Great to read about positive side of town

I READ with great interest your article in the Visiter outlining the latest developments.

I use the pier regularly enjoying the scenery and the refreshing walk. It is wonderful seeing it going from strength to strength.

It also awakened memories of the early 1990s.

At that time two groups of stalwart citizens, Southport 2000 and Save The Pier joined forces to oppose the ruinous plans SMBC were proposing for our lovely town.

These involved the pier and the Winter Gardens site.

We held meetings, publicised our thoughts and plans locally

– even in

Southport

Carnival processions – and fundraised.

One way was to hold social events in the pier buildings, even cooking for dinner parties which friends and allies supported.

There must be many records of these happenings in the back copies of the Visiter from 1988 onwards.

There are many people we must thank profusely.

Cllr Richard Hands, Doreen Hill, Ann and Jim Hindley, Eunice and Bill Joynson, Brian Leach, Brian Naylor, John Pugh, Justin Walker, David from Ainsdale and Tony Quirk – the chair of Southport 2000 – and others whose names I have forgotten.

Sadly, some of these good folk are no longer with us but the causes were very dear to all our hearts.

Keep the good news rolling up!

Via email GETTING back our hourly direct train service to Manchester Piccadilly in December is great news (Visiter, August 22).

However for Damien Moore MP to claim all the credit is invidious.

The rail campaigners were more than just “vocal in their calls”.

We put in a tremendous amount of effort for five years and did the bulk of the hard work to convince Merseytravel, Transport for the North and Northern that this service is essential for the wellbeing of Southport.

Going forward, the top priority is not improved rolling stock (which we shall be getting early next year all being well) but a seven-day Piccadilly service and not just Monday to Saturday.

That’s what we need our MP, our local councillors, and business and tourism leaders to be pushing for. Eric Woodcock

Via email

SEWAGE FLOOD FEARS