Residents of Sefton Drive...

Residents of Sefton Drive will be pleased to learn that the problems with the street name signs have been reported and repairs should, if agreed by the Area Committee, begin shortly.

Any Manor residents suffering similar problems, please get in touch via the contact details on the right of the Blog.

Minutes from the key points of the Crosby Area Meeting

A few residents have e-mailed Councillor Gibson and their Manor Ward FOCUS team with regards to the minutes of specific points/issues that were raised during this month's Crosby Area Committee Meeting. For ease, I'll paste below the three most requested points/issues so far. If anyone would like further information about the Committee Meeting please get in touch by using the contact details to the right of the Blog or e-mailing: manorfocus@gmail.com

72. RECENT SEVERE WINTER WEATHER PROBLEMS

Mrs. Margaret Carney, Chief Executive, made a statement on the recent

severe winter weather problems. Mrs. Carney indicated that she was

genuinely sorry that the Council had not achieved better outcomes during

the recent adverse weather, despite extensive gritting operations; that she

fully understood the frustration and anger of local residents; that the

Council would learn lessons from its recent experience; and that a full

review would be undertaken, which would take on board comments and

suggestions by the public and which would be publicly available.

Mr. P. Moore, Environmental and Technical Services Director and

Mr. J. McConkey, Assistant Director, Technical Services, made a

presentation on the above matter, including the Council's gritting

operations. The Committee also considered a policy advice note and

situation report, prepared by Mr. McConkey, which included "Frequently

Asked Questions" and answers relating to the Winter Service Policy.

Mr. Moore and Mr. McConkey then answered a wide range of questions

from Members and the public on the matter.

RESOLVED:

That the officers be thanked for their contributions to the debate on this

matter.

CROSBY AREA COMMITTEE- WEDNESDAY 19TH JANUARY, 2011

42

73. FORMBY BYPASS/NORTH END LANE, ALTCAR - JUNCTION

IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic

Development Director setting out a number of options to improve road

safety at the junction of the Formby Bypass (A565) with North End Lane,

Altcar.

RESOLVED: That

(1) the Cabinet Member - Technical Services be requested to consider

proceeding with option 1, as set out in the report (introducing a

Traffic Regulation Order prohibiting vehicles from turning right out of

North End Lane onto the Formby Bypass, with associated signage)

and to investigate the possibility of implementing a 50 mph speed

limit in the vicinity of the junction; providing a feeder lane for northbound

traffic from North End Lane; prohibiting traffic from turning

right from North End Lane onto the Bypass; providing traffic

segregation lanes on the Bypass; and/or re-phasing the traffic lights

at the Orrell Hill Lane/Bypass junction, as part of the formulation of

the 2011/12 Local Safety Scheme Capital Programme; and

(2) the outcome of the further consideration of the various options be

reported back to this Committee in due course.

74. HIGHTOWN - PROPOSED COAST PROTECTION WORKS

Further to Minute No. 150 of 15 April 2009, the Committee considered the

report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the

progress of a proposal to regenerate sand dunes in the Hightown area

using sand sourced from Crosby and to provide coast defence works in

the vicinity of the Blundellsands Sailing Club. The report was submitted

for the Committee's information prior to the scheme being subject to

consultation through the planning process.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Save Our Cheques

I was filling up my car a few afternoons ago and whilst being rather concerned at how quickly the price was going up compared to how little was being pumped into my car, I spotted a sign saying "We no longer accept cheques." I managed to get a quick picture before driving off,using my mobile phone.

I've been asked by numerous residents as to why I feel this is such an important campaign. The reasons why have been detailed on this Blog already. However, what I think people really sympathize more with,is the fact that the big High Street banks are keen to push this through as soon as possible, simply because at the present moment in time there is no legislation stopping the Banks from doing so.

It is once again another example of the Big Banks doing as they please without a full consultation and thought for the ordinary person using the cheque service; this being the housebound, disabled, charitable sector, small business, and the elderly. I urge all residents of Manor Ward to sign my petition – which is attached to your latest FOCUS newsletter and being delivered this coming month – and return it to myself, before we are too late.

