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Issue:- Sunday, 27 December 2015

Next edition will be out later than normal due to Christmas.  It will be out over Sunday night (03/04 January 2016).

Season's Greetings to you all.  We wish you and all those you hold dear, whether far or near, all the best for the coming new year

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Torrential rain caused flooding and put a dampener on Christmas!

IT'S been a very wet, yet warm Christmas this year, and this has lead to some very extreme weather events. For many residents, in the North West of England, it has been a very stress-full Christmas, as the Met Office issued red warnings after red warnings. As the river levels climbed higher and higher, the region was soaked by "unprecedented" levels of rain causing rivers to burst their banks, roads to be flooded as the saturated earth could no longer sustain the deluge. Some of this has been compounded by a huge lack of investment in drainage, with many areas having drains blocked by the remains of the autumns leaf fall. In Sefton, parts of Southport were affected due to this issue.

One resident in an affected area, near Preston, told us:- "I know they say wet weather is good for ducks, but I think most of them will be flying away for Christmas... Unlike ducks, we are on holiday and are now worried about our property back home!"

On Merseyside and parts of nearby West Lancs. river levels have been dangerously high, with flood alerts being issued in Warrington area, on the River Sankey catchment area, as well as across large sections of the Mersey Estuary. Areas of around the River Alt have also seen flooding, with the new homes built next to the banks of the Alt being at possible risk of flooding. In Formby, areas of farmland are frequently the subject of further planning applications for building yet more houses on areas that were also flooded, as the surface water could not drain away. This is now a fairly normal occurrence. The River Alt was on Red Alert for most of Christmas, as levels climbed higher and higher. Thankfully the Alt, did not breach the defences around Formby and Hightown areas, thanks to the Pumping Station, but other areas were not as lucky. The photos show the high levels over night on 26 December, by the Formby By-Pass.

Parts of the City of Preston and surrounding low lying land areas of Lancashire have also been hit hard, as the River Ribble swelled.

In Southport, Merseyside, some roads could not cope with the surface water and flooded, as did areas around Meols Hall, due to a small tributary, called The Pools, flooding parts of the Botanic Gardens and Southport Old Links Golf Course.

More rain has been forecast for over New Years Eve, leading to more flooding worries for some residents.

What is of great concern is that we have seen a huge increase in planning applications being submitted for low lying areas to be built on, in and around Merseyside. Many of the areas, like in Formby, are in floor risk areas, as they located on natural flood plains, which in the past have absorbed most excess water before property and land was affected like near the Alt and also around Banks, just outside Southport... Should we build cheap housing near rivers like this, both endangering property and more importantly lives on flood plains? What are your views on this?

The Prime Minister, David Cameron has chaired many conference calls as the Government's emergency Cobra committee as ministers worked to tackle the latest flooding problems. He has promised to try to ensure that families and businesses are supported, if they have been significantly affected by the floods.

With this widespread river flooding and surface water flooding, one thing that is becoming very clear is that the UK does not have adequate emergency measures to cope with natural disasters. With so many cuts to the likes of the Armed Forces and emergency services, voluntary emergency services, like the Lifeboats, Mountain Rescue, St John Ambulance and even the Red Cross, who can no longer offer the greater degree of service necessary because of this increasing drain of man power. What do readers thing should be done to provide cover? Have you been affected by these issues? Please let us know!

Please email us your thoughts to:- News24@southportReporter.com. Plus if you get any flood photos or videos, please send them over to us... But do not put yourself at risk when taking any photos or videos and always obey the Emergency services instructions when taking pictures or video.

Most of the North West of England has experienced localised flooding on the road network, and emergency services are asking that motorist take care. "If you are driving and see standing water, it's best not to drive through it if you can avoid it. The road conditions are dangerous in places and we're advising people not to travel unless they really need to. It's essential motorists drive with extra care and we'd ask people not to take the risk of driving through anything that looks like deep water. Also standing water can hide other problems, like collapsed drains and debris that could serious damage your vehicle. Driving through standing water poses a threat to homes and businesses at the road side, which can suffer damage when passing vehicles create waves, no matter how deep the water is!"

