Latest news with #KnowsleyCouncil
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Knowsley: Council warning over scam parking fine messages
Drivers in Merseyside have been targeted by scam text messages requesting online payments for parking fines, a council has said. Knowsley Council issued a warning to motorists across the borough after being made aware of the fraudulent messages, saying the authority would never contact people by text message in relation to a parking fine. The council warned anyone who received the messages not to respond or click on any of the links within them. It said: "Contact the organisation directly – go online and use the details on their official website and report the suspicious email to Action Fraud." The DVLA in April revealed almost 20,000 customers had called their contact centre in 2024 to report fraudulent activity, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The driving agency said it had "never been more important for motorists to be vigilant and aware" of how to recognise fraudulent emails, texts, websites and calls. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Kirkby residents at unsafe flats 'set to lose everything'
A woman who has been told she must leave her flat after the building was ruled unsafe said she is "set to lose everything".Arunee Leerasiri bought her flat in a Willow Rise in Kirkby, Merseyside in 2023 and works from this year the flats, along with another block Beech Rise, were declared unsafe after failures by the building's management companies and agents to carry out required works led to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service issuing an enforcement notice against the buildings' Responsible as the prospect of eviction hangs over her, Ms Leerasiri said she is "broken" and overwhelmed by the crisis. Residents at the flats, which are comprised of both rental tenants and homeowners, were told they must leave in a private development, Knowsley Council had stepped in to fund a "waking watch" service, where the flats were patrolled 24 hours a day to keep residents safe - at a cost of £3,000 a leader Graham Morgan said the council had little control over the building and the cost to the council was has now asked the government for financial help for flat owners who were at risk of losing half of the 160 households had already left, 80 flats were still occupied, mostly by people who owned them or had mortgages on them. "I am losing both my home and my work place" Ms Leerasiri said."I feel unsafe being here, but I don't know what to do and I don't know what the future holds."It's hard not knowing when I will have to move out and who is going to cover my costs."I have home insurance but they say because the problem is not with my flat but with the communal areas, I am not covered." 'Traumatic' Ms Leerasiri said she invested her life savings into the property."The stress has been overwhelming. I am not classed as homeless yet so it's hard to find help. How are we expected to live like this?" she said."Everything is being taken away from me. Being told to leave so suddenly without any guarantees is traumatic."Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside Mr Morgan said it was an "absolutely horrendous situation" and said the council had met with the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government Alex Norris who was "very sympathetic" and was assessing the said a multi-agency meeting was set to take place this week after which residents would be updated. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'I am losing both my home and my workplace'
A woman who has been told she must leave her flat after the building was ruled unsafe said she is "set to lose everything". Arunee Leerasiri bought her flat in a Willow Rise in Kirkby, Merseyside in 2023 and works from home. Earlier this year the flats, along with another block Beech Rise, were declared unsafe after failures by the building's management companies and agents to carry out required works led to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service issuing an enforcement notice against the buildings' Responsible Persons. Now as the prospect of eviction hangs over her, Ms Leerasiri said she is "broken" and overwhelmed by the crisis. Residents at the flats, which are comprised of both rental tenants and homeowners, were told they must leave in June. Although a private development, Knowsley Council had stepped in to fund a "waking watch" service, where the flats were patrolled 24 hours a day to keep residents safe - at a cost of £3,000 a day. Council leader Graham Morgan said the council had little control over the building and the cost to the council was unsustainable. He has now asked the government for financial help for flat owners who were at risk of losing everything. While half of the 160 households had already left, 80 flats were still occupied, mostly by people who owned them or had mortgages on them. "I am losing both my home and my work place" Ms Leerasiri said. "I feel unsafe being here, but I don't know what to do and I don't know what the future holds. "It's hard not knowing when I will have to move out and who is going to cover my costs. "I have home insurance but they say because the problem is not with my flat but with the communal areas, I am not covered." Ms Leerasiri said she invested her life savings into the property. "The stress has been overwhelming. I am not classed as homeless yet so it's hard to find help. How are we expected to live like this?" she said. "Everything is being taken away from me. Being told to leave so suddenly without any guarantees is traumatic." Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside Mr Morgan said it was an "absolutely horrendous situation" and said the council had met with the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government Alex Norris who was "very sympathetic" and was assessing the situation. He said a multi-agency meeting was set to take place this week after which residents would be updated. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. 'Becoming homeless from unsafe flats catastrophic' Tower block flats costing £3k a day to keep safe Flats evacuated after firework sparks blaze Knowsley Council
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Cheshire and Merseyside pregnant smokers at record low
In Cheshire and Merseyside, the percentage of expectant mothers smoking has dropped from 10 per cent to 6.5 per cent. This marks a significant improvement in maternal health and brings the region closer to the national average. The latest figures were released on Thursday, June 19 by NHS Digital and reflect the impact of dedicated support programmes. Catherine McClennan, programme director for the women's health and maternity programme at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: "Every baby deserves a smokefree future, and it is fantastic to see this reduction in the number of pregnant people smoking both nationally and in our subregion. "In Cheshire and Merseyside, 6.5 per cent of women now smoke during pregnancy, down from 10 per cent just two years ago. "Ideally we would like this number to be zero, so there is still more work to be done, but we are quickly closing the gap between our sub-region and the rest of the country." The success is attributed to the All Together Smoke Free Programme, which includes the Smoking in Pregnancy (SiP) project. This initiative offers personalised support to help pregnant women quit smoking. Cheryl Rogers, a mum-of-two from Runcorn, quit smoking during her second pregnancy with help from the Smokefree programme. She said: "I started smoking when I was in my teens and, although I cut down when I was pregnant the first time, I didn't manage to give up. "This time, when I was expecting Thomas, I knew I was already higher risk due to being slightly older so I didn't want to increase this any further by smoking." Smoking during pregnancy is the most preventable risk factor and is linked to around 5,300 fetal and perinatal deaths each year in the UK. Dr Sarah McNulty, director of public health at Knowsley Council and lead director for Smoke Free Cheshire and Merseyside, said: "Our vision is for every baby to be born smokefree, and to support families smokefree to stay smokefree into the first 12 months of babies' lives and beyond."
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Kirkby tower block flats costing council £3k a day to keep safe
Two tower blocks on Merseyside are costing a council £3,000 per day to keep them safe, a senior local authority official has Rise and Willow Rise in Kirkby, which have hundreds of residents both rental tenants and leaseholders, have been using a "waking watch" service after being found to be in breach of fire safety personnel patrol the tower blocks after it was recommended by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) as essential works failed to be the flat's management company terminated its contract Knowsley Council stepped in to pay for the scheme until the flats are vacated. The LDRS previously reported on a letter sent by Knowsley Council to 160 households at Willow Rise and Beech Rise confirming they would have to permanently vacate their homes in a matter of local authority explained MFRS had been forced to serve a prohibition notice due to the management company's failure to complete essential MFRS representative said when the "waking watch" ended the buildings "will no longer be safe for residents to live in". Knowsley councillor Tony Brennan said: "Residents in these two blocks, which are privately owned, have suffered from years of mismanagement and a lack of maintenance."This has now culminated in such serious health and safety issues that the Fire Service feel the building is unsafe to occupy without a 24/7 waking watch – which we are currently providing at a cost of almost £3,000 per day."With the management company confirming that they have no funds to carry out the works which would be needed to bring the buildings up to a safe standard – which would run into millions of pounds – we have had no choice but to advise residents that they should now seek alternative accommodation as soon as possible."Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley said: "This is a deeply distressing situation that has left 160 households in my constituency at risk of homelessness through no fault of their own."The immediate priority must be to ensure everyone is safely rehoused." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
