Formby Labour Councillor Nina Killen attends Trinity St Peter's School Council meeting to hear pupils' concerns about traffic

Formby Labour Councillor Nina Killen attended a very special council meeting this week - Trinity St Peter's School Council.

The Harington Ward Labour Councillor met with the young members of the school council to hear their ideas for reducing the amount of traffic outside their school during school times.

Paradise Lane is regularly congested as parents drop their children off and pick them up.

Cllr Killen heard from the young school council members that it can often be difficult just to cross the road.

Cllr Killen said: "I would like to thank the school council members, the headteacher Mrs Deborah Pringle and Year Six teacher and school council facilitator Mrs Bev Riley for inviting me along to hear the concerns that the pupils have and some of their ideas to try ease the problem.

"I live close to this school and see for myself how busy this part of Formby gets at the start and end of the school day. During the peak time, it is often wisest to avoid Paradise Lane altogether because of the congestion.

"The young people on the school council were telling me that it can be very difficult just to cross the road to get to the school.

"Obviously parents dropping their children off want to get as close as possible to the school gate for safety reasons and also to avoid the weather.

"It is a problem which is mirrored outside schools throughout Sefton."

Cllr Killen said the pupils on the school council had come up with some good proposals.

Cllr Killen said: "The pupils have a unique perspective on the issue of traffic congestion outside the school.

"They had a number of good ideas which can help to reduce the problem. They suggested residents' parking permits, a zebra crossing, traffic lights and double yellow lines, but most thought a lollipop person would be the answer. The school already has a walking bus from the Grapes but they felt more children would walk if there was a lollipop person. 

"I was impressed by the pupils and I will give them all the support that I can to turn their ideas into a reality."

Trinity St Peter's School Council facilitator and Year Six teacher Mrs Bev Riley said: "The school council is looking at ways of reducing traffic on Paradise Lane and that's why we invited Cllr Killen to talk through some of the ideas which they have.

"Parents complain all the time about how dangerous the road can be. The school council is looking at just what can be done."

Homelessness in Sefton

I've had a number of letters from residents over recent weeks regarding Sefton's policy towards homelessness. Please see below the initiatives currently being undertaken in the Borough.

Cold Weather Provision

Sefton MBC has a well established Cold Weather Provision in partnership with Liverpool CC; this provision should mean that anyone rough sleeping has the opportunity to access overnight shelter and additional support.

This provision is available based on government set criteria i.e. when the temperature is estimated to be zero degrees Celsius or below for a period of 3 days or longer.  Services and groups throughout the area are made aware of when the shelter is open.

The service is based in the Liverpool City Centre area and is hosted by a local church who allows use of their church hall. The shelter is staffed by volunteers from homelessness groups and charities.

The service allows rough sleepers to shelter but does not provide beds. Any person accessing the shelter is given the opportunity of additional support the next morning via various homelessness groups and charities. Obviously the person has the opportunity to decline this assistance and in practice many do. 

No Second Night Out

“No Second Night Out” (NSNO) is a scheme that originated in London and the government wants to see replicated nation-wide. Sefton is part of the Liverpool City Region “NSNO” protocol (the first outside London) that aims to get first time rough sleepers off the streets as soon as possible.

NSNO allows incidents of rough sleeping to be reported to a central co-ordinating point. The report can be made by statutory bodies, VCF groups, partner agencies and members of the public. There is a contact free phone number; 0300 123 2041, and web-site; nosecondnightoutmerseyside.co.uk 

Once the referral is received staff from the Whitechapel Centre (the group contracted to undertake this work on behalf of the City region LA’s) will go out to the area where the rough sleeping is thought to occur and try to contact the person individually. If contact can be made they will offer him/her the range of options available to them.  Again the person has the opportunity to decline this assistance and in practice many do.  However the very nature of rough sleeping means that it is often difficult to make and maintain contact with a person who is rough sleeping.

Sit-up Service

Sefton MBC in conjunction with Liverpool CC also provides a “sit up” service outside the times when the Cold Weather Service is not in operation. This service provides overnight shelter for people who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping where shelter is required for a short period whilst a longer term solution is secured.

This service is provided by a range of homeless groups in the Liverpool City Centre area.

All these schemes seek to end rough sleeping and provide support and assist the individuals into more permanent accommodation should they wish to.