4 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com CMBA The <strong>Champion</strong> • Wednesday 16 October 2013From£59£189From£299Biggest Brands In StoreMetal FramesMontrealMidi Sleeperin pink or blueSilent Night BedsGUESTBEDSSOFABEDSMATTRESSESBUNKBEDSKIDSBEDSMEMORYFOAMTVBEDSFrom£79OnlyFrom£299Leather Frames£289Bolero OttomanSealy Bedswith FREE DrawersSHOP ONLINE 24 HOURS A DAYwww.bedfactorydirect.co.ukLong Lane, Aintree L9 9AG (OPEN 7 DAYS) Tel 0151 521 2223129 London Road, L3 8JA Telephone 0151 207 7002 (CLOSED ON SUNDAY)79-81Rimrose Road, Bootle L20 4HN (Opposite Johnson’s Toyota)Telephone 0151 922 3900 (CLOSED SUNDAY)Open 9.30-5.30pm Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday (Long Lane only)1123193Tributes paidto man killed inbypass crashby Holly RummensTHE WIFE of a devoted fatherof two who was killed in acrash on the Formby bypasslast week has paid tribute tohim.Southport resident, JefferyArgent, 49 was fatally injuredon Monday, October 7 afterhis Renault Clio steered intoa lamp–post after analtercation with anotherdriver.Mr Argent was a caretaker<strong>for</strong> Ursuline Catholic Primaryschool in Crosby.Debbie Argent, 45, who wasmarried to Jeff <strong>for</strong> 19 years,said: “Jeff was devoted to meand our children, Ryan andJess . He would go out of hisway to do anything <strong>for</strong> us, wewere his life and he is ours, hewas truly my soul mate andwe did everything together.We would love escaping toour caravan where we wouldgo on bike rides as Jeff was akeen cyclist and long walkswith our two dogs whichwould usually start as anhour but often turn into fourhour hikes.Jeff with wife Debbie“He loved helpingneighbours and friendsrepairing and updating theirhomes – there was nothinghe couldn’t do. Now andagain I would step in andjokingly say our house needssome TLC too.“He comes from a large,loving family and one of myfondest memories is of his40th birthday. I hired fourstatic caravans in Fleetwoodnear Blackpool <strong>for</strong> theweekend and pretended itwas just me and the kidsgoing with him to celebrate. Igot one of his brothers toinvite him along to the puband whilst he was there I gotall the family in place in thecaravans and surprised himwhen they came back. He justopened the door and when hesaw us his face was a picture!“Jeff was the life and soul ofany party.“We have been sincerelytouched by the number ofcards and messages ofsupport from our neighbours,workmates and friends andhe will be truly missed.”Mark McQueen, head atUrsuline Catholic Primaryschool, said: “Everyone herethought the world of Jeff. Hewas an outstanding caretakerwho took immense pride inhis work. We now have agaping hole to fill and we aregoing to miss him terribly.• Colin Scarisbrick, aged39, of no fixed abode, hasbeen remanded in custodyon a charge of causingdeath by dangerousdriving. He is due to appearat Liverpool Crown Courton October 23, 2013GRANITE & QUARTZ WORKTOPS ATUNBEATABLE PRICESWE WON’T BE BEATEN ON PRICEPRECISION. PERFECTION. PRESTIGEWWW.PRESTIGEGRANITE.CO.UK£ SAVINGSBIGView ourshowroomvirtualtourM58Call in storetoday or call0151 5481144MellingM57AintreeKirbyFazakerleyA5207KnowsleyA580M57E lancashire RdA580GUARANTEED3 DAYTURNAROUND15YEARWARRANTYwww.prestigegranite.co.ukWest DerbyA57PrescotHuytonM62A581116777Prestige Granite & Marble Ltd. Dixon Road, Knowsley Industrial Park, Liverpool L33 7XF
The <strong>Champion</strong> • Wednesday 16 October 2013CVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 5Council make plans to tacklenumber of empty homesA REPORT has revealed that the number of empty homes inCrosby and Hightown is close to a thousand – but the councilplan to build more.A new five–year strategy was approved last week by SeftonCouncil in a bid to try and reduce the amount of vacantproperties as it emerged that there are 933 across the twotowns.But the much–debated Local Plan, which is set to come intoeffect in 2015, means there must be at least 510 new homesbuilt every year.As recently reported in the <strong>Champion</strong>, Sefton Council gave thegreen light <strong>for</strong> work to begin on 13 new houses in Hightowndespite hundreds of people signing a petition against thescheme.And the number of empty homes has led to concerns that it willlead to a loss of council tax, it may create places <strong>for</strong> anti socialbehaviour and they will become an eye–sore <strong>for</strong> neighbours.But the council have vowed to reduce the amount of emptyproperties, which stands at 5,356 across the entire of Sefton, ina plan that will last until 2018.Report by Tom MartinThe previous plan to tackle the issue was approved in 2009 butthis has now expired and it must be updated.Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson claims that the council shouldbe allowed to deduct the number of empty homes from theoverall target of new properties needed as a result of the LocalPlan.He said: “I have argued all along that the borough’s existingempty properties should be deducted from the overall target.It’s the logical thing to do.