RNLI warn
people not to visit Hilbre Island
A warning has again
been issued again not to visit Hilbre Island, the is located on
the sands of Lime Wharf, within Dee Estuary. This warning comes
as hundreds of thousands of day trippers descended on the
beaches across Merseyside. In this case 25 visitors went out
from near West Kirby and became stranded on the Island. After
checking the RNLI had checked that where safe on the Island,
they walkers had to wait until it was safe to walk back. A
spokesperson for the RNLI said:- "We want to remind people
the island is closed to public over the pandemic due to it being
in a dangerous location. Please do not go to Hilbre Island as it
is putting our volunteer crews in unnecessary danger, should you
get info difficulties."
RNLI
Lifeguards to are getting ready to return to Merseyside's beaches
OVER the Bank Holiday many beaches have not had
Lifeguards, as lockdown restriction had left the RNLI unable to
train the 1,600 Lifeguards it needs to patrol 240 beaches around
the UK and Channel Islands, including those on Merseyside. The
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have said that they
are:- "Working as quickly as possible to roll out our
lifeguard service, starting with key beaches in England."
It comes after teenage girl and a man died and a 3rd person, a
man, is critically ill in Hospital; after being pulled from the
sea in:- "multiple incidents on the Cornish coastline."
Also on Merseyside, volunteers from both the
RNLI and
Southport Lifeboat (SORT) have seen a spate of problems to deal with.
Today the Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, has written this open
letter as we ask for help to manage an impossible situation:-
"Despite our warnings that there were no Lifeguards on patrol
this weekend. crowded beaches. Hot weather and big waves meant
our Lifeboat crews had their busiest weekend so far this year.
At least 2 people lost their lives. This puts the RNLI in an
impossible situation. With thousands flocking to English beaches
now lockdown restrictions have been eased. we must strike a
balance that keeps the public and our Lifeguards safe. Safety
advice and warnings will only go so far when people are
desperate to enjoy some freedom after weeks of lockdown. But. as
a Lifesaving charity. the RNLI cannot stop people going to
beaches. Rolling out a Lifeguard Service; especially in a
pandemic; is not as simple as putting a Lifeguard on a beach. We
found out about the easing of lockdown restrictions in England
at the same time and in the same way as the general public.
Contrast that with shops. which were given 3 weeks' notice and
even car showrooms have been given 7 days warning to prepare. We
have to work out how to do in water rescues and give 1st aid;
normally conducted at close quarters and often with people
coughing up water. We have to find PPE that will work on a beach
and in the water; visors and aprons are no good on a rescue
board. And we have to train our Lifeguards in procedures to
reduce the risk of infection. All this takes time and we learnt
of the lifting of restrictions at the same time as everyone
else. Lifesaving is our priority. But the fundamental
sustainability of the charity is also a consideration. Local
Authorities contribute just 20% of the ₤2OM needed to pay for a
normal Lifeguard season; the remaining ₤l6M comes from RNLI
donations. Right now. Our charity faces an expected ₤24M
shortfall in funding by the end of the year because many of our
fundraising activities have had to stop. No 1 is to blame for
the situation we find ourselves in. We're asking everyone to
help manage an impossible situation. so please follow our safety
advice and think before you head to the coast."
In a statement Southport Offshore Rescue Trust (Southport
Lifeboat) who are an independent charity, have also said:- "With lifeguard services
temporarily suspended on our beach, coupled with the good
weather, there has been an increase in call outs for emergency
crews that is putting extra strain on the volunteer coastal
rescue teams. We understand that the public want to exercise
freely on your coastline, however, we appeal to the public to
consider where they're parking. Yet again we have appealed
to the public not to park irresponsibly on Southport’s slipway."
This and other issues have lead to calls for the Government to
protect the areas affected by the over whelming numbers of day
trippers, which could have potentially life threatening
consequences by giving local Authorities the ability to close
them, if the area becomes overloaded.
If you have any views on the post
please email them to us at:-
News24@SouthportReporter.Com.
