Patrick Hurley hears Smedley Hydro staff concerns ahead of ministerial meeting

DURING a visit organised by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union, Patrick Hurley MP spoke directly with employees about the uncertainty surrounding the potential closure of the site and the impact any relocation could have on their jobs, families and day to day lives.

Smedley Hydro houses staff from the:- General Register Office, HM Passport Office, the Home Office and NHS Digital, making it 1 of the largest employers in the Southport area.

Employees also questioned the practicalities of moving specialist services currently based at:- Smedley Hydro, including the relocation of specialist machinery and equipment and the secure handling of records and documents.

Hurley will now take the concerns raised by staff into his forthcoming discussions with Government as he continues to make the case for retaining the site and its skilled workforce in Southport.

He has previously written to:- Paymaster General Nick Thomas Symonds MP and has continued to engage with the Government, PCS Union, local stakeholders and workers over the future of Smedley Hydro.

The PCS Union will hold a rally in:- Birkdale Village, on:- Sunday, 6 September 2026, from:- 11 am, to raise awareness of the situation and seek support from the local community.

Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport and the Northern Parishes, said:- "Speaking to staff at Smedley Hydro really brought home the uncertainty this is creating for people. I have heard from employees who chose to work in Southport to be closer to their families, from people with caring responsibilities, and from disabled staff who are understandably worried about what a relocation could mean for them. These skilled jobs matter enormously to Southport, and there are also serious practical questions about moving specialist equipment, services and secure records from a site that has supported this work for several decades. I will take what staff have told me into my discussions with Government and continue putting the strongest possible case forward for Smedley Hydro and the jobs based there."

Lunar eclipse to reward early risers in UK and Europe

ANOTHER heavenly display is about you take place this week. The Earth's Shadow is due to track across the Moon, as UK and most of Europe will witness a:-'Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse.'

For those early risers who are watching the sky will be reward by the site of the Moon appearing to glow red before dawn, on:- 28 August 2026.

The astronomical show begins at:- 3.33 am BST, when the Moon's familiar full disc begins to disappear behind the shadow of the Earth. Unlike the Partial Solar Eclipse, you can watch this happen with your eyes and magnification devices. By the time the eclipse reaches its greatest extent, shortly after:- 5.10 am, only a thin sliver of the Moon's surface from our view will remain in direct sunlight, roughly an hour before sunrise.

If weather conditions allow, watchers will see roughly 93% of the Moon covered at its peak.

Lunar Eclipses are far more common than Solar Eclipses, occurring between:- 2 and 5 times per year globally (averaging:- 2 to 3 times) all over the world. Sadly, not all are visible from the UK, but when they are, it provides us a stunning opportunity to capture an amazing astronomical spectacle. You do not require special equipment to do this. You can even use your mobile phone camera!

If you are taking s picture with a traditional:- SLR or Digital SLR, we suggest you look at using a:- tripod, and use a 200 mm to 600 mm telephoto lens. To reduce camera shake if using a long exposure, we suggest you use a remote shutter trigger or a timer.

Upcoming August 2026 Eclipse Details:-

3:33 am - Partial eclipse begins.

5:12 am - Maximum coverage (deep coppery-red tint).

6:15 am - Moonsets across the UK during the event as the Sun comes up.

On the morning of:- 28 August 2026, sunrise times across the UK occur around:- 6:06 am BST to 6:13 am BST, depending on your precise location:-

UK Sunrise:-

London / South East - 6:06 am BST.

Liverpool / North West - 6:13 am BST.

Edinburgh / Scotland - 6:11 am BST.

Please do email your pictures to our Newsroom, at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send them over on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter with your full name and location, should you capture any shots. You must also add that you are ok with us using the image and that you took the photo, if you would like us to look at putting them it into our next issue. Please note that we are not offering payment for them, just a credit....

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Patrick Hurley hears Smedley Hydro staff concerns ahead of ministerial meeting

Lunar eclipse to reward early risers in UK and Europe