ballot sheets alongside the Reform UK name regardless. However, the party is being urged to distance itself from its selection and make clear it no longer supports him or wishes to be associated with him.

While the national party has indicated it will investigate the posts, neither Reform’s Southport or Sefton branches responded to questions from The Southport Lead about the conduct of multiple local candidates alleged to have posted offensive or inappropriate content.

Subscribe now

These include Birkdale Ward candidate Mark Ormsby who repeatedly shared videos uploaded by far right figures Tommy Robinson and Paul Golding among a string of Islamophobic content. The two men are the founder and current leader of Britain First respectively and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has distanced either from being welcome in the party but Ormsby repeatedly shared their content.

As well as frequently referring to government figures as “treacherous”, he regularly compared UK policing to the Gestapo and repeated two-tier policing conspiracies in a feed which was almost entirely devoted to anti-Islam posts.

In 2024, Golding posted an image of Humza Yousaf leading prayers as the then Scottish First Minister and wrote: “Scotland. Conquered by mass immigration.” In response, Ormsby commented: “Unbelievable. Tirkeys [sic] voting for Christmas except Christmas would be banned. How could we be so suicidal?”

He also shared a meme depicting Donald Trump looking out a plane window while saying “My God, Pakistan looks a right sh**hole” and being told that he’s actually looking at London. Alongside this, Ormsby wrote: “Sad but true”.

Read more

Last February, we reported that years after first promising to do so, Network Rail had allocated no money to replacing the level crossing on Crescent Road despite a series of deaths, crashes and near misses.

Unlike in many other locations, the barriers on the busy crossing - which sees thousand of vehicles pass through every day - only cover half of the road on each side and there have been a number of documented incidents in which people have entered the tracks either through impatience or unawareness. Indeed, when I visited last year to take a photo of the site, I immediately witnessed a cyclist weave around the dropped barriers rather than stop and wait.

Today’s newsletter focuses on how the long wait for funding finally appears to be over.

Southport briefing

🚗 A Southport man has been charged after a phone and wallet were stolen from cars. Merseyside Police said that across April 9th and 10th, it was reported the items were taken from vehicles in the Meols Cop area and Mark Shaw, of Park Avenue, was later arrested. The 53-year-old has now been charged with two counts of theft from a motor vehicle, two counts of vehicle interference and fraud. Chief Superintendent Karl Baldwin, who is Sefton Area Commander, said: “We understand the impact that theft can have on a victim and how it can also affect a local community, particularly when there are multiple reported incidents in the same area. We act on information we receive and would encourage people to come forward if they know anything about a burglary or theft where they live.”

❤️ More than £7,000 was raised to support children dealing with grief at an event at Victoria Park. Hundreds of people attended a Comedy Bingo event to raise funds for Bebe’s Hive, the charity set up in memory of Bebe King. During the night, it was announced that the charity will host a new event - Bebe’s Ozdust Ball - in November. Bebe’s Hive was launched last year to offer a safe, creative place for children to explore grief in their own way and will soon operate from a former shop unit in Cambridge Arcade, near to the Town Hall Gardens will be undergo a £10m redevelopment involving the families of Bebe and her fellow attack victims Elsie Dot Stancome and Alice da Silva Aguiar. Bebe’s Hive is now looking forward to World Bee Day, when they’ll be encouraging everyone to Wear Yellow For Bebe on Wednesday 20th May 2026 in a coming together of colour, kindness, and remembrance.

🥚 Two people have been arrested after police witnessed a drug dealing take place on Lord Street. Last Friday, officers noticed two people acting suspiciously and when they approached the pair, a woman ran inside a hotel where she was arrested after inadvertently leading officers to drugs. Inside a room, police found 170 wraps of cocaine hidden inside a Kinder Egg along with a phone and cash, while the man seen during the initial dealing was also found to be carrying the drug. A 52-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman from Southport were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, suspected cocaine and have since been released under investigation pending further enquiries. Sefton’s Area Commander, Karl Baldwin said: “Officers from the Southport Neighbourhood Team and the Southport Town Centre Team, acting on community information, launched a proactive operation to tackle this issue head on. Despite these initial arrests, we know there is more to do. The operation will continue, targeting all criminality but focussing on those involved in serious and organised crime. Serious organised crime gangs are closely linked to serious violence, often using weapons such as firearms or knives, which is why it’s so important we tackle it relentlessly. Stop searches, warrants, land searches and arrests take place all year round, and in many instances, it is thanks to the public who tell us where there are issues in the community. If you have information on drug dealing and criminality in your area let us know and we will take action.”

Funding finally promised to replace level crossing after deaths, crashes and near misses

By Jamie Lopez

A level crossing where three people died will finally be replaced by Network Rail - six years and several near misses after it first promised to do so.

