Compost Bin Offer

One of the easiest ways to recycle and at the same time make good rich compost for your garden is to use you own composter.

Sefton Council, in conjunction with recyclenow, are offering residents compost bins at less than half the recommended retails price.

For example, the ecoMax 220ltr compost bin is available for £8.00 rather than the recommeded £27.99, or the ecoMax 330 ltr bin for £10 (rrp £37.99). Both bins have a door at the base for easy access to the compost with a wide base area for the maximum microbial action. The KOMP250 which is a larger, 4 sided bin, is also available for £20.00. All bins are made from recycled material. Order on-line to receive an £1 off the total order price.

To order online, go to the Sefton Council web page at here.

Alternatively to order a subsidised compost bin, call 0845 077 0757 (quoting reference MER04W)

Street Lights

The Focus team have reported a number of broken or damaged street lights on Knowsley Road, Avondale Road and Garstang Road.

Did you know the burnt-out steet lights use more electricity that those that are working? The FOCUS Team are encouraging everybody to report any broken lights they see to reduce costs and save electricity.

Residents can report any street lights that are not working to the Council via the Council web site at www.sefton.gov.uk or by calling 0151 934 4277 - please have the number of the street (from the light's column) and the road when calling.

Sue McGuire at Police Meeting

Councillor Sue McGuire, who attended this month’s Police Surgery at Marshside Primary School, says: "Having a regular informal meeting like this where people can just drop in gives residents and theNeighbourhood Police Team a great chance to discuss any problems or worries."

The Neighbourhood Police Team advise anybody experiencing any problems with continuing youth disorder to call 0151 777 3442. PC Bradbury explained: "If people don’t report an incident it makes it very difficult for us to know if there are any problems."

GP On-Call Worries

Councillor Sue McGuire questioned the newly appointed Director of Commissioning for Sefton Primary Care Trust at a recent meeting of the Council's Scrutiny and Review Committee for Health and Social Care.

"John Pugh MP has discovered problems with the Doctors Out of Hours Service in Southport", Says Sue.

"I want to make sure that we have a safe and reliable service which is easily-accesible to everyone should they need it."

Bus 45

Councillor Sue McGuire and John Pugh MP have worked on behalf of residents of Park Road West and surrounding streets for the return of route 45.

Sue McGuire commented: "I'm glad that Arriva recognise the impact the changes to the route 45 has had on many residents and am happy that they have now re-instated most of the route as the number 40."

"I continue to have concerns about how people from this area can now get to the hospital by bus."

The 40 bus route runs from Crossens to Derby Road via Park Road West, Knowsley Road, Leicester Street and Lord Street.

Gangs

A continuing problem in our area has been gangs of youths who generally say that there is nothing for them to do. Councillor Sue McGuire and Carmel Preston decided to investigate what activities are available for youngsters in our area and spoke with youth worker Ray Moore who leads the Stanley Youth Club. Ray outlined all the activities available at the club which is open Monday to Friday evenings and includes a ‘girls only’ evening on Tuesdays, and a junior club for 11-13 year olds. “Getting the children in at an early age will encourage them to attend when older, keeping them off the streets and out of trouble.” says Sue McGuire

We Can Cut Crime

Local Campaigners in Southport are launching a major new campaign to make Britain a safer place to live. Lib Dem leader Ming Campbell and Southport MP John Pugh are calling for action to help local people take back our streets. Priorities include putting more police on patrol and making prisons work more effectively.

Ming Campbell says: “It makes me angry when I meet ordinary hard working people who have had their lives ruined by the effects of crime and anti social behaviour.” Local campaigner, Carmel Preston said: “We want to hear local people’s experiences of crime - and their ideas on how to make our community safer."