To see a few more photos of the Alt and fields around it, please click on here now.  Also if you have any flood photos, please let us know, via emailing them to our newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Flood warning that are being or have been issued can be found using these websites:-

The UK's Flood Warning Service - Click on here.

The Met Office - Click on here.

You can also call the Flood line on:- 0345 988 1188. This is a 24 hour service for all mainland UK residents.

 
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--- MORE NEWS REPORTS BELOW ---

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Taking the icy plunge for charity in the Irish Sea on New Years Day!

ON Thursday, 17 December 2015, Liverpool's latest concept... Click on here to find out more.

Brake disappointed with government's Road Safety Statement as a missed opportunity to save lives
Survey reveals a quarter of Brits abandon flat pack furniture projects before completion
Call On Migration Advisory Committee And Home Office To Clampdown On Abuse Of Visas By BA And Tata Consultancy Service
Last chance to write a poem about Southport
Merseyside Police thank public for being on their best behaviour
National Police and Fire Services Tugby Union Teams to play in Charity Game
How many people does it take the National Grid keep us safe over Christmas?
Do want a job in the North West England seafood industry?
Give your local talking therapy service a call this winter and take a load off your mind
BHF shops urge people to donate their unwanted Christmas gifts
Life saving scheme wins award
Big leap in clean electricity generated by wind
High risk of flooding crippling value of many homes in North of England, HML finds
Merseyside Prison gets life saving defibrillators for staff and Visitors
Tranmere Rovers FC players score with Christmas visit to local children's charity
People with site loss within the Southport area are invited to free online skills session
Prostate cancer survivor takes matters into his own hands
A Very Charitable Christmas
Funding boost for heritage and health projects
Over 100,000 workers set to work on Christmas Day in the North West, TUC analysis reveals
RNLI Tools and others stolen from a van in Formby
A Norris Green man has arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous
Merseyside Police advice to New Years Eve Party Goers
Fatality at the Halewood, Jaguar Land Rover Site
St Luke's Church, Formby's Crib Service 2015
Statement following the sentencing of Edward Brooks
Warning about lost Prescription drugs in the Bootle area
10 top tips to help drive down vehicle fraud
Fantastic result from the 24 Hour Rowathon, in aid of PC Neil Doyle Memorial Fund
Brits to splash out £7.6 billion in the end of year Christmas sales
Get Fit and Save Lives!
Better journeys for rail customers as new Northern and TransPenine Express franchises confirmed
Festive Singers have raised thousands for New Royal Hospital
Stephen Hough to join L'Orchestra dell' Arte and Stephen Hough at Liverpool's iconic St George's Hall
Santa Cam 2015
Letters to the Editor:- "NHS in Liverpool poor cancer care cover"
UK Government failing on litter in our seas says UK's leading marine charity

Click on to find out more!

NHS Hospital Crutch Amnesty 2016

MERSEYSIDE and West Lancashire Patients who have been given NHS crutches..  Click on here to find out more...

Click on to find out what this photo is all about!
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Click on to read an exclusive interview with Liverpool based Scream Streets author...
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Click on to find out how you can order photographs from this issue.

YOU CAN ORDER PHOTOS CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW!

 

B.O.A. 70th Anniversary DVD

Click on to buy now...THE video footage we have taken at the 70th BOA events this year in Liverpool has now been fully edited is available to buy, on a DVD, from our Online Shop, on Mersey Reporter very soon.  For each DVD sold, £3.00 will go to the Liverpool's Lord Mayor's Charity Appeal. (Registered Charity No. 229539)  At this stage we can only do UK postage options, but if you are outside the UK, you can still order copies, but only via emailing our newsroom at:- news24@merseyreporter.com with your FULL address and we will get back to you with a postage cost and a payment link, should you wish to continue.

 
...HAPPY BIRTHDAY...


Abi Bridgeman, Happy Birthday and we wish you all the best in the music industry in 2016... Go Girl, go!

Andy Collins, have a fantastic birthday from all at Idem Living!

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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May Jackam

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:- 'T553015.'

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