The railway network owner has confirmed it is finally progressing with plans to upgrade the crossing at Crescent Road, with final design work now taking place.

Promises were first made more than half a decade ago to improve the crossing - which currently only has barriers covering half of the road on each side - but last year, The Southport Lead reported that no funding had ever been allocated to the scheme.

It is now understood that this has now changed but cost estimates have significantly risen in that time and could cost more than £6m, compared to £4m when a risk assessment was carried out in 2019. At the time, the assessment stated: “While the cost is exceptionally high, the long term drop in risk makes it a viable option for end of life replacement.”

An interim measure has seen pedestrian crossing lights added to the site at eye-level and Network Rail says it is now progressing with a major upgrade.

The crossing’s tragic history dates back to 2017 when a young man died by suicide after accessing the tracks there. In 2019, 24-year-old Flur McDonald died in the same circumstances and a petition set up by her brother asking for full barriers received the support of more than 1,000 people. In July of that year, it was uncovered that a full barrier replacement had been recommended back in 2016 but not carried out.

Tragedy occurred again in the form of another death in 2022 and renewed pleas were made for upgraded safety measures but still no funding was allocated to take the project forward.

It is not just deliberate entries to the track that have prompted concern and throughout the previous decade, the site has also seen a number of near misses which would have been prevented had full barriers been in place. According to Network Rail’s own records, these include multiple near misses involving vehicles “zigzagging” through the dropped barriers as trains approached.

Read more

In Wednesday’s newsletter, we focused on the findings of Phase One of The Southport Inquiry and I’ve also written about the subject for The Lead’s national title this week, reflecting on the importance of this actually leading to meaningful change. You can read that piece below, and listen to a discussion on the subject here.

The Lead

Victims at the heart of a damning inquiry – and a warning that must not be ignored

As the dust settles after the publication of the findings of Phase One of The Southport Inquiry, what happens next is of the utmost importance – and the victims and their families cannot be failed again…

Read more

2 months ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Jamie Lopez and The Lead

Today’s newsletter looks at a ruling which means a doctor who worked out Southport’s A&E department during the Covid crisis must pay £30,000 of penalties to HMRC after deliberately submitting false information on his tax returns.

Some elements of tax law can be very complicated, whereas some can involve a judge pointing out that there are only seven days in a week. This case involves elements of both, but surprisingly more of the latter.

Southport briefing

😯 Britannia Hotels says it is considering rebuilding and reopening its Pontins site in Ainsdale. The holiday resort has been closed since January 2024 and Sefton Council last year said it hoped to have the site replaced with a “world-class” resort as part of its long-term ambition for the wider Ainsdale Gateway. However, Britannia this week revealed it is considering its own plans to redevelop the attraction, for which it has almost 100 years remaining on its land lease. Referring to Ainsdale, Prestatyn and Camber Sands, a Britannia spokesperson said: “Following their closure, we have been undertaking a series of surveys and land assessments for our three vacant Pontins sites to determine what future uses may be viable. As part of this process, we have appointed a planning consultancy to develop pre-planning applications for consideration by the respective local authorities. These proposals include the potential demolition of the aged chalets and options for their replacement, reflecting evolving guest expectations and the long-term sustainability of the sites.”

🚓 A man has been charged after a woman was assaulted in Southport town centre this week. At around midday on Wednesday, a man approached a woman on Lord Street near Sainsburys and assaulted as she shouted at him to get off her. She managed to get away and run down the road and nearby officers spotted and arrested a man. The next day, 44-year-old Deividas Ilginis, of Lathom Road, was charged with assault by beating. Sefton Area Commander Karl Baldwin said: “I would like to thank the woman who reported this incident and the Southport Town Centre Policing Team, who are making Southport safer every day. Merseyside Police recently introduced the Southport Town Centre Team and the launch of the Merseyside Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership to provide a faster and more effective policing response to incidents that cause fear or harm in our community.”

🚑 Dobbies has apologised and reinstalled a defibrillator outside its store after facing a backlash online. The life-saving equipment was removed from the garden centre in a decision which, according to the Southport Saviours Foundation, was down to the retailer finding it difficult to keep up to date with periodical maintenance. The charity had donated the equipment to Dobbies and described the decision as “a step backwards from everything we work so hard to achieve”, pointing out it would have cost around £220 to replace the battery and pads and if unused, would have needed no more work for four years and could have been assisted by them. After reversing the decision, a Dobbies spokesperson said: “We sincerely apologise for this error and acknowledge that we got it wrong. This was addressed as a priority, and I can confirm that a new defibrillator was installed at our Southport store. Thank you to the Southport Saviours Foundation for raising this with us." The charity was set up by Richard Moore who has been campaigning for 24-hour accessible defibrillators and providing first aid training since he had a heart attack while running the Blackpool Marathon in 2022.

