IRRAL NEWS W HESWALL, HOYLAKE, WEST KIRBY & NESTON EDITION Wednesday, December 10, 2008 www.wirralnews.co.uk
Lacie joins Laird yard
CARE AT CHRISTMAS
How The Ark is helping homeless people See page 3
PANTO TIME Win tickets for Floral Pavilion’s Sleeping Beauty See page 22
● Lacie Cadden at the Cammell Laird yard
Photo by Paul Heaps Code ph051208d-8
ONE of the first young women to be given an apprenticeship at the Cammell Laird shipyard is among the latest group to be taken on. The relaunched shipyard is strengthening its workforce with the recruitment of 20 young apprentices. Aged between 17 and 20, they are all from Merseyside and take the total number of apprentices in training at Cammell Laird to 49. Lacie Cadden, 17, of Moreton, is training to be a mechanical fitter specialising in working on ships’
engines. Last month, the firm relaunched the shipyard as Cammell Laird, bringing the world-famous name “back home”. The yard had been trading as Northwestern Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders since 2001 but, having established itself as one of the leading ship repair, conversion and military refit companies in Europe, managing director John Syvret said the business had enough substance to justify bringing back the illustrious Cammell Laird name.
PRICE TO PAY FOR CULTURE
LIBRARIES Only way to save leisure facilities is a 4% levy on council tax LATEST EXCLUSIVE WIRRAL’S libraries and leisure services can only be saved by the imposition of a By MATT HURST 4% “cultural levy”, over and above council tax, says council chief Cllr Steve Education is ring-fenced, children and adult social services remain a statutory duty, “which leaves Foulkes. highways and culture”, says the council leader.
Special area forum dates announced See page 6
The Labour leader defended proposals to axe Hoylake, Pensby, Upton and Irby libraries, as well as Woodchurch Leisure Centre, saying: “As long as I’m leader and breathe air, I will not walk away from my duty to the council tax payer and will not steal money out of their pockets.” But Conservative leader, Cllr Jeff Green believes Cllr Foulkes is trying to “obscure the issues”. Cllr Foulkes told the News residents should “keep in the back of their mind” that if £3.8m savings are not made as proposed, council would look elsewhere.
Cllr Foulkes said: “We’ve invested heavily in quality services, our recycling record is heralded as among the best in the country and we have one of the best education services. “It’s fantastic and every young person has the opportunity to benefit. “They’ve not been cheap and the priority now is moving into a better quality environment in the leisure and culture sector.” But West Kirby’s Cllr Green claims at least £3m can be stripped from the proposed £9m fuel budget, as prices tumble, and £1.4m is due as a reward grant from the local area agreement. According to Cllr Foulkes, the strategic review has
Gorgeous home furnishings at beautiful prices Everything in stock Every Day
Champions Business Park, Arrowe Brook Road, Upton, Wirral CH49 0UQ (Next to Arrowe Park Hospital) 0151 677 8260
Open: Mon – Fri 10-7pm, Sat 9-6pm, Sun 11-5pm Late night Thursday’s open to 8pm
been announced now because the administration has a legal duty to set council tax by March, and any public consultation must conclude by then. He added that Wirral is one of the few authorities not making people compulsorily redundant. He also asked residents to be positive about the potential £20m culture investment and slammed the Conservatives for ignoring budget pressures. Cllr Foulkes said: “If we don’t take into account or move towards that process, then you’re being asked by the opposition party to pay an extra 4% in cultural levy. “They can come out and say that.” But the Conservative leader responded: “We should be providing quality services locally that people can use and if Cllr Foulkes and his Liberal Democrat colleagues want to step aside, they should do so now and we’ll give an absolute commitment to keep these facilities open.” ● Area Forums are taking place across the borough – see Page 6
£39 Double Bed