Helpers are our Salvation

THE MEMBERS and friends of The Salvation Army in Southport would like to say a big thank you to all those individuals and businesses who have given us their support throughout the past year, and especially during the Christmas season when the kindness of people in contributing to our work in so many ways has been overwhelming.

This past Christmas, through the generosity of the local community, we were able to supply more than 800 toys and gifts, and 940 stocking-fillers to 93 families referred to us by social services, the Southport Foodbank and various schools and colleges.

Both directly, and in conjunction with church partners, we are able to offer support to the vulnerable in our community.

Through the donations we have received throughout the year, both monetary and by way of gifts of clothing, furniture and toys, we were able to provide free practical support to more than 401 individuals and families in 2019.

Our charity shop at 65 Shakespeare Street continues to provide good quality clothing, furniture and household goods at very reasonable prices and also assists families and individuals when required.

A major area of growth in recent years has been what we term energy aid. This is the provision of assistance with gas and electricity where individuals are referred to us by partner agencies.

The cost of this has risen in recent years and over £7800 was distributed in this way in 2019.

As 2020 advances at great speed, our prayer is that this year we will be able to carry on the work which lies at the heart of The Salvation Army - that of ministering to those in need as Jesus taught.

This is only possible with the trust which the public shows in

The Salvation Army to use the resources which they provide.

We wish all your readers a blessed and peaceful year.

The Salvation Army

Southport

CYNICAL FRACK PLOY

THOSE opposing fracking at Great Altcar may be interested in recent developments at Westminster, where the Business Secretary announced that the fracking moratorium “defines high-volume hydraulic fracturing as involving the injection into a well of 1,000m3 or more of water per fracturing stage or 10,000m3 or more of water during the entire fracturing process.

“Activities outside of this definition are not included in the moratorium.”

The 2015 Infrastructure Act redefined fracking according to the volume of fluid used to fracture the shale. As this definition excluded more than 40% of gas wells fracked in the US –the source of many of the worries of my local Frack Free Ryedale (FFR) and others in objecting to the process – this was considered a cynical ploy to achieve fracking via the back door.

When the government announced its moratorium in November, FFR was one of the first to note that the value of the moratorium depended utterly upon the definition of fracking.

Our suspicions concerning government’s intentions were confirmed on January 28 in the House. Not only is fracking as originally understood, using smaller quantities of fluid, still permitted, but also acidisation and other forms of fossil fuel extraction, as well as exploration.

More then than a cynical ploy to achieve fracking, a cynical ploy to achieve re-election!

David Cragg-James one time Crosby resident