Latest news with #MatthewPatrick
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Thriving' high street in Merseyside town facing 'inevitable decline' MP says
People feel a Merseyside town's high street is going downhill because too many shops have closed, according to a local MP. Heswall, a town in west Wirral, currently has a population of around 29,000 and is one of the more affluent areas in Merseyside. Average house prices in the area are around £430,000 and in March, it had the highest prices for a terraced house in the whole of Wirral. However Matthew Patrick, the MP for Wirral West, recently raised concerns about the town's high street following a number of businesses closing and the loss of Halifax, NatWest, Skipton, Barclays, and HSBC. This was after the issue was brought up by a number of people living in the area and Heswall councillor Kathy Hodson. In the House of Commons on June 9, Mr Patrick said Heswall was 'a brilliant place to live,' but added: 'They deserve a thriving high street but unfortunately for too many years, beloved shops have closed and decline has felt inevitable.' READ MORE: 'I've got 400 animals in here and I'm scared they'll all die' READ MORE: Doggy daycare cancels all bookings as owner says 'we simply can't justify it' He told the ECHO the decline of high streets across the country was previously treated as inevitable, adding: 'That attitude is clear to see in Heswall, a great area which deserves a thriving high street, but instead has seen some beloved shops and bank branches closed.' The Labour MP said the government was now taking action, adding: 'I will do all I can to support the revival of Heswall high street, and continue to work with local councillors to ensure the community can be put in control of its future.' On June 9, Mr Patrick asked what the government was doing to take back control of the high street 'so it can thrive once again". Parliamentary Under-Secretary Alex Norris MP said the government understood challenges faced by communities like Heswall, in particular those on the coast. He said 'We are driving power and funding out of Westminster to ensure no community is left behind.' Mr Norris also pointed to a recent announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves of £1.6bn in transport funding for the Liverpool City Region as well as £100m for the local bus network. He added: 'I would encourage Wirral Council as with all local authorities to take advantage of the new powers the government has introduced to reoccupy empty shops which is such a blight on the high street.' For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Stay out, stay alive: At least 4 rescued from Kern River east of Lake Ming Saturday
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — At least four people were saved after tubing in the Kern River Saturday night near Lake Ming. The Bakersfield Fire Department deployed the swift water rescue team in an hours long operation that ended successfully, this time. On Friday, Matthew Patrick with the Bakersfield Fire Department warned to stay out of the killer Kern when you try to escape the heat. He mentioned the death toll sign at the mouth of the Kern River Canyon. 'That sign's been out there since 1968,' said Patrick. 'So, we've had 335 deaths since 1968 in the river. So, the Bakersfield Fire Department, the best advice we can give you is, stay out, and stay alive.' Patrick says crews were conducting swift water rescue training in Kernville Friday to prepare for the worst. 2 dead, at least 2 hurt in Arvin shooting Saturday morning Then during Saturday's weather forecast at 5, 17's Rob Hagan gave the same warning, 'Please, I know the river looks tempting, but stay out, stay alive.' It came true Saturday night. River rescue crews sprang into action Saturday evening after receiving multiple reports people were trapped on an island in the Kern River, East of Lake Ming. There were two reports of river rescues, including one at 6:06 p.m. and another at 8:52 p.m. It's unclear if they're related. Crews deployed multiple rafts in an operation lasting hours, and successfully rescued at least four stranded people with two appearing to be children. There are no reports of injuries or deaths. There were 335 people who have drowned in the Kern River since the last update to the death toll sign in 2024. That was before the weekend of July 4th — also known as the weekend of death — when at least three people drowned, including a man who jumped in the river to save a woman who was swept away. 'The Kern River is known for very fast currents,' said Patrick. 'You might not be able to see those currents from the surface, but when you get in underneath, the water is moving very rapidly. So, it could sweep you away at any moment.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