🛏️ Work has begun on the conversion of a derelict hotel in Southport into new apartments after 20 years without use. Builders are currently on site at the former Continental Hotel, on the corner Promenade and Scarisbrick Avenue, creating nine two-bedroom apartments with a restaurant on the ground floor in a £1 million transformation. Planning permission for the development, which sits near the Red Rum mural, was granted in 2023 after a £1m upgrade of the walkway was completed. Rod Ainsworth Architect, who designed the conversion, said: “We need to see the benefits of bringing this magnificent building back into use. This is a key building in the regeneration of Southport, by bringing back a Grade II Listed building to life. The owner is a local businessman who has several properties in Southport, including on Lord Street, and is invested in seeing the town do well.”

Southport Hospital doctor hit with £30,000 HMRC fine after claiming to work nine days a week

By Jamie Lopez

A locum doctor has been hit with penalties totalling more than £30,000 after falsely claiming tax allowances while working at Southport Hospital.

Dr Nwaneri worked at hospitals in both Southport and Shrewsbury across a three year period during which he attempted to claim travel and food expenses which totalled nine working days in each week, leading a tribunal judge to have to point out this was impossible.

When investigated by HMRC, he was unable to explain these discrepancies but still attempted to appeal a ruling which found he was liable for tens of thousands of pounds of additional tax over three years. He was also found to be “lacking in credibility” in cross-examination.

As well as the substantial overstatements of his travel and food spends, it was found he was never eligible to claim any such deductions at all and as a result was issued with recalculated tax bills.

After being found to have made deliberate errors in his tax returns, he was also hit with penalties of £12k, £7k, and £11k for a three-year period when he was working as a locum doctor at the two hospitals.

Last week, an appeal against the HMRC’s rulings was dismissed by tribunal judge Jennifer Newstead Taylor, with Dr Nwaneri’s evidence found to be “lacking in credibility”

Read more

This week saw the publication of the findings of the first phase of The Southport Inquiry, the process which was set up to examine how an attack which took the lives of three young girls was able to happen and to find ways to prevent a repeat.

For those who’ve followed the evidence given throughout the public hearings, individual aspects of the findings may not come as a shock but to see them laid out in black and white in stark. Inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford found so many failures and missed opportunities that he did not even put a number on them.

The simple fact is that Alice, Elsie, Bebe and all the other victims of the attack were failed. They were failed by multiple agencies who did not take the warning signs seriously enough, did not show enough curiosity, did not work together, and did not do enough to ensure that the killer’s threat was identified and addressed. The killer’s parents were also singled out for failing their moral duties by not reporting their son’s alarming and escalating behaviour.

Today’s newsletter focuses not just on those findings but one of key message which has come from many of those close to the attack - that listening is not enough and change must happen.

Subscribe now

Southport briefing

🛤️ Work has begun on a long overdue project to improve the interior of Southport’s train station. The building’s owners, along with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, this week began a major project to repair and redecorate the area of shops which link the station to Chapel Street. Work is expected to be complete by the time The Open takes place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in July and drawings of the plans show a newly laid floor and improved lighting. A spokesperson for the project said: “Station Approach is a vital link between Southport Station and Chapel Street, and this project represents an important investment in the town’s future. By working closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, we are delivering investment that will benefit local businesses while ensuring Southport is ready to welcome visitors ahead of the Open Championship this summer.”

🏥 Lancashire councillors are again challenging NHS bosses over plans to move children’s accident and emergency care from Ormskirk General Hospital to Southport. The £33m plan was approved by health chiefs last week and will see a new department built at Southport along with a multi-storey car park but those in West Lancashire remain defiant in their opposition. Cllr Adrian Owens, who observed each meeting which discussed the matter, will raise a motion at tonight’s West Lancashire Borough Council meeting which expresses concern at various elements of the process and instructs a high-ranking council officer to request these be reviewed in a local resolution process.

🎤 A new arts and live music venue will open in the town centre this summer. Named the Warehouse Arts Centre, the venue will be spread across four floors in the West Street building which once housed a restaurant of the same name and is designed to give a platform and opportunities to the next generation of artists. The project is being carried out by Ella, Spud and Yvette Cooper, owners of Cooper’s Bar on Leicester Street, working alongside Andrew Portersmith MBE and Stephanie Portersmith of the not-for-profit organisation Music Stuff, and a dedicated team from Tides Out Studios. As well as a space for music gigs, there will be an art gallery which can be hired for free; a recording studio; an arts and crafts shop; space for classes; and wellbeing and yoga events. The owners said: “There is nothing else like this in the whole area, and so many talented musicians, artists, and creatives in Southport who are looking forward to what we’re building. We need to put Southport back on the map as the cultural centre for the North West, where things are going on all the time and we’re attracting people into our town from all over.

