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12 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com SF The Champion • Wednesday 4 September 2013LETTERS to the Editor20mph zones are not needed anda waste of money in a time of cutsRe: Proposed 20mph speed limit in the would appear to be the sign manufacturersDunkirk Road area of Birkdale.and the contractors paid to install the vastI am not opposed in principle to 20mph number of new road signs proliferatingspeed limits where necessary andacross the borough.appropriate.At a period of severe austerity this seems aRoads adjacent to schools are a clear gratuitous and unnecessary expenditure ofexample but in those cases the reduced taxpayers money for no quantifiable gain.speed applies only for a limited period of I suggest this initiative is no more thantime.political correctness to satisfy the populistThe proposed 24 hour, 20mph limit in the policies of a UK government remote fromDunkirk Road area seems arbitrary and the live of most people.unjustified.Sefton Council has more pressing issues toWhere is the hard comparative evidence of deal with and should reject this proposal.accidents involving vehicles causing deathor injury within this specific area over anysubstantial period of time?Bob Hamilton,The only beneficiaries of this proposal SouthportPICTURE of the weekAlready paying forwaste collectionsRe: green waste bin charge.Are we not already paying for the green bincollection?We used to have household waste removalevery week until the introduction of the greenbin.When it was changed to fortnightly removalour council taxes did not go down.We were not told that the green bin collectionwas a free service, so we are already paying.Aggrieved, By emailTell us what you think!editor@champnews.comThank you very much for the two tickets to theSouthport Flower Show.We had a really enjoyable time and weredelighted to see the various gardens and visitthe stalls which had something for everyone.We bought some herbs, springtime bulbs andthen there were delicious treats in the FoodHall to try and buy.The show was well organised with plenty tosee and there was adequate seating once westopped for a break.Lunch was sandwiches and wine in a coveredmarquee and then we sat in the sunshine at thebandstand listening to a brass band – lovely!We are so pleased and as Mae West said: “YouPedestrians being carelessis the main cause of accidentsWhile it is true that lower speeds do reduceinjury to pedestrians, I cannot agree thatSefton Council’s proposals address the realissues fully enough.After a career spent in insurance, much of itdealing with motor accidents, I suggest thatwhile speed may be a factor in injury accidents,the principal cause is almost always apedestrian carelessly placing themselves in thepath of an oncoming car.The reasons are diverse but often include thefollowing: being distracted by friends; using amobile phone or ‘texting’; listening to musicthrough headphones which block out trafficnoise; failing to use a nearby crossing;emerging from between cars into the path oftraffic; crossing immediately in front of orTwo and a half thousand spectators filled Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club’s ground last Friday for the third day of LV CountyChampionship Division Two match between Lancashire and Hampshire. Picture by Martyn Snape. Code: 1061844.Write to the Editor atClare House, 166 Lord Street, Southport PR9 0QAwww.champnews.com/pixonlineFlower Show was a winner for us– we’ll do all four days next yearEmaileditorial@champnews.comcan never have too much of a good thing,” sowe have decided next year to buy tickets whichcover the entrance for all days the show is openas one day is not enough.June Howard,By email• I visited the Flower Show with my son. Theflowers were lovely and my only complaint wasthe lack of seats around the bandstand or nearwhere to have a drink. The man on the gatesaid other people felt the same.Jean Heggerty, SouthportNewsdesk01704 392 400behind a bus waiting at a stop; emerging frombehind cars badly parked on bends, at roadjunctions, near brow of a hill, or at schoolentrances; and finally not being in full controlof one’s faculties through drink.All these might be summarised as failing tochoose a safe place and failing to look beforecrossing.The Highway Code gives good advice in thisrespect and pedestrians must accept theirshare of responsibility if accident rates are toreduce.More pedestrian crossings may be consideredbut pedestrians’ unwillingness to use themmight render them redundant.Michael Alley, FormbyRail links shouldbe in Local PlanYour correspondent Mike Belshaw in theChampion was spot on to identify the needfor better trains on the Southport toManchester line.It’s a pity that the campaign to replace theageing fleet of rail mounted bus bodies hasnot been effectively led by our MP who hasbeen talking about this for about ten yearsnow without making any headway.Southport Labour Party is keen to exploreways that our town’s transport links can beimproved.That’s why as part of our response to theconsultation on Sefton’s Local Plan we aresuggesting that reinstatement of theBurscough Curves link be added to the list ofpriorities in the council’s transportplanning policy.This vital piece of railway would meandirect services to Preston would once againbe possible.Although the scheme is located outsideSefton’s boundary, the council andMerseytravel would need to be involved inits delivery.We think it’s important that as manySouthport people as possible contribute tothe Local Plan – it’s not just about theimportant green belt issues.The Local Plan is about how our town looksand functions for the next fifteen years soit’s vital for residents to get involved in theconsultation and get their voices heard.Ged Wright, Southport Labour PartyBlackpool airshow isfree – why not ours?Will someone please tell me why Blackpoolis able to run a free airshow and Southportstill charges the earth?From what I saw of it on TV the sameaircraft performed, including the RedArrows.Mike Baker,via emailWebsitewww.champnews.comGroup EditorMalcolm HindleLyndale Nursing and Care Home9 Rawlinson Road, Hesketh Park,Southport, PR9 9LUTel 01704 543 304Celebrating 30 yearsof quality care1120027