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

John Pugh flies the flag for coastal towns

John Pugh led a debate in Parliament on Coastal Towns and Economic Development recently.

The debate was very well-attended with many other MPs queuing up to sing the praises of or cite the problems of their own local bit of the UK coastline.

John Pugh, Lib Dem MP for Southport, said that it was necessary to raise the voice of the seaside and coast so that it would not be drowned out by the power of lobbying from the cities.

John Pugh MP speaking in the House of Commons

"There is no doubt that cities are crucial for the country's economic development but there are a lot of us on the coast and we don't all working in the traditional bucket and spade industry. We want the attention of government and the funding and recognition that follows that."

John Pugh made a plea for a joined-up approach to seaside towns with all government departments - including Transport and the Treasury - focusing on coastal towns.

"A better rail service or a VAT cut for in-bound tourism (as happens on the continent) would help as much as any specific grant" he said.

John Pugh pointed out that research in Select Committee Report on seaside towns that he had helped commission showed that seaside towns had 'held their own' in terms of employment.

However, research also showed that many resorts along the south coast had fared better than their counterparts in the north.

In explaining this new north/south divide, John Pugh pointed out that one reason is too much emphasis given to city centres when it comes to regional development. He told the House of Commons that over 3 million people lived in coastal towns and that coastal businesses employ more people than the motor industry.

"The north isn't just Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds," he claimed. "Flats in central Manchester are not where most of us live."

"We in the coastal towns can make our own weather and fight our corner but we don't want to be afterthought in terms of government or regional policy."

You can read the full text of John Pugh's House of Commons debate on coastal towns here.
 

Jo Barton says "Let's clean up Southport"

Local campaigner Jo Barton is passionate about cleaning up our town. Jo recently helped to organise the big clean up at Kew Roundabout.

Jo Barton (left) with some of the clean up volunteers

John Pugh MP is standing for Southport at the General Election

Liberal Democrat John Pugh MP has announced that he will be standing again for Southport in next year's general election.

John says "I have thought very hard about this, because it is an honour and a huge responsibility to try to represent Southport and certainly not a right.

"I see myself essentially as part of a dedicated team of activists and councillors who continue to seek positive change for our town.

"Although I am the obvious link with government and Westminster, I am re-assured that neither my local colleagues nor my constituents will expect me now to change and become an obedient party clone in these difficult times.

"Stupid, partisan, un-constructive, tribal politics for decades has held back this country, messed up public services and delayed the revival of the north.

"I want to continue the fight against it because sadly it is still there in all parts of the Commons' chamber and in the town hall. Worthwhile grown-up politics is always about the common good not common abuse.

"You can try to be a catalyst for change or put up with stupidity. My choice in life has usually been the former."
 

Crime Alert message

Please be aware of callers who ask to enter your home and give various reasons for their request.

Merseyside Police and Sefton Home Watch have issued the following 'Crime Alert' message to residents of Southport:

"Recently a male in his late 20s dressed in a duffle coat and jeans, called at a house in the Garstang Road area of Southport, asking if he could enter the property to read the meter. After his visit items from the house appeared to be missing."

Before allowing anyone you do not know into your property please check:

    -  Are you expecting a stranger to call at your door?
    -  Check their Identity badge
    -  Always stay with a stranger that enters your property
    -  See them to the door when they leave and close the door behind them
    -  If in doubt keep them out 

Contact numbers:

Police Local Neighbourhood teams - Tel. 101

Margaret Jepson, Sefton Home Watch Adviser - Tel. 0151 777 3419

email Margaret.Jepson@merseyside.pnn.police.uk

Crime Alert message from the police and home watch

Merseyside Police and Sefton Home Watch have issued the following 'Crime Alert' message to residents of Southport:

"On Monday 20/01/14 at approximately 9.20am a flat-bed transit van, described as the cab section being light green in colour, was seen to drive down Norwood Crescent. There were two occupants, the driver was described as a white male, middle aged of stocky build and the passenger as a white male, early to mid 20s, slim build with dark hair.

"The van was seen to drive past a property in Norwood Crescent, stop and reverse. The passenger then alighted and knocked on the door of the property, there was no answer. The passenger checked the back garden where a boiler was located and reported back to the driver. After some persuasion by the driver, the passenger has returned to the 6ft garden gate, and began to climb over the fence. At this point both males were challenged by a neighbour. The males stated they were there to collect the scrap boiler and had the permission of the occupants. No such permission was given. The males then both drove off.

"It is believed that this van is often present  in the area of Norwood Crescent  between 9.00 to 10.00a.m. most mornings, and the occupants appear to be on the look out for scrap to steal.

"A blue 'older style full transit type van', not a flat bed, but a standard type van with Irish plates operates in the same area. Again there are a number of males on board on the look out for scrap. 

IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION FROM NEIGHBOURS

"Two males have been arrested and charged with burglary, after neighbours reported to the Police they had seen  two males going round to the back of a property in Grange Road and  behaving in a suspicious manner.

"The Police appreciate the help the public give them. In this case the information led to an arrest. 

Contact numbers: 

Police Local Neighbourhood teams - Tel. 101 

Margaret Jepson, Sefton Home Watch Adviser - Tel. 0151 777 3419 

email Margaret.Jepson@merseyside.pnn.police.uk

Lib Dems doing well in towns like Southport

There weren't any elections in Southport this year, but the results from elsewhere in the country are interesting. The key message from the 2013 results is that in constituencies with Lib Dem MPs, like Southport, Liberal Democrat support is holding up well.