On The Spot News | OTS News - Southport

Tracker service proposed for lone women walking home alone

Southport residents of all genders are being encouraged to lend their support to plans for a tracker service aimed at protecting women walking home alone, Plans for a phone service aimed at

9th October 2021

Do you hate your neighbour after lockdown?

One in 5 Southport residents have said their relationship with their next door neighbour has ‘soured’ as a result of the covid 19 pandemic, research shows. One in five people have described

9th October 2021

Rats the size of ‘cats’ caught in Ocean Plaza

Readers of OTS News have sent in footage of huge rats they describe as being ‘the size of cats’ running across a Southport car park. The huge rodents were caught on camera

9th October 2021

Children caught trying doors in failed break-in attempt

‘We’ll be waiting for you’ is the warning to a group of children who were caught on CCTV trying doors in the middle of the night. Two young boys dressed in all

9th October 2021

Young man ‘battered’ in early morning town centre assault

Police and paramedics were called to help a young male who eye witnesses say was ‘battered’ to a pulp on Lord Street this morning. The incident happened just after 6am this morning

9th October 2021

Lack of Government funding will widen gaps rather than “level up” warns Sefton Council leader

Sefton Council leader, Cllr Ian Maher has responded to a forecast by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) that Council tax could need to rise by up to 5% a year for

8th October 2021

Tonnes of rubbish fly tipped on Foul Lane

Tonnes and tonnes of rubbish has been dumped at a flytipping hotspot in Southport. Foul Lane, which is a favourite area for a host of criminal activity due to its secluded spot

8th October 2021

Region unites to say Merseyside is No Place for Hate

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner is uniting with partners to reinforce the message that Merseyside is No Place for Hate this week to mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week. Emily Spurrell is taking part

8th October 2021

Sefton residents warned to beware of NHS Covid Pass criminals

Sefton Council is reminding residents to beware of criminals using the NHS COVID Pass to get people to hand over money or their financial details and secret passwords. Available in electronic form

8th October 2021

Damien Moore MP thanks National Lottery Players for helping to support local communities

Damien Moore MP, the Member of Parliament for Southport, is thanking National Lottery players in the town for their role in raising much-needed funding for local charities and community groups. The thank

7th October 2021

Sefton Central MP: Universal credit cut means “choice between eating and heating” for 4,420 families

Bill Esterson MP has criticised the £20 a week cut to universal credit, saying it will mean a choice between eating and heating for thousands of families in Sefton this winter. From

7th October 2021

Warning after schoolboy is chased by male stranger

A young schoolboy was forced to run and seek help from his fellow pupils after being followed through Southport by a strange man this morning. Parents of schoolchildren at Norwood Primary and

7th October 2021

Resort’s former MP calls for crackdown on tax loopholes

With ordinary families and local businesses now having to pay full stamp duty on property purchases Lib Dem council group leader, John Pugh is calling for a clampdown on tax avoidance schemes

7th October 2021

Pensioner needs SURGERY after breaking nose in cycle lane trip

A Southport pensioner broke her nose in two places and requires surgery after she tripped over ‘dangerous’ concrete bases on a controversial cycle lane. OTS reported last week how the council have

7th October 2021

College to hold open evening to boost enrolment

KGV Sixth Form College in Southport is inviting people to enjoy two Open Evenings this autumn – and is excited to be able to welcome prospective students and their families back on

7th October 2021

BID backs desperate calls for major Cambridge Arcade improvements

Southport BID is backing local businesses in their calls for urgent improvements to be made to the historic Cambridge Arcade in Southport. Recent visits by the BID have revealed a range of

7th October 2021

Police concerned for safety of missing teen girl

Police are growing ‘increasingly concerned’ as a teenager remains missing near Southport. Georgia Mitchell, from Bootle, went missing from her home last week and could be around the Southport area, having been

7th October 2021

Sefton residents urged to get winter flu vaccines as soon as they are offered

People in Sefton are being urged to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are offered, to boost their immunity this winter. Each year, GPs in the borough call

6th October 2021

Free night out for NHS and care staff at Southport Comedy Festival enjoys ‘amazing response’

A free ‘Thumbs Up For The NHS’ comedy night designed to thank NHS and care staff for the incredible job they have done during the Covid pandemic has been hailed for its

6th October 2021

Grand parade of some of the most iconic vehicles in motoring history to take place through Southport this weekend

A grand parade of some of the most iconic vehicles in motoring history will take place through Southport town centre this weekend. The circuit is part of the first ever Southport Classic

5th October 2021

Sefton Council reminds residents where they can find advice and support ahead of credit cut

With the Government going ahead with £20 per week cut in Universal Credit payment this week, Sefton Council is reminding people where they can find advice and support. A high proportion of

5th October 2021

Biker rushed to hospital after Lord Street RTC

A motorcycle rider has been rushed to hospital after his bike collided with a car in Southport Town Centre. Emergency services were called to Lord Street near to St George’s Gardens just

4th October 2021

Southport man arrested on suspicion of running Welsh brothel

A Southport man has been arrested by Welsh police during a crackdown on ‘pop-up’ brothels in the south of the country. Stephen Norton, 51, from Southport appeared before Blackpool Magistrates Court on

4th October 2021

CCTV released following sexual assault – Liverpool to Wigan

Officers investigating a sexual assault on board a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Blackpool are today releasing this CCTV image in connection. On 29 August at around 7.30pm, a woman was

1st October 2021

Police launch appeal for information over 15-year-old Southport girl missing from home

Police have launched an appeal for information on the whereabouts of Jodie Bellew, who has been missing since Sunday. Merseyside Police said: “15-year-old Jodie was last seen on Sunday 26 September, heading

30th September 2021

Police Commissioner’s statement following Sarah Everard case

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “The details which have emerged over the last two days about the murder of Sarah Everard are utterly heart-breaking and devastating. “My heart goes out to

30th September 2021

Work begins to repair and refurbish town centre cycle lanes

Work has now begun to repair and refurbish cycling and green transport provisions in Southport Town Centre. Sefton Council say hundreds of thousands of cycle journeys have been made on the town

30th September 2021

10th Southport Comedy Festival opens this Friday with 16 top shows

Top comedians from around the world will bring the laughter back when the 2021 Southport Comedy Festival starts this Friday (1st October)! The 10th anniversary event twice had to be postponed last

30th September 2021

Council expected to approve “Enterprise Arcade” on Eastbank St for startup businesses

New life is set to be breathed into one of Southport’s most historic buildings as Sefton look to launch the town’s first ever purpose built workspace for start-up businesses. Sefton Council’s Cabinet

29th September 2021

Sefton Cabinet Member warns families could be hit by double whammy of energy price rises and Universal Credit cut

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities has said that the Government’s intention to cut people Universal Credit allowance by £20 per week and rising fuel prices could

29th September 2021