OBE honour for singer Marc Almond

60 Pages·2017·49.17 MB·English

SOUTHPORT
Over 190 Years in the Local Community
£2145
www.champnews.com
3 Januar y 2018 Vol 25 Issue 1
l
OBE honour
Nightspot to be
for singer
turned into wine
Marc Almond
bar and hotel
NHS HOSPITALS
Palm oil blobs
continue to
wash up along
UNDER FIRE OVER the coastline
POTENTIALLY dangerous palm oil
blobs have continued to wash up on
the Sefton coastline, months after
they first started appearing.
In December, Sefton Council chiefs
asked dog walkers and beach-goers
PARKING COSTS to continue reporting sightings of
potentially harmful palm oil which
has been washing up on the sand.
From November onwards, more
than half-a-tonne of the mysterious
yellow blobs
appeared on
Formby beach,
with similar
sightings on the
Trust reveals it made a for patient car parking was £691,363 at Ormskirk Crosby shore.
whopping £1.6m in hospital and £930,418 at Southport hospital - that’s The council has
a total of £1,621,781 pulled in from patients, staff revealed that
charges during 2016/17 and visitors to both hospitals. they have
The trust point out that more are now taking removed an Palm oil blobs
advantage oftheir weekly, three monthlyand vend- incredible 20 washed up on the
ing scheme ‘out of hours’options which they claim tonnes of palm Sefton coastline
have resulted in ‘significant discounted rates’for oil debris so far.
Report byHenry James patients across both hospital sites. The spokesperson The yellow deposits –which are
added: “All cashraised from car parkingcharges at poisonous to animals –are believed
thetrustgotowardsthe costofmaintainingthecar to be leaking from debris from a
parks with any surplus going directly to further shipwreck off the coast of Anglesey,
SO U T H P O RT andOrmskirk Hospitalsareamong improving patient care. which was disturbed by bad
those from across the country which have come “For frequent visitors, passes are available for £10 a weather. Dogs could become seri-
under fire for making millions of pounds from car weekor £30forthree monthsplusa £10refundable ously ill, or possibly die, from
park charges in the last 12 months. deposit.Theseareavailable fromthegeneraloffice eating the yellow blobs.
The figures are part of a report from the Press Asso- at either hospital site or the porters’ lodge out of Sefton Council Coast and Coun-
ciation, which showed that NHS hospitals made a office hours.” tryside staff have said there appears
record £175m from staff, patients and visitors last To use the car park at Southport and Ormskirk hos- to be less palm oil debris washing
y e a r. pitals for 0-20 minutes it is free; for 20 minutes to ashore, but it is still present. Teams
These statistics have increased dramatically from two hours it is £2.90; from two to four hours, it is from Sefton Council Coast and
2014/15 when they were £164m and have been £3.50;from fourtoeight hours,itis£4.30, andfor Countryside team, along with its
called a ‘tax on the sick.’ more than eight hours, it is £5.30. partners have been collecting the
A spokesperson for Southport and Ormskirk NHS
deposits.
Trust confirmed that cash raisedduring the last year Continued inside
2lVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion lWednesday3January2018
MP welcomes
goverment’s
Kennan Doyle Solicitors
pledge of up to
Michael William Kennan, Solicitor
Wills | Probate | Commercial conveyancing
[email protected]
£5.2m more for
Louise Ellis - Doyle, Solicitor
Personal Injury | Wills | Probate | Lasting Powers of Attorney M’side police
[email protected]
Alice McKenna, Head of conveyancing
Sale | Purchase | Transfer | Remortgage
Report byDanielle Thompson
[email protected]
Patricia Burge, Solicitor SO U T H P O RT MP DamienMoore has welcomed
the government's announcement of a planned
Problem Tennants | Will disputes | Inheritance claims £450 million increase in police funding across
England and Wales.
[email protected] This includes up to an additional £270 million in
police forcebudgets, to increase theresources indi-
vidual forces have to respond to changes in
demand. MerseysidePolice havebeen pledgedan
increaseofupto£5.2m in2018/19asaresultof
Professional & Friendly Staff
these changes.
