12 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com SF The <strong>Champion</strong> • Wednesday 18 December 2013Cars and lorriesallowed to speedwhile pupils arego<strong>in</strong>g to schoolI have compla<strong>in</strong>ed to Merseyside Policethree times now regard<strong>in</strong>g Stamford Road,Southport where lorries, vans and cars oftenwell over 30mph even when pupils are go<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong> and out of Christ the K<strong>in</strong>g High School.Also on Bedford Road, Kew Road,Lyndhurst Road and Clifford Road, evenresidents <strong>in</strong> those roads drive at 30mph andover!If the authorities are not go<strong>in</strong>g to ‘police’these newly implemented speed zones, thenthe money spent <strong>in</strong> erect<strong>in</strong>g poles andplac<strong>in</strong>g speed limit signs is totally wasted.The council are all too quick to fleece themotorist for park<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>utes over thepark<strong>in</strong>g time – easy pick<strong>in</strong>gs.We may feel the new limits are needless,but they will reduce <strong>in</strong>jury and extent ofdamage caused <strong>in</strong> a crash whether werecognise that fact or not.Name supplied,SouthportThank you forhelp, k<strong>in</strong>d peopleI would just like to say thank you to the threepeople who came to my husband’s aid after hesuffered a diabetic <strong>attack</strong>.A taxi driver and two other people helped himand I want to recognise their k<strong>in</strong>dness.Name supplied, Freshfields.Sefton Council should besplit up <strong>in</strong>to three ‘m<strong>in</strong>imetropolitan authorities’Do<strong>in</strong>g noth<strong>in</strong>g about the state of localgovernance <strong>in</strong> Sefton is not an option.Ever s<strong>in</strong>ce it was created <strong>in</strong> 1974, Sefton hasnever been a happy council; party politics havecomb<strong>in</strong>ed 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 bus<strong>in</strong>ess.There would be a small board of electeddecision–makers with a detailed knowledge oftheir community and a head for bus<strong>in</strong>ess andmoney, buy<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> services from the privatesector as required.They would oversee a small but adaptableworkforce who have a commitment to the areaand to the residents, who <strong>in</strong> turn take an active<strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> local politics.I am afraid what we have is exactly theopposite – a centralised artifice of impersonalregional public corporations run by remoteone–party cab<strong>in</strong>ets, staffed by aunion–dom<strong>in</strong>ated workforce and run byoverpaid officers who run r<strong>in</strong>gs aroundmediocre career councillors, most of who br<strong>in</strong>glittle else to the table other than their partisanpolitics, which ill–equips them to run amulti–million pound bus<strong>in</strong>ess.Cheered by ‘new’ bus servicesFIRST of all I must thank all those k<strong>in</strong>d peoplewho have given me their condolencesfollow<strong>in</strong>g the death of my brother George.I never suspected that there was so muchgoodwill and even affection for either me orGeorge – the response both <strong>in</strong> cards and fromfolk simply stopp<strong>in</strong>g me on the <strong>street</strong> has beentruly heart–warm<strong>in</strong>g.But back to bus<strong>in</strong>ess...Although not feel<strong>in</strong>g particularly festive at themoment, I was cheered by the announcementthat Merseytravel has at last been persuaded toprovide buses on Box<strong>in</strong>g Day and New Year’sDay to my neck of the woods (Maghull) for thefirst time <strong>in</strong> donkey’s years. At last I, and otherswithout access to a motor car, will be able toget out and about to some extent.M<strong>in</strong>d you, these services are be<strong>in</strong>g touted as‘new’. Well, new <strong>in</strong>deed for Merseytravel whoare provid<strong>in</strong>g them, but back <strong>in</strong> 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 th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g. 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 popp<strong>in</strong>g down to the pub forfestive dr<strong>in</strong>ks or <strong>in</strong>deed their Christmas d<strong>in</strong>ner.And we would be a little put out if the lightsdidn’t work.For all these th<strong>in</strong>gs men and women have toforego at least part of their own Christmascelebrations. But more to the po<strong>in</strong>t, I do notth<strong>in</strong>k there would be any great difficulty <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g 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 someth<strong>in</strong>g 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 ofgett<strong>in</strong>g about, short of horrendously pricedtaxis, is that s<strong>in</strong>ce the majority now have a car,or easy access to one, lone voices cry<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> thewilderness can safely be disregarded.Moreover, local government was once thecoalface of British democracy wheremembership of a political party was ama<strong>in</strong>stream social activity <strong>in</strong> which peoplegave their time and expertise for the benefit oftheir community.I contend that, after the 1974 replacement oflocal