Hello and welcome to a delayed midweek edition of The Southport Lead - if you’re reading this then a day of technical issues have finally and thankfully been resolved.
Visitors to Ainsdale beach were this week greeted with a very unpleasant surprise as piles of faeces were found along the shore. Initially feared to be a sewage spill, the truth was somewhat different… but not significantly less unpleasant. And apparently not enough to warrant a clean up operation.
Today’s main story looks at that incident where, unusually, it was dry weather which contributed to a contamination issue.
Southport briefing
🚧 Work to upgrade Kew Roundabout and open Foul Lane to traffic has begun. Roadworks are expected to last up to nine months and will include traffic lights and new crossings which are designed to make the busy area safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Access to the retail park for motorists is also being improved. Sefton Council said the project, which is Phase two of work on the Southport Eastern Access scheme, will make the roundabout easier to enter and use, improving traffic flow and enhancing the safety and appearance of a key route into the town. The safety and overall appearance of this key route into Southport will also be enhanced. The first part of the works are along Foul Lane and Meols Cop Park, where preloading will take place involving adding a stone base to where the future pavement will be. Due to the ground condition, the stones will be given time to settle before being surfaced later in the scheme, to even out the surface. After the preloading works, the installation of new crossings and remaining works is anticipated to take around 9 months to complete. Cllr Phil Hart, Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways said: “There are schools, shopping and leisure opportunities located near to the Kew Roundabout and these improvements will make it easier for everyone who uses it. Young people especially will benefit from a safer way to cross the roundabout, whether by walking, wheeling or cycling. This area is a key route for Southport and currently has limited active travel links. The scheme aims to make safe walking and cycling routes for those who want to leave the car at home for short journeys and help more people to choose sustainable modes of travel.”
🏏 The president of Fleetwood Hesketh Cricket Club has died after decades of service to his beloved club. Dave Rimmer, known to generations as Mr Cricket, served as first team captain, committee member and club president as well as giving his time as a coach, supporter and proud representative. He was remembered as not just a part of the club, but as being the club himself and someone who inspired countless others to love the sport. Paying tribute, Fleetwood Hesketh said: “There are people who play for a club, people who serve a club and people who come to embody everything that club stands for. Dave was one of those very special people.His loss will be felt enormously throughout Fleetwood Hesketh and across the wider local cricket community. However, his influence will live on in the generations he coached, the players he inspired and the club he dedicated so much of his life to.”
📺 A documentary telling the story of the three girls who died in the Southport attack and their families’ experiences after the tragedy has been nominated for a National Television Award. Produced by the BBC, Our Girls: The Southport Families allowed the three sets of parents to tell their stories in their own words and is nominated for best authored documentary. A post on Elsie’s Story Instagram page said: “Making this programme was so important to us. We wanted to tell our girls’ story in the way we wanted them to be known and remembered, and we will always be so grateful to the amazing team at @bbcbreakfast for giving us the opportunity to do that. Thank you so much to every single person who has voted already. Your votes have got Our Girls to the shortlist and that means so much to all of us. We now have one final round of voting. If you would like to vote for Our Girls, we would be so grateful for your support. 🩷” Voting is now open and the event will take place at London’s O2 arena and will be broadcast live on ITV1 from 8pm on September 8.Fleetwood Hesketh CC
🤬 Southport MP Patrick Hurley has urged residents not to veer into abuse during their campaign to keep the Botanic Gardens Aviary open. The Labour MP warned that online abuse directed at councillors and council staff risks making it harder to find a constructive solution and said such behaviour was unacceptable. Hurley has so far hosted two public meetings on the issue and says he is continuing to work with various stakeholders in an attempt to find a resolution. He said: “The vast majority of people who want to see the aviary remain open have been completely civil and reasonable. They care deeply about its future and have every right to challenge the council’s decision. But there is a clear line between robust criticism and personal abuse. Online abuse is unacceptable, and it risks making it harder for residents, councillors and the council to work together constructively to find a way forward. I will continue to work with residents, councillors and the Council to explore every possible option for the aviary. I would encourage everyone who cares about its future to continue making their voices heard.”
Public warned to stay out of sea after manure washes up at Ainsdale
By Jamie Lopez
Faeces found washed up at Ainsdale Beach and feared to be a sewage leak was actually from nearby sheep.
Visitors to the coast this week were greeted by the deeply unpleasant site of manure and suggestions were made online that it may have been released by United Utilities.
However, discharge records showed no sewage has been released in the area recently. Instead, the waste has washed up from the nearby salt marshes where sheep are currently grazing, with the extended dry weather making the conditions for such an occurrence more favourable.
After investigating the matter Green Sefton, the service which manages Sefton’s coast, has concluded the waste does not need to be removed. Instead, signs have been displayed warning against swimming in the water.
Cllr Lynne Thompson, who represents Ainsdale ward, said she was alerted by the matter on Monday and, like many others, feared it was sewage which had been washed up.
She said: “Someone sent me a video, they were absolutely horrified. Someone else phoned me and I sent all the details to the coastal rangers and lifeguards and to Environmental Health.
“I was advised it was actually sheep droppings from the salt marshes. The high tides bring debris and it washes up on the beach.”
To Cllr Thompson’s surprise, that outcome meant that no clean-up operation would be carried out.
