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12 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com CMBA The Champion • Wednesday 11 December 2013Landowners should developderelict site or hand it overRe: article concerning the derelict sitewhich besmirches Crosby Village.I thought the major thrust of the reportmissed the central point, which is why havethe landowners been allowed to it sit andwatch as this eyesore continues to blight thefocal point of the Village?Property developers usually do just that,they ‘develop’.Urban Generation Ltd is hardly anappropriate name for a company who havedone exactly the opposite, destroyedbuildings and left us with a bombsite in itsplace.No one can disagree with the shoppers andshopowners who say the result hardlyprovides a welcoming image of Crosby.In this situation, could not the councilpersuade or force the landowner to ‘handover’ the site until they can commit to itsdefinite development. They could then usethe £40,000 they are about to waste on a‘strategy’, and create a landscapedmini–park with benches, scrubs, paving etc.The landowner could pay for themaintenance until they decide to carry outwhat they were supposed to do when theydemolished the former buildings, and in themeantime the residents of Crosby would seean improvement in this shabby localeWhen Sainsbury’s were planning theirill–advised superstore, A Better Crosby werevery active.Can I ask where they are now? Do they haveany suggestions to offer while UrbanGeneration fiddle and leave the abyss theyhave created to the next generation.Bernard Nevin,By emailPICTURE of the weekHistoric Priory pub should behanded over to the communityWell done the Champion for the excellentcoverage of our battle to stop ChorleyCommunity Housing getting planning consentto demolish our local pub the Priory inLitherland to build even more houses and flats.This magnificent, iconic pub over 200 yearsold, is steeped in history and was a formercoaching house in its earliest days.It has latterly served as both a place ofworship and a meeting place for the formerLitherland Urban District councillors prior tothe building of the present day St Phillipschurch and the Litherland Town Hall.The Beatles and other local bands alsofrequented the pub when playing at the townhall in the early sixties.This outrageous proposal, if allowed toproceed by the Sefton Council planningcommittee will be a disgrace and an insult tothe electorate of the area and indeed to anyonewww.champnews.com/pixonlinewho values fine buildings of such significance.This valuable community asset should behanded over to be properly managed andmaintained by the local community who usedit regularly.For many years they have been able to enjoy adrink and meal and socialise with their friendsand families, especially on occasions such asChristmas, weddings, christenings andfundraising events for local causes.Log on to ipetitions.com and enter ‘save thepriory’ for an online petition. You can alsoemail thepeoplespub@hotmail.com.People of Sefton, please wake up to what ishappening because so–called social housingand other housing developments areswallowing up our open spaces and soon therewill very few pubs left to socialise in!Dave Flynn, ‘Save the Priory Pub’We can’t walkall the time!In reply to the letter from a Bootle resident ‘Domums with prams not walk anywhere?’I feel that is an unfair point to make.I too walk nearly everywhere for exercise andcostly bus fares but I feel it a little far to walk toLiverpool city centre so does that make mewrong to get on a bus with my pram?If the bus is busy I will fold my pram and sit mydaughter on my knee thus trying to be fair toall.Another Bootle resident,By emailLink road willease congestionI am absolutely delighted to read the front pageof the Aintree & Maghull paper about the linkroad and how it will finally be built.I have been campaigning for this to happenfor years now and it’s about time thatgovernment coughed up the money.It will ease congestion in the Southport andThornton area but also Lydiate and Maghull aswell.It was a crisp clear night in Ormskirk’s Coronation Park for last week’s District Scouts Christmas Carols at The Bandstand.Picture by Martyn Snape. Code: 01064443.Giving low paid workers a livingwage would boost public financesA £347million boost to public finances couldbe made if the North West’s 571,000 low–paidworkers received a pay rise and were paid theliving wage.Economic modelling carried out for thenational TUC by Howard Reed of LandmanEconomics suggests that the Treasury wouldreceive an extra £223m from the increased taxand national insurance contributions (NIC)that would result from a North West–wideliving wage boost.Similarly, if low earners across the NorthWest were to see their wages rise to currentliving wage rates – £7.45 an hour outsideLondon – the research says that the Treasurywould pay out £123m less in means–testedbenefits and tax credits across the region.Some 571,000 workers across the North Westare being paid less than the living wage, andwith in–work poverty growing, it’s not hard tosee why so many families are struggling tomake household budgets stretch to cover thecost of everyday essentials.Many employers across the North West – whoare beginning to see sense and are now payingthe living wage – should soon reap the benefitswith improved retention of staff, loyalty andproduction.Increasing the number of people across theNorth West who are paid at least the livingwage would mean huge savings for the publicpurse in extra taxes paid and fewer benefitsclaimed.Lynn Collins,TUC regional secretaryTell us what you think!editor@champnews.comUnclear howfog grenadeswill workI 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 upstairsin a large and very noisy HMV store, andthen had trouble finding my waydownstairs. If smoke is released in a largestore, I imagine that panic would follow.Is this even legal?David Garner,Southport.James Facey,Lydiate.6am spying fordog droppingsRe: dog dirt.Many years ago most mornings on waking upmy lawn was marred with dog droppings.Even with walls and fences to three sides, thedog walked over 60 feet, watched by theowner.I never caught anyone.Sad to say, the phanton dropper returnedrecently.I hope it’s not the start of 6am spying on mypart.A Very Angry Aged Pensioner,MaghullWe want your viewsTHE Champion welcomes letters on topics oflocal and national interest. These should beconcise, preferably no longer than 250 to 350words, and can be sent or emailed to therespective addresses at the top of this page.Please include your name, address and acontact telephone number.