Closures of Children's Centres... Continued.

Manor Ward Councillor John Gibson says: "My colleague and long time friend of Manor Ward, Council Leader Tony Robertson, outlines further the Lib Dem position on the closure of Children's Centres. I have to fully agree with my Lib Dem council colleagues, I think it is fair to say that those of us seriously engaged, and some are not, with reducing the council budget have found this amongst the most difficult of issues in which to deal with.

Tony Robertson's full Blog can be found by clicking HERE. His words are much more informative than a simple statement, as published by Manor Ward earlier this week. For those with concerns or issues surrounding the closure of Children's Centres or other Council budgetary issues, please contact your Manor Ward Lib Dem Team.

There are no Phase 1 Centres in Manor. However, other Centres concerned in the Crosby Area are the following:

Phase 2:

·         Thornton Children’s Centre

·         Waterloo Children’s Centre

Phase 3:

·         Valewood Children’s Centre

 

I have to thank my friends in Birkdale for bringing the following report by Graham Allen MP to my attention. The report is about how the principle that these services should be targeted on the most vulnerable children who are not 'school ready', can be found by clicking here."

Your New Years FOCUS

Your New Year FOCUS has now gone to print and will be finding its way onto the doorsteps of all Manor Ward residents over the coming month.
If you would like to help deliver some FOCUS leaflets down your road or in your area drop your FOCUS team an email:
manorfocus@gmail.com 
or, ring Councillor John Gibson on:
07890 196 348

Lib Dem Group statement about Children’s Centres

"Sefton Council senior officers have told Council members that there will, in their view, not be enough money in 2011/12 to run the Phase 2 and 3 Children's Centres and that by implication they think that only Phase 1 Centres can be funded. It is this stark fact put before us that all members of Council have to consider.

If Council Officers are right (and we are presently investigating things) then the Council could only keep the Phase 2 and 3 Centres open by ceasing funding elsewhere within the Council and moving the money to fund the Centres. However, the Council has already made savings of £26m for the 2011/12 year and it needs to make a further £17m for that same year to balance its books. It is for this reason that senior officers have said there will be no money to run the Phase 2 and 3 Centres.

The Lib Dem Group, on balanced Sefton Council where no party has a majority, is presently looking at all options before it but the honest answer to concerns is that finding the huge amount of money needed to keep the Phase 2 and 3 open is virtually impossible. A more likely possibility is to try to save some of what they

presently deliver. It is this that we are investigating.

You may be told that the Council does not need to make the savings but if you are this is untrue. The Council has to set a legal budget that balances by March of this year and to do that it is estimated that it needs to reduce spending by the £17m mentioned above on top of the £26m savings already made. Please beware of anyone offering to save the Centres as the only way that can be done is by extra millions of Pounds being found from outside of the Council i.e. from Government. Unfortunately Phase 2 and 3 Children's Centres are closing across the UK due to the economic crisis affecting the Country."

Reports from Crosby Area Committee

The Crosby Area Committee meeting, held in Hightown on Wednesday evening, proved to be a lively one. It was always going to be so with some real lively topics up for debate.

·         The Council’s response to the severe snow fall last month. This topic caused the greatest debate with residents venting their justified frustration towards Sefton’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Margaret Carney, who was good enough to attend the meeting alongside two of her officers. It was a pity the cabinet member didn't attend - despite an invitation to do so.

·         North End Lane. The full report was delivered by an officer from Technical Services about the possible options to make the junction at North End Lane and the Formby By-pass safer. Councillor Gibson raised his concern that firstly the second option within the report, to close the central reservation off, was ill thought. Cllr. Gibson argued that closing off the central reservation would cause problems for emergency service access; the importance of which was highlighted last weekend with the fire at the Hightown Club (pictured). Secondly, Cllr. Gibson suggested the report could go further and the option of speed reductions on the by-pass alongside a left hand side feeder lane should be considered.

The junction concerned technically falls into the Formby Area boundary therefore no final deliberation or action can be taken until the Formby Area Committee has sat and discussed the options too. Your FOCUS team will continue to press for this matter to come to a sensible, and economical solution.

