Man stabbed in street attack - Champion Newspapers

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12 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com SF The Champion • Wednesday 18 December 2013Cars and lorriesallowed to speedwhile pupils aregoing to schoolI have complained to Merseyside Policethree times now regarding Stamford Road,Southport where lorries, vans and cars oftenwell over 30mph even when pupils are goingin and out of Christ the King High School.Also on Bedford Road, Kew Road,Lyndhurst Road and Clifford Road, evenresidents in those roads drive at 30mph andover!If the authorities are not going to ‘police’these newly implemented speed zones, thenthe money spent in erecting poles andplacing speed limit signs is totally wasted.The council are all too quick to fleece themotorist for parking minutes over theparking time – easy pickings.We may feel the new limits are needless,but they will reduce injury and extent ofdamage caused in a crash whether werecognise that fact or not.Name supplied,SouthportThank you forhelp, kind peopleI would just like to say thank you to the threepeople who came to my husband’s aid after hesuffered a diabetic attack.A taxi driver and two other people helped himand I want to recognise their kindness.Name supplied, Freshfields.Sefton Council should besplit up into three ‘minimetropolitan authorities’Doing nothing about the state of localgovernance in Sefton is not an option.Ever since it was created in 1974, Sefton hasnever been a happy council; party politics havecombined with the politics of geography tocreate a toxic cocktail, which has corrodedlocal government here.As far back as 1997, a Local GovernmentCommission report observed that “The level ofdiscontent does not suggest that Sefton is anauthority at one with itself.”Ideally local government should be run as alocal business.There would be a small board of electeddecision–makers with a detailed knowledge oftheir community and a head for business andmoney, buying in services from the privatesector as required.They would oversee a small but adaptableworkforce who have a commitment to the areaand to the residents, who in turn take an activeinterest in local politics.I am afraid what we have is exactly theopposite – a centralised artifice of impersonalregional public corporations run by remoteone–party cabinets, staffed by aunion–dominated workforce and run byoverpaid officers who run rings aroundmediocre career councillors, most of who bringlittle else to the table other than their partisanpolitics, which ill–equips them to run amulti–million pound business.Cheered by ‘new’ bus servicesFIRST of all I must thank all those kind peoplewho have given me their condolencesfollowing the death of my brother George.I never suspected that there was so muchgoodwill and even affection for either me orGeorge – the response both in cards and fromfolk simply stopping me on the street has beentruly heart–warming.But back to business...Although not feeling particularly festive at themoment, I was cheered by the announcementthat Merseytravel has at last been persuaded toprovide buses on Boxing Day and New Year’sDay to my neck of the woods (Maghull) for thefirst time in donkey’s years. At last I, and otherswithout access to a motor car, will be able toget out and about to some extent.Mind you, these services are being touted as‘new’. Well, new indeed for Merseytravel whoare providing them, but back in the days of mychildhood there were ‘normal’ bus services onboth these days and a skeleton service at leaston Christmas Day as well.Now I know what you will be thinking. Busdrivers too want to spend Christmas withfamily and friends. Of course they do. But then,we all expect the TV to function normally,many will be popping down to the pub forfestive drinks or indeed their Christmas dinner.And we would be a little put out if the lightsdidn’t work.For all these things men and women have toforego at least part of their own Christmascelebrations. But more to the point, I do notthink there would be any great difficulty infinding enough volunteers to drive a bus onChristmas Day. There must be several who, likeme this year, have precious little reason to bemerry. People who would probably quite liketo have something to fill their time and earn afew bob on the way.In fact, I reckon the real reason that so fewmake any fuss about the lack of any means ofgetting about, short of horrendously pricedtaxis, is that since the majority now have a car,or easy access to one, lone voices crying in thewilderness can safely be disregarded.Moreover, local government was once thecoalface of British democracy wheremembership of a political party was amainstream social activity in which peoplegave their time and expertise for the benefit oftheir community.I contend that, after the 1974 replacement oflocal councils with mega authorities, ordinarypeople lost interest in daytime meetings held indistant places and huge budgets which nopart–time elected representative could hope toadequately oversee.Once ‘local’ became ‘regional’, the wholeprocess of participation went off the boil, as didvoters’ appreciation of the relevance ofdemocracy to their everyday lives, witnessdeclining voter turnout at elections.I suggest that, as part of a pilot exercise indemocratic renewal, Sefton be split into three‘mini’ metropolitan boroughs of Bootle,Southport and South West Lancashire, inrecognition that each of these communities hasits own distinct priorities, identity and needs.Size isn’t important; if Rutland Council hassatisfactorily