Libraries should join together

Jun 24 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

IF, as Alan Stennard claims, Wirral Council is too poverty stricken to run an acceptable library service, then the solution is obvious.

Wirral should join the other four boroughs in the Liverpool City Region, to combine their resources to provide the quality of public services their populations deserve.

Indeed, a unified Liverpool City Region (compiling roughly the area of the old Merseyside), with its vast resources, could, if it could secure quasi-independence from central government, and control its own strategic planning for commerce and industry, transport, planning and development, social welfare, and arts and culture, attain a status similar to the great European city states.

This is if it had its own capital investment powers and could run its own tax base, replacing the dysfunctional council tax.

We could then not only have a first rate library service, but the Liverpool City Region would become one of the most desirable places to live in Britain.

LIONEL BURMAN

West Kirby

In the dark

THE residents of Grammar School Lane, West Kirby, would really appreciate a generous discount on their council tax in respect of the lack of street lighting for a period of around three months.

One telephones Streetscene, makes selections on a dialling system, listens to piped music for five minutes and then gets cut off automatically.

Repeat this procedure twice more and then speak to a local government officer, report the three-month darkness and listen to the excuse that it is all the fault of the power company.

Is there anybody out there?

JOHN MICHAEL CORFE

West Kirby

Moon magic

BIRKENHEAD Soroptimists would like to thank all 300 walkers who took part in the second midnight walk from West Kirby to New Brighton on Saturday, June 6 to raise money for breast cancer charities.

We would also like to thank all the marshals, sponsors and helpers, including the 107th Field Squadron from the Army who made us breakfast at the end, for making the event a resounding success.

If anybody would like to contribute to the breast cancer charity fund please go to www.birkenheadsoroptimists.co.uk

Next year’s Moonlight walk may start a little earlier at 10pm.

S ASHLEY

Vice President, Birkenhead Soroptimists

Common sense

TODAY I witnessed personally an example of just how uncaring today’s society has become.

I made my way to pick up a bus that would take me to my destination at the bottom of Town Lane.

Close to the junction – which can be quite treacherous, especially during school terms – I saw a man who seemed to be hesitant about crossing that junction.

I approached him and asked if, as it appeared, he wanted to cross this busy junction. He brushed me aside.

The bus arrived. I stood close by as people who knew him better helped him onto his bus.

He must be 80 if he's a day and yet he had to pay for his journey (which cost, I believe £ 1.60) because in the strict interpretation of the Holy Grail, he didn't have his pass.

EDWARD WEEDON

Bebington