Jamie Lopez

Toad Hall demolition and Pontins replacement in new Ainsdale ambitions Plus: Drug driving arrest after man left in critical condition, Southport Inquiry latest and battle for GP appointments

In place of Pontins, @seftoncouncil.bsky.social wants to see a ‘world class visitor experience and accommodation offer’

For @theleaduk.bsky.social, with details you won't have read anywhere else

I wonder how much this is going to cost the council when it loses the appeal

Hotel purchase planned as council faces unprecedented homelessness Plus: Andrew Brown's guide to what's happening this week

Sefton Council is facing "unprecedented" levels of homelessness. Here is one way it is trying to help those in need @theleaduk.bsky.social

(Note: this is NOT about asylum seekers)

For Southport FC, dawn breaks Plus: Is it the end of the 'big stink'?

Competitive football returned to Haig Ave yesterday - but it very nearly didn’t.

I wrote about returning to the club for the first time in 10 months, since when there’s been near disaster behind the scenes. Now, hopefully, recovery is coming

@theleaduk.bsky.social

Overgrown and under-maintained: The cycle lane problem Plus: Andrew Brown's guide to What's On This Week

Overgrown and under-maintained: The cycle lane problem

War memorial could be removed as safety fears spark bitter row Plus: Restaurant forced to lose outdoor service unit and revamp planned for historic pub

A much-loved war memorial is at risk of being removed after trustees of a village hall raised concerns about public safety - but it won't happen without a battle | @theleaduk.bsky.social

Riot organiser who said "all mosques must burn" loses appeal Plus: Arson attack on century old shelter; funding boost for Queenscourt Hospice; and What's On This Week

In today's Southport @theleaduk.bsky.social:
❌ Failed appeal for riot organiser who called for war and told people how to make molotov cocktails
🙌 Funding boost for Queenscourt Hospice
🔥 Police appeal over mindless arson attack
🗓️ Andrew Brown's events guide to the week ahead

Children's A&E could return to Southport within five years Plus: Golf ball rows stalls plan for dozens of new homes

More than two decades after children's A&E was removed from Southport, local NHS leaders will this week push forward with plans for a single emergency care centre in the town.

For the why and how, read the Southport Lead: southport.thelead.uk/p/childrens-...

Landlord left man in sub-zero flat after illegally cutting off power Plus: Southport Imam on the legacy of fear caused by mosque attack

A landlord conspired to have his tenant's power supply cut off, leaving him with no heating or lighting in sub-zero temperatures. Shameful behaviour, rightfully punished | @theleaduk.bsky.social

Southport MP Patrick Hurley joins rebellion against welfare reforms Plus: 'Jungle' fears for pensioners losing grass cutting service

Patrick Hurley is among more than 100 Labour MPs rebelling against the Government's planned cuts to disability benefits | @theleaduk.bsky.social

Sefton Council to crackdown on takeaways opening near schools Plus: Martial arts centre to open in former car showroom

Sefton Council is considering bringing in new rules which would ban new takeaways from opening in "walking distance" of schools

@theleaduk.bsky.social

IVF options slashed for couples in £1.3m money-saving plan PLUS: Southport Pier SAVED and tributes paid to much loved teacher

Couples hoping to use IVF to conceive are currently offered up to three rounds funded by the NHS - that could soon be reduced to just one @theleaduk.bsky.social

Residential home objections fuel stigma against children in care Plus: £10m Town Hall Gardens revamp honours Alice, Bebe and Elsie and BBC Radio Merseyside comes to Southport

Plans to open a residential children's home were greeted by fears of crime and falling house values. If we treat kids in care as something to be afraid of who should be kept away from the rest of the society, how will they ever get a chance?
@theleaduk.bsky.social

Southport Hospital to receive £3m fund for maintenance backlog Plus: Golf bosses press on with Birkdale Common plan and why were police called to peaceful protest outside council offices?