Agencies told ‘take action now, not tomorrow’ as inquiry exposes countless failings

By Jamie Lopez

From schools and social services to police, Prevent and the killer’s parents, almost everyone who dealt with Axel Rudakubana missed opportunities to identify, address or intervene is his escalating and terrifying behaviour.

Those missed opportunities comprise a significant amount of the findings of Phase One of the Southport Inquiry. There are so many that its chair, Sir Adrian Fulford, did not even give a numbered list of the dozens of missed opportunities in the years between the killer first being reported to the national anti-terror agency and committing his heinous crimes in July 2024.

The words fail, failed, failing and failure appear almost 300 times across Sir Adrian’s 700 page report outlining his findings and recommendations from a year spent examining how the teenager was able to carry out the attack which took the lives of three young girls and injured and traumatised many more.

Prevent failed to take him seriously due to an apparent lack of clear ideology; his family allowed weapons to be delivered to his home and withheld information; agencies failed to take sole responsibility or share information with each other; his behaviour was linked to, and seemingly excused by, his autism and therefore not properly addressed; and his deeply disturbing online activities were not examined.

These are just a few of the themes of the damning report.

Speaking as it was published, Sir Adrian said: “Putting out of mind, the so called benefits of hindsight, I have no doubt that if appropriate procedures had been in place, and if sensible steps had been taken by the agencies and AR’s parents, this dreadful event would not have happened.

“It could have been, and it should have been, prevented.”

Along with 67 detailed recommendations for what should change to avoid another atrocity like the one which occurred at the Hart Space two years ago, Sir Adrian issued a warning that, unlike after similar previous inquiries, action must be taken and must be evidenced.

A similar message was delivered by the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie who have made it a clear mission that changes are made to prevent any other family suffering the same loss as them.

The families’ lawyer Chris Walker, of Bond Turner, said on their behalf: “For our families, this has always been about honouring their girls and ensuring no one else endures what they face every day. Their participation in the inquiry took immense courage, and seeing the extent of the failures in black and white is devastating.

“On behalf of our clients we welcome the report’s clear, though deeply distressing, findings on the profound systemic failures and individual failures, that preceded this attack and the responsibility borne by AR’s parents.

Read more

Nothing says there’s an election coming like a party leader visiting town and this week it was Reform UK’s Nigel Farage who came to Southport. Farage posed for photographs at Adventure Coast Theme Park (formerly Pleasureland) as part of a whistle-stop tour which also took in Formby and Wigan. Huge credit to Ben Haslam from The Liverpool Echo for stopping Farage to question him about his comments in 2024 about the Southport attack which preceeded riots in the town - the answer was unsurprisingly dismissive. Lib Dem councillor Mike Sammon is among those who saw the disorder happen by his own home and he posted: “In my view, Farage inflamed tensions that led to the riots. His visit to Southport today is shameful.”

The deadline for nominations for the local elections has now passed and you can find a list of candidates for every ward at the bottom of this newsletter. Two of those named by Reform UK - one in Southport and one in Bootle - have since withdrawn but remain on the lists published by Sefton Council.

Away from elections, today’s main story looks away from politics as the financial crisis worsens at Queenscourt Hospice. Beds are now being closed and new pleas are issued to help plug the shortfall amid warnings the much needed facility could close entirely if more money is not found.

Subscribe now

Southport briefing

🍝 An Ainsdale restaurant has launched a new bid to keep its outdoor serving hatch. The extra facility was installed outside Dolce Vita to enable outdoor dining and to provide additional storage space and is described by the business as essential for its viability. However, it was realised after installation that the structure needed planning permission and despite support from residents and MP Bill Esterson, the application was rejected by Sefton Council on the grounds of harming the appearance and character of the area and an appeal was then dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate. The new application includes a time limit and a report submitted with it states: “This application is for the installed facility but restricted to a temporary permission for 2 years as it is vital to the viability of the restaurant and this time period will give the applicant time to explore other options. It is essential that support is given to hospitality businesses in these difficult times.” It adds: “The village has changed form a local retail centre to one predominantly of bars and restaurants, with this being the longest standing restaurant business and one the people of Ainsdale have clearly demonstrated they are keen to support and retain.”

