4 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com SF The <strong>Champion</strong> • Wednesday 18 December 2013COMPLETE KITCHEN RESPRAYS...DON’T REPLACE, RESPRAY!Turn my old kitchen <strong>in</strong>to newSave me thousands of poundsColour match<strong>in</strong>g serviceNo obligation, Free quotationFast, friendly serviceNo need toredecorate orchange carpets...all our surrounds areMADE TO MEASUREMEGA SALEStarts 9am Saturday28th DECNEVER TO BE REPEATEDONE-OFF DEALSFirst come, first servedF<strong>in</strong>d us onKitchen BeforeKitchen AfterUnit 1, Phoenix Industrial Estate, Rossmore Road East, Ellesmere Port CH65 3BRDon’t forget to book youradvertis<strong>in</strong>g space earlyfor the Christmas and New Yeareditions of the <strong>Champion</strong>Please take note of thefollow<strong>in</strong>g deadl<strong>in</strong>es:For publication on Christmas Day25 December 20133pm on Friday 20th DecemberFor publication on New Year’s Day1 January 20143pm on Monday 30th DecemberFor more <strong>in</strong>formation please call thesales team on 01704 392392We wish all our advertisers,readers and distributorsa very Merry ChristmasNEXUS£995of SouthportHOLE IN WALLCHOICE OFCOLOURSLONSDALESURROUNDONLY87/89 Eastbank Street, Southport, PR8 1DGTel 01704 531041Mon-Sat 9-5 • Sun 11-411244301125273WAS £495NOW ONLYChildren’s author visits bookshopTHE OLDE Book Shop <strong>in</strong>Formby welcomed a specialvisitor to their store lastweek to celebrate a newbook launch.Rachel Braddock, achildren’s author fromLiverpool visited theFormby store on BrowsLane to launch her thirdchildren’s book,Caractacus Cat.Some 30 children turnedup on the day to hearRachel read her latest bookand receive a signed copy.Jon at the Olde Book Shopsaid: “It was fantastic, allthe children really enjoyedthe read<strong>in</strong>g.”Caractacus Cat, is the thirdbook <strong>in</strong> her series of booksto be launched afterCatullus the Caterpillar andAriadne Armadillo.Bid to make library‘community asset’Friends group could get six months to comeup with plan and fund<strong>in</strong>g to buy facilityReport by Ollie CowanBIRKDALE Library could soon be listed as anasset of community value.The proposal has been put forward by theFriends of Birkdale Library Group, and ifapproved by Sefton Council tomorrow(Thursday, December 19) it means theLiverpool Road build<strong>in</strong>g could not be sold forsix months to give time for the group to raisecapital and bid for the facility.The library meets all the nom<strong>in</strong>ation criteriato be listed an asset of community value as itcontributes to the social wellbe<strong>in</strong>g and cultural<strong>in</strong>terests of the community.Friends of Birkdale Library is a recentlyestablished charity that features three trustees<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g chairman Val Owen, Sally Moss andSouthport MP John Pugh.Where an <strong>in</strong>terest is registered by a groupsuch as Friends of Birkdale Library, the assetcannot be sold for six months.This is to give the group time to develop aproposal and raise the required capital to bidfor the asset when it comes to the open market.The idea for nom<strong>in</strong>ation was prompted bysimilar action taken by Friends of CarnegieLibrary <strong>in</strong> Crosby <strong>in</strong> October.Chair of the trustees of the Friends of BirkdaleLibrary charity is Val Owen who is a formerhead librarian <strong>in</strong> Southport.She said: “We have applied to the Councilunder the Localism Act 2011 to have BirkdaleRachel Braddock with two young readers. Code 1064588Birkdale Library could soon be listed as anasset of community value.Library registered as an Asset of CommunityValue. This means that we would have firstrefusal if the council wants to sell the site sometime <strong>in</strong> the future.“We would then have six months to puttogether a bid to acquire the whole site, to runit as a community facility.