·         Based on calls from Manor Lib Dems the Committee all agreed to improve the signage of ‘Another Place’ in the Crosby Area (pictured right).

·         It was confirmed, and agreed by all Councillors, that a grant of £250 from the Area Committee budget would be given to George Moore Court, in Thornton.

·         Edgemoor Drive – this road is now being monitored with regards to traffic safety and the speeding of cars by Technical Services. This issue was raised by your Manor Ward Lib Dem FOCUS team.

·         Thornton Primary School - Shortly before Wednesday night's meeting of the Crosby Area Committee, there was a rumour circulating that the redundant building left following the closure of Thornton Primary School, in Thornton, was to become an educational centre for 'errant youths' . In other words a reform school.

Quite correctly the Chairman of Thornton Parish Council raised the issue at the Area Committee and learned that this is far from the case.

The school is to have a considerable sum of money spent on it and is to become an educational centre for very seriously disabled youngsters in the 16 to 19 age group who cannot complete their education at other schools.  The Crosby Area Committee was reassured that there is no threat to the community and a useful school for the area, helping many children.

Hightown Cricket Club pavilion gutted by blaze

Hightown Cricket Club has experienced a devestating fire during the early hours of Sunday morning.

The full story can be found online on the Formby Times website.

Local resident and Hightown Councillor, John Gibson, whose house is a stones throw away from the Club, told how sad he was to hear such terrible news. He told e-Focus: "I was invited to inspect the damaged Club House along with the Formby Times on Sunday morning. Both as a local resident and Ward Councillor I am obviously very sympathetic to the members of the Club. The scale of the fire is shocking; the burnt smell left behind from the fire could still be smelt in the air as I left my house this morning."

If you've been affected by this incident and need advice or support you can contact John either by phone 0151 929 2044 or email manorfocus@gmail.com.



Picture taken from Formby Times website, link above.

Labour's Hokey Cokey - In or Out?

Just before Christmas, councillors had the unenviable task of deciding where to make almost £24 million of savings in council services. This was well reported in all local media. With such huge savings having to be made there is inevitable tension around the massive savings that Sefton Council has to make to balance its books. Obviously, the Council has to do this and play its part in rescuing the UK economy destroyed by Gordon Brown and his banking mates. But whatever the cause the books still have to be balanced. However, there seems to be little debate coming from the Labour Cabinet members about how best to balance Sefton's books.

Consensus politics requires, by its very nature, a broad agreement about the direction of particular governance. Yet, when Labour councillors, who are part of the 3-party consensus on Sefton's Cabinet, refuse to agree any cuts, without offering any alternative ideas to save money, this form of politics breaks down. The question remains; are you in or are you out?

Being, in effect, OUT right opposition whilst receiving generous personal allowances for your position IN the cabinet is a paradox that Sefton Council cannot afford to continue with.

This blank-piece-of-paper-style leadership is happening by Labour both locally and nationally, only at least nationally Red Ed has agreed that cuts need to be made. I direct you to Sefton Council Leader and colleague, Tony Robertson's, recent Blog with his thoughts on the situation - which doesn’t seem to be any closer to being resolved...

Our Friend Peter Goes Blogging

Victoria Ward Liberal Democrat Councillor, professional author, and a long time friend to Manor Ward, Councillor Peter Hough (pictured) has joined the growing number of active Sefton Lib Dem bloggers. Now with 8 active Lib Dem sites in Sefton we welcome Peter to the online club. Peter's blog, along with all other Sefton Lib Dem blogs, can be found on our Blog Roll on the right. He began by issuing the following release:
 

Cllr Peter Hough has just announced he has just launched his own blog site: peterhoughblog.blogspot.com

 

"Communication with residents is vital as a councillor. Whether its through knocking on doors, delivering newsletters, attending public meetings, holding surgeries, through the local media or by letter, phone and email - getting your message across is extremely important. People need to know who you are, and what you stand for. Blogging is the latest way of communicating your views to residents. It's a daily diary that is online and available for all to read.

