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12 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com WK The Champion • Wednesday 2 October 2013
Firefighters need to
live in the real world
I have read with some concern
articles concerning firefighters
taking strike action due to
pension reforms.
While we all can understand
that any changes in the status quo
will not be welcomed I feel the
firefighters should understand
that in the real world things are
very different.
Under the proposed new scheme
firefighters will retire at age 60
and will receive a pension of
£26,000 including the state
pension element.
In the real world final salary
pensions have all but disappeared
and retirement age is 65 or even
higher.
Currently a private sector
First
play
A piano pupil was
one of the first to get
the chance to try the
Steinway & Sons
Concert D Grand
which is being
bought by Douglas
Music Society. The
instrument,
considered the
world’s finest, will
feature in
forthcoming
concerts at Parbold
Village Hall
including an appeal
evening this
Saturday (October
5).
Picture by Martyn
Snape.
Code: 1062552.
In favour of
solar power
As an Aughton resident I am actually in favour
of the solar power initiative.
Farmers of today need to diversify and what
better way than to turn green fields into green
energy?
Unlike other sources of green energy there is
no noise, and providing that wildlife habitats
are taken into
consideration, I don’t foresee any problems.
Sue Francies, Aughton
LETTERS to the Editor
employee lucky enough to retire
with £100,000 in their pension
pot will struggle to buy an
annuity that pays more than
£5,700 per annum and this will
not be indexed linked.
In the real world pension funds
are invested by employers to
create a fund with which to pay
retired employees, with public
sector pensions a large element is
paid by tax the payer, that is you
and I, we would all welcome a
‘Rolls Royce’ public sector
pension (even at 65) but we all
know that under the current
economic climate that is not
going to happen.
A fair minded resident
PICTURE of the week
Cycling schemes
worthy of praise
Let’s give credit where it’s due.
Lancashire County Council is
taking action to improve cycling
facilities in West Lancs after years
of inactivity.
The list of schemes promised in
the next year include: a new cycle
path in Skelmersdale linking the
new college, the town centre and
the high schools; an improved
cycle route between Ormskirk
town centre and the university;
towpath upgrades between
Burscough and New Lane; and a
Pier to Pier cycle route from
Southport to Wigan along the
canal towpath.
There are also draft proposals
At this time of year, many young people will
be learning to cope with living away from
home for the first time.
This exciting, yet challenging time is made
all the more difficult for those new students
who are among the estimated 250,000
people in the UK who have the debilitating
and often devastating neurological illness
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
Action for ME is the leading UK charity for
people affected by ME and our online
student hub offers support, advice and
useful information for both new and
for off–road routes from
Ormskirk to Burscough and
Skelmersdale.
We in the Green Party have been
campaigning for years to get
cycling recognised as a valuable,
safe and healthy alternative to the
harassing and expensive
experience of car–driving.
So we welcome these
encouraging signs and hope that
there will be more to come in the
future.
Maurice George, Mike Cooney,
Julie Hotchkiss
www.champnews.com/pixonline
Action for ME can give valuable
support and advice to students
returning students and young people
hoping to start courses next year.
Topics include symptoms and study, living
away from home, possible additional
financial support, avoiding isolation and
networking with other people with ME
Check it out at
www.actionforme.org.uk/student–hub.
Ps: It is also essential reading for anxious
parents.
Sonya Chowdhury,
Action for ME
We need our
own council
to get things
moving in
Skelmersdale
Re: Skelmersdale and the railway, perhaps
we could go a little further on this.
There is space in Skem for a station at
Westhead.
The track can be slewed around the homes,
the train will be stopping at a halt there,
rebuilding of bridges need to be
done.
The real problem is the commercial
building in Ormskirk, but as the authorities
are working on our behalf, with our money,
it could be resolved, as their power comes
from parliament, our voice.
There is no problem re–instating the
Burscough curves, the problem is
government does not want a good public
transport service.
They need car drivers as a cash cow, hence
the highest public service fares in Europe.
It’s all about control of the coffers.
It’s as plain as a pike staff why
Skelmersdale is not being developed – we
have a Labour–voting town with a
Conservative council.
The Conservatives use Skelmersdale as a
cash cow for their own benefit, treating us
with contempt.
What is needed is our own council to
address the running of our town!
Stephen Bennett, Ashurst, Skelmersdale
Why should
we fund
bikers’ fun?
Re: The letter headed ‘Seizing bikes isn’t the
answer’ (Champion, September 18)
In respect to Andrew Giles’ remarks, which he
is entitled to, why is it always the police or local
government’s responsibility to find places for
mindless people to ride illegal bikes on
footpaths or grassed areas?
These bikes rip up the grass spraying mud all
over footpaths and generally making the area
look worse than it already does.
Also, this mud blocks the drainage system
causing flooding.
If the parents of these riders want their
children to learn speed or how to control a
fast–moving, illegal death machine, causing
injury to themselves or an innocent pedestrian
injury, why don’t they go and find an area and
sort it for them instead of asking for taxpayers’
money to let their child have fun?
We know crushing bikes doesn’t stop it as they
simply get another one – either bought or, sad
to say, stolen – for them to continue their
destruction.
Catherine Fletcher, by email
Write to the Editor at
Clare House, 166 Lord Street, Southport PR9 0QA
Email
editorial@champnews.com
Newsdesk
01704 392 400
Website
www.champnews.com
Group Editor
Malcolm Hindle
Lyndale Nursing and Care Home
9 Rawlinson Road, Hesketh Park,Southport, PR9 9LU
Tel 01704 543 304
Celebrating 30 years
of quality care
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