Who can design the future of Southport and net £150k for doing so?
Plus: London Marathon run in memory of Southport attack victims + Formby Bypass speed reduction planned
Hello and welcome to the 31st edition of The Southport Lead.
Today’s newsletter looks at plans for Sefton Council to spend £150,000 bringing in strategic planning consultants to help design the future of Southport.
A one-year contract is on offer and the authority is welcoming tenders from firms who can help plot the best way to attract investment and make the town more attractive to residents and visitors.
Strategic planners drafted in to help shape Southport’s future
By Jamie Lopez
Consultants will be brought in to help Sefton Council shape plans for Southport’s regeneration.
The local authority is tendering for a contract, understood to be worth a potential £150,000, for experts to come in and help plan beyond existing projects including the Marine Lake Events Centre.The contract is due to run for a year from July and bids are being sought from prospective strategic planning firms.
In documents seen by The Southport Lead, the council says recent years have involved “developing the profile of the destination’s external brand for tourism as well as financial investment in town centre regeneration, seafront development, transport connectivity and business innovation”.
It is now seeking to further develop this and is looking to bring in a contractor to further develop the town’s brand and encourage greater investment to speed up regeneration works.
The brief for whoever wins the contract will be to “fully harness the power of Southport's strengths and ensure it can compete in markets that will bring economic benefit and social value, a place strategy is needed to accelerate regeneration and structure delivery”.
In turn, this work is designed to encourage further investment and help guide economic development priorities and planning frameworks for the town.
While little is said about what projects the contractor will be tasked with, the Town Investment Plan which is referenced in the tender includes the likes of creating new lakeside visitor accommodation, improving the Ainsdale-on-sea gateway and improving transport links with Manchester and Preston.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills told The Southport Lead: "Incredibly detailed work is ongoing to enhance and improve Southport's economy.
"This includes ensuring Southport's position at the top of the list for not just tourists, but also people who want to invest in the town, raise their families here and take advantage of the incredible strengths Southport has.
"The creation of a new Place Strategy for Southport is only one part of Sefton Council’s wider work on economic recovery, diversification and growth, and will compliment and support the existing efforts of Sefton Council and the Southport Town Deal, as well as providing a platform and framework for our wider economic ambitions."
The role comes at a pivotal time for the town’s future. Industry sources tell The Southport Lead that footfall remains below target, with tourism still reduced since the horrors of last year’s attacks and subsequent riots.
The council itself, and in particular its Labour administration is also facing a constant battle to defend itself against claims it is not committed to the town’s tourism offering.
At last week’s full council meeting, cabinet members faced multiple questions over both the pier and the state of its beaches with the Conservative group also filing a motion to ‘Save Southport Beach’.
That motion was defeated, with Cllr Mike Prendergast later arguing that “Labour don’t want to hear from the people of Southport”.
In an earlier answer explaining its current grassy state, council leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said it was due to “natural and highly dynamic coastal geomorphological processes that exist, the power of which are immeasurable, and have taken place for thousands of years”. She added that it being a Site of Special Scientific Interest meant it was not viable to try to affect the marshes.
Cllr Tony Brough, deputy leader of the Conservatives, refused to accept the answer. He said: “Sefton’s failure to change policy and even consider alternative options for Southport Beach, shows an abdication of responsibility from them and a disregard for the people of Southport.”
News in headlines
'I hope I've done her proud': Fathers of Southport victims complete London marathon (BBC)
Formby Bypass speed reduction proposed ahead of scheme for 286 new homes near RAF Woodvale (Stand Up For Southport)
Hunt for owner after man bitten in dog attack (Liverpool Echo)
Warning issued over licence fee fraudsters targeting business owners
By Elliot Jessett
A warning has been issued as fraudsters are using scam phone calls pretending to be local council officials. According to Sefton Council, the scam is targeting business owners across the borough in an attempt to defraud them of licence fees.
The scam uses a series of sophisticated methods to dupe businesses owners into into revealing their personal and financial information with individual then pressured into making an immediate payment – which can run into thousands of pounds – by threatening to withdraw their licence.
Selective licensing for landlords can range from £495 to £695, with additional charges for multiple units under the same ownership. Construction licences, such as for scaffolding, also have varying fees based on the structure’s type and length, with some static obstructions costing £291-£355 per week.
Sefton Council confirmed the scam is mostly centred on premises used to sell or supply of alcohol, provide regulated entertainment or provide late night refreshment.
For premises where maximum number of persons allowed on the premises is 5000 people or more, annual licence fees can range from £500 to £32,000.
Ofcom is the official government regulatory body responsible for cracking down on scam calls and text messages and it said the ‘vast majority’ of people in the UK have been the victim of a suspected scam attempt.
The licensing fee scam has been reported in other local authorities across the UK, including reports of individuals entering business premises and impersonating licensing officials using fake IDs. However, the alert issued to Sefton residents only involves scam phone calls.
Sefton Council said it would like to stress that no council officer will contact businesses to ask for payment by bank transfer or cash. Officers will give clear instructions about where to pay fees via the local authority website.
Furthermore, the advice from Sefton Council is businesses and residents must be wary of people approaching them asking for money claiming to be from the council – whether in person or on the telephone.
A statement from the local authority added: “We have been made aware of a scam where both premises licence and personal licence holders across the borough are being contacted via a phone call from scammers impersonating Local Authority Officers, threatening that if the licence holder does not pay an immediate licence fee (of various amounts) they risk losing their licence.
“The threat is also encouraging people to pay immediately or within a specified number of hours. It appears scammers are targeting those licences that are specifically issued in accordance with licensing Act 2003 legislation.
“We can confirm that THIS IS A SCAM, if you receive this call, please do not give any details over the phone.”
If you have any concerns, please contact Sefton Council’s Licensing Team directly on licensing@sefton.gov.uk and the team will be able to confirm the call was not from the official Sefton Council Licensing Team.
You can also report any incidents of fraud to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 for them to investigate.
We finish today’s newsletter with a recommended read from The Lead’s national title and the heart-breaking story of children living with the devastating effects of Long Covid. Children who were previously fit and well but now struggle with symptoms including constant pain, exhaustion, fevers and much more all the while being faced with inadequate healthcare provision.
Thanks for reading this mid-week edition of The Southport Lead, I’ll be back in your inbox on Sunday morning. In the meantime if there’s anything you think I should be looking into then drop me a line southport@thelead.uk
Have a great rest of the week and if you’re in a position to support this newsletter then please consider a paid subscription.
Jamie & The Southport Lead team
Just wanting to know about the greyed section states marathon run in memory of attack victims? Where’s this piece please?
Just wanting to know about the greyed section states marathon run in memory of attack victims? Where’s this piece please?