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Resident owed apology from Council over green bin fiasco says John Pugh

Residents in large parts of Birkdale and central Southport were left fuming this Tuesday as Green Bins dutifully left out for emptying were ignored by Sefton Council’s refuse department. Residents learnt they

1st December 2021

John Pugh: Cycle lane plans “probably dead in the water”

Following the publication by Sefton Council of the consultation results on the second phase of cycle lane plans and their consideration by Sefton’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee last night, Lib Dem Leader,

10th November 2021

Resort’s former MP calls for crackdown on tax loopholes

With ordinary families and local businesses now having to pay full stamp duty on property purchases Lib Dem council group leader, John Pugh is calling for a clampdown on tax avoidance schemes

7th October 2021

Southport 24 Hour A&E unit marked for closure

Liberal Democrats respond to MP’s apology demand

[Editor: Southport Liberal Democrats, via John Pugh, were invited to respond to a letter received yesterday from Damien Moore MP. To ensure a fair right of reply, ‘Save Ormskirk and Southport Hospitals’

20th August 2021

Lib Dems say Government to double down on cycle lane backing

A new hard line adopted by Boris Johnson’s government is going to make it harder to address the very real issues created by Sefton’s planned cycle lanes. That’s the view of Cllr

4th August 2021

Southport Lib Dems deny co-operation with Conservatives on Sefton cycle lanes after Rees-Mogg claims

The Southport Liberal Democrat Group has denied an implication from Jacob Rees-Mogg that they are co-operating with Damien Moore in opposition to the Council’s cycle lane proposals. Southport Conservatives have strongly opposed

23rd July 2021

Commons leader uses “racist term” and attacks Council in response to Southport MP question

Damien Moore has claimed that residents of Sefton feel “under attack from the vindictive policies of Labour-controlled Sefton Council” for trying to “impose a cycle network”. In response Jacob Rees-Mogg replied: “I

22nd July 2021

Councillors vote to oppose political boundary changes

Sefton’s councillors have voted to oppose changes plans that would see Ainsdale removed from the Southport political constituency. A motion filed by Labour councillor Greg Myers moves “that Sefton Council rejects in

16th July 2021

Council motion to delay cycle lanes defeated

A council motion filed by the Liberal Democrats that would have delayed the consultation and potential implementation of cycle lanes in Southport has been defeated. At a full council meeting in Crosby

15th July 2021

Lib Dems aim to put cycle lane debate back on “rational footing”

Liberal Democrat councillor John Pugh says that yesterday’s accident on Queens Road between a cyclist and a passenger bus “underlines the need to put the Southport Cycle Lane debate on a rational

15th July 2021

Lib Dem survey shows significant opposition to Ainsdale boundary changes

A survey conducted by Cllr John Pugh on behalf of the Liberal Democrats shows a significant number of residents opposed to boundary changes that would split Ainsdale from the political constituency of

9th July 2021

VIDEO | Meet the candidates – 2021 Local Elections

In the buildup to the 2021 local election taking place next Thursday, OTS News has interviewed 15 election candidates from Southport and Freshfield vying for a seat on Sefton Council. Recorded video

29th April 2021

Blue bin rollout delayed due to coronavirus

The proposed rollout of a glass recycling blue bin has been placed on hold due to Covid-19. Sefton Council approved the blue bin scheme in September, saying that new government legislation requires

26th April 2021

Southport Conservatives accuse Liberal Democrats of Labour-inspired secrecy agenda

On Friday, the deep internal divisions of the Southport Liberal Democrat Party were exposed and laid bare for the town’s residents to witness. Tony Dawson, the once infamous right-hand man to long-serving

21st April 2021

Lib Dems divided over Dukes ward candidate inclusion

Political maneuvring over the past 24 hours has revealed a deep division in the local Liberal Democrats over the status of now independent Dukes ward candidate Tony Dawson. Cllr Dawson has remained

9th April 2021

John Pugh calls on voters to “smash machine politics”

With the local elections imminent, Sefton opposition leader, Cllr John Pugh is urging residents to use their vote to help “smash machine politics” and bring back what he calls “real local democracy”.

8th April 2021

Lack of quality hotel space could harm Southport’s conference resort ambitions says John Pugh

Sefton Liberal Democrat Leader John Pugh says Southport’s aspirations of becoming a leading conference resort could be undermined by a lack of quality hotel space. Mr Pugh says fears have been expressed

29th March 2021

John Pugh warns the “serious failings” of Liverpool Council could be repeated in Sefton without change

John Pugh opposition leader on Sefton Council has warned that what has happened in Liverpool could easily happen in Sefton unless there is a cultural change. Cllr Pugh said: “I wouldn’t question

25th March 2021

Pre-election row continues over phantom Birkdale cycle lane

A Conservative councillor candidate for Birkdale has welcomed a “u-turn” from the Liberal Democrats over alleged plans for a cycle lane. Despite regular comments from Mr Durkin criticising the Liberal Democrats over

28th February 2021

Council says no decision yet on STCC future after Lib Dem criticisms

Council says successful £50m Town Deal bid will see Marine Lake Events Centre redevelopment

20th February 2021

Call for the council to be clear about the survival of Southport Theatre

Concerns are growing that the Southport Theatre and the associated Floral Hall may be the type of venues you will only see in old postcards. The complex that once staged acts like

18th February 2021

Damien Moore calls on Government to stop Southport cycle lanes becoming permanent

Southport Conservatives and Liberal Democrats go to war over handling of Southport cycle lane scheme Tories accused Lib Dems of pushing for additional Birkdale lanes, which Lib Dems deny Council says lack

17th February 2021

Southport Lib Dems highlight “massive losses” of Bootle Strand, with £1.5m revenue dip projected

Sefton Council’s controversial Bootle Strand Shopping Centre is expected to cost council tax payers £1.5 million a year in losses for the foreseeable future That’s the shocking news revealed in a report

10th February 2021

Criticism mounts over postcode-based covid information

Norwood residents have criticised information released surrounding the South African variant of coronavirus in Norwood, with the initial message being that only PR9 residents should seek a test, even though Norwood contains

4th February 2021

Call for cycle lane pause after court ruling

A local councillor has called for a halt in Sefton Council’s rush to introduce expensive projects purporting to ease cycling – in the wake of a High Court ruling against similar schemes

23rd January 2021

Bring in businesses to discuss neighbourhood plan, urges former MP

Cllr. John Pugh is to urge Sefton Council to re-think their approach to the newly designated “Liveable Streets Area” next to the town centre. His plea is to speak to local businesses

8th November 2020

Councillor’s appeal to Southport youth to ‘lock down’ early

A Southport councillor is urging local residents, particularly the young, to take their own steps to restrict their own movements before the new month-long official national lockdown period starts again on Thursday.

2nd November 2020

Call for Universal Credit hotline

With hosts of local workers due to be furloughed under the new lockdown, a big rise in desperate people struggling for the first time with Universal Credit is anticipated – especially now

23rd October 2020

Cllr Pugh concerned at lack of public consultation on blue bin rollout

Sefton Council decided to press on with the ordering of up to 100,000 new blue bins after Conservative and Labour members on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee blocked a Liberal Democrat move

20th October 2020

D-Day set to decide if YOU are forced to have blue bins

The date has been set for Sefton to decide whether it wants to press on with its fourth wheelie bin for residents – a blue one specifically for glass adding to the

14th October 2020