Pier Pressure Pays

Delight has been expressed by Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader in Seton, Clir.John Pugh that the Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the spending review has dropped a broad hint that Southport Pier could be in line for funding from a completely newly created

« $240 million Growth Mission Fund" to be set un for later on in the summer

"This welcome news", he says, "proves that pressure pays. Signing petitions, calling meetings, generally making a fuss, making people sit up and listen is never a waste of time if it gets results. The Southport public should give themselves a pat on the back. The council has no furthe

excuses to delay restoration aloel I will orobaoiv nave to tina some more capilai to maich any tne unancellor Tinas.

The last, rather thin excuse for delay has gone. There always was the money- now there's going to be more."

Sceptics might point out that the detailed criteria that need to be met to actually secure funding from the Growth Mission Fund won't according to the government be explained or published til later this summer."

It's amazing in the circumstances that Rachel can know in advance that a “yet to be written” bid by Sefton will meet criteria she hasn't even spelled out or perhaps thought of. It show considerable powers of clairvoyance , but that's how politics ‘works’ and Southport folk won't care how or why we get the money as long as it persuades the Council to get on with it and put our Pier back in use ".