🛏️ A town centre unit which has seen a succession of bars come and go in recent years may be converted into housing. A planning application has been submitted requesting permission to turn the ground floor of 1 Bath Street into a studio apartment and describes the change as providing accommodation for “young professionals looking for a home in the local area”. Once home to The Brass Pig restaurant, the unit is located next to the former Leo’s bar which is currently undergoing a major restoration project. Among the previous bars to occupy it are Bar 1, Gigi’s, Nolls and No.1 Bar.The application states: “Although this is a residential unit in a primarily commercial area, the proposal is not in prime position for a commercial premises, hence why it has not worked long term for any previous businesses”

📢 Former Southport MP Damien Moore has finally announced his long-rumoured defection to Reform and will stand as a candidate for Westminster City Council. The former Conservative was twice elected as Southport MP before losing his seat in 2024 and since then has been working for lobbying firm Fullbrook Strategies. His long awaited announcement was greeted positively by fellow Reform member and former MP Nadine Dorries, who welcomed him to the party and described him as a “great man”.

Share

Queenscourt Hospice announces bed closures as financial crisis worsens

By Jamie Lopez

Queenscourt Hospice will close half of its beds among other service cuts as it faces a financial crisis.

The service is only part-funded by the NHS and relies on fundraising for upwards of two-thirds of its income and leaders say it has become unsustainable. Now, cuts are being made amid warnings of a potential closure within two years which would see all jobs lost and its work returned to already overstretched local NHS services.

Just weeks after issuing a plea for support amid an annual £2m funding deficit, Queenscourt announced this week that it will reduce its inpatient ward from ten beds to five. In addition, it will also reduce some of its wider core clinical services including Queenscourt at Home Shifts and Outpatient Therapy Services in addition to Housekeeping and Catering Services.

Dr Clare Finnegan, Executive Medical Director, said: “Queenscourt has been operating with an annual deficit of approximately £2 million for the past two years, and we face a similar shortfall for 2026/27. We have been drawing on our reserves to ensure we can continue to sustain our current services whilst we have been liaising with the Integrated Care Boards to obtain further funding.

“However we have been advised that we will not receive this level of funding until 2029, and if we do not take measures to cut our costs, Queenscourt will be forced to close.”

“This is not an outcome the charity is willing to accept, and we must now take urgent action if Queenscourt is to survive.”

Last year just 24% of Queenscourt’s funding came from the NHS, with the hospice relying on short-term grants, fundraising and personal donations to meet the remaining cost of its services.

Leaders cited higher salaries, a National Insurance increase and energy bills among the causes of pressure on its budget. Meanwhile, its accounts show that a 80% fall in legacy donations - money given in wills - resulted in £1m less income in 2024/25 than the previous year.

Queenscourt says it continues to hold ‘proactive discussions’ with the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) of Lancashire and South Cumbria and Cheshire and Merseyside, the organisations which provide Queenscourt with 24% of its annual core costs, with the aim of increasing this contribution to 35-40%. However, they warn it is looking unlikely that Queenscourt will receive this level of funding until at least 2029 and the hospice simply cannot sustain its current services until that time.

In a statement to The Southport Lead, a spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria said: “We are concerned about the financial pressures highlighted by Queenscourt Hospice and are currently working closely with the hospice leadership team to fully understand the impact that the Hospice’s financial position could have on palliative and end of life care services for our local populations.

Read more

If you’ve any interest in sport, you’ll likely have heard of padel, the fastest growing sport in the UK. Similar to tennis but on a smaller court with glass walls included in the playing area, it is enjoying a rapid rise in popularity with new courts popping up in parks, city and town centres, and industrial estates to name just a few.

They’re also finally coming to Southport through a new development at Victoria Park which will see half of the tennis courts replaced. Today, we focus on promises that that those remaining courts - which have been closed to allow development to take place - will remain available to the public free of charge when once the new facility opens.

Subscribe now

🚓 A dog was shot by police officers after biting a man and leaving him needing hospital treatment. Merseyside Police officers were called to Lynton Road, near Hillside Golf Course at 10.45am on Tuesday when two dogs were on the loose. The victim, in his 30s, suffered injuries to his stomach and arm and a second man, in his 70s, was approached by the dogs but not harmed. A police spokesperson said: “Armed police officers attended the scene, together with specialist dog officers. To prevent further harm, and stop the threat to the public, a decision was made to destroy one of the dogs at scene. A police firearm was discharged during the incident.”

