Damien commented....

Last week I attended the Southport BID event alongside many of our local businesses.
There was much discussion surrounding the government's new £675 million High Street Fund, which I helped secure. I am clear that Sefton Council must make a strong, Southport-focused bid for this funding.


Too often our town is neglected in favour of Bootle, and this is an opportunity to help Southport thrive.

So he expects Sefton to bid for some of that money and spend it all in Southport but none in Formby, Crosby, Maghull and Bootle.
That's basically the same iniquity that he's accusing the council of when he claims Bootle is favoured.

Blimey Sherlock how is that news ?

They better abandon the bid for £2m+ to spend on the areas leading up to the seafront then.

Moore spin again from the local Tory MP - firstly, he should stop trying to claim that as a novice backbencher he somehow secured the money & told the Treasury and Chancellor to stump up the dosh - total poppycock. If he had done that it would have been all over the national press and he'd be winning "Parliamentarian of the Year" - don't hold your breath on that score. Next, the money we are talking about, while any is welcome, is a relatively trifling sum when spread around the thousands of high streets across the country. Thirdly, the biggest problem high st businesses face here (which is tied into the other big factor of online retail) is the high business rates - which are set by national govt NOT local govt. Also, the Strand was purchased via a Treasury loan (basically lowest rates you can get) and the income from it not only pays off the loan but also puts a million back into council coffers - so no council tax payers money is going into it at all, from Southport or anywhere else - and the Tory MP knows this... or perhaps is simply so badly informed that he does not? This is real snakeoil salesman stuff from Damien Moore.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Damien commented....

Last week I attended the Southport BID event alongside many of our local businesses.
There was much discussion surrounding the government's new £675 million High Street Fund, which I helped secure. I am clear that Sefton Council must make a strong, Southport-focused bid for this funding.


Too often our town is neglected in favour of Bootle, and this is an opportunity to help Southport thrive.

look at the bigger picture....london is having billions thrown at it,,,transport and infrastructure..cross rail hs2 etc...north of watford a pittance....dont blame sefton sharing a tiny amount....make the out of touch politicians in the westminster bubble spend britains wealth up north...railways, new motorways, new bypasses importantly the ormskirk/m6/m58 bypass to southport, fast rail links to leeds etc, then jobs and wealth will follow....at the moment all govt jobs are in london,,time to change things
l

Originally Posted by salus.populi

So he expects Sefton to bid for some of that money and spend it all in Southport but none in Formby, Crosby, Maghull and Bootle.
That's basically the same iniquity that he's accusing the council of when he claims Bootle is favoured.

Southport has in the past and has still, the potential to attract far more tourism since it is a seaside resort on a direct route from Manchester and many outlying areas. So it is common sense to spend money on Southport to make it more attractive to tourists that will generate more money for the common council pot! What tourists are attracted to the outlying area of Liverpool?

I was not aware that any money had actually been secured as yet. Surely it is for the Council to put a very strong case before the money is awarded? People constantly argue that it is the internet that has killed the high street trade - all I can say is that these people are not business managers, for if they were then they would relish the challenge of overcoming the obstacles. Would you purchase clothing on the internet not knowing how it looks, feels etc., and have to pay mailing costs and additional mailing costs to return it, if you just do not like it - or would you prefer to see the item, feel the quality of the item and be able to try on the item before you purchase? The internet is not to blame! There are many small businesses from town who are now trading out of their own homes. It is purely the cost of rent and rates right across the North that should be seriously reviewed. Take for instance a stall in the market, the rent alone is £60 plus per day. This is without the additional council business rates?? Have you been in that market? - it is lucky if all the stalls combined make a profit of £60 per day! What incentive is there for new business start ups? Making personal attacks on people is not really the right way to go - you should save your energy to put forward ideas and sensible suggestions that will help to resolve the issues.

Originally Posted by said

Southport has in the past and has still, the potential to attract far more tourism since it is a seaside resort on a direct route from Manchester and many outlying areas. So it is common sense to spend money on Southport to make it more attractive to tourists that will generate more money for the common council pot! What tourists are attracted to the outlying area of Liverpool?

The fund he's talking about is to regenerate high streets. Not tourism.
Every town needs decent shops for it's local populace to shop at.

I was not aware that any money had actually been secured as yet

it hasn't

Would you purchase clothing on the internet not knowing how it looks, feels etc., and have to pay mailing costs and additional mailing costs to return it, if you just do not like it

Yes, I do as do plenty of others. It's usually free delivery and free returns so it's risk free. Far more choice online than in any town or city.

Originally Posted by said

... People constantly argue that it is the internet that has killed the high street trade - all I can say is that these people are not business managers, for if they were then they would relish the challenge of overcoming the obstacles. Would you purchase clothing on the internet not knowing how it looks, feels etc., and have to pay mailing costs and additional mailing costs to return it, if you just do not like it - or would you prefer to see the item, feel the quality of the item and be able to try on the item before you purchase? The internet is not to blame! There are many small businesses from town who are now trading out of their own homes. It is purely the cost of rent and rates right across the North that should be seriously reviewed. Take for instance a stall in the market, the rent alone is £60 plus per day. This is without the additional council business rates?? Have you been in that market? - it is lucky if all the stalls combined make a profit of £60 per day! What incentive is there for new business start ups? Making personal attacks on people is not really the right way to go - you should save your energy to put forward ideas and sensible suggestions that will help to resolve the issues.

Marvin, you appear to a member of the Flat Earth Retail Association - online retail is a huge problem for High St retail, and it's widely accepted as such - partly because the High St shops have to pay to high business rates set by the Tories. You keep telling the waves of online shoppers to retreat though - a modern-day Cnut but without the self-awareness it seems.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

So he expects Sefton to bid for some of that money and spend it all in Southport but none in Formby, Crosby, Maghull and Bootle.
That's basically the same iniquity that he's accusing the council of when he claims Bootle is favoured.

Exactly! Moore needs reminding that Southport only constitutes 34% of Sefton's population.

Sefton Council has prepared a bid for Southport and Crosby.... *awaits Moore taking credit for this*

Originally Posted by salus.populi

So can you provide any links to these reports?
Any figures to prove this happens in Sefton?
I live in Dukes Ward Southport. Lib Dem and Tory Councillors. Millions spent on the pier, kings gardens, the atkinson, etc in recent years off the top of my head

Southport has had more than its fair share of investment. From 1997 - 2012, 200m was invested in Southport. Since then, an additional 25.5m has been spent on the Atkinson and Kings Gardens.