DamienMoore hasalsowelcomednews thatthe
Experienced Local Solicitors counter terrorism policing budget will rise by 7%,
with a £50 million increase taking it to at least
£757 million and £130 million extra for national
Fixed Fees
policing priorities.
He said: “The first responsibility of government is Southport MP Damien Moore
Direct email & phone access to your own solicitor to keep our country and its citizens safe, and to pro-
tect our way of life and our values. thereis moreto do.That’swhy weare puttingin
“Over the past seven years crime has fallen by this additional investment to help Merseyside keep
362 Marsh Lane Bootle • 0151 294 3155 morethanathirdacross thecountry,butweknow people safe in our community.”
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The Champion lWednesday3January2018 Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com l3
‘I’m utterly overwhelmed’to be
given an OBE, says Marc Almond
clotsand hadtoundergo emergencysurgery
‘I truly believed
twice.
Report byDanielle Thompson
He suffered serious head injuries, multiple
I was the last breaks and fractures, a collapsed lung and
damaged hearing –and aftertheaccident,he
ONEof Southport’s mostfamousfaceshas suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
person in the
been awarded an OBE in the New Year Hemade aslowrecovery,determined toget
Honours List. back on the stage and in the studio.
Singer-songwriter Marc Almond, 60, has world this could Learning to sing again, and regaining his
been given the accolade for his services for confidenceto performwas oneof thehardest
Arts and Culture –and said that ‘for a boy battles hehas faced.As aresult, heis nowa
from Southport to have come so far is utterly happen to...’ patron of the charity Headway whose aim is to
over whelming.’ promote understanding of all aspects of brain
The former Meols Cop High School and injury and provide information, support and
Southport College pupil playeda vital role in services to survivors, their families and
the new wave music movement, scoring an four, thefamily moved to NorthYorkshire for c a re r s .
international hit as the front man of electric two years, returning to live in Southport He said: “I was genuinely surprised and
duo Soft Cell with the song Tainted Love in before moving again toWest Yorkshire. After deeply honoured to receive an OBE. I feel
1981. his parents' divorce in 1972, he moved with blessed to have enjoyed such a long and
He has sold more than 35 million records his mother back to Southport where he gained diverse career in music and have been priv-
worldwideand TaintedLovebroke allrecords two O-Levels in Art and English and was ileged to have collaborated with so many
asthe trackthat remainedthelongest inthe accepted ontoa courseat SouthportCollege, talented, inspirational and renowned artists
USBillboard Top100,as wellasa Britaward specialising in Performance Art. over my career.
for best single. He hit the top of the charts Inhis teens,Almondbecamea hugefanof “Foraboyfrom Southporttohavecomeso
again in 1989 with Sixties legend, the late musician Marc Bolan after hearing him on the very far and to have been recognised with this
GenePitney, withtheduet Something’s Got- John Peel Show, prompting him to change the honour is utterly overwhelming. I truly
ten Hold Of My Heart, which remained at spelling of his first name to that of his hero. believed I was the last person in the world this
Number One for five weeks. He attended Leeds Polytechnic, where he could happen to.”
Afteralong,gruelling recoveryfromanear- met fellow student David Ball and formed Soft Since2000, hehasbeenworking inRussia
fatal motorbike accident in 2004, Almond Cell in1977. Theyenjoyed chartsuccess with where he also speaks out for tolerance and
became a patron of the charity Headway, who a number of top-20 singles including Bedsitter e q u a l i t y.
aim is to promote understanding of all aspects (number 4),Say Hello, WaveGoodbye (num- He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship
of brain injury. ber 3),Torch (number 2), What!(number 3), from EdgeHill Universityin Ormskirkand is
He was born in Southport to Sandra Mary Soul Inside (number 16), and the club hit also a patron of Leeds Music College where he
Diesen and Peter John Sinclair Almond, a Memorabilia (number eight). devotes time to nurturingthe musical talents
Second Lieutenant in the King's Liverpool Hislife hasnot beenwithout anystruggles. of their students.
Regiment, on July 9, 1957. He was brought up In October 2004, he was seriously injured in a He is also a supporter of PETA (People for
at his grandparents' house in Birkdale with his motorbike accident near St Paul's Cathedral in the Ethical Treatment of Animals), a charity
younger sister Julia, and as a child suffered London. He almost died and was left in a dedicated to establishing and protecting the
Marc Almond has been given an OBE from bronchitis and asthma. When he was coma for four weeks, suffered two huge blood rights of all animals.
