Golf Open ‘lock in’ won’t affect local traders – official

The decision of the Royal and Ancient Golf organisation to stop ticket holders from having ‘pass-outs’ enabling them to pop out during the day and return will have no effect upon the trade of Hillside, Birkdale Village and Southport traders, says Sefton Cabinet Member Marianne Atkinson yesterday. She was answering a question asked in Council by West Birkdale councillor Tony Dawson.

Bootle-based Councillor Atkinson says that the impact of the ‘lock-in’ was “thought to be minimal”. Birkdale traders need not worry, said Councillor Atkinson because Sefton Council was ” making sure local areas such as Birkdale village are promoted to visitors through dedicated signage”.

Birkdale traders should be happy, says Councillor Atkinson, because golf fans are being signposted to places where they cannot go.

Councillor Dawson says:

“Quite a number of golf fans ‘make a week of’ the event and like to take a little time off from the long days. But now, effectively, they have been completely confined to receiving all their catering for food and drink via the monopoly supply of firms contracted to work within the golf course.”

“This edict will, of course, have no effect whatsoever on the daytime trade of Birkdale, Hillside and the town because Councillor Atkinson says it won’t do. Of course, everyone appreciates that there is a major boost to the town’s evening and night-time economy just because this major international event is being held here. But that is a separate matter.”