 

"My blog won't be just an webpage version of the successful Focus newsletter we regularly deliver to our residents. It will be extra - topical and up-to-date. I've called the blog 'It's not just politics!' because the entries will cover anything  I think may interest other people. For instance I've just put on a short review of the hit musical Scouse Pacific. But there will be much that is controversial too. I want to give residents a better incite into my views of the issues affecting us all in Sefton."

YES to Fairer Votes

Over the next five months your Manor FOCUS team will be championing the voting referendum in May. We'll be bringing you our arguements and the reasons why voting YES is the right choice to make. To begin though, the three basic reasons why:

Next May you have a choice. You can keep using the First-Past-the-Post system to elect our politicians, or you can choose a new and fairer system - Alternative Vote (AV)

AV is a small change that makes a big difference.

MPs having to work harder to be elected

MPs will need to secure at least 50% of the vote to be certain of winning, not just in the 1 in 3 that can currently put them in power. They'll need to work harder and go further to get — and keep — your support. They'll have to appeal to more people in the communities they seek to represent, because doing just enough won't be enough any more.

A vote that really counts

Forget tactical voting – just pick the candidate you really want to win. But if your favourite doesn’t win you can still have a say. It's as easy as 1,2,3...

  

Tackling Jobs for life

Too many MPs have "safe seats" or jobs for life, and the expenses crisis showed us just where that culture can lead. Now you can help end that culture of complacency.

AV keeps what works with out current system, and eliminates many of its weaknesses. It's a long overdue upgrade to make a 19th century system fit for the politics of the 21st century.

Our parliament will better represent our communities. MPs will have to have a better view of what your community thinks - and that's because they will have to listen harder to your views. 

For all the details visit: YES To Fairer Votes 

Oldham... A breakdown.

I read a good friend and colleague of mine, Lauren Keith's, thoughts on the Oldham By-election and figured it more than worthy of a re-post here on the Manor FOCUS blog too:

http://cambridgefocus.blogspot.com/2011/01/over-but-not-out.html

Crosby Area Committee

Sefton Council's Crosby Area Committee is to be held at St. Stephen's Church Hall, St. Stephen's Road, Hightown on Wednesday 19th January, 2011 6:30 pm. The following are going to be discussed:-

• Recent Severe Winter Weather Problems - I will be raising your concerns about the failure of Sefton Council to properly protectthe area when the snow fell in December.
• Formby Bypass/North End Lane, Altcar - Junction Improvement Options (A full report on the options is being discussed. A Conservative candidate for Council in Formby has been quoted in the press as asking for the closure of the junction altogether. We need saftey measures in place at the junction, but closing the junction is a daft idea and I will oppose the closure.)
• Hightown - Proposed Coast Protection Works - This will be an update on what is happening.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! It would be helpful if you could attend to make your views known about the above issues. A period of time is set aside for a Public Forum. During this time the public are invited to ask questions or raise matters / petitions on issues which are relevant to the Council. Members of the public may ask questions or speak and make representations about any matter of general interest or concern in YOUR area which is of relevance to the Council. If you can't attend, please let me know your views (thanks to all those who have done so already!) and I will speak on your behalf.

Councillor John Gibson

"Ingleside", Sandy Lane, Hightown, L38 3RP

0151 929 2044 / or7anacarenza@aol.com

Save Our Cheque

The Manor FOCUS Team has had many replies from the Winter FOCUS' and via e-mail with regards to our Save The Cheque Campaign...

Since Liberal Democrats, with Sefton's Liberal Democrats leading the way, have raised this issue with the Government things have progressed. I will post the Government’s current position on the matter this coming week.

In the mean time, posted below is a petition slip for residents to print off, fill in, and return to the FREEPOST address. Please do try to include all your information and feel free to print off as many copies as you wish to distribute to family and friends.


THERE IS STILL NO LEGISLATION STOPPING THE ABOLITION OF THE CHEQUE SO YOUR VOICE IS VITAL!


The full details surround the campaign can be found here.


CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE:

Labour's Gritting Man's Absent Apology

Your Manor FOCUS team recently reported on the Council’s Chief Executive’s apology with regards to the response to December’s snow fall. We further commented on how Labour were avoiding the ‘blame game’ and trying to take the politics out of the abysmal response to the snow fall and gritting issues that followed. However, no such apology has come from the man in charge politically. In fact, far from it, Bootle Labour Councillor and the man in charge of Sefton’s gritting, Cllr John Fairclough (pictured), is avoiding the issue let alone apologising.

Mr. Fairclough was invited to answer local people’s concerns at the Southport Area Committee and the Crosby Area Committee. He directed those who wanted to know if he would attend to his comments in the Crosby Herald. This is not a personal attack on Mr. Fairclough, as claimed by Labour, but it is purely a comment about his audacity and the lack of accountability, whilst he abuses his position of greater responsibility (and the additional allowances he receives for this privilege).

As my colleagues in Southport have commented, perhaps the more bizarre factor to come out is the response of the Tory Leader Mrs Parry. Now you would have thought she would have been the champion of her government's policy of local unaccountability, but no. Instead she said:

“…the attendance at Area Committees of Chief Executive Margaret Carney, and top Council officers Jerry McConkey and Peter Moore was sufficient.”

This continuing saga reminds me of one of the main reasons I joined the Liberal Democrat Party: safe seats and the lack of accountability within both the Labour and Conservative camps.

Jack Colbert - The man who has saved Crosby Conservative Club?

In a week that has seen Sefton Conservatives in disarray over their own in-house-rules and constitution, it has been further marked by a hilarious story to come out of Crosby Conservative Club. This week's Crosby Champion newspaper sees Jack Colbert (pictured), former Sefton Lib Dem Councillor, on the front page because of his present position as Chairman of the Crosby Con Club. The story was further printed in this week's Crosby Herald also.

I won't bother going into the detail because I believe the whole issue is rather out of proportion. I will, however, refer you to what my colleague Tony Robertson commented on the matter: "We all knew Jack had ‘taken over’ the Tory Club from the inside as he has been going there together with former Labour and Conservative Councillors for years! Indeed, Jack was asked to become Chairman of a Club that is, I am told, disaffiliating from the Tory Party! This reminds me of another local Con’ Club in Maghull that has dropped the name Conservative and now calls itself Kensington House Social Club."

As I say, it has been a bad week for the Tories right across Sefton, but I did laugh at Jack's one liner when contacted by the above newspapers:

“I only go for three reasons; because there’s cheap ale, good snooker tables and no Conservatives!”

The full articles can be found by clicking the following links: The Champion / The Crosby Herald

Oldham East and Saddleworth - the result.

Having spent most of the week in Oldham and Saddleworth, not to mention numerous hours there before the New Year, it was obvious that the by-election was going to be a hard fought contest. I must outline that, as I posted earlier this week, the result would show one thing - that recent polls showing Liberal Democrat support in single figures would be rubbished. I am pleased with the share of the vote we Lib Dems got in this by-election. 31.9% is slightly raised from the General Election result of last May and clearly it shows that the Lib Dem vote is holding up despite us having to take all the tough decisions that Labour have been ducking.

You cannot say that from the result, Lib Dem share of the vote was only maintained by having squeezed the Tories into an abysmal third place. The comparative increase in Labour's share of the vote to that of the Tory's reduction highlights this.

It was great to be campaigning with other Lib Dems from all around the country, sharing ideas and stories. As well as having had the pleasure to campaign, on many occasions, with Elwyn Watkins who was a brilliant candidate.

Not to mention the other hugely positive result to come out of last night: the BNP not retaining their deposit!

The full result for the by-election can be found here.

Reports from Oldham...

As I posted earlier this week I've been campaigning over in Oldham. Tomorrow is the final day of the campaign with the polls opening early morning for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election. The by-election was sparked after the expulsion of Labour's Phil Woolas from the constituency by the High Court, after being found guilty of deliberately lieing to the electorate during May's General Election with regards to Liberal Democrat candidate, Elwyn Watkins.

It's been a really good couple of days with the big, final push tomorrow. The result will certainly be close, and I can say one thing for certain, whatever the outcome it will go a long way to rubbish national polls that show Lib Dem support being very low.

