EXAMPLE:  To read about Seacombe Library, for instance,  click on the ‘Libraries’ tag in ’Tag Cloud’ box in the column on the right.   Similarly, click any tag to open articles on other recent topics.  Find earlier comments on ‘older entries’ at the bottom of the page.

 4th February 2010

Since John’s report below we are happy to report that Merseytravel has also upgraded the fences at the Sherlock Lane bridge.

John said:

‘Full marks to Merseytravel for listening.  They acted quickly in the circumstances and have done a really good job.  This seems mundane but it is work that can save lives.’

Cllr John Salter

1st February 2010

Following some tragic events, and with great local concern that they could be repeated as well as presenting potential hazards for adventuresome children, John called for increased safety measures for the Seacombe  motorway bridges at Poulton’s Sherlock Lane and at Wheatland Lane.  He secured promises from Merseytravel that it would be done as quickly as possible. 

Merseytravel then began a refit of all the fencing around the approach roads - and the contractor did an excellent job, including attending to particular danger areas that John had identified.   

John is now pressing for all remaining repairs to be completed so that the Council can proceed with necessary re-surfacing work to the walk-way.

John has also thanked Merseyravel for the safety fencing fitted to the Wheatland Lane Bridge.

John at the raised bridge fence he campaigned for, presenting the residents' petition.

1st February 2010

The state of cleanliness in the grassed area off Demesne Street and the embankment to the south leaves much to be desired.  There is a great deal of litter in the area but it is  not covered by the cleaning contract.  Instead there is the possibility that the area can be cleaned up with a blitz using ‘You Decide’ funds.

The Team’s intention is to conduct a tidy up as soon as possible followed by a second in three months as we move into spring/summer.

John and Adrian have immediately registered their full support for the initiative and we have high hopes that it will begin very soon.

Generations of children have benefited from the Allandale Youth Club ever since, in the 1950s, it was given in Trust to the Seacombe Community. 

The pushers of the squalid leaflet could not even bother to glance upwards to the name above the door, to spell it correctly. Are their priorities perhaps on something lower?

The Council cannot interfere in the Allandale’s management, but is always there to provide professional advice. When the Club was previously in difficulties Adrian was invited to chair its management committee, which he did for some years. Adrian says:

Because that is the present risk Adrian requested a meeting with the Allandale’s officers and senior council professionals to advise on ways to tackle the club’s difficulties.   That meeting took place on 18th January and steps were taken to set up local fund-raising activities in the short term, and also to produce a ‘business plan’ for the longer term with professional assistance from Council Officers.

On Monday Adrian and Council Officers met the Chairman of the Allandale to help establish a recovery plan. Next day others published a leaflet claiming the 'Allendale' is facing the axe. With 'friends' like that who needs enemies?

But while those of us with a genuine interest in supporting the Allandale were working constructively for it, others were busy preparing a party-political leaflet – ’squalid’ comes to mind – claiming, absurdly, that the Allandale is about to be ‘axed’.  We don’t know how many houses received the propaganda leaflet but those who did will know who was responsible for it  -  and, ironically, will see at once that its authors know so little about the Allandale that they can’t even spell its name!  Yet there it is, on a large name plate, right over the door!  And the leaflet claims it is going to be ‘axed’.

That is untrue.    The Allandale is a community asset, held in trust.  The Trustees are precisely the people who have done the most to keep the Allandale up and running for over half a century, and are even now working for it to stay there for another. They are the last people who would ‘axe’ it.  But is the squalid leaflet intended to give the impression that the Council, which has no such power and is working to help the Club, is the (imaginary) axe man? 

The next misinformation (by the same culprits) was that the Allandale has been subjected to ‘cut backs’. 

That is also untrue.   The Allandale’s income is raised by the hard work of its volunteers, staff, and parents — and by taking on funded projects.  To portray the ending of projects  - time limited projects that were always going to end  -  as ‘cut-backs’ demonstrates muddled thinking.  Or do the sad leaflet’s pushers have another motive for using such grossly misleading terms?

Those of us approaching it constructively are  working to find some short term income, to get over the immediate difficulty; and to strengthen the management structure with the expertise to build a long term development plan. 

What the kids who use the club need is genuine support for the Allandale — not a political football.