Local
Liverpool woman in line to be crowned National Business Hero
A local woman has been
nominated to be the 2020 National Business Hero at the National
SME Business Awards which will take place at the iconic Wembley
Stadium later this year. Heather Akehurst from Open Awards has
been nominated in the high profile category where 70% of the
decision on who wins will be down to a public vote. "This
exciting category is open to a business or business person who
have gone above and beyond in the face of adversity. Our judges
will be looking to see what they have done to support a local or
national cause and the winner will be a true national hero."
said Damian Cummins, the SME National Business Awards
Director. Open Awards is an Awarding Organisation approved by
Ofqual and an Access Validating Agency approved by the Quality
Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). They provide Ofqual
regulated qualifications and units across a range of sectors,
QAA Access to Higher Education Diplomas and also offer bespoke
quality endorsed units and flexible learning solutions.
"I was surprised and delighted to be nominated. The Open Awards
team have been working extremely hard to support our Centres and
EPAOs during this difficult time. Not only are they undertaking
their existing and continuing work during challenging times, but
they are introducing new initiatives such as our weekly SEN
Forum, recognition for Volunteers and Key Workers so that we can
show our appreciation and support. It may have my name on it but
it’s really a vote for the whole wonderful Open Awards family;
still working; still Open." said Heather Akehurst.
Damian Cummins added:- "It is a very competitive field and
therefore we are encouraging local people, local businesses and
local organisations to get online and vote for Heather. With 70%
of the vote being decided by the public the more support any
candidate receives from friends, family and business contacts
the more chance they have of winning."
You can vote for your candidate easily
online and the closing date for
voting is Thursday, 18 June 2020. The SME National Business
Awards are a credible opportunity to support and share in the
vision to raise the profile of industrious, hardworking and
enterprising SME’s nationally. Business awards are a sought
after accolade of achievement, a veritable endorsement of
success in business which offers exceptional marketing and PR
opportunities as well as increasing the credibility and standing
in the eyes of peers and your customers.
Coronavirus
sick pay scheme opens for applications
SMALL businesses and
employers, on 26 May 2020, across the UK who have paid statutory
sick pay to staff taking Coronavirus related leave will be able
to claim back the money from HM
Treasury. In a further
boost to employers affected by the outbreak, The Coronavirus
Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme, which was announced by
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, in the Budget, has now opened for
applications. The scheme allows small and medium sized
employers, with fewer than 250 members of staff, to apply to
recover the costs of paying Coronavirus related Statutory Sick
Pay for 2 weeks; worth nearly ₤200 per employee. Launching on
gov.uk today, the new online service is being run by HMRC, and
after making an application employers will receive the money
within 6 working days. To get the rebate, employers will need to
go online and input simple information on the employees being
claimed for.
The service can be accessed
here.
The current rate of SSP is ₤95.85 per week. Employers can choose
to go further and pay more than the statutory minimum. This is
known as occupational or contractual sick pay. Where an employer
pays more than the current rate of SSP in sick pay, they will
only be able to reclaim the SSP rate.
The scheme covers all types of employment contracts, including:-
► Full time employees.
► Part time employees.
► Employees on agency contracts.
► Employees on flexible or zero hour
contracts.
► Other
SSP eligibility criteria
apply.
► Tax agents can make claims on behalf
of their employers.
► Connected companies and charities
can also use the scheme if their total combined number of PAYE
employees are fewer than 250 on or before 28 February 2020.
Employees do not have to provide a Doctor’s 'Fit
Note' in order for
their employer to make a claim under the scheme make a claim.
► The repayment will cover up to
2
weeks of SSP from either 13 March 2020, if an employee had
Coronavirus, symptoms or is self isolating because someone they
live with has symptoms, or from 16 April 2020 if an employee was
shielding because of Coronavirus.
► Employers can furlough their
employees who have been advised to shield in line with public
health guidance and are unable to work from home, under the
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Once furloughed, the employee
should no longer receive SSP and would be classified as a
furloughed employee. Where an employee has been notified to
shield and has not been furloughed, the rebate will compensate
up to 2 weeks of SSP from 16 April 2020.
Anti-viral
drug Remdesivir to be used by the NHS in the fight against
Coronaviris
UK Health Secretary
Matt Hancock said it was probably the biggest step forward in
the treatment of Coronavirus since the crisis began. Remdesivir
is an anti viral medicine that has been used against Ebola
appears to shorten recovery time for people with Coronavirus is
being made available on the NHS. UK regulators have told the
media that there is enough evidence to approve its use for the
time being in the treatment of selected Covid-19 Hospital
patients, due to limited supplies. As of yet the research
suggests it can cut recovery time by about 4 days and is
currently undergoing clinical trials around the world, including
within the UK. It is still early days and we are told that
currently there is no evidence that it will save more lives. It
also looks like some hotels will start opening from 4 July 2020.
