Vol 27 l Issue 8
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Beales to close Lord Street store
• E U G E N K L E I N • P E R U Z Z I • G O L L E H AU G
JUST WHITE • TIA
19 February 2020
25 YEARS
UP TO 50% OFF SALE
• BIANCA • L E B E K
SOUTHPORT
CELEBRATING
5 WELD PARADE, BIRKDALE VILLAGE, PR8 2DT
Traders at Wayfarers hit out at owners
BEACH PARKING FEES FACE HUGE INCREASE
Council chiefs accused of ‘deliberately making it difficult for tourists’ as proposals are revealed to hike charges by a third! COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of ‘deliberately making it difficult’ for people to visit Southport after plans were unveiled to hike beach car parking prices by a third. The proposed increases were revealed when Sefton Council published their Revenue and Capital Budget Plan earlier this month ahead of their Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting last week. Plans for Southport and Ainsdale beach parking show a planned hike for 2020/21, with all-day admission prices due to go up a third from £6 a day to £8; season tickets up a third from £45 to £60; and all-day entry for horseboxes and/or minibuses to increase 40% from £10 to £14. A council report shows the amount that the prices should rise to in line with inflation – but at 9p, 68p and 15p more respectively, they are a far cry from the increases proposed. A spokesperson for Sefton Council said that ‘no decision’ on the proposals have been made and that the plans
Princess Anne in Birkdale for visit to Smedley Hydro site
Report by Danielle Thompson are ‘subject to approval.’ However, the town’s MP Damien Moore was scathing of the increases proposed: “With the high street struggling – both locally and nationally – to gain some momentum, why is Sefton Council deliberately and knowingly making it more difficult for residents and tourists to visit our town centre?” he said. “A 33% price increase will see drivers forced to pay £8 to park on our beach! “While I am working to drive up more investment and access to our town – re-opening the Burscough Curves; greater access at Hillside Station; securing a £25 million Town Deal Fund; and more services to Manchester Piccadilly, Councillor Ian Maher and Sefton Council’s Cabinet are doing their utmost to deny our local economy a fighting chance!
Princess Anne unveiling the plaque at the General Register Office on Monday
PRINCESS Anne visited Birkdale for a tour of the General Register Office based at Smedley Hydro earlier this week. The Princess Royal visited the office on Trafalgar Road on Monday, February 17, where she toured the site, viewed historic records and the certificate production process, before unveiling a plaque commemorating her visit.
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