February 2007 Archives

Grot spots are a blight on the whole community. But you really have to sympathise with the neighbours of 51 Scarisbrick New Road.
For more than 11 years Sefton Council has fought a legal battle to get the owner of the property to remove the mountain of rubbish in the house's garden.
It is a fight which any right minded person would support, but you have to wonder just how much money this fight has cost? Council tax payers' money which could have been better spent elsewhere.
But the battle still goes on to what councillors have labelled a nightmare and which is a drain on valuable resources.
It just makes you wonder at what stage are enforcement notices enforceable?
Meanwhile concerns were raised this week over another publication's "exclusive" reports that Sefton was to be "privatised".
The reports concern an ongoing review of services at Sefton Council which actually began last September and which was originally exclusively reported in the Visiter five months ago. We have been following the story closely ever since.
As usual, the Visiter is first with the news.

New technologies inevitably mean new ways for criminals to thrive.
But this week, Southport's MP has returned from a Stateside trip where he has been at the forefront of a new transatlantic team to combat what is being referred to as 'e-crime'.
And as reported in this week's Midweek Visiter Dr Pugh has first hand knowledge of the dangers and threats which the internet can bring.
But none of us can stand still and the debate rumbles on about the proposed new rubbish collection system, which will usher in the introduction of wheelie bins and the dreaded fortnightly collections.
Sefton's very own 'Green Warrior', Cllr David Tattersall, this week faced Southport's pensioners who expressed their concerns about the new system. A small number of the pensioners were themselves green with anger at the changes.
We are moving with the times - Cllr Tattersall assures us. The new regime will mean we recycle more. It will create a cleaner, greener, leaner Sefton. And he and his council colleagues hope it will help avoid a huge government landfill fine.
But is the new system going to save the world - or is it a load of rubbish? Only time will tell.

SOUTHPORT'S MP this week raised his head above the parapet to call for the complete withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.
Dr John Pugh estimates the financial cost of the war to be more than £5bn, but the human cost to be even greater.
Many will agree with the MP's point of view, while many will say we must finish what we have started. What ever your point of view, you can air your views now on our online forums.
Another debate to get your teeth into is the issue of dangerous dogs.
Merseyside Police has today launched a week long amnesty for owners to hand in their pet pooch, if they fall foul of the dangerous dogs legislation, without fear of prosecution.
Once again this is a topic which will run and run as has been proven by the Visiter's forum which has revealed both sides of the heated debate.
Let us know what you think about all the stories in your favourite newspaper by logging on to the forums, or contacting the news desk.

A food and drink festival is on its way to Southport! I can hardly wait.
Southport has really grown well over the past few years, and boasts some superb events such as the summer classics, Southport Flower Show, airshow, Fun Fest, etc.
We also boast some superb restaurants and bars, and what better way to showcase what they have to offer than a four day festival?
We already highlight local venues through features such as our weekly Eating Out column in the Midweek Visiter and we are proud to have been chosen as the official media partner for the event.
The festival takes place May 17-20. The dates are firmly etched in my diary.
I guess the pre-event diet had better begin now!