Labour calls for a new direction, as record Southport foodbank figures revealed

Southport Labour has called for a new direction for the town, describing the current conditions it faces as the “road to nowhere”.

It comes as news reports reveal that Southport Foodbank has had record figures for its year, with just under 60,000 meals distributed a rise of 13% over the previous year.

In a lengthy article published on its website, it lays the blame for much of the current problems Southport faces on a lack of investment in the town and the wider economy due to austerity.

Highlighting cuts to local authority services, amenities, policing, the local hospital and more, it says the problems that have resulted have turned Southport into a town that feels far less secure and prosperous than it once did.

Labour claims that local Lib-Dem and Tory parties have been complicit in this by wholeheartedly backing the cuts despite the obvious effect it was having on the town.

In a hard-hitting critique calling for “real change” it asks why big local issues such as the record surge in foodbank use in the town, the lack of investment in services and the growing crime problem are being largely ignored by both Lib-Dems and Tories.

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Southport, Liz Savage, explained:

“We want residents to understand just how critical these elections are. We need to send a clear message that enough is enough. The biggest single issue facing Southport is the lack of investment in our community, from local authority services to police to the NHS to our local economy. We want to change that. The other parties are not interested, they did the cutting. ”

“We’ll show you a way out of the dead-end they have led us down by investing in our town and borough, investing in our services, investing in our residents. There is no bigger issue that faces Southport. Virtually everything else flows from it.”

Labour claims this will revive the town and help boost our tourism and economy. It also says it’s time for more local councillors who will treat residents with respect and work for them.

“We were dismayed by the treatment local residents received at the now-defunct Area Committee. When even the official young observers are criticising local councillors for how they treat residents, something had gone badly wrong. The new consultative forum that replaces it will give residents a genuine voice without fear of being shouted down or belittled as happened before.”

Labour has never had a Sefton councillor elected in Southport but Liz Savage says it is starting to have a “real presence” in the town:

“Despite having only two local councillors who crossed over from the Lib-Dems tired of their active opposition to progress, we’ve already had notable successes.

After strong representations from ourselves and Southport BID, Sefton Council listened and we achieved the return of the 30-minute parking charge. The other parties simply attacked, we persuaded.

We also managed to secure £30,000 from Sefton to help the Kew Park Campaigners save their playground, despite the hostility of local Lib-Dems. We believe we can actually achieve more for Southport with our approach.

We are now a real presence in Southport and doing a lot of good. We’ve thrown ourselves into a variety of community action projects from hiring skips to help residents clear, to cleaning beaches and also planting 500 young trees. Our councillors work hard on local issues for residents. We can do more if elected and we certainly will do more if elected.

The most important thing is to fight for more funding and send a clear message now that enough is enough, only then we will see those foodbank figures decline and hopefully disappear under a Labour government.”

The full article can be found here: www.southportlabour.org.uk/the_same_old_tired_path_for_southport_or_a_new_direction