Campaigners aiming to improve the water quality in the Botanic Gardens park lake say they are ‘really encouraged’ after meeting to discuss the issue with Sefton Council representatives.
The campaigners met with Sefton Council’s Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Moncur, to voice their concerns and investigate ways for working together on the issue.
Supported by local celebrities such as Tommy Fleetwood and Adele Roberts and with a three thousand plus Facebook group membership, the “Make a Change for Ben” campaign was started by David Rawsthorne following the death of his best friend Ben Smith-Crallan.
Ben was 37 when he died in 2018 after contracting Necrotising Fasciitis. His family believe it happened after he went into the lake while retrieving a football, although they acknowledge the link wasn’t proven and that subsequent tests found the water to be safe for an environment of that type.
The campaign is now working with the volunteers of the Botanic Gardens Community Association (BGCA) who help look after the park and is also fundraising to assist with the costs of cleaning the lake water.
Cllr Moncur, who is responsible for parks in the borough, says the council is keen to investigate what can be done in both the short and longer term to improve various aspects of Botanic Gardens, including the lake area. He explained:
“Thanks to the great working relationship with have between the council’s Green Sefton staff and the volunteers, we’ve recently seen improvements in areas the aviary and there will also soon be a public consultation held on improving other aspects of the park via the possibility of heritage funding.”
“As discussed with the campaigners, if this consultation highlights the desire for serious investment in improving the lake area then that is something we will pursue. In the meantime, we are happy to work with them to see what other measures we can investigate in the shorter term.”
Southport councillor Greg Myers stepped in to arrange the meeting for the campaigners and says it proved a positive move, explaining:
“It was important to try to start a constructive dialogue between the campaigners and the council and I’m very pleased that’s now underway.”
“Botanic Gardens is a beautiful spot which I enjoy regularly with my family and anything that can be done to improve it is always welcome, as is the realisation that working together on this is the best way forward.”
Community engagement officer Nicola Cave of the Football Supporters Association is assisting the campaign and says the meeting is a very welcome development:
“Obviously things don’t just happen overnight and this will take some time to resolve but this was a very positive step forward.”
“We are fully aware of the council’s funding issues but between the public support we’ve received and our fundraising, the hard work of the Botanic Gardens volunteers and the cooperation of the council, we are hopeful of seeing the improvements we believe the park deserves.”
Roofer David, who started the campaign with Ben’s family, thinks they will be delighted by the news:
“I’m really encouraged and very glad that Cllr Myers stepped in to help us with this and that Cllr Moncur was receptive and supportive of what we are trying to achieve.”
“At the end of the day, we all want to see Botanic Gardens lake area continue as a wonderful and welcoming attraction for local people and those further afield. We look forward to working with the volunteers and the council to ensure that is the case.”
To visit the Botanic Gardens Fundraiser, VISIT HERE
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