GRIZAS
INSIDE THIS WEEK:
by Tom Martin
Tracey training for the London Marathon. Below: Tracey on her wedding day with Andrew.
Continued inside
FOIL
The Latest Styles from all your Favourite Brands
5 WELD PARADE, BIRKDALE VILLAGE, PR8 2DT • 01704 569697
Book store to be turned into restaurant
Tracey to take on London Marathon ‘to honour promise to dying husband’ A WOMAN whose last words to her husband was a promise to “do something that would make you proud” is set to honour her vow. Tracey Barlow has signed up for the London Marathon in memory of her husband Andrew, who passed away at the age of just 36 after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The challenge will not only be in memory of Andrew, but also a way to fundraise for Queenscourt Hospice, where he spent his final days and where Tracey now works. Tracey, from Southport, told the Champion that by completing the 26.2mile race, it will honour her promise to Andrew. She said: “The last thing I said to Andrew was that I would do something ‘that would make him proud’. For my 50th birthday, I wanted to do something special but unfortunately, the country was in lockdown. Then I started a new job at Queenscourt Hospice this year. “A former colleague knew that I ran and said ‘we still have spaces for the London Marathon, if you wanted to apply for a charity place’. “I knew that this was the challenge I had been looking for.” Andrew was diagnosed with a brain tumour 12 months after he married Tracey.
RINO & PELLE
www.champnews.com
Vol 29 l Issue 25
•
Lisa beats the heat to land medal
RACE AGAINST TIME TO REOPEN SPLASH WORLD
SOUTHPORT’S Splash World still needs £270,000 worth of repair work carried out before it is able to open. The venue closed down in 2019 due to “significant health and safety concerns” including tiles coming detached from the pool wall and floor, parts of the concrete flume tower staircase failing and failures in the steel frame coating (paint) system. Now Council bosses and contractors face a race against time to get the centre open for at least part of the summer holidays. Sefton Council is still hopeful of reopening the attraction in August but acknowledge there is ‘still a lengthy and costly list of repairs that needs to be carried out before this can happen’. Those repairs include splashing out on £80,000 on pool pumps, £25,000 on non-slip flooring, £35,000 on electrical works and £30,000 on toilet works. In total, the council estimates £270,000 will need to be spent, which will have to be borrowed and paid back over ten years, through Splash World income, at a
Report by Tom Martin
rate of £30,818 per year. A council report published last week states: “These repayments are based on an ‘invest to save’ principle and will be covered from revenue income which, given Splash World will be reopening with upgraded facilities and that it is still the only wet weather tourist attraction in Southport, is anticipated to increase.
“It is also worth noting that if agreed, the work needs to be carried out imminently to allow Splash World to reopen and hopefully capitalise on summer visitors during what is the busiest time of year for the facility.” The Champion reported in February how Sefton Council was awarded £2.2m after a successful claim against the original developer following the enforced closure of the water park - a claim the council is now pursuing through the courts.
Rail strikes ‘kick in teeth’ says town’s MP MP Damien Moore has condemned this week’s rail strikes as “a kick in the teeth.” He said: “Over the pandemic, the average household paid some £600 to support rail workers, who take home a median wage of £44,000. “As we began getting back on our feet after Covid, and battling rising inflation and the growing cost of living, these strikes are a kick in the teeth to hardworking people and businesses across the country. “Union bosses have driven these workers to a national strike under false pretences, threatening rather than protecting jobs, as they stand in the way of muchneeded reform across our rail networks.” Merseyrail services hit by strikes - p2
NICHOLAS WATSON Opticians HALF
PRICE DESIGNER FRAMES!
TORRAS
22 June 2022
POMODORO
PAZ
SOUTHPORT & FORMBY
•
ALREADY HAVE A PRESCRIPTION? Transfer it to us with ease!
Don’t delay, call us today to book your appointment: 469 Lord Street, Southport PR9 0AQ
01704 532359
NHS PATIENTS WELCOME
THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 129,784
CHAMPION SERIES
JAN-DEC 2021 100% FREE