Hospitals under fire over parking charges Shoppers donate
almost 13,000
meals to foodbank
From page 1
In the 2015-16 financial year, a total of
£668,501 was collected at Ormskirk Dis- GENEROUS supermarket shoppers in Southport
trict General Hospital and £880,858 at have donatedthousands of mealsto theless for-
Southport District General Hospital. tunate during the festive season.
Southport MP Damien Moore commen- A total of 12,912 meals were donated by cus-
ted on the findings: “While I think that tomers at Tesco stores around the resort, which
excessive car park charges are wrong, were given to the Trussell Trust, who run food-
there has to be a balance between those banks around the country including Southport
that need to park to use the hospital and Foodbank at the Lakeside Christian Centre on The
those who don't and would park there if it P ro m e n a d e .
were free. Thefooddonatedto foodbanksinTheTrussell
“Those requiring treatment should be Tr u s t ’s network is given in emergency food par-
able toget access so not to be late for an cels to people referred because they cannot afford
appointment, as well as this staff and vis- to feed themselves and their families.
itors also need to park. Samantha Stapley from theTrussell Trust said:
“Where a patient has regular appoint- “Our foodbank network has spent the last month
ments or for visitors of long-term making sure that people referred to them with no
patients, discounts should be applied. We money for food didn’t go hungry this Christmas.
need to ensure that the car parks are man- “This work has been made possible thanks to
aged in a responsible and fair way.” the incredible generosity of Tesco customers,
In 2008 in Scotland and Wales parking storecolleaguesand volunteersduringthefood
charges in hospitals were scrapped, collection .”
although fees do still exist at some hospit-
als in those countries. MM&&SS
However, in this country the trusts only
have guidelines on how much and when to EEYYEEWWEEAARR
charge, which state the fees “should be
reasonable for the area.”There are sup- shouldered by the sick, injured and vul- of the most expensive trusts in England SSPPEECCTTAACCLLEE
posed to be concessions for the disabled nerable.”The Department of Health has for this fee. MMAANNUUFFAACCTTUURREERRSS
and frequent visitors. said that hospitals are expected to follow Last year they made a whopping £2.7m WE HAVE MOVED TO
Katherine Murphy, the chief executive of guidelines and put concessions in place from car parking charges. 14b Upper Aughton
the Patients Association said she did not for people who need help –which includes The most expensive trust in England for
think it was fair that parking was free at staff on shifts, the disabled, and carers.” a one-hour visit was Royal Surrey County Road, Southport TWO PAIRS
hospitals in Wales and Scotland, but not in For patients from Sefton and West Lancs Hospital in Guildford where it costs £4 to PR8 5NA FOR £60
England. who have to travel to Aintree Hospital, the park for an hour.
She added: “The NHS is clearly under- report is even more alarming. The Heart of England NHS Foundation
funded but the onus on meeting the fund- Aintree hospital which charges £3 for a Trust generated the highest income from Tel/Fax: [phone] 55667445599
ing crisis should most certainly not be one-hour visit has been included in the list parking income - £4,865,000. www.mandseyewear.com
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4lVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion lWednesday3January2018
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Dog owner starts rail
safety campaign after
her pets got electric
shocks boarding trains
Geoff captures town as dusk falls
AN amateur photo- Geoff Wilcock, from making digital
byDanielle Thompson grapher has taken Southport, first star- slideshows with music
some stunning photo- ted taking photos and graphics of his
graphs of dusk on more than 70 years images, which he
Lord Street. ago. mostly takes on his
A RAIL commuter is calling for safety Champion reader The retiree enjoys travels.
measures to be taken after her two
Staffordshire bull terriers got electric
YOUR KITCHEN
shocks boarding a train in the rain.
Mum-of-one Lane Ritchai, 55, travels
between Ainsdale and Liverpool South TRANSFORMED
Parkwayfor herwork asacarer andtakes
her two dogs, seven year old JJ and six Doors, Drawer Fronts, Handles
year old Ruby with her on the train, which
and Worktops changed
she hasbeen doingsince theywere both
puppies.