The start of
a slow restart for many businesses announced
IF all goes to plan,
Boris Johnson has announced, as part of plans to further ease
the lockdown, in England, outdoor markets and car showrooms will
be able to reopen from 1 June 2020 and all non-essential
retailers will be able to reopen from 15 June 2020. However, not
all businesses are pleased with the announcement. But, please
remember that it's going to be a very different way of shopping
from what we're used to, for quite some time. What are your
views and can you business run with the restrictions that will
have to be in place? We also do not yet know when Theatres and
Cinemas will be able open. Some might open in July or August,
but it September as most likely reopening date. also many in
that sector are worried that they could see a 50% loss of
seating capacity, and as a result, many say they would only
survive a maximum of 3 months in such circumstances. With the
hospitality industry has been hit hard by the lockdown, with
many are also asking when pubs and restaurants will reopen.
Sadly we also do not know what the plans are to relax outdoor
seating licences, so that pubs can open in July. UK Health
Secretary Matt Hancock said it was probably the biggest step
forward in the treatment of Coronavirus since the crisis began.
Remdesivir is an anti viral medicine that has been used against
Ebola appears to shorten recovery time for people with
Coronavirus is being made available on the NHS. UK regulators
have told the media that there is enough evidence to approve its
use for the time being in the treatment of selected Covid-19
Hospital patients, due to limited supplies. As of yet the
research suggests it can cut recovery time by about 4 days and
is currently undergoing clinical trials around the world,
including within the UK. It is still early days and we are told
that currently there is no evidence that it will save more
lives. It also looks like some hotels will start opening from 4
July 2020.
Mental
health and wellbeing support in Sefton
THE NHS South Sefton
Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have said that:- "If
you are facing a mental health crisis, please remember you are
not alone and help is available. Visit our
website and find your local
helpline to speak with someone at any time." Also,
if you're worried about a child, please call NSPCC's Helpline
on:- 08088005000 or you can email them at:-
Help@NSPCC.Org.UK.
Is the
Government "knowingly kick starting a collapse" of tens
of thousands of micro businesses through 'Top Up Grant'
chaos?
SMALL and micro
businesses, market traders and charities across the country, who
are at risk of collapsing due to a drastic change in the 'Top Up
Grant' scheme, the Liberal Democrats have uncovered. The severe
change in funding for businesses affected during the Covid-19
crisis will leave Councils out of pocket and unable to provide
previously promised support. In Manchester, original discussions
with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(BEIS), estimated that between ₤18m to ₤22m would be made
available for businesses survival from the Top Up Grant.
However, BEIS have now confirmed that just ₤5.4m will be made
available. This means nearly 1,500 small and micro businesses in
Manchester alone will be excluded from any relief. The
businesses now identified as at risk are in areas vital for the
economy including:- digital, creative, health and bioscience,
independent retail and hospitality. An additional 405 charities,
needed to provide services to some of the City’s most vulnerable
residents, as well as 30 regular market traders, also now face
no financial support. To fund all these organisations,
Manchester City Council would need a budget of ₤22m. It will get
just ₤5.4m, meaning only grants of up to ₤5,000 will be made
available instead of up to ₤25,000. Liberal Democrat
Spokesperson for the North John Leech said:- "The
Government is not prepared to support the tens of thousands of
vital small and micro businesses, charities and market traders
across the country, so they are deliberately shifting
responsibility onto local Councils. Put simply: By not providing
enough funding to local Councils to cover these businesses
properly, the Government is knowingly kick starting the collapse
of tens of thousands of businesses, charities and the
livelihoods of even more. It is a deeply cynical and unfair move
from the Government.” As a newspaper, we are now asking
to find out if this is the same in the Liverpool City Region.
Have you had problems getting funding? If yes, please email us
to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.Com
and let us know.
