Key issues ahead of tomorrow’s election
Never does the OTS inbox burst with so many political press releases as election time. As parties and candidates from across the town battle it out for your vote, we take a
Five way battle for Birkdale as election candidates unveiled
91 candidates will compete for 22 wards in Sefton Council's local election in May.
Council too slow on children’s services improvement, says Ofsted report
An Ofsted report has revealed that Sefton Council’s children’s services are continuing to fail some minors who “continue to experience ongoing harm”. The Council has faced significant criticism over the state of
Police detain man during incident on Forest Road
Eyewitnesses say a man has been detained this evening during a police incident on Forest Road. A significant police presence arrived at Forest Road, close to the junction of Haig Avenue, shortly
Sefton to raise council tax by 4.99%
Sefton council agrees to raise council tax by 4.99% and increase costs for parking and leisure facilities in order to fund social care and invest in children's services.
Town asked to save 999 calls for life threatening emergencies as ambulances workers strike
Members of the public are being asked to only call 999 for an ambulance in a life-threatening emergency, with GMB paramedics walking out on a 24 hour strike today (Monday). North West
Council leader takes swipe at MP over ‘misleading’ Pontins comments
Leader of Sefton Council, Labour’s Ian Maher, has criticised Southport MP Damien Moore over comments made regarding Home Office proposals to house asylum seekers at Pontins. Sefton Council publicly stated last week
St Helens NHS trust triggers merger with Southport & Ormskirk hospitals
Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust will merge with St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals, chief executive Ann Marr has confirmed. St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals (SHKT) took over managing Southport and
Plans to house asylum seekers at Pontins unlikely to move forward says Council
The Home Office are unlikely to move forward with controversial plans to house up to 3,000 asylum seekers at Pontins in Ainsdale, OTS News understands. Sefton Council and the Home Office had
Police investigate after youth player attacked during local football match
Merseyside Police have launched an investigation after an on-pitch confrontation between two footballers left one youth player with a broken nose and fractured eye socket. Police were called to the Rookery on
MP and Council set for talks over plans to house asylum seekers at Pontins
Southport MP Damien Moore and Sefton Council Chief Executive Dwayne Johnson are set for tense talks this afternoon, after the Council received Home Office representations to house asylum seekers in the area,
SFC Ladies manager wins volunteer award
Southport FC Ladies
No end in sight to Pier closure says Council
Southport Pier will remain closed for the foreseeable future after Sefton Council confirmed that December’s cold weather “exacerbated existing damage”. Independent structural engineers have now been called in to assess the damage
Children’s Services improving but workforce issues remain says commissioner
A government commissioner appointed to review Children’s Services in Sefton says that improvements are being made but there must be “significant additional pace to the improvement work” in the coming months. Commissioner
Councillors cost taxpayer £930k last year, Council figures reveal
Sefton’s councillors cost the taxpayer over £930,000 during the 2021-22 financial year, according to figures published by Sefton Council. The Members’ Allowances End Of Year statement showed councillors receiving an average of
Illegal Pleasureland adverts “an accident waiting to happen” to be removed
Hundreds of advertisements for a Pleasureland festival event are set to be removed by Sefton Council after they were erected around town on street furnishing without permission. Councillor John Pugh has also
MP launches campaign to bring children’s A+E back to Southport
Southport MP Damien Moore has launched a campaign to return a children’s A+E service to Southport. Southport and Formby Hospital on Town Lane stopped offering a paediatric A+E service in 2003, with
Council budget £1m for bypass cycle path upgrade
Sefton Council are to set aside over £1m to upgrade the cycle path alongside the Formby Bypass. The decision comes as Cabinet member John Fairclough has now confirmed funding for Sefton Council’s
New theatre details made public as planning document published
Planning permission documents for the new Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) and Light Show have been made public. Hundreds of pages of documents have now been released, in the hope of a
Scrutiny over childrens services sparks fiery debate at council meeting
A motion calling for additional scrutiny of Sefton Council’s children’s services sparked angry debate at Southport Town Hall last night. Children’s Services within Sefton have come under considerable criticism from Ofsted, to
Bid to re-form the Southport Area Committee voted down by councillors
The Southport Area Committee (SAC) will not be reformed, after a motion to recreate it was voted down by councillors last night. Sir Ron Watson had called for the re-formation of the
Petition for pedestrian crossing at Lulworth Road crash site submitted to Council
The family of a lady killed in a road traffic accident on Lulworth Road has submitted a petition to Sefton Council calling for a pedestrian crossing in the area. Terry Cunningham presented
Labour councillor accuses Damien Moore of ‘hypocrisy’ over Johnson stance
Local Labour councillor Greg Myers has criticised MP Damien Moore on his stance on Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Mr Moore voted against Boris Johnson in last month’s confidence vote, but only released
Moore backs Tugendhat for PM in Tory leadership race
Damien Moore has given his support to Tom Tugenhadt to become the next leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. On Thursday Boris Johnson announced his intention to resign once the
OUR REVIEW | Day 1 of Southport Air Show 2022
It’s been many years since I had the chance to just sit and watch the Southport Air Show in its entirety. I’ve been guilty before of just watching whatever I could see
Damien Moore: PM must resign
Damien Moore has called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign. Mr Moore said that he believes that Southport constituents are “rightly uncomfortable” with the leadership of the Conservative party. The Southport
Decision deferred on controversial Bankfield Lane development
A decision to grant planning permission to a contested housing development on Bankfield Lane has been deferred. Council planning officers had recommended that permission be granted to construct houses at the base
Council scramble to save cycle lanes after disclosure legal orders expired four months ago
Sefton Council have moved to save their controversial town centre cycle lanes, as OTS News can exclusively reveal that the legal orders used to enable them expired over four months ago. Cycle
Work on Sainsbury’s in Kew set to begin after latest legal challenge fails
Demolition of the former Homebase unit on Kew Retail Park will begin next month, after years of legal challenges against a new Sainsbury’s ended unsuccessfully. Demolition of the Homebase unit, and construction