Top three most read articles this week

by
27th September 2015

Photograph: Pontins, Ainsdale

Pontins at Ainsdale is NOT being prepared for any influx of refugees but Southport and Formby families have offered their homes  to help for a substantial number of those fleeing the terror of ISIS.

Firm assurances have been provided to Lib Dem Deputy Leader Councillor that there are no ‘behind the scenes’ moves whatsoever between the Council and Pontins management in connection with refugee resettlement. Central government would need to work closely with local councils over any substantial refugee resettlement programme.

In contrast, dozens of families in the Southport and Formby area have come forward with personal offers to put up refugees in their own local homes once systems have been put in place to bring them to the UK.  At present, David Cameron’s national plans would involve only 6 or 7 refugees per year coming to a town the size of Southport but the offers of local individuals to help have considerably exceeded this suggested provision. Local Councillors of all Parties feel that the country and the communities within the Borough of Sefton could do more than this.  At last week’s council meeting, they unanimously passed a motion proposed by Southport’s Councillor Tony Dawson and seconded by Formby Councillor Nina Killen which called upon the government to do more to co-ordinate the individual, voluntary and charitable efforts which British people want to make to assist genuine refugees.

Moving the motion in the Council chamber, Cllr Dawson emphasised that the help which people wanted to give was for genuine refugees, not economic migrants. “So processes have to be in place to stop oppotunistic people ‘piggy-backing’ on the misery of others” he says, “also, financial support for the refugees being assisted in Britain should not be taken either from funds earmarked for local councils or from the International Aid budget.”

“Not everyone wants to or can help in this humanitarian effort,” says Cllr Dawson, “But the government should recognise and support those who do want to personally assist in this charitable manner.”

Referring to the Pontins rumour, Cllr Dawson says:

“I know that Pontins are wanting to get people staying there who won’t rubbish them on the Tripadvisor website. But it appears their efforts continue to be based upon the home market rather than abroad.”

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Police motorcyclist hurt in crash with car in Southport

ots-southport-rtc-police-motorbike

A police officer was seriously injured after his motorbike was involved in a crash with a car while escorting an ambulance in Southport.

The police rider remains in hospital with “serious injuries” following the weekend collision on Waterloo Road.

Police confirmed at around 1.30pm on Saturday a police motorbike was providing an escort to an ambulance when it was “in collision with a Mercedes car”.

The rider of the police motorbike suffered what police termed “multiple injuries”.

He was taken to hospital where he continues to be treated for “serious injuries, not thought to be life threatening”, a police spokesman added.

An investigation into the crash is ongoung.

The road was closed while traffic investigators attended and an investigation into the collision has been launched.

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact the MSOC Roads Policing team on 0151 777 5747.

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UPDATE: Rare Jaguar car abandoned in Southport was on it’s way to Latvia

ots-southport-jaguarPhoto: A.V.I.S Ribble Avenue

Since OTSnews Published the article about the rare E-type Jaguar abandoned on Ribble Avenue Southport owner Norman Hessler contacted us and quoted:

“I own this car,  I live in Aberdeen. The car was uplifted a month ago to go to Latvia for restoration. I have no idea how it got to Southport.

“It has now been removed to secure storage before resuming it’s journey”

“The ”rubbish’ btw is clothes for refugees in Latvia.”

“Thanks to OTS News and Gary Marshall for rescuing my car (which I have owned for 20 years)!”

Rare Jaguar car abandoned on Ribble Avenue Southport 

A rare E-Type jaguar has been abandoned Ribble Avenue, Southport.

A Ribble Avenue resident quoted:

“The Jaguar has been here almost a month now, it has been totally filled with rubbish.

A friend said they had reported it to Merseyside Police last week but it still remains parked on the pavement”

 

 

 

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