CLA win as
gardens to be reopened to public
FOLLOWING significant
pressure from the CLA and Historic Houses, the Government has
now produced updated COVID-19 guidance to allow private gardens
to open to the public. The Government’s roadmap on 10 May 2020
clearly stated that:- ;outdoor ticketed attractions,' which
included:- gardens, could not be opened to the general public,
as part of the 1st step in easing the lockdown. This was despite
clear scientific evidence that the rate of infection is
significantly lower outside than indoors. Both organisations
raised this anomaly with DCMS and Defra, pointing out that the
Government was allowing Garden Centres to open, but not gardens.
The Presidents of the CLA and Historic Houses wrote to the Rural
Affairs Minister, Lord Gardiner and the Tourism Minister, Nigel
Huddleston, asking the Government to think again.
The revised guidance now states that members of the public can:-
"visit gardens and land maintained for public use as an
alternative open space to spend time outdoors, although
buildings and amenities such as cafes will remain closed and
access may be limited to members or those with tickets to ensure
social distancing. You should check ahead and follow social
distancing guidelines. Entrance fees can be charged."
Director General of the CLA Sarah Hendry said:- "I am
delighted that Government has listened to industry calls and
taken what is clearly a pragmatic step forward. Thousands of
people will now be able to enjoy the physical and mental health
benefits of visiting a garden, whilst; of course; adhering to
social distancing rules. Of course, garden owners must recognise
their responsibility to follow Government’s hygiene and social
distancing rules, and conduct a full risk assessment before they
open. Members should get in touch with the CLA if they need
further assistance."
.
Letter to
the Editor:- "Parking and lack of facility's at Formby Point"
"HI, my family and I
visited Formby beach yesterday. We were shocked that we had to
pay ₤7.50 to park the car when this meant touching a machine
that possibly hundreds of other people had touched that day. I
didn't see any hand sanitizing equipment either to wipe the
machine with. I've contacted them via Facebook messenger however
it says they're not currently monitoring the page. I even asked
the attendant if we had to pay and he pointed us to the
direction of the pay point machine and said yes we have to pay.
Someone needs to look into this ASAP." Stacey Brown from
Chorley.
Editors reply:- "The area has been on TV asking people not
to come as it can't handle the numbers. We will add that they
have put electronic notices on the main road also warms people
about this. The money raised via parking goes to help fund the
areas Rangers and facilities, like the paths and dune
management. The National Trust is very short of cash now, and
being a charity, they have had to reduce staff levels from what
we are told. Hope This helps you. We have pass your information
on."
Reply back from Stacey Brown:- "The point I'm trying to
make is I would happily pay the ₤7.50 to park my car, however
what is the point of putting up signs to keep 2m apart if we're
all touching the same machine? They should be putting spray and
roll at the pay points as currently they're HELPING the spread
of covid-19, or they should allow you to pay online via your
phone. I was simply letting you know so they can rectify the
current harmful situation. Thanks."
Editors note:- "We have passed this on to National Trust
for a reply."
Total UK cases
COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region and
surroundings
THE total number of Coronavirus
(COVID-19) that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK,
has risen by 2,004 cases
and the total number now stand at 265,227, that includes tests
carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the
4 National totals. The total number of deaths of people who have had a
positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS
laboratory is 37,048. Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK
fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be 134
according to the Department of Health. In England, there are a
total of 150,294 confirmed cases. North West - total of 25,158
confirmed cases. The number of laboratory
confirmed cases within the following Local Authorities, in and
around the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-
► Liverpool, 1,602 confirmed
cases.
► Sefton, 924 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 1,252 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 752 confirmed cases.
► Halton, 392 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 3,542 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 1,096 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 1,201 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 1,538 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 1,042 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 800 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 1,175 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 1,001 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 769 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 735 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 701 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 1,065 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen, 407 confirmed cases.
These stats are according to Public Health England as of
26/05/2020. Last updated 4.42pm GMT. UK total includes cases
detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing (tests carried out by
commercial partners) and therefore does not equate to the sum of
the 4 countries' counts, which only include:- "Pillar 1" (tests
carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved Administration Labs)..
UK total includes cases detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing
(tests carried out by commercial partners) and therefore does
not equate to the sum of the 4 countries' counts, which only
include:- "Pillar 1" (tests carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved
Administration Labs).
UK Government Coronavirus Press
Conference on 26 May 2020 Video