FFor a FREE, No Obligation Consultation,
She said that around two years ago Ruby
please phone
was getting on the train while soaking wet
butreceivedan electricshockleavingthe NEW LOOK KITCHENS
dogfrightenedtoget onthetrain,soshe
01704 233777
has to lift her on to the carriage each
now on
time.
Lane told the Champion that on Sat- or Mobile [phone]
urday, December 16, her other dog, JJ,
Saving customers £1000’s for over 13 years
who is ‘scaredof nothing’was getting on
the train when he too got a shock, making
him yelp in pain and jump off.
Shecoaxed himontojumping onagain
but said the same thing happened again Lane with JJ (right) and Ruby
anotherthreetimes, beforeshemanaged
to get him onto the train. “Iwas reallystruggling tocontrol him- “If commuters are allowedto bring dogs
However, it has left both dogs terrified of he is not the lightest breed of dog and I onto the trains, then thetrains need to be
getting on and off. was tryingto pullhim onto thetrain but safe for the dogs too.”
Now Lane is campaigning for he kept touching the entrance strip and A spokespersonfor Merseyrailsaid: “We
Merseryrail to install safety strips across was yelping in pain and in fear. By the are grateful to Ms Ritchai for bringing this
the train entrances to stop the shocks hap- time we had got him on he was really most recent incident to our attention
pening. shaken . including the incident that occurred two
She believes that the rubber soles of pas- “I dread to think what could happen if years ago.
sengers’shoes are making them immune another dog, a smaller breed or one that “Whatwewouldlike todoismakecon-
to the shocks, but asmall animal could be was olderor frailerhad beenshocked like tact with Ms Ritchai so that we can take
seriously injured by them. that - it could have killed them! some further details which would allow us
Lane added:“Both times ithappened to “I was furious. Last time when it to conduct a thorough investigation.
my dogs it was raining and they were happenedto RubyI thoughtit musthave “This will help us to be able to under-
soaked, and I think the shocks happen been a one-off but now I know it could stand why this might have occurred.
when theirfront pawshit themetal strip happen any time and I have real safety “We have had no other reports of incid-
on the entrance to the train. concerns for my dogs and other people’s ents like this occurring on our network
“It was absolutely horrible to watch, animals. and many animals travel on our services
Ruby made this terrible noise when it “I logged a complaint with Merseyrail every day.
happened to her and then JJ made the last time it happened and had a letter say- “In the meantime we apologise for any
same noise over and over again when I ing they hoped she was fine but I want distress experienced by both Ms Ritchai
was trying to help him onto the train. action not a nice note! and her pet dogs.”
Campaigner given
special award for
work in community
A CAMPAIGNER has been given an award for her
work on opposing car parking restrictions in
Southport.
Louise Hankinson-Everatt was given the Sefton
4 Good’s‘Good Citizens Award’at Southport
Town Hall recently as a result of her efforts to
successfully oppose car parking restrictions at
Manchester Road for the benefit of all the resid-
ents and businesses there. The Awards aim to
help support local causes through funding, skills
and resources.
Dukes Ward Councillor David Barton, who nom-
inated Louise for the award said: “She continues
to work harmoniously for her local community,
especially that of Manchester Road where she
has already managed to achieve many great
things to improve the local environment, such as
her successful parking campaign benefiting local
re s i d e n t s .
“At all times she operates positively and con-
structively to get the best outcome for her
neighbours and fellow business owners. A great
communicator with an excellent approach who
listens and acts upon the wishes of those that
Dukes Ward Councillor David Barton, with Louise Hankinson-Everatt need help, she makes the local area sparkle and
holding her Sefton 4 Good ‘Good Citizens Award’at Southport Town assists people of all ages from the young to the
Hall elderly alike.”
6lVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion lWednesday3January2018
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The Champion lWednesday3January2018 Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com l7
Nurse aims to put
KICK START THE NEW YEAR
smiles on faces of
children with cleft
Sports Massage (cid:127) Improves performance
(cid:127) General injuries and muscle soreness
and Deep Tissue
palates in India (cid:127) Sports injuries
Massage (cid:127) Tension / stress/ relaxation
(cid:127) Recovering from training
Call Sandra on 07776 445077
Report byDanielle Thompson 141a Liverpool Road, Longton (cid:127) Also in Ormskirk
A NURSE who won a community award is hoping
to embarkon anew mission–flyingout tohelp
children suffering from cleft palates in India.
