Businesses in Southport are being asked to “keep the lights on” while local people are being encouraged to keep supporting each other after the tragedy of this summer.
World leading disaster recovery expert Professor Lucy Easthope was among speakers at a special event for people involved in local businesses at The Bold on Lord Street.
The Southport Business Economy Forum was organised by Southport BID, Sefton Council, Invest Sefton and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as a way of supporting people involved in local businesses, while also recognising that significant emotional support will also be needed.
People across the local community showed remarkable kindness, love and resilience after the horrors of 29th July which saw three young girls killed and several girls and adults severely injured at The Hart Space.
The following evening, while thousands of local families supported each other at a moving vigil in the Town Hall Gardens, rioting took place just two miles away.
A crown court trial is due to take place in January and February after the tragedy which could last as long as six weeks.
Professor Lucy Easthope has provided guidance and support to towns and cities after disasters such as Grenfelll, Manchester Arena, the tsunami in Sri Lanka, the earthquake in Christ Church in New Zealand and elsewhere.
She told the audience that local businesses have a vital role to play in ‘keeping the lights on’ and welcoming people this winter so people can support each other, whether it be in cafes, libraries, pubs, shops or elsewhere.
Local people should also do all we can to support our local businesses in Southport; while visitors from our neighbouring towns and cities, such as Liverpool, Chester, Preston, Wirral and elsewhere would also be welcome.
“Recovering from a disaster is a deeply human event – it requires us to reach deep inside of ourselves and bring to others the best of who we can be” was among her advice.
It was a plea for local people to stick together, keep the levels of kindness we saw this summer, and help each other through these challenging times.
A number of local leaders were there to meet and chat with people and to show that they are there to offer as much support as they can.
They included Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald; Southport BID Operations Manager Luke Randles; Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson; Sefton Council CEO Phil Porter; Sefton Council Executive Director of Regeneration, Economy and Assets Stephen Watson; Sefton Council Assistant Director of Place (Economic Place and Housing) Stuart Barnes; and Sefton Council Tourism leader Mark Catherall.
Cllr Marion Atkinson opened the evening by paying tribute to those who were killed and injured in July before expressing her support for the community.
Leading UK economist and data scientist Christian Spence provided an economic outlook for local businesses, both nationally and locally, stressing the challenges and opportunities faced across a range of sectors.
He highlighted the changing nature of the economy, particularly since the Covid pandemic, and the rise in internet shopping, urging Southport to look forward and embrace change and not to try and look backwards.
Phil Porter, Stephen Watson and Stuart Barnes all spoke as they shared updates on current and forthcoming major investment projects happening in Southport, including the new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre; the Southport Enterprise Arcade; public realm work around Southport Market; and private sector led schemes such as Southport Cove and further ambitions at Southport Pleasureland and The Grand.
As Southport BID and Sefton Council continue to support the community in Southport, they hope that bringing these respected experts, Professor Lucy Easthope and Christian Spence, to town and engaging with local businesses will enable them to secure some of the advice and answers they need.
Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “I am pleased that we had the opportunity to hear from Lucy and Christian at this event in Southport, as we continue to explore ways to support Southport’s ongoing recovery.”
- For more information about support available to local businesses please visit: southportbid.com
- For details about help available after the tragedy in Southport on 29th July 2024 please visit: www.sefton.gov.uk/southport-together/
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