Southport Conservatives Slam Labour's Latest Southport Tax

SEFTON Council's proposals to tax new developments in Southport Town Centre and along the seafront have been slammed by Conservative Group Leader on Sefron Council, Mike Prendergast.

The proposals involve charging developers £2,680 per 100m2 within the new Southport Seafront and Southport Central Area and also includes:-hotels, B&B's and other holiday accommodation in the wider Southport area. After a challenging time, Conservatives in Southport say this is simply going to drive away investment.

Councillor Prendergast said:- "This proposal is a Southport Investment Tax and will simply drive investment elsewhere. In their own press release, Sefton Council acknowledge that Southport is:- 'Sefton's key Tourism and Visitor location.' How on earth does this proposal encourage investment into our Town centre? Southport relies heavily on its tourism, Hospitality and leisure sectors and they are already grappling with increases in the minimum wage and massive increases in National Insurance by the Labour national Government. At a local level, local businesses already pay their Business Rates and many in the Town center pay more to contribute to Southport BID. Car parking charges are high and Labour in Sefton have flatly refused to review these. Local businesses are already suffering; Labour can't just keep squeezing them for more money, locally as well as nationally, you can't tax your way to growth. These proposals should have been rejected by Sefton Labour but instead, once again, Southport is being used as a cash cow. We want to encourage investment in our Southport, not put people off. Sefton Council is in the process of spending £73.5 million on the new MLEC facility and we want to draw investment in on the back of that. Taxing developers more will drive potential investors to go elsewhere and jeopardise the viability of the new center in the longer term. Without good hotels being built in the area, how can a brand-new convention center last? Outside of the Town centre, this will also catch other potential development. In Ainsdale, we want to see the area around The Sands and Pontins improved, the likelihood of that incorporating any kind of new hotel or holiday accommodation is now reduced because of this new tax. This latest tax on Southport needs to be dropped and we need policies that encourage investment, not drive it away. Southport is a wonderful place to live, work and visit and we could make it so much better if we create the environment for businesses to thrive and draw people in.”

Let us know your thoughts on this news topic... Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com, alternatively please send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter.

Postie due to deliver 100 mile challenge for Elsie's Story:- 'didn't have to think twice' to support Royal Mail colleague

A postie from Southport is getting ready to take on a 100 mile Ultra challenge to raise funds for the Elsie's Story charity. Jackie Taylor works at Royal Mail where she is a colleague of:- 1 of 3 young girls who were killed in the Southport tragedy in July 2024.  Despite not being an elite runner, Jackie said she:- "didn't have to think twice” about taking on the gruelling challenge on:- Saturday, 5 April 2025.

Jackie has already raised over £500 for Elsie's Story, with people able to donate here: Jackie Taylor is fundraising for Elsie's Story  The 44 year old Mum of 3 is married with 3 children (a 24 year old son with 2 daughters aged:- 22 and 17), with her family supporting her on her journey.

Jackie said:- "I'm running my 1st 100 mile ultra in less than 3 weeks' time! I'm running to raise money for Elsie's story. Elsie's dad is a colleague of mine and I didn't have to think twice before wanting to choose them to raise money for. I'm not an elite or fast runner, I'm a normal runner; well as normal as you can get running 100 miles. I am a 44-year-old wanting to challenge myself and see how far I can push my limits. I have never done anything like this before but I really want to raise as much awareness for this charity.”

The remarkable 100 mile Chester Ultra takes in some of the best trails in the Region along the Sandstone Trail, the Marches Way (beside the River Dee), Helsby Hill, Frodsham, Beeston Castle, Delamere Forest and the Bridgewater Canal. It includes:-1,590m of ascent and 12 checkpoints en route.

Jackie said:- "I started running 8 years ago. It was mainly road running, working my way up to 10ks and half marathon distances. Soon after I started to run in the pinewoods and really enjoyed the trails compared to the roads and streets. In 2018 I did my 1st marathon, running around the coastal path of Holyhead. I was in love and a few months later did my 1st 50k ultra around the Yorkshire moors. Since then I've completed 15 marathons and 7 ultra marathons. The further distance I have done is 52 miles. I'm an average runner and love to run with my friends taking on many adventures in the trails. After falling at a race last June and hurting my ribs I had to take a couple of months off running. Since then I've been building back up my fitness and strength and in December started my training for this 100 mile Ultra. Training is going really well and I've had amazing support from my running friends and others who are running their 1st 100 mile race at the same event. Every Sunday I'm out of the house pretty much all day travelling to do some part of the Chester route to learn it as much as I can. I'm lucky I have a very supportive and understanding husband."Although training has gone well it's not been easy. After falling at a race last June and hurting my ribs I had to take a couple of months off running. Since then I've been building back up my fitness and strength and in December started my training for this 100 mile Ultra. Training is going really well and I've had amazing support from my running friends and others who are running their 1st 100 mile race at the same event. Every Sunday I'm out of the house pretty much all day travelling to do some part of the Chester route to learn it as much as I can. I'm lucky I have a very supportive and understanding husband. Although training has gone well it's not been easy.”

Elsie's story was launched last year in memory of Elsie Dot Stancombe, who was 7 years old when she was:- 1 of 3 young girls killed at:- The Hart Space in Southport, on:- 29 July 2024.

When they launched Elsie's Story, her parents, Jenni and Dave Stancombe said:- "We want to continue Elsie's:- 'story'; her positivity, love for others and energy of life….. The Trust has been established with the principle objective being to make grants to causes in Elsie's name, the focus of which will be assistance to young people and support for others in the community and across the Region. This will include:- community projects, medical care and support for individuals and families, good causes involving fun, and bringing the community together. Elsie was the most caring and generous little girl and we have promised to not let this awful tragedy be in vain and creating this trust is the start of this.”

For more details about how you can support Elsie's Story visit:- JustGiving.Com.