💃 Sefton Council says is hoping to bring back some elements of the Cristal Palace exhibition which fell foul of weather conditions last weekend. The two-day event, which was due to involve artists performing from a giant chandelier suspended from a crane, was unable to take place as a result of high winds. Large crowds waited around an hour before a cancellation decision was made on Friday night, while the impending Storm Dave meant that Saturday’s performance was called off in the morning. The event was the second in the Elegantly Eccentric series taking place throughout 2026 and had involved performers travelling from France and months of preparation, including with local dancers and volunteers. A council spokesperson said: “Your support for Southport and its local businesses is invaluable. We are already working hard to bring some aspects of the show back later this year and further details will be provided in due course.”

👷 Southport’s colleges are to benefit from £900,000 of extra government funding. Southport Education Group - which is responsible for both Southport College and KGV College - has been allocated the money as part of a £307 million pot awared for repairs and maintenances of colleges across the country. The Department for Education says the funding will allow colleges “to fix leaking roofs, broken windows and worn-out facilities”. Recipients will be given the flexibility to decide how the funding is spent so it can be directed where it is needed most. Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “The young people in these colleges are the engineers, bricklayers and designers of the future, and they and the dedicated staff teaching them deserve the best possible environment to learn and succeed. This £307 million investment will repair and modernise facilities across all 175 colleges in England, giving young people the spaces they need to build the skills they need for good careers, helping to drive economic growth.”

🏗️ The main contractor chosen to build the Marine Lake Events Centre is set to be formally appointed next month. Earlier this year, VINCI Building was announced as Sefton Council’s preferred choice for to lead development on the flagship development which is to replace Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. The troubled development has seen two lead developers pull out of the works amid concerns it could not be delivered on budget at a time when inflation is causing significant increases in building costs. VINCI signed a Pre-Construction Services Agreement in January and in the meantime works have been ongoing at the site in preparation for the main construction.

Share

Free tennis access promise as padel development begins at Victoria Park

By Jamie Lopez

Tennis courts at Victoria Park will remain free for public use after the creation of a new padel facility.

Work has now begun which will see padel courts built on the site of the park’s existing tennis area, replacing three of the six tennis courts while restoring the remaining ones to a better standard.

The development includes the creation of five padel courts and a coffee kiosk with outdoor seating as the facility aims to meet demand for a sport which is enjoying a huge growth in popularity nationwide.

Combining elements of tennis and squash, the sport is played inside glass walls and part of its attraction is it can be learnt very quickly and therefore enjoyed by beginners as well as more experienced players. The number of courts has grown from fewer than 40 in 2016 to 710 by the end of 2024 and the rate of growth only appears to have increased in the year which followed.

Plans for the site have been met with plenty of excitement, with some 2,500 people on the waiting list for memberships. Promises have been made for discounts for under 18s and emergency workers as well as free introductory lessons for schoolchildren but so far prices have not been revealed.

Across the North West, court hire can range from £15 an hour off-peak to up to £60 an hour at peak times in the busiest courts on top of monthly membership fees.

Read more

Hello and welcome to The Southport Lead.

I write today not with a regular newsletter but instead to ask for your help. Since launching last year, we’ve been very grateful to receive fantastic support and feedback and we’ve seen subscriber numbers consistently grow - but the reality is we need more people to be willing to pay for their news to ensure our future.

Subscribe now

In the first few months of 2026, this newsletter has been the only place you could read regular coverage of the process of moving the children’s A&E to Southport - unlike any other publisher, I’ve been at every meeting to bring the latest updates and that continued this week as we focused on the efforts in Lancashire to have the decision overturned.

We have also been the only outlet to examine claims made during the election campaign, starting with questionable promises from Reform UK about cost-cutting and then again as the party was accused of dishonesty and ‘disgusting smears’ in its claims over a non-existent contract.

Elsewhere, our reporting that Pontins was being used a police dog training facility was picked up elsewhere without credit and we’ve also been the only place you could read about shops in the former BHS site being forced to close over safety concerns within the building.

But all of this is only possible with your support. The journalism industry is broken - inadequate funding models mean a focus on non-local news, misleading headlines, and websites with so many adverts you can’t actually read the text. Experienced journalists have left newsrooms in huge numbers and the talents of those who remain are often underutilised or impossible to read.

The result of all of this is that the public is less informed which is why we’re trying to do something different here. That was recognised at last year’s Press Gazette Future of Journalism Awards and in the feedback from readers which is always incredibly important to us.

As we progress into unchartered waters politically, scrutiny has never been more important and we want to be there every step of the way to provide it. Please help us to do that.

The Southport Lead is independent, ad-free and written in the town - please help that to continue by taking a paid subscription. A monthly subscription costs just £4.99 and an annual subscription works out at less than £1 week.

In March, the decision to move Children’s A&E from Ormskirk to Southport was confirmed in news which was welcomed after 20 years with the town having no such facility. But, we warned, Ormskirk’s loss was never going to be accepted easily in Lancashire and the fightback is well under way.

