Sefton's Cabinet set to approve bold new plan to regenerate Bootle 22 December 2025

Sefton Council Cabinet members are being asked to approve the new Bootle Area Action Plan at their meeting on Thursday 8th January.

Shaped by input from the local community the proposed Plan is a blueprint for making Bootle a better place to live, work, and thrive. It will unlock exciting opportunities for local people and businesses.

The Bootle Area Action Plan sets the ambition and the planning framework through which we will deliver a revitalised town centre with the regeneration of Bootle Strand and the creation of vibrant spaces like Salt & Tar at its heart. It will facilitate new shops, leisure facilities, services and cultural events.

It will also enable a delivery programme of new modern, affordable homes for families and individuals and by attracting businesses and funding, the plan will create employment opportunities and boost the local economy.

A commitment to greener and safer streets sees walking, cycling, and public transport prioritised making it easier to get around, with reduced traffic and pollution. And measures ranging from energy-efficient buildings to water-saving systems will result in a cleaner, greener Bootle for future generations.

Cllr Paulette Lappin Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said:

“Adopting the Bootle Area Action Plan will help give developers and investors the certainty and confidence to bring projects to the town which will, in turn, mean growth and benefits such as new jobs, shops and services for local people.

“Jointly funded by Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, this Plan has been shaped through community consultation and feedback, and it has undergone rigorous examination by an independent Planning Inspector.”

“This is the first time Sefton Council has introduced an Area Action Plan, and it shows the commitment we have to Bootle’s regeneration and the ambition we have for the future of the town, its residents, businesses and communities.”

People can find out more and read the plan at www.sefton.gov.uk/BootleAAP.

Details of the next Sefton Council Cabinet meeting on Thursday 8th January can be found at https://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=139&MId=11860

Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me

A little bit of Christmas for you.

Tubi launches on Virgin Media TV, bringing its massive streaming catalogue to millions of UK households at no extra cost

Tubi is now available for Virgin Media TV customers to enjoy at no extra cost, as it further expands its reach in one of the world’s most dynamic streaming markets. 

LONDON, December 3, 2025 – Tubi (www.tubi.tv), Fox Corporation’s (NASDAQ: FOXA, FOX) ad-supported streaming service, today announced it is now available on Virgin Media TV in the UK, making its vast catalogue of over 60,000 movies and TV episodes accessible to millions more households, at no extra cost.

With the addition of Tubi, Virgin Media customers can now explore a wide range of content that includes everything from fan-favourites and deep-cut cult classics to major blockbusters – across all genres including action, thriller, comedy, and horror. A sample of titles available for viewers in December include Zombieland, Baby Driver, Bend it Like Beckham, Jack and Jill, Robin Hood (2018) and La La Land.

Additionally, audiences will be able to enjoy Tubi Originals such as the documentary NAOMI OSAKA: THE SECOND SET, Destry Allyn Spielberg’s directorial debut PLEASE DON’T FEED THE CHILDREN, starring Michelle Dockery and the hit sensations SIDELINED: THE QB AND ME, as well as its sequel SIDELINED 2: INTERCEPTED reuniting its stars Noah Beck, Siena Agudong, with Charlie Gillespie (Julie and the Phantoms), Sage Linder (Descendants 3) and Roan Curtis (Firefly Lane) joining the cast, as well as James Van Der Beek (Pose) and Drew Ray Tanner (Riverdale) reprising their roles from the original film.

“Our partnership with Virgin Media enables us to connect more UK viewers with free movies and TV series they’re passionate about,” said Ross Appleton, General Manager, UK, at Tubi. “As a platform known for curating top-tier entertainment, Virgin Media is an ideal home for Tubi’s expansive catalogue. Together, we’re offering audiences greater choice through a seamless and easily accessible TV experience.”

David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “Our goal at Virgin TV is to curate high quality entertainment and world-leading programming for our customers. We do this so they can enjoy the best viewing experience with the best possible value. We are delighted therefore to add Tubi to our offering, giving Virgin TV customers access to one of the world’s biggest offerings of world-famous movies, TV shows and documentaries at absolutely no extra cost. With Tubi, we know families can immerse themselves in even more must-see on demand entertainment on the Virgin TV platform.”

Since launching in July of 2024 in the UK, Tubi has doubled its library size, securing its position offering the biggest collection of free movies and TV series in the market. Tubi’s global footprint continues to expand, with over 100 million monthly active users worldwide and its growing share of fully addressable audience skewing younger with more than half made up of Gen Z and Millennials. While more than 95% of viewing on Tubi is on–demand movies and TV shows, it most recently launched over 30 FAST Channels with key partners such as Lionsgate, A&E, Banijay, and Filmrise, to offer viewers a complementary lean-back experience.

About Tubi

Boldly built for fandom, Tubi is a free streaming service that entertains over 100 million monthly active users. Tubi offers the world’s largest collection of Hollywood movies and TV shows, thousands of creator-led stories and hundreds of Tubi Originals made for the most passionate fans. Headquartered in San Francisco and founded in 2014, Tubi is part of Tubi Media Group, a division of Fox Corporation.

About Virgin Media O2

Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021, combining the UK’s largest and most reliable mobile network with a broadband network offering the fastest widely available broadband speeds. It is a customer-first organisation that brings a range of connectivity services together in one place with a clear mission: to upgrade the nation. Virgin Media O2 is the corporate brand of the 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and one of the UK’s largest businesses.

The company has 47 million UK connections across broadband, mobile, TV and home phone. Its own fixed network currently passes 15.5 million premises alongside a mobile network that covers 99% of the nation’s population with 4G, and almost 200 towns and cities with 5G services. Virgin Media O2 is committed to delivering gigabit broadband speeds across its entire network footprint by the end of 2021 and plans to upgrade its fixed network to full fibre to the premises with completion in 2028.

Virgin Media O2 is a major investor in the UK. It employs around 18,000 people, has more than 430 retail stores and has committed to invest at least £10 billion over the next five years. As integration work progresses at pace, both Virgin Media and O2 continue to offer their respective products to customers, with new, joint services launching soon. Today, the business delivers award-winning broadband and WiFi connectivity to homes as well as providing a connected entertainment service. This brings together live TV, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and a wide-selection of apps to customers through a set-top box and on-the-go through tablets and smartphones.