Market revamp set for approval
A SUSPECTED drunk driver crashed his car into a tree outside a pub where staff had reportedly been harassed shortly before.
Emergency services were called to Summerwood Lane, in Halsall, shortly after 10.30pm on Wednesday, August 26 to reports of the smash.
Police were told that a man had crashed his car into a tree outside The Saracens Head pub and that he had been drinking.
Officers arrived at the scene and found that a tree had been completely uprooted and significant damage had been caused to the Land Rover.
A 34-year-old man, from Bootle, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken into custody.
He has since been released under investigation.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We were called at 10.35pm on Tuesday to reports of a one vehicle collision.
“A Land Rover had collided with a tree. We attended the scene and a man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
“A 34-year-old man from Bootle has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.”
In a post on Facebook, the pub claimed that staff and customers had been harrassed by a man earlier in the evening.
SEFTON Council’s cabinet is expected to today approve a £1.4m plan to transform Southport Market into a modern food, drinks and events hub.
Despite significant investment in the site in 2012, the ailing market has endured reduced footfall and occupancy and council chiefs wants to revive it as a central part of the town’s offering.
Sefton says the new look market will be “an all-year-round attraction”, with space for eight food and drinks units, providing a vital boost to the local economy and continued regeneration of Southport’s market quarter and King Street.
The site is set to be completely redesigned and refurbished into a “modern food and drinks space, along with a flexible events and market area” as part of plans which are hoped to trigger private investment in the wider area.
Units will also be available for fresh produce stalls, including the popular Blackhurst Butchers, with all traders being offered turnover rental agreements to ensure low risk to their business.
And the council says there is already high demand from prospective new food operators and fresh produce businesses.
The proposals are set to be approved by the local authority’s Cabinet next today, with work hoped to begin by the end of the year. Funding for the project has already been successfully secured from both the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Southport Town Deal acceleration fund.
Restaurateur Paulo Teixeira recently opened a street food venture in the market and says the renovation will bring an exciting new ‘cosmopolitan vibe’ to Southport town centre.
Mr Teixeira runs the popular Twelve restaurant on Princes Street, described as ‘a fusion kitchen fine dining experience’ and last month opened his new Paulo No Mercado takeaway inside Southport Market.
He said: “People we have spoken with are loving the idea. Our place is doing well and it is good to hear that a lot of good things are being planned.
“It is very exciting, making this area a place to go. I can’t wait to be part of something so big and important and part of this amazing town.
“The new plans are bringing to Southport not just an indoor market but an open space and outdoors area too, something better than any other market around. This is a food outlet that would attract a lot of people to the area.
“The new Southport Market will bring a totally different cosmopolitan vibe to this area, and will make my restaurant and the surrounding area a great place to eat and hang out.
“Times are changing and we all want this to work.”
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “We know just how much of an important asset Southport Market is to the town.
“This ambitious and exciting project is a cornerstone of what the Southport Town Deal is all about and securing additional external funding to completely transform the building shows real commitment from Sefton Council.
“This project will create fantastic opportunities for new business startups and job creation, and we have shown our full commitment to helping these businesses to grow by implementing a turnover rental model.
“We are extremely excited to see the project progress even further and we have been delighted at the wealth of positive feedback and support we have received from residents and businesses so far for this transformation.”
Potential traders should contact