SOUTHPORT & FORMBY ALL WHITE TAXIS 5 May 2021 Vol 28 l Issue 18 www.champnews.com CASH OR CARD IN ALL CARS INSIDE Stage set Kelly joins THIS for theatre up dots for WEEK: re o p e n i n g blind group As another summer of parking chaos looms Trust reveals NO at visitor hotspots across the borough... Covid patients at hospital for first time in 12 months FOR the first time in more than a year, there are currently NO CARS FACE patients admitted at Southport Hospital with the coronavirus, as of yesterday (May 4) The optimistic news comes just weeks after the first phase of normality returning with lock- down restrictions being eased. Southport and Ormskirk Hos- pital NHS Trust have now BEING TOWED reported no inpatients being act- ively treated for Covid-19 for the first time since last year on Fri- day, April 30. In the first wave of the pan- demic, the figures for the Trust peaked in April 2020 at around 100 and gradually dropped off to The Trust’s chief executive very low numbers by October but Trish Armstrong-Child AWAY UNDER these spiked again by November, and green wards for those who levelling over the Christmas has tested negative. period. The lack of Covid patients At the peak of the pandemic, means it is now hoped that the earlier this year, there were more Trust will be able to begin to than 150 patients being treated return to ‘normal’services espe- at the Trust. These numbers, cially as hopes continue to rise which went up very rapidly in that the vaccine will keep num- the New Year, have come down bers down going forward. NEW LAWS in a steady decline from the Visitors flocked to worst in February 2021, with the Challenging Formby in May, Report by Danielle Thompson ‘no Covid patients’news being leading to traffic chaos confirmed this week by health The Trust’s chief executive chiefs. Trish Armstrong-Child told the MOTORISTS who park dangerously in the borough Last year, when the pandemic Champion: “I want to thank all could have their vehicles towed away in dramatic took hold, the Trust re-deployed our staff for their exceptional new measures being considered by Sefton Council. staff in a bid to meet the chal- hard work and dedication caring Parts of Sefton - and Formby in particular - have lenges of the pandemic. They for patients and colleagues in ‘suffered immensely’in recent years from a raft of treated patients in red wards for often challenging circumstances. nuisance parking problems but new legislation being suspected or known covid cases Continued inside considered by council chiefs could put the brakes on the problem. Continued inside Residential Care Nursing Care Dovehaven Dementia Care Our Family Caring For Your Family We continue to offer the safest and warmest of welcomes to new residents to the Dovehaven family of care homes. 01704 335888 • 01704 546177 Email:[email protected] • www.dovehavencarehomes.co.uk CHAMPION SERIES THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 143,191 JAN-DEC 2020 100% FREE 2 l Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion l Wednesday 5 May 2021 Have you got a story for Northern prepares to the Champion? Call our news desk on 01704 392 392 reintroduce key rail routes back into service across region N O RT H E R N is preparing to change its timetables with the aim of giving people returning to rail travel more f l e x i b i l i t y. The train operator has been running reduced timetables since the January lock- down, but is now reintroducing services on some key routes to help customers ‘get where they need to be’. Northern - alongside other operators - continues to feel the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the new timetables reflect the challenges faced by the rail industry and the changing demands of customers, many of whom may be seeking holidays in the UK or One of Northern’s new trains returning to workplaces for the first time in several months. Chris Jackson, regional director at they deserve.”The approach does, more normal timetable.”Meanwhile, Northern, said: “We have brought in as however, mean that some routes will not Northern continues to take additional many additional services as possible, with see any enhancements as part of the new steps to make the railway as safe as pos- Installer the resource we have available, and have timetables and, on a handful of routes sible. Extra cleaning is being carried out prioritised routes and times where there is there will be a reduction in services. on trains and at stations and the operator the most significant demand. Some services may also be busier than is asking customers to travel during less “The timetables we will introduce on Northern customers have been used to in busy times where possible. Face coverings May 16 have been designed to provide as recent months and so anyone planning to are mandatory (aside from those with spe- many services as possible, at the times our return to the railway is asked to plan cific exemptions) on all trains and at customers need them, without risking ahead and, where possible, travel at stations. punctuality and reliability. quieter times of day. “We want our customers to have confid- He added: “We need our customers to N o r t h e r n’s new timetables can be ence in the service we are offering and our work with us and to think carefully about found online via the Northern website plan will give those customers the stability their journeys as we steadily return to a or at www.nationalrail.co.uk After having gone through a rigorous professional assessment process. Checkers of Churchtown Have been accredited for providing a first class service for fitting and after sales. Backed by the guarantee. As Advertised On Television. British made (in Small Factories) Flat Pack Furniture of a Open As Normal With higher standard Unsurpassed by Rigid built Covid-19 Social Distancing Guaranteed for 5 Years. Policies In Place The Champion G Wednesday 5 May 2021 Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com G 3 No Covid patients at Southport hospital From page 1 “The reduction reflects the fall in community trans- mission of Covid, however, it is vital that as restrictions begin to ease that we all continue to follow social dis- tancing guidance.” Across the UK, by May 2, more than 34 million people had received their first dose of the vaccine with 15mil- lion having had their second jab . Meanwhile, health professionals at NHS Southport and Formby CCG are urging people to attend their appointments for the second dose of the COVID-19 vac- cine. In Sefton, more than 154,000 people have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and those expecting their second dose are being asked to take up the offer as soon as they are invited at the same place they had their first. As we move into phase two of the vaccination pro- gramme Sefton’s GP led vaccination services, run by groups of practices known as primary care networks, Parking chaos in Ainsdale above, and Formby, below, last are concentrating on going back to those people they summer when motorists flocked to both areas have vaccinated to offer second doses at local sites. Council clamp down Re m i n d e r Dr Rob Caudwell, local GP and chair at NHS South- on nuisance parking port and Formby CCG, said: “If you had your first jab at a GP-led vaccination service, you will be contacted From page 1 areas of Sefton Coast have become a before the 12 weeks, we haven’t forgotten you. major attraction at Crosby, Formby, “If you booked your vaccine via the national booking Concern has been mounting over Ainsdale and Southport. Some of service and made your first and second dose appoint- motorists double-parking on grass these areas cope very well with traffic ments at the same time, please remember to check verges, roundabouts, single and but Formby has suffered immensely when your second dose appointment is and make sure double yellow lines; on the corner of due to the numbers of people that you attend.” junctions, and even obstructing arrive there at various peak times. GPs are also reminding people who have been vaccin- people’s driveways. Such indiscrimin- “There is limited parking in the ated to ensure that they continue to keep following the ate parking by motorists is also nature reserve and the residential rules around social-distancing and mixing with others. increasingly affecting Ainsdale and properties have been built right up to People, no matter what their vaccine status, are also other parts of the borough that it. This has resulted in the area being urged to continue getting tested as restrictions are attract large visitor numbers. covered with various types of yellow eased. You can collect home test kits or book a test for The Council de-criminalised park- line restrictions, all of which try to COVID-19 at a local testing centre by visiting the Sefton ing restrictions almost two decades prevent unwarranted illegal parking. Council website or calling 119. ago in the belief that drivers ‘would “It has got that bad that roads have The NHS has been inviting those eligible for a jab by behave in a responsible manner’ but been completely blocked with parked letter and text with GPs also calling some patients. as the problem has continued to cars which cannot allow emergency escalate and with the busy summer vehicles to pass.