“Library campaigners cont<strong>in</strong>ue to meet on aregular basis, develop<strong>in</strong>g our bus<strong>in</strong>ess plan, sothat we would be ready to move if the Councildoes decide it wants to sell.”The Community Right to Bid does not obligethe asset owner to sell the asset to thecommunity group nor is it <strong>in</strong>tended to<strong>in</strong>fluence the price at which the asset iseventually sold.Equally, community groups which haveregistered an <strong>in</strong>terest are under no obligationto bid for or purchase the listed asset.WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN ONPRICE OR QUALITYTHE WORLDS MOSTEFFICIENTRUBYWITH GASOR ELECTRICFIREFREENO OBLIGATION SURVEYFOR PEACE OF MINDSUPER HOT4.2KW GAS FIRENOW ONLYBRASS/STOVE£495 CHROME £295Also at: 127-139 Breck Road, Anfield L4 2QXTel 0151 263 0660 Mon-Sat 9-5 • Sun 11-4£295 £695WAS £6951125268
The <strong>Champion</strong> • Wednesday 18 December 2013Sefton Council ‘shouldput small traders beforethe large stores’ saysnational bus<strong>in</strong>ess group‘They make a big deal about jobs to becreated but overall more jobs are lost’Report by Ollie CowanSUPPORT for traders <strong>in</strong> Birkdaleaga<strong>in</strong>st plans to <strong>in</strong>troduce aSa<strong>in</strong>sbury’s Local Store <strong>in</strong> the villagehas been boosted by the Federation ofSmall Bus<strong>in</strong>esses (FSB).John Allen, national chairman of theFSB, this week launched Keep TradeLocal campaign support<strong>in</strong>g Birkdalevillage’s shop owners aga<strong>in</strong>st the newSa<strong>in</strong>sbury’s store plan – which wasrejected at a recent plann<strong>in</strong>g meet<strong>in</strong>gJohn, who is orig<strong>in</strong>ally from theresort, jo<strong>in</strong>ed local member activists<strong>in</strong> Birkdale Village for Small Bus<strong>in</strong>essSaturday (Saturday, December 7)where they launched the FSB’sheadl<strong>in</strong>e ‘Keep Trade Local’campaign <strong>in</strong> support of <strong>in</strong>dependentbus<strong>in</strong>esses.Small Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Saturday came aheadof a Sefton Council plann<strong>in</strong>g meet<strong>in</strong>gon Wednesday, December 11 at whichSa<strong>in</strong>sbury’s exist<strong>in</strong>g plan for a newstore <strong>in</strong> Liverpool Road, which hasseen two petitions aga<strong>in</strong>st itconta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g more than 3000 signatures<strong>in</strong> total, was rejected.The applicant is expected to returnwith an amended plan.The FSB is support<strong>in</strong>g Birkdaletraders’ stand aga<strong>in</strong>st the proposal.National chairman John Allan said:“Sefton Council should wake up andsmell the coffee.“It must realise that its actions <strong>in</strong>Southport, <strong>in</strong> particular, are do<strong>in</strong>glittle to help small bus<strong>in</strong>esses.“The ma<strong>in</strong> issue, whether it is Tescoor Sa<strong>in</strong>sbury’s apply<strong>in</strong>g for plann<strong>in</strong>gNEW TONERSToners, Ink Jets & Ink Jet Refillsfor ✓Pr<strong>in</strong>ter ✓Fax ✓Copierhp, Brother, Cannon, Samsung etcCompetitive Prices • Free Delivery1124997NW BUSINESS CENTRE47 Ov<strong>in</strong>gton Drive, Southport PR8 6JW01704 546 019 • 07966 234 157Ask for TerryDID YOU KNOW? We distribute over 160,000 newspapersacross Sefton, West Lancashire & North Liverpool ABC VERIFIEDFSB chairman John Allenpermission for a new store, is that thecouncil makes a big deal about thejobs be<strong>in</strong>g created.“They fall for it every time – sooneror later they will realise that ratherthan creat<strong>in</strong>g jobs they are displac<strong>in</strong>gsome jobs from small bus<strong>in</strong>esses thatwould otherwise be able to trade. Infact, overall, jobs are lost.”FSB member Karl Jenn<strong>in</strong>gs ofBirkdale based Jenn<strong>in</strong>g’sGreengrocers said: “It’s great that weare be<strong>in</strong>g supported as local traders.“Birkdale is a very supportive placeSanyway – we are very lucky that localpeople want to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to come tothe village to shop.