“If there’s a market <strong>for</strong> new homes, there must be a market <strong>for</strong>existing empty properties.“What we are seeing now, is developers rubbing their handswith glee at the prospect of making much more money.“Sefton Council has devised an effective strategy to deal withthe problem, but despite the council’s best ef<strong>for</strong>ts, it will not berecognised by the government who will still insist on a LocalPlan which allows developers to build thousands of houses, ineffect, exactly where they like. So in Hightown, we have seenthe green light being given to new homes, despite local people’slegitimate fears about the impact of the houses on the existingcommunity.”The council want to <strong>for</strong>ce through the redevelopment of poorlymaintained homes as it was confirmed that over 90% of emptyhomes in Sefton are privately owned.Some of the reasons given <strong>for</strong> the amount included owners notbeing able to sell due to a stagnant market, legal requirementssuch as divorce or no funds being available to improveproperties.A report by Sefton Council, said: “In Sefton, there has been adecrease in the proportion of vacant dwellings from a peak of6.2% in 2008, to the current figure of 4.3%.“This decrease in the number and proportion of vacantproperties, in part, follows a <strong>success</strong>ful approach by SeftonCouncil and its partners to pro–actively target and reduce thenumber of empty homes within the Borough.”The plan is expected to come into <strong>for</strong>ce on October, 17.tom.martin@champnews.comCrosby falcon finallyreunited with ownerKITCHENSReport by Tom MartinTHE Crosby falcon has finally beenreunited with its owner after it wasrescued by the RSPCA from atelevision aerial.As reported in the <strong>Champion</strong> twoweeks ago, a saker falcon was trappedon the roof of a home in WindmillAvenue and taken into care.The bird had become trappedagainst the aerial and in a vulnerableposition as it was being attacked bymagpies.A spokesperson <strong>for</strong> the RSPCA, said:“We were called out at around3.45pm to the house and we placedthe bird into a special bag so not toalarm it further.“Initially there were concerns that ithad broken its leg so we gave it painrelief pills.“There was only soft tissue damageso that was a relief.“A private enthusiast has since come<strong>for</strong>ward as the bird’s owner.The incident sparked widespreadinterest and residents are torn in theirA saker falcon Code NAbelief that Crosby has become a home<strong>for</strong> falcons after it emerged that therehas been more sightings.In another twist, Debbie Hegarty, ofRimrose Valley Road, claimed thatthere have always been two falcons.She said: ”I walk my dog two orthree times a day and I always see twolarge falcons.“I have no idea where they camefrom but they seem to live in the areabecause this has been happening <strong>for</strong> awhile now. Ever since the first birdwas taken in by the RSPCA, the otherone has been circling Rimrose Valleyin the hope of finding his/her partner.“It’s sad really and I hope they can bereunited.”Another resident, Elizabeth Newton,photographed a large a bird after itlanded in her garden and she believedit was the same falcon that wasrescued by the RSPCA.She said: “I was in my bedroom and Isuddenly heard a loud bang on theconservatory roof.“A neighbour came around to helpme and after about 20 minutes oftrying to help it the bird just flewaway!”But the idea that it was the same birdin both cases has been dismissed bybird enthusiast Mick O’Donovan.He said: “I have been mad aboutbirds ever since I was a child and thebird that was pictured in the garden isnot a falcon.“I don’t know about the rescued birdbut the one found in the garden is afemale sparrow hawk”.TheDesignStudioSHOWROOM QUALITY KITCHENS AT FACTORY PRICES✓ All units 18mm rigid built made to measure✓ Anti-slam doors & self-close drawers✓ Computerised 3D design service ✓ Full fi tting service available✓ Granite specialists at trade prices ✓ Colour Co-ordinated CabinetsOPEN Monday- Friday 9.00 - 5.30. Saturday 11.00 - 3.00Tel: 0151 523 3334 Mobile: 07790 834488www.designstudiokitchens.co.ukNext to Time Out Children’s Play Centre on Heysham Road, Aintree1115844New bathroom or tiles...We will beat anylike <strong>for</strong> like quoteNew Kitchen?We can evenquote <strong>for</strong>that too!Service by our ownexperienced teamSUPPLIERS OFIdeal StandardBurlingtonClearwater BathsAqualisa, Vitra,Pegler IndaAccessoriesWIDESELECTIONOF TILESfrom £8/m 2SUPPLIERS OFOriginal Style Tiles,Villeroy & BochComplete in-house bathroom planning & fitting serviceNot just miles of tiles … we go that extra mile!Ormskirk Tile & Bathroom Centre54 Ormskirk Business Park, New Court Way,Railway Court, Ormskirk, L39 2YTwww.tileandbathroomcentre.com • 01695 5702741121228277,000people readthe <strong>Champion</strong>every weekThat’s more thanany other localnewspaperSource: Interviewing Services, August 2013. 670 face-to-face interviews.11228861123215
Change language