councils with mega authorities, ord<strong>in</strong>arypeople lost <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> daytime meet<strong>in</strong>gs held <strong>in</strong>distant 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, witnessdecl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g voter turnout at elections.I suggest that, as part of a pilot exercise <strong>in</strong>democratic renewal, Sefton be split <strong>in</strong>to three‘m<strong>in</strong>i’ metropolitan boroughs of Bootle,Southport and South West Lancashire, <strong>in</strong>recognition that each of these communities hasits own dist<strong>in</strong>ct priorities, identity and needs.Size isn’t important; if Rutland Council hassatisfactorily performed the role of a unitaryauthority s<strong>in</strong>ce 1997 notwithstand<strong>in</strong>g its t<strong>in</strong>ypopulation of 37,369, there’s no reason whythree ‘m<strong>in</strong>i–mets’ with an average populationof 90,000 a–piece could not work up here.David Green,SouthportTell us what you th<strong>in</strong>k!editor@champnews.comAnd, for once at least, I’m not th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g aboutmy own situation. The two dogs, T<strong>in</strong>a andC<strong>in</strong>ders, will need good walks anyway, sothat’ll fill quite a bit of time.I have been very k<strong>in</strong>dly <strong>in</strong>vited round to oneperson’s home for my Christmas d<strong>in</strong>ner – an<strong>in</strong>vite I feel I can’t really take up because itwould mean abandon<strong>in</strong>g said dogs.Instead I have decided on start<strong>in</strong>g a newtradition for the three of us, with Christmasd<strong>in</strong>ner (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Christmas pud) and a goodsit–down to watch the repeats on telly. Andthere’s Dr Who to look forward too as well.Then, on Box<strong>in</strong>g Day, just to show will<strong>in</strong>g Ican catch the ‘new’ 250 bus <strong>in</strong>to town and dosometh<strong>in</strong>g or other quickly before catch<strong>in</strong>ganother back to relax with the hounds.Now if only Merseyrail could be persuaded tobr<strong>in</strong>g back local Box<strong>in</strong>g Day tra<strong>in</strong>s my cupcould <strong>in</strong>deed 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 beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of this column, I’mgenu<strong>in</strong>ely 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 f<strong>in</strong>d a joke about a horsewalk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to a bar. You always get one.However, <strong>in</strong> the 1970s a horse walk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to abar certa<strong>in</strong>lywasn’t a joke <strong>in</strong> Southport!Among the thirsty clientele of what was onceone of Lord Street’s iconic hostelries were localshop–owners, bus<strong>in</strong>essmen and a Birkdale cardealer/racehorse tra<strong>in</strong>er by the name ofDonald ‘G<strong>in</strong>ger’ McCa<strong>in</strong>.Even if you’re not au fait with steeplechases orfurlongs, chances are you’ll have heard ofG<strong>in</strong>ger McCa<strong>in</strong> – a legendary tra<strong>in</strong>er who wonthe Grand National four times – three of themwith an Irish–bred geld<strong>in</strong>g called Red Rumwhose name also probably r<strong>in</strong>gs a bell!On March 31 1973 Red Rum stormed home bya mere three–quarters of a length (<strong>in</strong>non–rac<strong>in</strong>g terms about 6ft) <strong>in</strong> what was thena record time of n<strong>in</strong>e m<strong>in</strong>utes and two seconds.Rummy became an <strong>in</strong>stant hero across theUK, no more so than <strong>in</strong> Southport where theequ<strong>in</strong>e superstar returned with a beam<strong>in</strong>gG<strong>in</strong>ger McCa<strong>in</strong>.Everyone <strong>in</strong> the town wanted to see Rummyafter that w<strong>in</strong> and the place they’d most likelyspot him was the bar at the Carlton Hotel.It wasn’t uncommon for G<strong>in</strong>ger to takeRummy <strong>in</strong>to the bar from time to time andshortly after his first w<strong>in</strong> at A<strong>in</strong>tree, thechampion thoroughbred would be propp<strong>in</strong>g upthe bar, completely at ease with the admir<strong>in</strong>gpunters and regulars around him.One shop manager who worked at Paige, nowthe Gift Company, on Lord Street was f<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>gfor the day on April 2 and jo<strong>in</strong>ed her staff for adr<strong>in</strong>k across the road at the Carlton.As they entered they were greeted by Rummy,by then well <strong>in</strong>to his second p<strong>in</strong>t of water.Shortsightedview on kerbsRe: article on raised kerbs.This motion put forward by councillorssupport<strong>in</strong>g 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 speak<strong>in</strong>g for all the othermobility scooter users, wheelchair users,rollator users, people who have difficulty <strong>in</strong>walk<strong>in</strong>g, not forgett<strong>in</strong>g mums with prams.The councils could use knobbly pavementflags just before a road. Then bl<strong>in</strong>d 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 foracquir<strong>in</strong>g smoke grenades ‘designed todisorientate offenders’.How does this magic smoke know who todisorientate?Only last week, I took an escalator upstairs <strong>in</strong>a large and very noisy HMV store, and then hadtrouble f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g my way downstairs.If smoke is released <strong>in</strong> a large store, I imag<strong>in</strong>ethat panic would follow.David Garner, Southport.Heard the one about ahorse walk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to a bar?The story recounted to me is as follows: “Wef<strong>in</strong>ished for the day and locked up beforehead<strong>in</strong>g over to the Carlton.