January 2009 Archives

A NEW year for Southport - and a new chief executive for Sefton Council.

Margaret Carney officially started her new role today but it seems that open government may not be high on the agenda.

A request for a photo of Graham Haywood's replacement with her team on her first day, plus a quick chat with her local 'paper, has been turned down by the council press office on the grounds that she is too busy.

While we hope this is not a sign of things to come, we would like to wish Margaret Carney all the best through the course of what will undoubtedly prove to be a challenging 2009 for the authority.

DURING the festive season, shops in Southport were chasing shoppers' pounds like never before.

The credit crunch has bitten hard, meaning that sales in the Christmas rush will have determined whether many stores will stay open in 2009 - or whether they will be forced to close.

It is disgraceful then, that in Southport, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

Neighbouring authorities in Liverpool and Wirral both introduced schemes over December that allowed shoppers to park for free over Christmas - but not in Southport.

Here, despite a 'comprehensive' report into all aspects of parking that was published during the autumn, council officers and councillors neglected to consider local traders.

By the time they gave it thought, in November, they considered it would be 'too late' to introduce.

Such apathy is nothing short of scandalous.

When they are putting together their New Year's resolutions for 2009, Sefton Council MUST make it a priority to see what it can do to help local shops in what will be some very challenging months ahead.

It is time Nero stopped fiddling, and urgently begins fire-fighting before it's too late.

SATURDAY was a sad day for our town, with the closure of Woolworth's on Chapel Street bringing the curtain down on decades of happy memories for Southport shoppers.

Some readers have expressed concern to the Visiter that the closure will leave a worrying and sizeable gap.

It is doubtful the premises will stay vacant for long, however - the only store with doors facing onto both Lord Street and Chapel Street, with sizeable floorspace, it it a prime site.

Bargain hunters were flocking through the doors on Woolies' last day, but it shouldn't be too long before they're returning to welcome in the new tenants.

DURING these tough times, many people are tightening their belts as they rein in their spending.

A lot of charities are among those finding life difficult.

So a month after the Visiter launched our Alex Appeal, urging our readers to help send 10-year-old cancer sufferer Alex Powderly on a well-deserved holiday of a lifetime, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of readers who swiftly came to his aid, and raised even more cash for some very deserving charities besides.

A huge thank you to everyone - you really have made it a merry Christmas for a very special young boy.

Readers have also been incredibly forthcoming in making Christmas wishes come true for other people in town.

The Visiter's Christmas Wish Appeal continues to provide food hampers for our town's senior citizens and others in need of cheering up at this time of year, plus giving a helping hand to some local youngsters.

Rotarians, churches, the students and staff of KGV College and all those who brought goods into our office on Tulketh Street have brought smiles to the faces of many this Christmas. Thank you all!