You can find below a couple of screen shots (click to enlarge), taken from last night's Newsnight with me campaigning in the background. It's a 'blink and you miss it' kind of moment, but great to be in the thick of the campaign having met Elwyn Watkins several times before and Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, yesterday. The result will be a real close one and I hope the right one too.

Sefton Conservatives "in Disarray"

“Sefton’s Conservative party appeared in disarray last night, after three councillors were suspended and another defected to UKIP.”

For me, it comes as no surprise to read that the rumours surrounding yet more turmoil in the Sefton Conservative camp are true. This morning's news that 3 Tories have been suspended and has one resigned from the small Tory group on Sefton Council needs has been confirmed. The full story can be found by clicking the following:

“SEFTON’S Conservative party appears in disarray”

Nationally the Conservative Party might be trying whole heartedly to rebrand themselves as a ‘modernized’ and in touch party, however, back home in Sefton they remain the party of in house squabbling, fighting and back-stabbing.

It was not too many moons ago that under the leadership of Sir Ron Watson (now suspended!) the Tories had an overall majority - close to 40 councillors. Today there are 11.

The Lost Gormley Men and Women

This is a reoccuring issue and one that has recently become a real problem again:

Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ has over the years brought many visitors into the area. More recently, however, the statues have been so successful that visiting motorists have been getting lost trying to get to them through impossible routes and ending up in Hightown, Crosby and Thornton.

This wave of unnecessary traffic through residential areas has caused Lib Dem activist James Ludley to champion the introduction of clearer signposting to ‘Another Place’. James Ludley told FOCUS: “By making the directions to the Gormley statues clearer it will allow new visitors to our area to navigate their way back easier, which in turn should allow a greater balance between the attraction itself and the benefits to local businesses in Crosby and along Bridge Road.”

Oldham East and Saddleworth...

Well, I rather had hoped to have travelled across the M62 and been more involved with the goings on in Oldham. However, Manor’s Winter Focus combined with personal commitments, not to mention work, have restricted me to just a few visits prior to the New Year. Yet, I write this short post for two reasons. Firstly, to apologise in advance as Manor’s e-Focus will be rather quiet for the next few days as I have managed to find the time to campaign in Oldham for the remainder of this week. And secondly, to offer the reader a rather interesting article by The Times, who, for the first time ever, have fully endorsed the good people of Oldham East and Saddleworth to vote Liberal Democrat this Thursday – and all in the name of democracy and clean politics. Well worth a browse.

With a bit of luck, the next time I post there should be a 58^th Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament in the Commons.

Labour opportunism continued...

I was going to do a post on the VAT rise, however, I stumbled across Lib Dem Voice’s version and I feel I couldn’t have put it better myself.

Additionally to this, and pointed out to me by my colleagues in Birkdale, is Evan Davis’ interview with Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson on BBC’s Today programme. We now have it confirmed that Labour agree the size of the structural deficit and they agree with the coalition about its size. They agree that it will not be eliminated by growth. They think that there should be more tax rises (so quite how they think they could avoid VAT given Alistair Darling's statements as Chancellor).

Road Sign Repaired in Hightown

Your Manor Ward FOCUS team has successfully overseen repairs to the North End Lane sign in Hightown. Last month your local Lib Dem Councillor and Hightown resident, John Gibson, highlighted to Sefton engineers the need for repairs. In an email from Capita Symonds they said the following:  “After our discussion in the Town Hall car park on Friday 17/12/2010 in which you relayed your concern over the damaged sign at the end of North End Lane at its junction with the Formby Bypass, an inspection was carried out by the highways department who the issued an order to their contractor, Graysons, to effect a repair.  The repair was carried out the same day.”

If you have any concerns or issues surrounding road signs in your area of Manor Ward contact your FOCUS team: manorfocus@gmail.com

The Blame Game?

As my colleague and Sefton’s Council Leader, Tony Robertson, so eloquently puts: “Today we have seen both at a national and local level that Labour are nothing more than rather poor political opportunists.

