SOUTHPORT SOUTHPORT & FORMBY
July 2020 2020 1 July
Vol 27 l Issue 27
ALL WHITE TAXIS www.champnews.com
Nationwide clap returns - Sunday, 5pm to mark 72nd birthday of NHS
Celebrating & Sharing
SOME GOOD NEWS from the
FEATURE INSIDE
Care sector
Resort leaders launch bid for slice of Town Fund millions - and they want YOU to...
A firework explodes at the Liver Building - a Southport man was later charged with criminal damage and will appear at Crown Court
Scarisbrick man charged over Liver Building firework A 19-YEAR-old Scarisbrick man appeared in court on Monday after he was accused of setting off fireworks that caused £10,000 worth of damage to the Liver Building in Liverpool. The incident took place during a widely-condemned celebration of Liverpool Football Club’s 19th title win when thousands of people gathered at the city’s Pier Head on Friday. Matthew Egglesden, whose address was given as Turning Lane, Scarisbrick, Southport was arrested after footage appeared on social media which appeared to show a firework being directed towards the
DOWNLOAD OUR APP
iconic building. Several fireworks were set off in close proximity to the Grade I listed building and caused a blaze on a balcony resulting in £10,000 worth of damage. Egglesden was charged with criminal damage caused by arson to the Liver Building and firing a firework in a public place. He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday, June 29 when it was decided that the case should be sent to Liverpool Crown Court. Egglesden will next appear at court on July 27 where he will enter a plea to the first charge.
Cont. inside
GET ON BOARD! Report by Danielle Thompson
A CON SULTATION to help unlock millions in government funding and set out a future vision for Southport, is launched this week. The consultation, which got underway on Monday, is part of the first stage of the government’s ‘Town Deals Fund’. Southport is one of just 100 towns across the country invited to bid for a share of £3.6 billion to help develop innovative regeneration plans and support to build prosperous futures. Communities, businesses and local leaders are asked to join forces and ‘get on board’ to draw up ambitious plans to transform their town’s economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture. Since November 2019 a number of conversations have taken place across Southport with local residents and businesses to discuss how that money might be spent if the bid is successful. Over a thousand items of initial feedback have been gathered from the Government’s #MyTown campaign, interviews with representatives of local groups and surveys completed by social media users. This feedback has helped to shape a number of ‘Big Ideas’ that will feed into the Southport Town Investment Plan, a document that will become the first stage in the process of securing a Town Deal. Work on the Town Investment Plan is being undertaken by Sefton Council and overseen by the Southport Town Deal Board, a group made up of a number of representatives from key businesses and community groups in the town. Rob Fletcher, Chair of the Town Deal Board, said:
‘Big Ideas’ are needed to help shape ambitious plans to transform Southport
“This is an exciting opportunity to invest in Southport’s future – the resilience of its economy and culture for the benefit of the community. Following initial conversations we have gathered feedback from residents, businesses and leaders in Southport. This feedback has helped us put together a number of Big Ideas and themes, which could help to guide the future of the town. These Big Ideas aim to encourage more people to visit and stay in Southport, provide better opportunities for local businesses to grow, and ensure residents have every opportunity to make the best of our very special town.” Consultation on the draft vision and the ‘Big Ideas’ for Southport will run until Monday, July 20 – and local residents, businesses and visitors are invited to provide their comments online at Rob Fletcher
yourseftonyoursay. sefton.gov.uk/futuresouthport. Those without internet access are encouraged to call the consultation hotline on 0808 168 8296. Mr Fletcher, added: “This consultation is part of the first stage of an evolving process to unlock Government funding for Southport. “The Big Ideas on the website present our initial thoughts; we encourage everyone in Southport to participate and share their own views on how £25 million could be used on projects in the town. Following submission of the Town Investment Plan there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved during the next stages of the Town Deal and we plan to undertake further engagement in the future.” Southport MP Damien Moore said: “Securing the opportunity to access £25million was a great coup for Southport. Southport people now have to get on board and give their views on where they want to see the money being spent. “The Southport Town Deal board has been set up to look at all of the available options before coming up with schemes which will really help to drive the regeneration of our town. “The funding on its own will not complete everything we want to achieve in Southport but I hope it will act as a springboard to attract further private investment, attract more visitors and create more jobs and opportunities for local people. “Southport Town Deal was really important for the future of Southport when we initially secured it. But now the coronavirus outbreak has taken place it has become even more vital that we do all we can to help to kick-start the recovery of Southport as rapidly and as effectively as we can. “Southport has lots of things in its favour to suggest we face a really bright future if we get this right. Continued inside
Southport’s Future: Be part of the conversation... Southport has been invited to bid for up to £25 million in funding as part of the Government’s Town Fund We are consulting on our Big Ideas for Southport from 29th June to 20th July 2020. To find out more and provide your feedback please visit our website:
https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/futuresouthport
If you are unable to access the internet, you can also contact us by calling our consultation hotline number on: 0808 1688 296
THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 164,824
CHAMPION SERIES
JAN-DEC 2019 100% FREE