Latest news with #SeftonCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Warning issued as 'monster jellyfish' spotted on Merseyside beach
A "monster jellyfish" was spotted on the Merseyside coastline this week, with the local council offering advice to people visiting the beach as the hot weather continues. With temperatures rising across the region as we officially head into summer, it is common for jellyfish to appear in waters around Merseyside, including Sefton which is home to some of Merseyside's nicest beaches. But one beachgoer told the ECHO how they spotted what they described as a "monster jellyfish" on Crosby Beach. They said: "You couldn't move for jellyfish yesterday. Every 50 metres, there was another one. READ MORE: Mum and daughter, eight, found dead at home READ MORE: Met Office confirm thunderstorms to hit UK in 13-hour warning "Most were fairly small in size, but one was monstrous, it was quite shocking to see. Some of them were on the beach, and others were floating on the swash. I'd hate for anyone to get stung while swimming or walking." A council spokesperson told the ECHO it advises people to avoid touching jellyfish that appear on the shore and to keep dogs under close control. A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: 'It is common for jellyfish of varying sizes to be spotted along our coastline during the warmer months. "There are a variety of jellyfish that live in our seas and while some may be harmless, some can give a painful sting. 'While we can't know for sure the type of the jellyfish from looking at the photograph, most jellyfish found in the UK do not cause serious harm. 'However, we advise people avoid touching them and keep dogs under close control while enjoying our natural coastline.' For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Join the Liverpool ECHO Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community to receive the latest news straight to your phone by clicking here. Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here Try the Liverpool Echo Premium app and get the first month free
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Inconsiderate parkers slammed as families attend fun day
A local council has hit out at "inconsiderate" parkers after it issued more than 30 fines to cars parked around a family fun day. Sefton Council told the ECHO it issued 38 parking charges to vehicles near Botanic Gardens in Southport while people enjoyed a family fun day. People gathered in the park in the north of the town to celebrate its 150th birthday, with stalls and activities for children set up throughout the grounds. Despite hundreds enjoying the day at the park, a car was unable to leave due to illegal parking blocking them in. As a result, the council was called and found dozens of people had parked illegally on the roads surrounding the park. One of the cars involved had parked entirely on a footpath, impeding people coming and going. READ MORE: Mum and daughter, eight, found dead at home READ MORE: Ava White's murderer named for first time The parking charges were as follows: Balmoral Drive - four - all for parking on or adjacent to yellow lines Bankfield Lane - 18 - all for parking on or adjacent to yellow lines Botanic Road - six - five for parking on or adjacent to yellow lines, one for parking in a free space for longer than permitted Verulam Road - 10 - all for parking on or adjacent to yellow lines A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: 'While we are delighted that so many people enjoyed the recent Botanic Gardens Fun Day in Southport, there is no excuse for inconsiderate and illegal parking. 'While regular patrols take place in Churchtown as a matter of course, we were dismayed to note a distinct increase in drivers parking illegally throughout Sunday, June 15 resulting in 38 Penalty Charge Notices being issued. 'All but one of these notices were issued to motorists who had parked on or adjacent to double yellow lines, including parking fully on the footway. "This inconsiderate and illegal parking caused significant disruption not only to residents but to public transport, other visitors to the park and an emergency services vehicle. 'Furthermore while attempting to resolve this issue and carrying out their jobs, our Civil Enforcement Officers received significant abuse. This type of behaviour is completely unjust and uncalled for.' For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on X @LivECHONews or on Bluesky @ - official Liverpool ECHO accounts - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southport: 'Slap in the face' as council gives own firm contract
Business owners who said they were refused financial help by a council said they were furious to learn it had awarded a £140,000 contract to itself. Traders around Market Street and King Street in Southport have reported losing trade and income since roadworks started in after being turned down for financial help, they found Sefton Council had awarded a contract to Sefton Hospitality Operations Ltd (SHOL), a company wholly-owned by the council said the SHOL deal offered value for money for "industry-specific expertise", and that it was committed to "bringing more people into our town centres". SHOL is described as "focussed on the operation of assets in the hospitality sector from hotels through to bars and restaurants as well as outside catering, food delivery and events". Sefton Council confirmed that SHOL had done any consultancy work such as that it had won the contract for, but said its staff had "strong experience". It was set up in 2021 and last year posted a loss of close to £1.5m, up from £813,000 the year before. Market Quarter ward councillor John Pugh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there were questions over the contract. The Liberal Democrat group leader added: "It will come as a horrible irony to traders around the market that £41,000 of the new contract has been spent on further subsidy for the council-owned market." Rosie Coates, 43, who owns the Crystals & Crowns shop, said the news of SHOL's contract felt like a "massive slap in the face". "I am currently 87% down on taking from this time last year and its getting worse," she said many traders including herself were already struggling to keep the doors open."So if there's no money in the pot for compensation for any of the businesses from 10 months of road works – that's been planned for years – how have they magically found £138,000 to give to their own agency?" she said."It feels wrong," she added. Julie Goodwin has previously said she had to temporarily close her pub, Connolly's, due to the collapse in revenue while Tracy Jones who owns The Plant Room shop said she had to take a second job to pay the store Marion Atkinson, leader of the council, said if the council had gone to external consultants it would have cost about three times more than it paid to SHOL. Not investing in bringing more people into town centres would be "a dereliction of duty", she said, adding: "With this contract the money stays within the borough and comes back to the council ultimately." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC Breakfast viewers get emotional over 'hard to watch' segment
