3 reasons to vote Lib Dem in Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside on Thursday May 7th

1 – Green Belt

Nigel Ashton with John Pugh and John Dodd

Cllr Nigel Ashton has led the Lib Dem campaign to save our local Green Belt for the last three years. Labour’s Local Plan threatens to cover many acres of green belt with concrete and tarmac. What have the Conservatives done? Nothing.

2 – Churchtown Library

Nigel Ashton led the campaign to save Churchtown Library

Cllr Nigel Ashton led the campaign to save Churchtown Library and was the founding Chair of the North Meols Library Association, working to open a community-run library in Botanic Gardens. The Bootle-dominated Labour Party closed down three local libraries in Southport. They kept three libraries open in the Bootle constituency.

3 – Botanic Gardens 

When the Bootle Labour Party pushed through the latest round of cuts at the Botanic, John Pugh and the local Lib Dems collected a massive 5000 signature petition against this. Councillor Nigel Ashton spoke out against the Botanic cuts in the Council chamber. The Conservatives did nothing.

Vote Lib Dem on May 7th to re-elect John Pugh as MP for Southport and Nigel Ashton as Councillor for Meols Ward

Nigel Ashton leads sponsored walk to raise funds for a new library

Nigel Ashton was pleased to lead the recent sponsored walk to raise money for the North Meols Library Association. The aim is open a community 'Library in the Park' at Botanic Gardens, following the closure of Churchtown Library by Sefton Council.
 

Councillor Nigel Ashton with library campaigners at the end of the sponsored walk

The sponsored walk was held in conjunction with local businesses along the route from Churchtown library to the pavilion in the Gardens, also the North Meols Civic Society and the Botanic Gardens Community Association.

The Library Association are planning a walk from the old Crossens library to the pavilion in the summer and may even walk from the site of Wennington Road Library, passing Churchtown Library on the way. The sooner we have our own library run by the community the better.

Botanic Gardens Daffodil Day

We are delighted to advertise this event on behalf of the Botanic Gardens Community Association.

Do come along and plant a daffodil bulb to help make Botanic Gardens look beautiful next spring. Proceeds to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Vote for Botanic Gardens

We are delighted that Botanic Gardens, Hesketh Park and Lord Street Gardens will be proudly flying their Green Flag Awards again for 2013.

The Flags are awarded by the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign as the mark of quality for green spaces.

Residents now have the chance to help make one of our Southport Parks the nation’s favourite by taking part in the People Choice Award – an online vote that will allow people to chose which of  1,448 Green Flag Sites should be named park of the year.

Cllr Nigel Ashton said "It is great news that Botanic Gardens has once again been recognised as one of the best green spaces in the country. The award also recognises the tremendous work of the volunteers who have worked so hard alongside the professional garden staff."

"There is now a great opportunity to vote to make Botanic Gardens the nation's favourite park"

To vote:

• Visit the Green Flag Award website here 
• Select the North West on the interactive map
• Find your favourite park or green space
• Click the ‘vote for this site’ button

Botanic Gardens Victorian Gala - Sunday 25th August

Step back in time at the Botanic Gardens Victorian Gala on Sunday 25th of August. You will be transported back in time to 1875 when the Gardens first opened.

Organised by the Botanic Gardens Community Association, the Victorian Gala is set to be a fun day out for all the family (Victorian costume optional).

Fun with Flowers at the Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens Community  Association are holding a "Fun with Flowers" event to celebrate their replanting of the famous flower beds in Southport's Botanic Gardens.

The event is on Thursday 27th June, from 10:30am to 4pm. A jazz band, birds of prey and a hanging basket demonstration are just a few of the things that will be going on.

For details of the Botanic Gardens Community Association please visit their website.

Verulum Road parking charge proposal withdrawn

The proposed introduction of pay and display parking at the Verulum Road car park has been withdrawn. Verulum Road car park serves Botanic Gardens in Churchtown, and is particularly used by parents dropping off and collecting children from Churchtown Primary School. Parking here is currently free of charge.

The proposal by Sefton Council to introduce pay and display charges at Verulum Road was part of a wider package of changes to the parking regime, including a 30% increase in the cost of both on-road and off-road parking. The proposals were due to be considered by Sefton's ruling Cabinet, but were withdrawn at the last minute.

Councillor Nigel Ashton said "I am pleased that these proposals have been withdrawn. However, I have been informed that Sefton Council will now be embarking on a 'dialogue' to see what changes could be made to parking charges in future. We will remain vigilant to make sure that the extension of parking charges is not re-introduced through the back door."

Botanic Gardens Daffodil Day - Sunday 28th October

We are delighted to advertise this event on behalf of the Botanic Gardens Community Association.

Do come along and plant a daffodil bulb to help make Botanic Gardens look beautiful next spring. Proceeds to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Vote for Botanic Gardens

Southport residents have been urged to nominate their favourite park for the prestigious Green Flag People's Choice Award.

The People's Choice Award is an annual online vote that gives the public the power to decide which one of the 1,424 parks flying the Green Flag Award should be named the site of the year.

You can vote for Botanic Gardens to receive the People's Choice Award here

The Green Flag award scheme recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country. In 2012, a record number of awards were made with 1,424 parks and green spaces currently flying a Green Flag or Green Flag Community Award.

Help preserve Southport's 'Jewel in the Crown'

The newly formed Botanic Gardens Community Association want your help in deciding on possible uses for the old museum building, and on activities to hold in Botanic Gardens.

Please take a few moments to help by filling in the simple questionnaire.

Botanic Gardens questionnaire is here

Questionnaire produced by Botanic Gardens Community Association.

Fernery and Aviary Saved

The Fernery and Aviary at Southport's Botanic Gardens have been saved.

John Dodd is "chuffed to bits"

The decision was taken at the Sefton Council budget meeting on Thursday 1st March. The original Labour budget proposed a £50,000 cut to the Fernery, Aviary and nursery shop at Botanic Gardens, as well as the Conservatory in Hesketh Park. These cuts were reversed as councillors from all parties responded to calls to save the famous attractions.

Local Lib Dem Councillor John Dodd has been vocal in opposition to the threatened closures. He hailed the result, saying, “I am chuffed to bits. There has been a fantastic grass roots campaign to defend these jewels in Southport's crown."

John Dodd Speaks Out on the Fernery

Lib Dem councillor John Dodd has spoken out against Labour’s proposed budget cuts in funding for the Botanic Gardens fernery and aviary.

John Dodd is fighting to save the Fernery

John Dodd declared “Botanic Gardens is the jewel in Sefton’s crown. The fernery and aviary are two of the popular attractions that draw visitors to the Botanic Gardens and to Southport as a whole.  It is outrageous that, due to further budget cuts, they may be forced to close.

"The road-train and boats were casualties of previous cuts and again, last year, the Botanic Gardens took another tremendous hit. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

"I vehemently support the retention of both the aviary and the fernery.  I will continue to campaign to this effect up to, and including Thursday 1st March when Sefton Council’s budget meeting takes place at Bootle Town Hall.

"I simply cannot take a back seat and casually observe the brutal, continuous destruction of Southport‘s rich heritage."