Today’s edition looks at an early move to challenge the decision as Health Secretary Wes Streeting faces calls to overturn it amid complaints over both the decision and the process through which it was reached.

Southport briefing

📚 Plans have been submitted to convert the historic former Broadhurst’s bookshop in Southport town centre into a 8-bedroom HMO (House in Multiple Occupation). The first, second and third floors of the Market Street building would be turned into housing while the ground floor would be retained for commercial use. Broadhurst’s was one of Southport’s oldest businesses, having traded since it was opened by Charles Kenyon Broadhurst in 1920, until its sudden closure two years ago. Broadhurst’s bookshop was owned by Laurie Hardman, who tragically died in 2024 after 55 years in post. The application states: “The proposal seeks to bring vacant and underutilised upper floors back into productive residential use while maintaining the vitality and viability of the town centre [...] While the proposal is not an affordable housing scheme, HMOs form an important part of the housing mix by providing lower-cost shared accommodation. This assists in meeting housing needs across different income groups.”

🚓 Three suspected drug dealers were arrested after a police raid on Lathom Road. A large police presence was involved in the operation last Wednesday and officers seized cash, mobiles phones and what was described as a "significant quantity” of cannabis. Three men were arrested at the scene, including a 31‑year‑old man on suspicion of possession of a firearm, being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, possession of a controlled Class A drug and false imprisonment. Two men, aged 35 and 26 and also from Southport, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs. Detective Inspector Sam Davies said: “These latest arrests is a proactive approach to tackling drug dealing to keep our streets safe. This is an on-going disruption to target criminals involved in serious and organised crime in the area which is a blight to our communities. Serious organised crime gangs are closely linked to serious violence, involving firearm and knife crime, and they have no thought for anyone other than themselves and greed. Stop searches, warrants, land searches and arrests take place all year round, and in many instances it is thanks to the public who tell us where there are issues in the community. If you have information on drug dealing and criminality in your area let us know and we will take action.”

🥧 Greggs is refusing to publicly confirm its plans to re-open in Southport - despite submitting a planning application for a Chapel Street site and being part-way through transforming the site. The bakery chain plans to open in the former H&M shop on Chapel Street and has submitted plans requesting permission to install new signage on the shopfront. But while its application makes clear Greggs plans to open the shop by repeatedly naming the business and including sketches, it is publicly refusing to say when it plans to open or even acknowledge it is doing so. A spokesperson said: “Greggs is always looking into new shop locations. While we are unable to confirm anything at the moment, we will share any information in due course.”

Inside the fightback against plan to bring Children’s A&E back to Southport

By Paul Faulkner and Jamie Lopez

Councillors in Lancashire will try to argue both the process and decision were flawed as they fight the decision to move Children’s A&E services to Southport.

An emergency meeting of Lancashire County Council’s health scrutiny committee convened on Monday to formalise plans to ask the government to overturn the decision reached last month.

After long-running planning to locate all A&E services in one location and a consultation which took place last year, leaders from the Shaping Care Together (SCT) programme - a joint committee of the NHS integrated care boards (ICBs) for Lancashire and South Cumbria, and Cheshire and Merseyside - concluded in March that Southport should be the place for this instead of Ormskirk.

It means that Ormskirk’s department will be closed and moved to Southport in a £33m development - around one third of the forecast cost had Ormskirk been chosen instead.

The current split-site A&E arrangement for children and adults in Ormskirk and Southport is the only such set-up between any two district general hospitals in the country, according to local health leaders. Meanwhile, the decision to co-locate will also mean the return of 24 hour operation for the children’s emergency unit, with Ormskirk’s having closed from midnight-8am since the height of the pandemic in 2020.

The Southport option can also be completed two years faster and SCT leaders concluded it should be chosen on clinical and financial grounds. The move was widely celebrated in Southport but faces intense opposition in West Lancashire, with promises of a fightback launched within moments of the decision being finalised.

West Lancashire MP Ashley Dalton has requested the decision be reviewed by Heath Secretary Wes Streeting and borough and county councillors promised to do the same. More details of that have now emerged at the hastily conveyed meeting at County Hall in Preston.

Streeting has the power to reverse the change and those in Lancashire are moving forward with plans to convince him to do so. The cross-party group – made up of both county and district councillors – unanimously backed the move seeking his intervention on Monday.

Members cited concerns over the process surrounding the NHS decision and questioned whether the shake-up was in “the best interests” of health services in West Lancashire.

A 13-week public consultation was carried out between July and October last year but health scrutiny committee member County Cllr Shaun Crimmins condemned the fact that a “preferred option” – to move the children’s A&E to Southport, as opposed to the adult emergency unit to Ormskirk – had been set out by health officials before residents were asked for their opinion. SCT leaders have repeatedly defended this, saying it is the recommended way to run such consultations.

