Norwood's Labour Councillors and local residents have been making cutbacks of a far more beneficial kind to the area, by taking on overgrown stairways and clearing up its problem pathways.

It's part of the activities of a new community action group which saw one session start work on Tedder Avenue, clearing weeds and litter from the locality. Councillor Carran Waterfield says they had a great response from local residents:


"We had a lot of positive comments and also some good ideas for future work in the area. It's early days yet for the group and these sort of projects rely on residents getting stuck in and coming up with ideas for their neighbourhood but it's very encouraging so far."


Another event had volunteers tackling litter problems along Bispham Road and then moving into Morven and Lesley Grove, before setting to work around the Myrtle and Pine Grove area.


Councillor Greg Myers took on cutting back Palm Grove's overgrown stairway leading up to Sussex Rd, a job which proved not for the faint-hearted:


"We only had a set of long-handled pruning shears with us to tackle it with but decided to give it a go anyway as it was so overgrown there. It felt a bit like trying to shear Highland cattle with nail scissors to be honest but I got there in the end."


"It was also great to see new volunteers like Angela and young Harry taking part, they did a fantastic job clearing the area of all sorts of debris."


The group was set up after discussions between the ward's Labour councillors and Joe McNulty of the High Park Project and aims to build up community resilience in the area. Joe explained:


"We think if local people can get involved in local activities to improve the area then it will help foster community strength and pride. We are holding another event on the 21st of this month and would love to see even more of our neighbours joining in to help."


Councillor Mhairi Doyle says that, given the huge cutbacks to Sefton Council, she's happy to roll her sleeves up and get down to work with the action group:


"I'd prefer that properly funded services kept our wards and town looking great but until that returns then myself and my colleagues will do what we can to help."


"I've not got a huge amount of time for those who supported the cuts and then sit back to do little but complain about the effects of them - we are too busy trying to deal with the problems they've caused."


The next clean-up event is meeting outside Bispham Road Post Office at 6 pm on August 21st if you would like to help out.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Councillor Greg Myers took on cutting back .... Bispham Road Post Office

Nice to see Greg inviting his chums round to help with gardening at his family business. Great electioneering free photo op guys! Just like the LibDem Wombles of old and the recent Tory beach litter pickers. You parties all have so much in common :-)

Originally Posted by LeftyFailsAgain

Nice to see Greg inviting his chums round to help with gardening at his family business. Great electioneering free photo op guys! Just like the LibDem Wombles of old and the recent Tory beach litter pickers. You parties all have so much in common :-)

What a genuinely foolish comment, given that not only does it make clear that the cutting back took place on Palm Grove, but also explains that it's part of a community action group formed along with the High Park Project - that sort of level of foolishness and resentment of activity can surely only come from someone really rather silly and who does very little themselves? So - one of the local Lib Dems then, that you Tony?

Originally Posted by gnalist

What a genuinely foolish comment, given that not only does it make clear that the cutting back took place on Palm Grove, but also explains that it's part of a community action group formed along with the High Park Project - that sort of level of foolishness and resentment of activity can surely only come from someone really rather silly and who does very little themselves? So - one of the local Lib Dems then, that you Tony?

I was merely pointing out that these self-aggrandizing stunts are perpetrated by all of the major local parties as a kind of biannual pantomime. And, amazingly, there just always happens to be a passing photographer happy to memorialize the occasion for posterity.

Originally Posted by LeftyFailsAgain

I was merely pointing out that these self-aggrandizing stunts are perpetrated by all of the major local parties as a kind of biannual pantomime. And, amazingly, there just always happens to be a passing photographer happy to memorialize the occasion for posterity.

And amazingly, you appear to have failed to notice that mobile phones have cameras, so noone needs to be passing, and given that this group has been out several times in the space of a few weeks and is out again on Weds, hardly "biannual" either.

Perhaps you'd be more usefully employed getting along there and helping out?

Originally Posted by gnalist

Perhaps you'd be more usefully employed getting along there and helping out?

Sorry, I don't associate with the anti-semitic party. I have zero tolerance for extremists.

As a shy, retiring, flower I prefer to do my charitable works off camera.

Originally Posted by LeftyFailsAgain

Sorry, I don't associate with the anti-semitic party. I have zero tolerance for extremists.

As a shy, retiring, flower I prefer to do my charitable works off camera.

Ah, the usual guff from you Tony but at least we agree on something - you retired a long time ago, if you ever really did anything in the first place that is.

Anyway, enough of you being a grumpy old sniping silly sausage, I've got better things to do. Toodle pip old churl.

Taking party politics out of the discussion this type of work is to be applauded and, like it or not, whichever organisation is responsible will want some kudos from it.
The publicity is however a double edged sword - how many reading might arrive at the conclusion the state can't meet every need since the cuts so, I'll get off my derriere and help my neighbourhood get smartened up.

Originally Posted by gnalist

Ah, the usual guff from you Tony but at least we agree on something - you retired a long time ago, if you ever really did anything in the first place that is.

You're clearly delusional. I've never been a Tony and I'm not retired from my job. But thank you Gypsy Gnalist. Keep reading the tea leaves; I'm sure you'll get better with practice.

Originally Posted by LeftyFailsAgain

You're clearly delusional. I've never been a Tony and I'm not retired from my job. But thank you Gypsy Gnalist. Keep reading the tea leaves; I'm sure you'll get better with practice.

I wish you would get better with practice, you keep posting but it's the same old churlish grumbling... why not get out there and help instead of just moaning from behind your laptop and trying to criticise those who are actually doing something? Your posts look suspiciously like local Lib Demmery in action - or more like inaction, as usual.

If a job is worth doing, it is worth somebody being paid a fair wage to do.