Damien Moore MP calls on local businesses to improve accessibility for disabled customers

MEMBER of Parliament for Southport, Damien Moore, met with disabled campaigner Debbie-Lyn Connolly Lloyd, to discuss her work to raise awareness of accessibility in Southport.

Over coffee in Bistrot Pierre, 1 of Southport's many wheelchair friendly venues, Debbie-Lyn explained to Mr Moore the work she had done to promote disabled accessibility across Southport's pubs, bars, and restaurants. Her mission is to raise awareness of her experience as a disabled Southport resident, and to encourage more local businesses to look at how facilities can be improved to be more accommodating for disabled customers visiting with friends and family, a mission that Mr Moore is proud to support.

This comes after Mr Moore successfully campaigned for Hillside Station to receive vital Government funding for the installation of a lift through the Access for All scheme, which has created an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to the platform. More recently, after hearing from a constituent of their difficulties accessing Rowland's Pharmacy,kdale Village, Mr Moore intervened and petitioned the managing director to install an accessibility ramp, which has now been done.

Mr Moore continues to push for support for disabled people in Parliament too, and recently submitted Written Parliamentary Questions to the Cabinet Office, to ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment the Disability Unit has made of the current accessibility requirements for local businesses, and what steps will be taken to encourage businesses to improve facilities and disability access in their premises. Mr Moore will continue to highlight this important issue in Parliament.

Mr Moore urges businesses to take the accessibility of their venues into consideration, in order for Southport's residents and 9 million annual visitors to enjoy all the town has to offer.

Damien Moore, Member of Parliament for Southport, said:- "I had the pleasure of meeting with Debbie-Lyn to discuss some of the issues faced by disabled people in Southport. It was great to learn about the work she is doing to raise awareness on the importance of accessibility in our local restaurants, bars, and pubs. It is very important that disabled residents and visitors to our Town can easily access all key services, from improved train connectivity, to accessing vital medication and support through their local pharmacy. I encourage all businesses to look at how accessibility can be promoted and improved in our local venues, so that Southport's wonderful establishments can be enjoyed by all."
 

Botanist, Broadcaster and best selling Author to join this year's line up!

JAMES Wong will be sharing his love for houseplants at this year's show, on:- Sunday, 20 August 2023. James is a professional plant geek, Broadcaster and best selling Author, based in London. He shares his tiny flat with over 500 houseplants, and is constantly developing new, escapist terrarium and aquascape creations that he shares via his Instagram.

Trained at the prestigious Royal Botanic Gardens, at Kew, James achieved an MSc in Ethnobotany, graduating with distinction. He has pursued research into underutilised crop species, ethnopharmacology and traditional food systems, through field work in rural Ecuador, Java and Southern China.

James became the youngest ever RHS medal winner at the:- Hampton Court Palace Show, in:- 2004, and has won several more since, including:- 2 gold medals for his garden designs at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

James has written 6 best-selling books on plant use, gardening and food, including:- Homegrown Revolution, the fastest selling gardening book in UK history. He also writes regular columns in both the:- Observer and New Scientist.

His media career began with the breakaway hit series:- 'Grow Your Own Drugs,' and James has since presented various science, food, gardening and nature shows for the:- BBC, Channel News Asia and Netflix. James is also a regular panellist on Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time.

James is an Ambassador for both Kew Gardens and the Liz Earle natural skincare company, the latter for which he travels the world in search of groundbreaking new botanical ingredients, as their resident Ethnobotanist.

Alan Adams, General Manager of Southport Flower Show and Victoria Park said:- "We can't wait to welcome James to this year's show. He's not been to Southport Flower Show before and we know he will be a hit with our visitors. Houseplants are good for your health and not just for their visual beauty. They essentially do the opposite of what we do when we breathe: release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. This not only freshens up the air, but also eliminates harmful toxins."

James will join Frances Tophill (Gardeners' World and Love Your Garden), Lee Burkhill (The Garden Ninja), Jason Williams (The Cloud Gardener), Keith Brymer Jones (The Great Pottery Throw Down) and Daisy Desire (The Drag Queen Gardener) confirmed to date with many more to be announced over the coming months.

Plans for this year's show are well underway and the combination of:- garden and floral displays, cookery demonstrations, shopping village, arena entertainment, live music and much more makes Southport Flower Show a great day outdoors for the whole family this summer.

For more information about the Southport Flower Show, the largest independent flower show in the country, and for tickets to see the show, that runs from:- Thursday, 17 August to Sunday, 20 August 2023, please go to:- SouthportFlowerShow.Co.UK.