Save Southport Tourism (Southport Liberal Democrats)

Southport Liberal Democrats <info@southportlibdems.org.uk>

Save Southport Tourism

January 4, 2012 2:41 PM
By SJS

Southport Lib Dems back Tourism campaign Liberal Democrats in Southport are calling for local residents to help save the resort's tourism industry.

As part of the drive to save £20 million next year, Sefton Council is looking at all its services to see if savings can be made. One proposal is to review the Council's Tourism function with the "possible outcome of ceasing to provide a Tourism service". The consultation process is shortly coming to an end.

Councillor Lord Ronnie Fearn was Southport's MP for 9 years, during which time he was the Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman on Tourism. He said:

"Tourism is vital to jobs and to the economy generally in Southport. That's why the idea of scrapping all Council activity in the tourism field fills me with horror."

"Research shows that tourism is worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year to the local economy, and supports 5000 jobs. The Council plays a key role in supporting this key industry by promoting events, attracting conferences, which are vital to hotels and other businesses, and by operating the Tourist Information Centre, among many other things."

Birkdale Lib Dem councillor Richard Hands, Chair of the Southport Area Committee, (pictured 2nd left) is also backing the campaign. He added:

"I appreciate that many residents and those involved in the sector have already responded to the consultation. But I am asking others, as one of their New Year's Resolutions, to find 10 minutes this week to go on-line and express their views about this service which is so essential to the well-being of our town."

Anyone wishing to respond to the Sefton Council Consultation on the proposal to cease the Tourism Service will find it at: http://bit.ly/tex6L7 . Alternatively a search for 'Tourism Sefton E6.7a' will also find the correct website.