UK, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
Published on: 30/08/2019 12:23 PMReported by: roving-eye
Liz Savage, Labour's Southport Parliamentary Candidate, has issued this response following Darcy Taylor Iveson-Berkely's comments:
"I'm rather dismayed and saddened by Darcy's comments. Darcy complains of making this rail crossing campaign political but I note that he has made this attack just days after being selected as the Brexit Party candidate. He was also referred to as a local politician in media reports about his campaign at the time."
"I realise that it was also a very personal campaign for him due to the awful loss of his sister and fully understand that but our efforts in this area began long before Darcy went public with it."
"We have looked at this issue over a period of time. Well before Darcy even launched his petition and media drive I had already contacted the Chair of Merseytravel, Cllr Liam Robinson, to look into the problems with the crossing."
"We then also contacted Network Rail to ask for a safety review of this crossing. Still prior to Darcy's campaign appearing in the local media I believe, we then submitted the FOI request that eventually revealed this crossing had, in fact, been recommended for upgrade due to safety fears all the way back in 2015."
"Network Rail subsequently responded to the following outcry by stating that the crossing would be upgraded. Darcy hailed this as a victory but we highlighted repeatedly that the company had set no date for this work and that their response took us no further than the 2015 risk assessment - which simply said that it would be carried out in the future."
"My concern had also been greatly raised when I saw the online video made by a local resident which showed an elderly man who appeared in a very confused state wandering across the tracks with a train then hurtling by just moments later. This resonated very strongly due to my father's condition before his death and his habit of wandering."
"I have also previously acknowledged the efforts of other campaigners on this subject and have been happy to work with them and will continue to do so. Now, thanks to that approach, we have revealed that the upgrade will not actually be completed until March 2022."
"Accordingly, we have called upon Southport's Conservative MP to use any political influence he has with the government to bring pressure to bear to bring this vital work forward."
"The aim here is surely to get this crossing upgraded as quickly as possible? If we can bring pressure to bear, we will - we make no apologies for that if it is for the good of local residents."
"While others had already claimed victory on this matter, we have pursued it and will continue to do so for the safety of local residents. This vital safety work needs to be urgently brought forward."
UK, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Vouchers, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found