Aim​ is​ to boost town trade and ease pollution and congestion

Local Councillors have agreed to spend Southport Area Committee funds to relieve Christmas shoppers of Park & Ride fees. The majority of the £1900 subsidy ​has been allocated ​by ​the councillors of ​Dukes Ward, which covers the town centre, - but councillors from other Southport wards are also supporting the move.

Dukes Ward councillor Tony Dawson says:

"It is good that all councillors in the town have agreed to chip in a bit of cash to make the Park and Ride facility free on each of the four Saturdays in the weeks running up to Christmas."

"Although our main concern has to be the residents of our areas, anything which we can do to encourage people to buy locally, thus supporting the vitality and viability of local shops in our town centre has to be to the good."

"​​Hopefully this will also b​ri​ng fresh users to the Park & Ride scheme - people who will then also use this facility in future months and years.​"
​
"The more people we can get to use the Park & Ride, the less pollution there is in the town centre air and the less congestion there is on the town centre roads at this busy time. This helps town centre residents as well as shoppers. People sometimes forget that there are 2000 residents living in and around the town centre whose journey times to their homes often get stretched at peak​ shopping​ times.​ The air they have to breath is also affected by traffic fumes whether they are in their flats of going to-and-fro.​"

Most generous I’m sure.

Dukes Ward councillor Tony Dawson says:

"It is good that all councillors in the town have agreed to chip in a bit of cash

Could he just clarify? This "cash" they're "chipping in", does he really mean that they are, at last, spending some of the stockpiled Ward funds? ie council tax payers money. I'm sure he wouldn't want to give the impression it's coming out of the councillors' own pockets but the way it's written it could be misinterpreted as such.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Local Councillors have agreed to spend Southport Area Committee funds to relieve Christmas shoppers of Park & Ride fees. The majority of the £1900 subsidy ​has been allocated ​by ​the councillors of ​Dukes Ward, which covers the town centre, - but councillors from other Southport wards are also supporting the move.

Dukes Ward councillor Tony Dawson says:

"It is good that all councillors in the town have agreed to chip in a bit of cash to make the Park and Ride facility free on each of the four Saturdays in the weeks running up to Christmas."

If it’s all the councillors why are we only treated on all local news sites to a picture of Cllr Dawson with all the Christmassy things he could grab for a photo op, the other cllrs must be a bit irritated with him for grabbing the limelight. Do wonder if it’s a bottle of cherry brandy in the bottle bag and also when we will get Cllr Barton’s views/appreciations.

Maybe Cllr Dawson is keen to fix his own goal from 2015 claiming:

Lib Dem Deputy Leader Councillor Tony Dawson, who represents Southport Town Centre, was instrumental in getting the Council to bring back the free parking concession which disappeared when Bootle Labour councillors took control of the Borough. He says (2nd Dec):

“We had to fight for two years to bring back this concession which disappeared once Southport councillors lost their say in the ruling Cabinet. So let’s make the best use of the free parking facility which we now have.”

http://tinyurl.com/yapw84ow

Then 4 days later “Scrooge Sefton” took it away:

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/ne...e-10550179.amp

Taking credit for an assumption definitely puts in doubt how much some of these cllrs claim!

Originally Posted by Username2016

If it’s all the councillors why are we only treated on all local news sites to a picture of Cllr Dawson

Because he writes the articles himself.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

Because he writes the articles himself.

True, but it was the other councillors too and not exactly like it’s his own money. Seems a bit publicity desperate to me.

Originally Posted by Username2016

True, but it was the other councillors too and not exactly like it’s his own money. Seems a bit publicity desperate to me.

Well he is a party of one after all.
I'm sure Barton and Shaw will be penning their own self promotion. Maybe Damien will write something on behalf of the silent and invisible Southport Conservatives.