Anti-terrorism rules to be used to allow road closures during major Southport events
New powers will be implemented as a precautionary measure
Hello and welcome to The Southport Lead.
Sefton Council has today announced it intends to issue a new order under anti-terrorism laws which will effectively give it, police and other organisers of large events the ability to close roads without notice.
The term ‘anti-terrorism laws’ can very easily provoke a sense of alarm and any suggestion of road closures or a council giving itself additional powers will no doubt spark anger, criticism and a conspiracy theory or two.
In today’s edition we try to answer exactly what an Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order is and why it is being used here (and elsewhere).
Southport briefing
🏨 The owners of The Bold Hotel could be ordered to tear down a large canopy installed on the front of the historic building. The hotel, on Lord Street, is believed to be the oldest surviving one in Southport and has undergone a major renovation and restoration in recent years. However, the canopy erected at its front was done without planning permission and a retrospective application has been recommended for rejection by council officers who argue it “is considered to be a highly obtrusive and incongruous addition”. A report prepared for the planning committee states: “The scale of the structure and quantity of steelwork means the view of the ground floor of the building is almost entirely lost, with the bays and portico now barely visible. Part of the key element of significance to the building is the architectural composition and detailing to the front elevation which is now enclosed at ground floor level, with a structure which cuts across the elevation and encloses the front area. The legibility of the building has therefore been lost and its positive contribution to the conservation area has been compromised.” Councillors will rule on the application tonight.
🏌️ Two public engagement sessions will be held ahead of the return of The Open to Royal Birkdale Golf Club. The competition, which attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees, takes place in July and it is the first time Birkdale has hosted since 2017. The R&A - which organised The Open, will host the sessions alongside Sefton Council and other stakeholders to help residents learn more about plans and ask questions. Cllr Liz Dowd, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, said: “The Open is a huge moment for Sefton, and it’s important that our communities feel informed, involved, and excited as preparations move forward. These engagement sessions are a great opportunity for residents to hear directly from the teams delivering the Championship, ask questions, and understand the positive impact this global event will bring to our borough.” The drop-in events take place at Southport Market at 12-6pm on February 12th and 11am-6pm on May 14th.
Council’s new anti-terrorism plans coming but leaders stress no threat is imminent
By Jamie Lopez
Police will be allowed to close roads to traffic or pedestrians during public events under new anti-terrorism powers being implemented in Southport.
Sefton Council is set to pass a temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO) to allow a quick implementation before a year of packed cultural events gets underway. In addition to annual events such as Southport Flower Show and Southport Air Show, this year also sees the return of The Open golf championship and the Elegantly Eccentric calendar which kicks off next week with the Lightport event.
ATTROs have become more prevalent nationwide since the Counter-Terrorism and
Border Security Act 2019 updated legislation to remove the need to give advance notice of any road closures and make it easier for police to install the likes of barriers to implement them.
According to a government guidance, an ATTRO “enables the restriction of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic and this may be achieved in practice by
the permanent or temporary installation of physical equipment such as bollards and vehicle security barriers, gates and fences to protect against, or to mitigate the potential impact of, a terrorist attack”.
Announcing the decision, the council insisted it was being done on a purely preventative basis and there was no reason to think Southport was facing an impending threat. A temporary AATRO is to be implemented first to allow it to take effect quickly while a permanent order covering the whole of Sefton is being considered.
The council also said the temporary order was being implemented following a request from the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police but The Southport Lead understands that while the force fully supports the order, it actually originates from Counter Terrorism Police North West, a collaborative unit of five forces.
