ns2221

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ALL WHITE TAXIS

SOUTHPORT & FORMBY

Vol 28 Issue 22

2 June 2021

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POLICE APPEAL AFTER STABBINGS ON BEACH Violence at coastal beauty spot shocks day-trippers Report by Tom Martin AN unprovoked attack on Formby beach horrified day trippers who had flocked to the area over the Bank Holiday weekend. The beach attack was one of two serious incidents in the Formby area on Sunday. A 16-year-old male was stabbed in an unrelated incident on nearby Victoria Road at around the same time as the beach stabbings in which two men aged 20 were attacked at around 7pm. All three victims needed hospital treatment, but none of the injuries suffered were life threatening. It was initially reported that the beach attacks were part of a pre-arranged fight involving an axe, but this has been dismissed by officers. It has not been confirmed what weapon was used in either attack. A 17 year-old male from Liverpool has been arrested in connection with the second incident on suspicion of assault. He has been released under investigation pending further enquiries. Police are appealing for witnesses to either of the attacks to come forward should they have information. Detective Superintendent Mark Baker said he understands both incidents will cause “considerable distress to the community in Sefton,” but added that officers are “working around the clock to identify who was responsible and bring them to justice.”

Formby beach. Inset: Police at the scene of the stabbings

In an immediate response, police introduced a dispersal zone on Monday afternoon until Wednesday, June 2, to give officers more powers to order people to leave the beach area and not return for up to 48 hours if they suspect they are causing, or likely to cause, crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour. The dispersal zone included Formby beach as well as the train line towards Ainsdale and the coastal road leading up to Ainsdale beach.

Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson described the incident as “appalling” and “disturbing” and he is urging anyone with information to contact police. Social media users also voiced their disgust online, with many questioning why anyone would take weapons to a beach packed with families and children. Detective Superintendent Baker added: “The fact that three young people have been attacked in this way is truly shocking and disappointing. Continued inside

Your Streets, Your Say consultation launched on cycle routes A TRAVEL consultation is underway seeking views on proposed ‘active travel’ routes across the borough. The Council’s ‘Your Streets, Your Say’ homes in on proposals that would see improvements to existing routes and new routes to link up existing cycle and walking paths in the borough.’ In Southport, the existing town centre route links Birkdale to Southport Town Centre and Hesketh Park. The two planned routes are Birkdale to Ainsdale, linking to Greenbank High School and Birkdale High School and Hesketh Park to the Plough Roundabout. The work is part of a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority bid for government funding to improve active travel routes across the UK. The Your Streets, Your Say consultation began on May 21 and invites opinion from across the borough. Cllr John Fairclough, Cabinet Member for Locality Services said: “We are improving our active travel networks throughout the whole of the borough to support our Sefton 2030 Vision. “The intention is to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle in Sefton whilst also encouraging people who have never travelled in this way to do so, especially for short journeys. More on p3

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