Theatresister CathyBousfield,49,who runsthe
Maghull Cadet Unit based at Maghull Town Hall
andworks atAlderHeyHospital inLiverpool,was
recentlygiven theCitizens4Good Awardfromthe
Mayor of Sefton, Councillor David Robinson.
The Awards recognise Sefton residents who make
a difference to life in their local communities.
Now the St John's Ambulance volunteer, from
Southport, hopesto jet off ona trip to Indiato put
smiles onthe facesof someof theworld’s poorest
children - if she reaches her fundraising target of
£1,500. SALE NOW ON!
The mum-of-two hopes to join an 80-strong team
ofdoctorsand nursesaspartof theNorthernCleft
Foundation to perform surgery of children and
adults in Nagpur whoare disfigured, spending 10
days with a team of specialists who hope to treat
around 300 patients. In order to be able to go on Fri-
25% OFF
day,January 12,sheneeds tobeableto coverher
airfare and accommodation costs.
She said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to Theatre sister Cathy Bousfield
make a positive difference to so many lives.
“All the people who are going to India have to raise finances to fund the staff.
the money to cover theirairfares and living costs as “It'll be thefirst time I havegone –one ofmy col-
the money the foundation raises is used to purchase leagueswho hasbeenbeforetold mehowfantastic
medical equipmentand to coverthe travelcosts of itwas.One ofthesurgeonssuggested thatIapply
the patients and their families many of whom travel for it and I got in –so now I am nervous but excited
several hundred kilometres to receive treatment. as well!
“I wouldbe extremelygrateful ifChampion read- “I havebeen part ofa teamdoing cleft lipsin the
ers could help me in raising the money I need to UK during the last two years so it will be amazing to
change the lives of these children. help children in India as well, I can't wait to go.”
“The money raised will helpme get over to India To help her reach her target, visit online donations EVERY ITEM IN STORE
as thecharity I willbe goingwith do nothave the site Just Giving and search for Cathy Bousfield.
(Not applicable in Sweeps Cafe)
Singer Peter Andre with weight loss consultants, from left, Dee Wright, Carol Wylie, Pamela
Crossen, Sheila Bolton and Fiona Foulder, who are all from Southport
Women ‘cuddle up’to Peter Andre!
SINGERPeter Andre has congrat- singer. Earlier this year, he sup- bowledoverby thedifferencewe
ulated a team of weight loss ported Slimming World’s most make to people’s lives and it
consultants from Southport on successful fundraising event ever, reminded uswhat importantand
their work helping slimmers the Big Slimming World Clothes privileged roles we have as con-
‘transform their lives.’ Throw, which raised a record- sultants.”
Andre co-presented the annual breaking£3.3 millionin justtwo Peter Andre added: “It was an Wishing All Our Customers Past, Present & Future
Slimming WorldAwards inBirm- weeks. honour to be invited to present
ingham recently with the The annual campaign encour- the Slimming World Awards. I A Happy New Year from all the staff
o rg a n i s a t i o n’s founder and chair ages Slimming World’s 900,000 met so many incredible people
Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE. group members to donate the who had lost amazing amounts of
Dee Wright, CarolWylie, Pamela clothes, shoes, bags and accessor- weight and transformed them-
113A Southport New Road, Preston, Tarleton PR4 6HX
Crossen, Sheila Bolton and Fiona ies that are now too big for them selves –inside and out.
Foulder from the Southport to Cancer Research UK. “T h e re ’sabsolutely nodoubtin
group were delighted to get a Dee Wright said: “Cuddling up my mind that the people who run (Find us on the A565 Tarleton Bypass) • Tel: 01772 - 816901
chance meet theMysterious Girl to Peterwas areal treat.He was the groups are very special.”
8lVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion lWednesday3January2018
New road is the ‘only viable
o p t i o n’say Highways England
Agency defends its
QualityFireplaces
Cut out the COMPLETE decision on new road
through Sefton from Port
middleman
FITTING
of Liverpool after council
BUY OF SOUTHPORT
SERVICE calls for judicial review
DIRECT Putting the fire back in life since 1979
all makes and
Report by Tom Martin
models of fires
from the MASSIVE
supplied
Manufacturer
and fitted HIGHWAYS England has reiterated its view that
building a new road is the best option to ease
traffic congestion to theexpanded Port of Liver-
LLOOLLAA JANUARY SSSTTTOOOVVVEEE PPPAAACCCKKKAAAGGGEEESSS pool.
FFuullll MMaarrbbllee.. CChhooiiccee ooff ccoolloouurrss Fuuullllllyyy fffiiitttttteeeddd cccooommmpppllleeettteee wwwiiittthhh fffllluuueee llliiinnneeerrr The agency has confirmed it would formally
WWAASS ££449999 £££111,,,888999555 defend its decision to opt for a bypass through Rim-
£££££33333333344444444499999999 NNNooowww rose Valley after Sefton Council applied for a
NNNNNooooowwwww judicial review on the basis that a tunnel option was
not included as part of the public consultation.
S A L E The agency said it had rejected the option of
building atunnel as itwould be tooexpensive and
wouldput thewholeof RimroseValleyPark outof
bounds for years during its construction.
Followingtheconsultation earlierthisyear,High-
ways England announced in August it had decided
to take forward the designof a new bypass through
RimroseValleyratherthan trytoimprovetheexist-
ing route between the port and Switch Island
NOW ON
junction where the road meets the M57 and M58
motor ways.
TTHHOOMMAASS LLOONNSSDDAALLEE Highways England chief executive Jim O Sullivan
FFuullll MMaarrbbllee SSuurrrroouunndd FFuullll MMaarrbbllee SSuurrrroouunndd said: “The considerable cost and disruption of con-
WWAASS ££554499 WWAASS ££339999 tructing a tunnel and ongoing maintenance and
££449999 £££££222229999999999 operational costs meant it was never going to be a
NNooww NNNooowww viable solution.
£ £ £ £ £ ’ S
“A bypass will provide similar long-term benefits
to a tunnel –an almost junction-free link between
the port and motorway network - at a significantly
lower cost with less construction disruption and a
much shorter delivery time when pressure on the
existing road is increasing all the time.
“We want to continue talking to the council and
TO BE SAVED
local people to ensure we deliver an A5036 Port of
Liverpool route which can support the local and
regional economy.”
The existing route is often heavily congested with
vehicle numbers increasing.
Explaining why a tunnel was never put forward
KKEELLSSOO SOUTHPORT’S LEADING LLEEGGEENNDD EETTHHOOSS
as an option at the consultation, Tim Gamon,
FFuullll MMaarrbbllee SSuurrrroouunndd WWAASS ££11,,884455
WWAASS ££559999 Highways England’s regional delivery director for
££444499 MANUFACTURER & SUPPLIER NNooww £1,,,495 the North West, said a bypass would deliver the
NNooww same economicbenefits as a tunnel but while a tun-
nel would cost more than £1.5 billion the cost of a
OF QUALITY SOLID MARBLE
bypass was around £250 million.
Mr Gamon said: “The tunnel simply does not
FIREPLACES provide value for money.
“Furthermore, the impact of delivering a tunnel
through the park would mean the whole of the
Rimrose Valley would potentially be ‘out of bounds’
for recreational use - including the sports pitches –
for up to 6 years due to the scale of the construc-
NNEEWW 8877%% EEffffiicciieennccyy tion and safety zones required.”
44..77kkww.. FFuullll RReemmoottee CCoonnttrrooll
Highways England bosses say they are working
on ideas to help mitigate the impact of a new
bypass on the country park, park users and people
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living nearby, with a package of mitigation and
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WWAASS ££229999 WWAASS ££229999 WWAASS ££229999 HHiigghh lleevveell ccoonnttrrooll,,nnoo mmoorree bbeennddiinngg WWAASS ££337755 environmental improvement measures including
£££111999999 ££224455 ££111999999 ddoowwnn WWAASS ££449955 ££444455 ££££22229999955555 landscaping, planted screening, noise barriers and
NNNooowww NNOOWW NNNOOOWWW Now only NNNNNooooowwwww ooooonnnnnlllllyyyyy improved leisure facilities and pedestrian and cyc-
list links through the valley.
