Night-Time Ambassadors took Sefton’s streets for the first time on Friday 21st May to support businesses in the Borough’s busy hospitality sector.
The first weekend since the latest COVID-19 lockdown lifting, which includes a return to seated indoor drinking and dining, saw the Council’s five, two-person teams out and about.
Funded through the Council’s Public Health Service, their role is to provide landlords, owners and managers with advice on how to comply with the latest coronavirus restrictions. These include the need for customers to remain seated while eating and drinking and the requirement for everyone to be signed in using the COVID app QR Code process.
Over the first weekend they managed to visit around 700 businesses, the vast majority and which welcomed the initiative. The Ambassadors reported that the overall level of compliance was good and that they were able to provide advice at a small number of premises that weren’t aware of all requirements.
Over the coming weekends, Sefton Council’s Night-Time Ambassadors will be visiting pubs, bars and restaurants, cafés and take-aways between 12 noon and 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: “The lockdown relaxation introduced last week represents a huge change in what people can and can’t do, particularly in relation to Sefton’s busy hospitality sector.
“With many people keen to take advantage of the changes, which include being able to eat and drink indoors while seated, at pubs, bars and restaurants, this weekend, we are keen to provide support in helping those businesses manage the revised restrictions and requirements. Which is where our Night-Time Ambassadors come in.
“Over this first weekend, the teams managed to visit around 700 premises, received a good reception and reported back that once again the Borough’s businesses have stepped up and are implementing the required restrictions.
“Between 12 noon and 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, they will be out visiting a range of premises, offering advice and information to managers, landlords and owners.”
To ensure they are easily identifiable by managers and customers, all 10 will be wearing high-viz showing they are ‘Night-Time Ambassadors’. Each of the staff, who are licensed employees of leading Merseyside security provider Logika Security Limited, have been trained by Sefton Council.
As well as visiting businesses to provide support, the Ambassadors will discuss any breaches of the coronavirus requirements they see, to try and help resolve the situation and ensure the safety of customers and staff.
Initially, the Night-Time Ambassadors are focusing on those parts of Sefton, where there are concentrations of hospitality venues, but they will aim to visit establishments of various type and sizes right across the Borough.
Cllr Lappin continued: “Although the recent relaxation measures represented a major change in restrictions, which we’re all keen to enjoy, it’s important that we remember the COVID-19 virus, including the variant first identified in India, is still definitely with us across Sefton.
“Businesses in the hospitality sector need to make sure they have the measures in place to protect their customers and their staff. And we, as customers, drinkers and diners, all need to do our bit by making sure we follow the restrictions that are in place to keep us, our friends and families safe.”
Mark Patrickson, Director of Logika Security Limited said: “I am pleased that we have been able to work with Sefton Council and that our employees are providing this valuable service to help create an environment where people can enjoy themselves while also staying safe.”
OTS News on Social Media