Read more

Back in August, this newsletter focused on Southport FC as the club hosted its first league fixture under new management and new ownership. It came just months after the previous owners - the Peter Mitchell-led Big Help Project - had left the club on the precipice of disater. Unable to pay the bills, the club faced a winding up petition and genuine threat of closure.

Six months later, Haig Ave yesterday hosted its biggest crowd in half a century as the Sandgrounder found themselves in an FA Trophy semi-final and potentially just 90 minutes away from a trip to Wembley.

A 3-1 defeat ended an unlikely cup run which has been filled with upsets and and the task for the club is how to use this renewed interest and hope to build a more positive future as part of the community.

Subscribe now

Southport briefing

⛱️ The main phase of long-running works at Formby’s National Trust is now complete. The Victoria Road car park to the beach and pinewoods has been closed for around a year to allow for a major project which has involved removing dangerous rubble and restoring rare sand dune habitats. Laura Michelangeli, Community, Participation & Volunteering Manager at the National Trust, said: “With around 80,000 tonnes of rubble removed, we’ll soon see the dunes starting to move naturally again, creating a healthier habitat for wildlife, a more resilient sea defence and a safer, more natural space for people to enjoy. Most of the rubble has been reused to create a more sustainable car park further inland, safely positioned away from the area where the dunes will continue to naturally roll back over time.” Bosses hope the changes will also ease congestion issues at peak times but concede capacity problems will continue. Other changes include the installation of new digital entrance parking capacity signs which will be regularly updated with a full or spaces message, marked parking bays on an improved car park surface, and a better layout with a proper turning circle to help traffic flow more efficiently on and off site.

❌ A scrap metal dealer from Southport has been named and shamed in the government’s latest list of deliberate tax defaulters. Dean James Reece, formerly of Leyland Road, was hit with a penalty of almost £57,000 after failing to pay a £97,000 tax bill. The 49-year-old was among around 140 companies and individuals publicly named by HMRC for deliberate not paying taxes. 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.”

🏠 Dozens of homes could soon be built on Ainsdale farmland. North Liverpool-based developer Oakwook Homes has applied for planning permission to build a new development of 72 homes on land off New Cut Lane, near its junction with Guildford Road. The site is located just beyond the border of Sefton and West Lancashire and it is the latter’s council which will determine the application. Oakwood’s plans include eight properties which will classes as ‘affordable’ including five one-bedroom homes, while almost half of the proposed homes will be four-bedroom houses.

Subscribe now

Wembley dreams fall flat but hopes rise for Southport FC

By Jamie Lopez

A non-league record crowd saw Southport FC fall short of a dream Wembley final but hopes now turn to finally seeing a brighter future for the club.

At half-time, the Sandgrounders were 1-0 up and theoretically just 45 minutes away from a dream day out which would have seen a return to the national team stadium for the first time since 1998.

Two goals in quick succession early in the second saw full-time visitors Southend United take the lead against their part-time host and quality and fitness showed as Southport were unable to force a way back into the tie.

A third goal, finished with class by Charley Kendall, dampened hopes of a comeback and aside from one snatched Danny Lloyd chance, Southport were unable to create any more big opportunities against a side who play one division above and are chasing promotion to the Football League. Southport goalkeeper Chris Renshaw would be sent off in the dying moments for a professional foul committed after he was left in danger by a weak Jordan Slew backpass.

The Yellows went into the match as underdogs and while the drama of a late equaliser and penalty shootout win in the quarter finals had raised belief, there had always been a belief that reaching this stage had been an achievement in itself. More than that, though, the achievement and the target has been reconnecting the club with a disillusioned fanbase and disconnected town.

To give some perspective of the club’s underperformance, narrowly avoiding relegation in recent years still involved its lowest ever positions in the football pyramid. Meanwhile, Southport have failed to finish in the top half of any league since 2012 while a succession of owners have been unable to achieve any tangible success.

Matter hit a nadir last summer when a club with more than 125 years of history sat on the precipice of closure, unable to pay its bills and with owners desperate to end their responsibilities in the face of personal bankruptcy and investigations into their non-footballing responsibilities.

As reported by The Southport Lead after the first home game of the season, David Cunningham and Kieran Malone were effectively handed control of the club and with it huge debts, little infrastructure, and the added complication of the previous owners being investigated by The Charity Commission.

In the weeks and months that followed, a manager was appointed - but only confirmed once that investigation allowed - and a squad of young players and little experience assembled. Despite the green shoots seen in that first home win, more struggles followed.

Read more