performed the role of a unitaryauthority since 1997 notwithstanding its tinypopulation of 37,369, there’s no reason whythree ‘mini–mets’ with an average populationof 90,000 a–piece could not work up here.David Green,SouthportTell us what you think!editor@champnews.comAnd, for once at least, I’m not thinking aboutmy own situation. The two dogs, Tina andCinders, will need good walks anyway, sothat’ll fill quite a bit of time.I have been very kindly invited round to oneperson’s home for my Christmas dinner – aninvite I feel I can’t really take up because itwould mean abandoning said dogs.Instead I have decided on starting a newtradition for the three of us, with Christmasdinner (including Christmas pud) and a goodsit–down to watch the repeats on telly. Andthere’s Dr Who to look forward too as well.Then, on Boxing Day, just to show willing Ican catch the ‘new’ 250 bus into town and dosomething or other quickly before catchinganother back to relax with the hounds.Now if only Merseyrail could be persuaded tobring back local Boxing Day trains my cupcould indeed run over and the dogs and I couldhave a good long ramble along the lanesbetween Ormskirk and Maghull.Sorry if all this seems a tad sorry for myself –as I said at the beginning of this column, I’mgenuinely chuffed at the number of folk who docare – and would no doubt do so no matterwhat the time of year.And so to all readers of this column, aheartfelt Happy Christmas. Make it a time ofgoodwill to everyone.AS the festive lights go up on the formerCarlton Hotel and the new bespoke EightyEight Bar and Brasserie opens I thought itwould be quite apt to focus this week’s StrangeBut True around number 88 Lord Street...When you open your Christmas crackerschances are you’ll find a joke about a horsewalking into a bar. You always get one.However, in the 1970s a horse walking into abar certainlywasn’t a joke in Southport!Among the thirsty clientele of what was onceone of Lord Street’s iconic hostelries were localshop–owners, businessmen and a Birkdale cardealer/racehorse trainer by the name ofDonald ‘Ginger’ McCain.Even if you’re not au fait with steeplechases orfurlongs, chances are you’ll have heard ofGinger McCain – a legendary trainer who wonthe Grand National four times – three of themwith an Irish–bred gelding called Red Rumwhose name also probably rings a bell!On March 31 1973 Red Rum stormed home bya mere three–quarters of a length (innon–racing terms about 6ft) in what was thena record time of nine minutes and two seconds.Rummy became an instant hero across theUK, no more so than in Southport where theequine superstar returned with a beamingGinger McCain.Everyone in the town wanted to see Rummyafter that win and the place they’d most likelyspot him was the bar at the Carlton Hotel.It wasn’t uncommon for Ginger to takeRummy into the bar from time to time andshortly after his first win at Aintree, thechampion thoroughbred would be propping upthe bar, completely at ease with the admiringpunters and regulars around him.One shop manager who worked at Paige, nowthe Gift Company, on Lord Street was finishingfor the day on April 2 and joined her staff for adrink across the road at the Carlton.As they entered they were greeted by Rummy,by then well into his second pint of water.Shortsightedview on kerbsRe: article on raised kerbs.This motion put forward by councillorssupporting raised kerbs is veryshort–sighted to say the least.All kerbs should be lowered.As a mobility scooter user you cannot getup and down kerbs.I am sure I am speaking for all the othermobility scooter users, wheelchair users,rollator users, people who have difficulty inwalking, not forgetting mums with prams.The councils could use knobbly pavementflags just before a road. Then blind peoplecould feel them underfoot and know theyare at a road.They will know they are safely across whenthey feel the knobbly flags.So then all people with disabilities wouldnot have to negotiate high kerbs.Barbara Monaghan,By emailSmoke bombscould cause panicI must congratulate Merseyside Police foracquiring smoke grenades ‘designed todisorientate offenders’.How does this magic smoke know who todisorientate?Only last week, I took an escalator upstairs ina large and very noisy HMV store, and then hadtrouble finding my way downstairs.If smoke is released in a large store, I imaginethat panic would follow.David Garner, Southport.Heard the one about ahorse walking into a bar?The story recounted to me is as follows: “Wefinished for the day and locked up beforeheading over to the Carlton.“When we got there Ginger, who we all knew,called us over for a drink and was effusive in hispraise of Rummy, who had attracted quite a bitof attention.“It was just after he’d won his first National.To be honest I don’t think many people werefazed by a great big horse at the bar.“We all got a round of drinks and chattedabout how incredible the race had been.“Rummy was calm as anything – he wasn’tscared of the crowds or all that bothered butyou could tell how proud and elated Gingerwas and who could blame him?”The original building at 88 Lord Street waserected in 1901 and called The CarltonMansions. Local millionaire John Craig made amove for the building shortly after in 1924 andthe name was changed to the Carlton Hotel.In 1977, after Red Rum won his third GrandNational and took a well–earned rest, thehotel’s bar became known as The Red Rum barin honour of the horse’s magnificentachievements.Who knows, perhaps Rummy galloped to thefinishing post so quickly to make sure he madeit to the bar for last orders...