A spokesperson said: “Delivering a bypass would
mean handing back the existing A5036 to local
people to provide a clear separation of local traffic
from commercial and commuter traffic between
the port and motorway network.
“Highways England will transform the existing
A5036 - delivering improved cycling facilities, bet-
ter crossing and footpaths, improved connectivity
on the inter-city routes crossing the road to benefit
local communities.”
[email protected]
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The Champion lWednesday3January2018 Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com l9
Police appeal to
Plans are revealed to
turn nightspot into
track down man
wine bar and hotel
on bike after town
byDanielle Thompson
KHEPRInightclub and restaur-
centre shooting
ant in Southport town centre is
to be turned into an upmarket
champagne and wine bar as part
of plans to open a new 27-bed- The Bold Hotel is often fully
room boutique hotel above it. booked so we know that there is
The Mikhail Hotel and Leisure a demand for another high qual-
Group also opened the Bold ity hotel in the town.
Report byDanielle Thompson Hotel, Punch Tarmeys and “We have worked closely with
Khepri Express takeaway on Sefton Council’s planning
Lord Street in Southport's North- department when we have been
MERSEYSIDE Police are still searching ern Quarter. They have already developing our other sites and
for the person who fired a gun and started work on the project and we have now submitted another
injured a man ina town centre shooting plan to open the hotel across the application to them for this
just days before Christmas. top three storeys of the building hotel. We believe that what we
Police are hunting a man they have this summer, creating 50 jobs. are doing is truly enhancing a
described as a white male, approx. 5’11” Andrew Mikhail, chairman of previously neglected part of the
tall, 19-20years of age,and whowas seen the Mikhail Hotel and Leisure town.
aroundthetimeof theshootingwearinga Group, said: “We are really “What we are creating can only
dark ‘puffa-style’jacket with the hood excited to start the New Year add to the investment coming
pulled up tightly around his head. with the announcement that into the town and the number of
He was also wearing a black scarf covering Southport is to get another jobs that the group has created.
his face and grey jogging bottoms. boutique hotel. Once we have the go-ahead, we
The man was sighted prior to the Eastbank plan to open in the summer and
Streetincident onThursday, December21, Po t e n t i a l look forward to showing people
travellingalongKing StreettowardsEast- how we have transformed all
bank Streeton adark colouredmountain “We saw great potential in the four storeys of the previously
bike with distinctive green handle bars. town when we first came across derelict building.”
After the shooting, he rode off on the same Merseyside Police want to speak to this man the Bold Hotel at the start of In March 2016, the group
bike along Eastbank Street and was last 2016. Since acquiring that and reopened the Bold Hotel follow-
sighted in Princes Street. ofpeople aroundso weare appealingfor help in this investigation.” bringing it up to the standard ing a multi-million pound
DetectiveInspector RichieJones, whois witnesses to come forward with any inform- The man who was shot was discharged that it is now, we have opened refurbishment. In December
leading the investigation said: “I would ation . from hospital the same day. another three venues within a 2016, they opened the first of a
appealfor peopleto comeforward withany “Membersofthe publicmighthavefoot- Anyone withinformation is askedto con- very small radius as we know planned chain of Punch
information which could help solve this ageon theirmobile phone’sor theycould tact officers on the gun crime hotline on that the customer base is there Tarmey ’s and in July, they
crime. havedashcamfootage fromtheircars.Any 0800230 0600or Crimestoppersanonym- for the right type of business. opened Khepri nightclub and
“It wasa busy timeof day, therewere lots information, no matter how small could ously on 0800 555 111.
10lVisit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion lWednesday3January2018
Local Carpet & Flooring Showroom
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124-126 NEW BRANCH NOW OPEN 83 High Street 56 Liverpool Road North CAR
Queen’s Drive Unit 10 PARK
Chapel Brook Trade Park WAVERTREE BURSCOUGH AT REAR
WALTON Wilson Road L36 6FH L15 8HF WALTON
FLOORING L40 4BY • Between the two bridges
L4 6SJ HUYTON Next to Townhall Pub
BURSCOUGH 01704 893377
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