Fans were emotional whilst tuning in to the BBC show. Jon Kay and Sally Nugent returned to screens on Wednesday morning on BBC Breakfast, which featured a tear-jerking segment. On the BBC programme hosts were interviewing the parents of the victims of the Southport knife attack. Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice Aguiar, nine, and six-year-old Bebe King were killed in July 2024 at a Taylor Swift themed dance class. Plans for Southport's Town Hall gardens to undergo a major £10 million makeover inspired by Elsie, Alice, and Bebe have now been unveiled, with the new space set to act as a "thank you" to the residents of Southport for their support. Family members of Elsie, Alice, and Bebe appeared in a pre-recorded segment, where they discussed the plans and expressed thanks to everyone involved. "I think we'll all have a part to play to make sure the girls are represented how we remember them as their parents, in our own way," Jenni, Elsie's mother, said in the interview. Speaking about working with Alice and Bebe's families, she emotionally added: "I never want to do anything without them standing by my side, to be honest. We come as a team. There are only three families in this country who know how it feels to have been through what we've been through." Viewers watching at home flocked to social media to praise the "brave" families, with some branding the interview difficult to watch. "Incredibly brave people, the parents of the Southport victims #BBCBreakfast," one person wrote on X, while a second BBC viewer said: "That was a hard watch. Incredible bravery to do that #BBCBreakfast." A third said: "It's a beautiful and fitting gesture that Southport town hall gardens are going to remember Elsie Dot, Alice, and Bebe in their new revamp. It will be a place for their families and friends to visit." "I can't wait to go there, what a lovely idea," another added, with somebody else agreeing: "That's such a super idea." Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have both contributed £2.5 million to the project, while the government will provide £5 million. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner met the families at Downing Street to discuss the project, writes The Express. The Prime Minister thanked the families for their "continuing courage and resilience", and revealed Angela will "personally oversee" the implementation of the Town Hall project. "We sit here as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, we sit here as human beings with families of our own, and we sit here on behalf of millions of people who would love to see the plans and to say well done for bringing them forward and getting to this point," Sir Keir told the families. BBC Breakfast airs on weekdays from 6am on BBC One Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
More than 100 Easter Eggs donated by anglers at the Liverpool & District Angling Association Good Friday Open
It was a superb effort by anglers attending the Liverpool & District Angling Association Good Friday Open. Held on the canal over the Easter break, competitors booked on with a hand delivered Easter Egg. Match secretary Mike Dickson does an incredible job raising funds for many charities that the L&DAA supports throughout the year. He put this together again with the aim to assist teams within Sefton Council family centres reaching out to support families and more than 100 eggs were delivered to two centres, which were very gratefully received. On the match itself, and with the canal starting to show some promise now that the warmer weather is beginning to show some form, this one had nearly 50 anglers turning out – stretching from the drum's at Lydiate, back to Westway Bridge at the end of the duck length. Taking the top honours on the day and making his way all the way from Oswestry was a familiar name as a winner over here in Merseyside, Gordon Griffiths. Pegged on the popular Running Horses Length near the famous pub itself, Griffiths made no mistake from this fancied area as he put together a class performance, taking 11.4.0 of skimmers and roach. Skelmersdale's John Carroll, who was pegged on the drum's length on an area that was slightly more open to the gusts of wind, was rewarded with the second best catch on this one as he took a mixed bag which included a couple of bonus skimmers for 6.12.13. In an incredibly tight finish, it was one that saw just drams in it on splitting the frame. READ MORE: Manchester's Mark Harris claims the top spot with an incredible 54lb net of bream Stu Cutler took third place with a very close 6.12.7. Leigh's Anthony Lloyd took fourth with 6.7.0. Staying with the canal scene, the L&DAA will be holding a memorial match for past chairman Fred Moss on Saturday, May 3 2025. Draw time is 9am at the MCA at Green Lane Maghull and all are welcome. Once again, Mike Dickson will be holding his 'Dicko's raffle' that everyone involved enjoys so much as part of the day's celebrations. On the club front, catching up with one of Merseyside's most popular outfits, the Alliance & Leicester stayed at their home venue at Chapel Pool on Sunday to enjoy another great match on this superb venue. Winner on the day was club stalwart Richard Bamber. Bamber stuck to a tip approach with pellet to take carp for the top club points on the day for 63.1.0. Gary Green took second place with 54.11.0 and Dave Langton a close third with 53.13.0. Also on Sunday, St Helens AA held their annual two-day memorial for a past member Joe Lee, with the second leg on Monday. With another great turn out, this one was about the competitors using their aggregate weights over the two days. Making the most of it was St Helens local Peter Tickle. Tickle took the top weight of the day on Sunday with 13.8.0 and Monday following that on taking a section win with 7.10.0. Overall Tickle's 21.2.0 was enough to take the top honours and the coveted trophy. Winning the match with a superb 16lb on Monday, St Helens rod Phil Holland put that on top of his previous day's catch of just 3.6.0 to put together a second overall 19.6.0. READ MORE: It's all about the bream READ MORE: Fifteen teams take part in first round of the Liverpool & District Angling Association Teams of Four