The Champion • Wednesday 18 December 2013Views wantedon council taxreduction changeSFGot an interesting story to tell?Champ Newsdesk 01704 392400Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 13Report by Ollie CowanSEFTON Council is running amonth long consultation to gaugeviews on a revised Council TaxReduction Scheme for 2014/15.Sefton’s Council Tax ReductionScheme is being reconsidered inthe light of the Government’sproposed changes to pensionsand welfare benefits.The consultation is seekingviews on whether the applicableamounts and personalallowances for non–pensionerhouseholds should be ‘uprated’using Department for Work andPensions rates.This should avoid working ageclaimants receiving less CouncilTax support.The proposed changes will notaffect customers who havereached their state pension agewho continue to have theirCouncil Tax Reduction calculatedon rules set by the Government.At the moment there are morethan 16,552 working ageresidents in the borough who areaffected by the scheme.The draft scheme is available toview on the Sefton CouncilPEOPLE in Sefton are urged tohave a safe Christmas byfollowing firefighters’ adviceto prevent fires in the home.Figures show that accidentalhouse fires increase inDecember, with traditions suchas cooking Christmas dinner,putting up decorations anddrinking alcohol posing agreater risk of fire.There were 21 accidental firesin the home in Sefton inDecember, 2012.Of those, 13 started in thekitchen, two involved candlesand three were caused bysmoking materials.As most fires start in thewebsite or at the two One StopShops and a consultation on theproposed new scheme is nowunderway which runs untilMonday, January 6.Cllr Paul Tweed, cabinetmember corporate services said:“Unfortunately, in real terms, ourfunding by Government has beenreduced by £114m since 2010.“We have also seen a cut in theamount of Council Tax supportgiven to us this year of about£3.7m. However, we will alwaysdo our best to help those on lowerincomes and want to ensure thatanyone who has an interest in thisproposed revision of the schemehas an opportunity to have theirsay.“Your views and theinformation provided will beanalysed and will then form partof a report when we have to makea decision for 2014/15.“This affects thousands ofpeople in the borough so pleasetake the time to have your say.”To review the proposed revision,and the draft scheme for2014/15, go to www.sefton.gov.uk/counciltax or call 0845 1400845 for further help.Festive fire warningkitchen, people are urged totake care when cooking and notto leave food cooking on thehob unattended.People are advised not cookwhile under the influence ofalcohol.Candles should be put outwhen leaving the room andkept out of reach of childrenand pets.Christmas decorations burneasily and should never beattached to lights or heatersand Christmas tree lightsshould always be switched offwhen going to bed.For free fire safety advice call0800 731 5958.EARLY BIRD WINTERSALE OFFERSNOW ONUP TO70 % **ASSORTED CHRISTMASDECORATIONS50 %OFFwas £11 NOW £5.5050 %OFFwas £10 NOW £5OVER65 %OFFwas £32 was £22.40 NOW £1030 %OFFwas £16 NOW £11.2060 %OFFRRP £34 Was £17 NOW £14web50 %OFFSAVE£1050 %OFFdesignwas £150 was £110 ONLY £75was £29.99 NOW £19.99was £45 was £30 NOW £22.50from only£199*42146SAVE£10SAVE£10SAVE£5was £49.99 NOW £39.99Morphy Richards Toasterwas £49.99 NOW £39.99was £24.99 NOW £19.99Competitive Hosting and Online Marketingcall us now on 01704 392 331www.championmediagroup.com/web*All prices subject to VATSOUTHPORT 01704 535177 |295-307 Lord Street, PR8 1NY@1123767
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