“When we got there G<strong>in</strong>ger, who we all knew,called us over for a dr<strong>in</strong>k and was effusive <strong>in</strong> 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 th<strong>in</strong>k many people werefazed by a great big horse at the bar.“We all got a round of dr<strong>in</strong>ks and chattedabout how <strong>in</strong>credible the race had been.“Rummy was calm as anyth<strong>in</strong>g – he wasn’tscared of the crowds or all that bothered butyou could tell how proud and elated G<strong>in</strong>gerwas and who could blame him?”The orig<strong>in</strong>al build<strong>in</strong>g at 88 Lord Street waserected <strong>in</strong> 1901 and called The Carlton<strong>Man</strong>sions. Local millionaire John Craig made amove for the build<strong>in</strong>g shortly after <strong>in</strong> 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 bar<strong>in</strong> honour of the horse’s magnificentachievements.Who knows, perhaps Rummy galloped to thef<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g post so quickly to make sure he madeit to the bar for last orders...
The <strong>Champion</strong> • Wednesday 18 December 2013Views wantedon council taxreduction changeSFGot an <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g story to tell?Champ Newsdesk 01704 392400Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 13Report by Ollie CowanSEFTON Council is runn<strong>in</strong>g amonth long consultation to gaugeviews on a revised Council TaxReduction Scheme for 2014/15.Sefton’s Council Tax ReductionScheme is be<strong>in</strong>g reconsidered <strong>in</strong>the light of the Government’sproposed changes to pensionsand welfare benefits.The consultation is seek<strong>in</strong>gviews on whether the applicableamounts and personalallowances for non–pensionerhouseholds should be ‘uprated’us<strong>in</strong>g Department for Work andPensions rates.This should avoid work<strong>in</strong>g ageclaimants receiv<strong>in</strong>g less CouncilTax support.The proposed changes will notaffect customers who havereached their state pension agewho cont<strong>in</strong>ue to have theirCouncil Tax Reduction calculatedon rules set by the Government.At the moment there are morethan 16,552 work<strong>in</strong>g ageresidents <strong>in</strong> the borough who areaffected by the scheme.The draft scheme is available toview on the Sefton CouncilPEOPLE <strong>in</strong> Sefton are urged tohave a safe Christmas byfollow<strong>in</strong>g firefighters’ adviceto prevent fires <strong>in</strong> the home.Figures show that accidentalhouse fires <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong>December, with traditions suchas cook<strong>in</strong>g Christmas d<strong>in</strong>ner,putt<strong>in</strong>g up decorations anddr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g alcohol pos<strong>in</strong>g agreater risk of fire.There were 21 accidental fires<strong>in</strong> the home <strong>in</strong> Sefton <strong>in</strong>December, 2012.Of those, 13 started <strong>in</strong> thekitchen, two <strong>in</strong>volved candlesand three were caused bysmok<strong>in</strong>g materials.As most fires start <strong>in</strong> thewebsite or at the two One StopShops and a consultation on theproposed new scheme is nowunderway which runs untilMonday, January 6.Cllr Paul Tweed, cab<strong>in</strong>etmember corporate services said:“Unfortunately, <strong>in</strong> real terms, ourfund<strong>in</strong>g by Government has beenreduced by £114m s<strong>in</strong>ce 2010.“We have also seen a cut <strong>in</strong> theamount of Council Tax supportgiven to us this year of about£3.7m. However, we will alwaysdo our best to help those on lower<strong>in</strong>comes and want to ensure thatanyone who has an <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> thisproposed revision of the schemehas an opportunity to have theirsay.“Your views and the<strong>in</strong>formation provided will beanalysed and will then form partof a report when we have to makea decision for 2014/15.“This affects thousands ofpeople <strong>in</strong> 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 warn<strong>in</strong>gkitchen, people are urged totake care when cook<strong>in</strong>g and notto leave food cook<strong>in</strong>g on thehob unattended.People are advised not cookwhile under the <strong>in</strong>fluence ofalcohol.Candles should be put outwhen leav<strong>in</strong>g 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 go<strong>in</strong>g 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 Host<strong>in</strong>g and Onl<strong>in</strong>e Market<strong>in</strong>gcall us now on 01704 392 331www.championmediagroup.com/web*All prices subject to VATSOUTHPORT 01704 535177 |295-307 Lord Street, PR8 1NY@1123767