School walk so much better

IN A few weeks’ time children will be returning to school, or even starting a new school for the first time.

To get to school some will walk, cycle, or catch public transport, which leaves the rest to join the thousands on the school run.

Parents should do a few dry runs and find the least congested route before parking a short distance from the school. Use a phone to find the safest walking route for the remainder of the journey.

The total journey time may be longer, but it will be less stressful for the driver and a brisk walk is good for your health.

A householder needs a dropped kerb in order to cross the pavement to park in one’s own drive, yet cars are allowed to park on the pavement.

When will Sefton Council clamp down on pavement parking? Bernard Powell

Southport

CUT DUTY, SAVE PUBS

IT WAS very disappointing to read the latest figures showing that the pub industry is still struggling to survive, with 18 closing their doors for the last time in Britain every week.

Sadly this decline has been ongoing for a long time now and the North West is the hardest hit area, along with the South East.

The Campaign of Real Ale, (Camra) has revealed that there were 476 closures nationally in the first six months of this year, which is 13 more than the previous half year.

The Government could help ease this situation as the third of the cost of a pint is made up of various taxes, but there is little evidence that they are going to do so.

The combination of high beer duty, VAT and rising business rates is crippling the industry and killing off the traditional boozer.

And at the same time booze in supermarkets and off-licences is comparatively cheap, encouraging people to drink at home.

The Government urgently needs to reduce the beer duty and VAT so that the food and drink industry can compete with those shopping outlets.

It is easy for people to just shrug their shoulders on reading that yet another pub has closed its doors but it should not be forgotten that every closure means not just a loss of an amenity but a loss of jobs.

Pubs are at the heart of communities, urban and rural, up and down this land, and a cynical observer might think that the Government – of whatever hue – is happy for the places where people gather to chew the fat should vanish.

We all know that politics, local and national, is a regular topic while a pint or two are downed and with the increasing dumbing down of society I fear the powers-that-be would prefer citizens to be at home mesmerised by their electronic devices rather than discussing societal issues. Paul Nuttall, North West MEP

UK Independence Party

HE’S OUT OF TOUCH

I FEEL I must write regarding my horror upon reading an article in the local Focus magazine, which I am led to believe is the truth. I have no reason to think otherwise.

The back page of the magazine refers –and I quote “Merge Southport with Liverpool” says Labour.

Joe Anderson, the Mayor of Liverpool, reportedly told the Financial Times people don’t understand borders – they are all Scousers.

I strongly object to this statement, how dare he assume we want to be classed as Scousers.

I certainly don’t, he is obviously so out-of-touch with the residents of Southport to make such a tasteless statement.

If Mr Anderson did listen to the residents of Southport he would hear their disappointment in the way the town has been allowed to deteriorate, at the same time as we pay increase council tax and parking charges.

Residents in many cases pay more for insurances as part of Merseyside.

The residents say “I was once proud to say I lived in Southport, not any more” and “all the money we pay goes to Bootle and is spent there updating Liverpool areas” – and what’s more none of us trust Bootle, they have lined their coffers with our hard earned money for long enough.

Southport residents want to come out of Merseyside, with a local council that recognises the needs of the population, and spend the money in Southport.

Alternatively become part of Lancashire to aid a fairer distribution of monies.

We have all undergone a number of years of austerity but areas of Liverpool certainly seem to have thrived during this time. Via email