Nationally, they are trying to distance themselves from the unfortunate VAT rise yet we all know, because Lord Mandleson has told us, that Labour planned a VAT increase had they been re-elected last May!”

At a local level it’s rather infuriating to read Sefton Central MP, Bill Esterson’s, opportunistic comments in this week’s (Thurs 30^th Dec) Crosby Herald about last month’s ineffectual gritting and snow ploughing in Crosby, and Sefton at large. In Mr. Esterson’s ‘Westminster Diary’ he comments that “...it should not be a surprise if local councillors also blame others instead of accepting responsibility.” Yet, when one considers that it is theoretically BOTH the Cabinet member and the Director who are responsible as individuals in orchestrating Sefton’s response to the snow fall.  Remembering that Cabinet members get paid much more substantially than ordinary councillors and it is meant to be for ‘responsibility’. In this instance, The man in charge of the Sefton Council’s gritting operations is Bootle Labour Councillor John Fairclough, so it is no wonder that Mr. Esterson, and Labour, are not, on this occasion unlike the past, interested in playing ‘the blame game’.

Let’s not forget, Mr. Esterson was quick enough to blame the Coalition for the ‘axing’ of the Thornton Relief Road… And I’ve not seen a written apology for such opportunist comments yet.

An apology from the Council

A message of apology posted on Sefton MBC’s website on the back of meeting with Liberal Democrat councilors:

Sefton Council Chief Executive, Margaret Carney, said: "Following the severe weather conditions witnessed just before Christmas, I wish to sincerely apologise that we didn't achieve better outcomes despite extensive gritting and the efforts of all staff concerned.

 We will learn lessons which will include looking to invest in new equipment and mobilising staff more quickly to manually clear the snow, particularly in town centres.

 While the weather conditions were unprecedented, it is clear that the lives of our communities were significantly impacted and I apologise for that."

Councillors meet with Highways officers over Gritting Mayhem concerns

The severe snow fall and the weather conditions that Crosby suffered in the week running up to Christmas caused a major headache for all residents. Councilor John Gibson and FOCUS Team member and Crosby resident James Ludley were both in constant contact with council officials, colleagues, residents and Parish Councilors across Manor Ward and Sefton in an attempt to find the answers to such failings.

It was Southport Liberal Democrat Councillor, Simon Shaw, who led a team of councilors to meet with senior Council officers to discuss widespread concerns over gritting and the clearance of snow.  This is the link: Councillors to meet with Highways officers over gritting mayhem

The meeting took place, as planned, Wednesday 29^th December, the first day back at work after the Christmas bank holiday break.  Simon and six other councillor colleagues from across Southport, Crosby and Maghull travelled to Bootle and were able to have a frank exchange of views with three senior Council officers.

The team of councillors was on a cross-party basis, including both Lib Dems and Conservatives.  They left officers in no doubt about the very high level of public dissatisfaction with the conditions on the roads and pavements in Southport, Crosby, Formby and Maghull for the 10 days or so from Saturday 18 December.

“There were many issues which we covered, and I know that other questions will be raised in the next few weeks,” reports Simon.  “Following the meeting I have been busy preparing a report which summarises our key thoughts as to where things went wrong, and how the Council could do better in the future.”

Some of the topics planned to be covered in Simon’s draft report include:

• Councillors felt the Council failed to act as it should have done, and as the public and local businesses have a right to expect, in terms of the response to priority pavement locations (e.g. Crosby Village, Moor Lane).

• The Council should examine the pros and cons of much more extensive snow ploughing on some or all of the gritting routes within residential areas, especially in the first 24 hours after very heavy snowfall.  It is accepted that there are major difficulties with snow ploughing in residential areas.

• There could have been more snow ploughing in the minority of local roads which are not residential (i.e. where the ploughed snow would not obstruct residents’ driveways).

• The Council needs to improve its Emergency Incident procedures.  This is particularly the case where very severe weather conditions occur (as happened with the heavy snowfall a week before Christmas) at the start of a weekend.

• It was noted that there are 3 demountable snow ploughs attachments for 8 gritters, and it is suggested that the Council should urgently consider purchasing (at least) 2 more.