“I don’t th<strong>in</strong>k we need a newsupermarket <strong>in</strong> the village because ithas a good selection of shops as it is.It’s another piece of the cake that’s atrisk – if some small traders lose even alittle bit of trade it could push themover the edge.”Joanne Matthews of Birkdale CheeseCentre, added: “We’re very gratefulof the work the FSB is putt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> tosupport local bus<strong>in</strong>esses.“As a local community of traders wearetry<strong>in</strong>gtobeasproactiveaswecanourselves to put the message acrosswith our own <strong>in</strong>itiatives.“We held a Victorian event recentlywhich was very well attended, as wellas a late night shopp<strong>in</strong>g event which isset to take place this com<strong>in</strong>g week.“As a trad<strong>in</strong>g community we arepretty unique with the variety that’son offer from the many <strong>in</strong>dependentbus<strong>in</strong>esses <strong>in</strong> Birkdale.”Park<strong>in</strong>g was the other ma<strong>in</strong> issueraised by small shop owners <strong>in</strong>Birkdale. Sefton Council suspendedpark<strong>in</strong>g charges across the boroughon Small Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Saturday and alsoon two further days <strong>in</strong> December.John Allan welcomed the move butsaid the council’s present review ofpark<strong>in</strong>g must better support<strong>in</strong>dependent traders <strong>in</strong> the longerterm.He said: “We are also aware thatthere are also proposals be<strong>in</strong>g drawnup for park<strong>in</strong>g meters and restrictions<strong>in</strong> Birkdale which would result thefurther decl<strong>in</strong>e of the village.”‘The Ferns’ Nurs<strong>in</strong>g Home42 Part StreetSouthport01704 501401‘The Glade’ResidentialCare Home32 Lancaster RoadBirkdale01704 566699The Jackson Care GroupOur family run homes offer the very best <strong>in</strong> nurs<strong>in</strong>gand residential care – we do not charge top-up feesWe accommodate permanent, short stay and respite care1119683St John’s pupils visit<strong>in</strong>g residents at Rose LodgePUPILS from Year Five at StJohn’s Church of EnglandSchool, Crossens helped to startthe Christmas festivities at RoseLodge Care Home <strong>in</strong> Banks byvisit<strong>in</strong>g the residents andmak<strong>in</strong>g special ‘christ<strong>in</strong>gles’.A Christ<strong>in</strong>gle is a symbolicobject, related to thepomander, used <strong>in</strong> the adventand consists of an orange, a redribbon, dried fruits skeweredVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 5Code NAPupils spread festive cheeron cocktail sticks pushed <strong>in</strong>tothe orange and a lit candlepushed <strong>in</strong>to the centre of theorange.Carolyn Ackers, manager ofRose Lodge, added: “TheChrist<strong>in</strong>gle <strong>in</strong>dicates the truemean<strong>in</strong>g of Christmas and forthos who are unable to attendchurch over the Christmasseason, it is a rem<strong>in</strong>der of whatChristmas is all about.”Up to £50<strong>in</strong> fuel voucherson selected Goodyear and Dunlop tyres. ***MOT only £35.00Full service from £85.00 *Massive sav<strong>in</strong>gs on tyresA570Scarisbrick New RdTown Lane KewTescoFolkestone RdMeolsCop RdFoul LaneA570KewRetailParkHiQ SouthportScarisbrick New Road, SouthportLancashire, PR8 5RG01704 538163www.hiqonl<strong>in</strong>e.co.uk/Southporthighqtyres@btconnect.comDon’t delaycall <strong>in</strong> today.Tyres • Exhausts • Brakes • Batteries • Servic<strong>in</strong>g • MOTsSuspension • Cambelts • Clutches • MOT Repairs* Terms and conditions apply. Please see <strong>in</strong>-store for further details. **Discount applied to VOSArecommended retail price £54.85 Class 4 passenger vehicles up to 8 seats. Offer ends 31st December 2013.11237563 & 25 Burscough Street, Ormskirk L39 2EG • Tel: 01695 577777Prices from £651124393