Norman's onto a winner at Aintree - Champion Newspapers

AINTREE & MAGHULL
11 April 2012 Vol 19 • Issue 15
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Inside · Letters 12 · Crossword 16
Dorothy gets her
war medals at last
1102185
PARKING FEES
‘FLY IN FACE OF
PORTAS ADVICE’
Susan Kershaw, Andrew Spence and
Yasmin Zaher of Maghull s Co–operative
Travel with some of the eggs. Code 1049805
Travel agents’
treat for Alder Hey
THERE was a little extra Easter happiness
for sick children at Alder Hey Hospital,
courtesy of staff at Co–Operative Travel in
Maghull’s Central Square – and the
generosity of their customers. Senior travel
agent Susan Kershaw said: “It has become
an annual custom at this shop.
”We just wanted to bring a little extra joy to
children who are ill in hospital over the
Easter weekend. I thank our customers who
kindly contributed Easter eggs to our
collection.“
Report by Jim Sharpe
PARKING charges set to be introduced to
Maghull’s Central Square “fly in the face” of
advice by shopping guru Mary Portas, a
councillor has claimed.
Maghull Group, owners of the shopping
centre, are to bring in the charges on May 1 –
just at the time when Maghull businesses are
presenting their bid for a slice of the Mary
Portas challenge money.
The shops guru says parking should be free at
local shopping centres if they want to attract
custom back from out of town supermarkets
and on–line shopping.
Under the proposals for the Square the first
half hour’s parking would be free, but
motorists will have to pay 50p for parking
between half an hour and an hour, £1 for
between one and two hours and £2 for longer
visits.
Lib Dem leader, Councillor Tony Robertson,
said Maghull town councillors were shocked by
the proposals.
He said: “I could not believe it when I read in
...but Central Square owners say
it will encourage more shoppers
the Champion that such high charges are going
to be levied. My clear understanding was that
charges would be imposed on vehicles only for
over two hours which is the long–standing
limit for this car park.”
The Maghull Group says the proposals should
encourage more shoppers to the Square by
making more parking spaces, currently used by
store workers and residents, available to them.
The proposals have met with mixed reactions
from shopkeepers themselves.
Caroline Burkett, manager of Thomas Cook
Travel on Westway and the instigator of the
‘Support Our Shops’ campaign, said: “If
you’re just popping out for a few simple things
then it could certainly be beneficial, but it
could just put people off coming to Central
Square in the first place.
“The problem for people like us is that folk
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coming in to book an expensive holiday
obviously need the time to sit down and discuss
details – and they’d resent having to pay
parking charges.”
Cllr Robertson added that he was concerned
about lack of consultation of the fees proposal
and also the transfer of the future management
of the car par to a private owner.
He said: “Labour led Sefton Council must tell
us the facts behind this ‘out of the blue’
announcement – it may mean shoppers being
stung for an additional local tax.”
•ResidentsoftheflatsaboveCentralSquare
and Westway be given permits to park free of
charge within the Square car parks during the
hours of 6pm to 9am, outside usual retailing
hours for the centre. Residents will also be
offered daytime permits for parking in the area
behind the former Red Lion Garage.
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