Today's Southport @theleaduk.bsky.social:
🏥 £3m given for Southport Hospital repairs
⛳ Plan to expand golf course onto public land moves forward
🚓 Why were police called to a peaceful social services protest?
🗓️ Andrew Brown's What's On guide to the week ahead

Channel 4 'sorry' for use of Southport killer in Facebook ads Plus: The return of Greggs to Southport? And traders speak out over town centre works

And here is that original story from Sunday

Murder suspect still on bail 10 months after arrest Plus: Search for missing man in Malaysia, firms shamed over minimum wage failure and woes for business facing fraud probe

Finding audiences is tricky enough without such poor practice by the national titles. It’s naive to expect better but at @theleaduk.bsky.social we will at least keep on doing things the way we want to see them done

Today’s newsletter also gave me a chance to highlight how the main story from last week’s edition was lifted without credit by The S*n, including some blatant copy and pasting. That was then picked up by Mail Online… who linked back to The S*n (1/2)

Thank you to @blogpreston.co.uk for sponsoring our Gentry Tifo. 💙

Businesses can support the campaign like they have.
Individuals can donate, add a loved one’s name, or play the scratchcard to help fund the tribute.

Donate: donate.stripe.com/28o7vN1W98d8...

Play: pne-online.net/scratchcard

Channel 4 'sorry' for use of Southport killer in Facebook ads Plus: The return of Greggs to Southport? And traders speak out over town centre works

.@patrickhurley.bsky.social labelled the advert a "sick joke" and the campaign was dropped after enquiries by The Southport Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social

Channel 4 'sorry' for use of Southport killer in Facebook ads Plus: The return of Greggs to Southport? And traders speak out over town centre works

Channel 4 has apologised for the use of the Southport killer in a Facebook ad. His mugshot was used alongside the caption: “More of the shows you love ❤️, more of the shows you will love. Stream now on Channel 4 📺” (1/2)

"Lives to be transformed" by Marine Lake Events Centre and Southport regeneration Plus: The ultimate What's On guide for this May half-term

"This development is a cornerstone of our commitment to regeneration with purpose where growth is not just measured in pounds and pence, but in lives transformed.”

@theleaduk.bsky.social

And the meeting, which was always going to be largely cermonial, is done. Full report in this Sunday's Lancashire Lead on what happened on and away from the microphones

In response, new leader of the opposition Cllr Azhar Ali told former council leader Cllr Aidy Riggott he "should be embarrassed"

Much of the early discussion focused not on Reform but instead on arguments between the various other groups.

The new opposition, which is made up of Greens and independents, was accused of not respecting the outcome of the election and labelled 'undemocratic and unfair'

Cllr Atkinson said the new controlling group will deliver Reform's local and national policies and said every decision will be made on the basis of whether it improves the lives of people in Lancashire

Off the top of my head, three members of the new cabinet are ex-Conservative councillors

The first meeting of Lancashire County Council is under way and, as expected, Stephen Atkinson is elected as leader.

After some discussion over whether a vote was actually needed (none was taken), Reform UK's first cabinet is in place and made entirely of white men

@theleaduk.bsky.social

Council plots land giveaway after EU funding loss halts Southport Business Park development Plus: Pub closes doors as roadworks keep customers away

Council plots land giveaway after EU funding loss halts Southport Business Park development
@theleaduk.bsky.social

@theleaduk.bsky.social

Patrick Hurley MP: Why I won't support assisted dying bill Plus: Anger as United Utilities profits double and Andrew Brown's What's On guide to the week ahead

Having lost his wife to cancer, Patrick Hurley has very personal experience in the issue of assisted dying. Here, he explains why even though he “felt the natural urge to spare her further pain” he can’t support the assisted dying bill
open.substack.com/pub/thesouth...

"No single issue" led to Southport riot, police review finds PLUS: Man's journey from homeowner to sleeping on Southport Pier to being safe again

"Some of the main reasons for the widespread disorder were social deprivation, austerity and the economic downturn, political policies and decisions on migration and asylum, and decreasing trust and confidence in policing"

@theleaduk.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/thesouth...