NO RETEST NORTH LIVERPOOL M.O.T’S ONLY £39.95 FEE SERVICE from £69.95 inc VAT AIR CON RE GAS £59.95 DIAGNOSIS REPAIRS FROM £29.95 ALL MAKES REPAIRS • CLUTCHES • GEARBOXES • BRAKES • CAMBELTS • EXHAUSTS ETC BOOK IN OR WHILE - U - WAIT Open Mon-Fri 8.30 - 5.30, Sat 9-1pm DEDICATED COVID 19 CONFORMING MOT WAITING ROOM 0151 547 1831 OR 0151 546 5100 OPTION 2, OR BOOK ONLINE www.mountgarageliverpool.co.uk 28 April 2021 Vol 28 l Issue 17 www.champnews.com MOUNT GARAGE, Prescot Road, Melling L31 1AR, THE GULF GARAGE INSIDE Dairy site Dog walkers THIS could become collared with WEEK: new homes new rules! CHURCH HALL SALE PUTS The former Blundellsands United Reformed COMMUNITY Church GROUPS AT RISK Ruth Mwandumba wants to inspire other black athletes. Picture by COMMUNITY groups and charities Baskets charity, Crosby Orchestral Society, Paul Cooper which use a former church hall as their a women’s support group called Cuppa Tea home, risk being turfed out after the Report by Tom Martin Time, a puppy training group and more. building was put up for sale. After being told they could be kicked out The hall has been placed on the open by June, it leaves the community groups Champion target shooter market alongside the closed-down Blun- privately bought. There are a number of scrambling to secure alternative facilities. dellsands United Reformed Church, on groups that are based inside the hall, Sefton Baby Baskets has been distribut- aims to inspire more black Warren Road, and they could both now be including a local scout group, Sefton Baby ing Moses baskets filled with donated clothes and provisions from the building since last year. athletes to take up the sport Vice-chair of the charity, Lauren Ather- ton said: “We ’ve been really grateful for AN international target shooter Target shooting involves the the URC’s support since the church closed. from Waterloo, who became the use of air rifles, pistols and It’s been a brilliant base for a new charity. first black person to represent other guns, with some of the key “But now it’s in the hands of the Mersey- England in the discipline, wants skills involving concentration, side Synod whether they take developers’ to encourage more people from self-discipline and great self- money and let it be turned into posh flats different backgrounds to take control in order to hit a target. or they keep the original spirit alive by up the sport. Ruth is hoping to one day com- selling to another church or community Ruth Mwandumba, 25, wants pete in the Olympic Games, g ro u p . ” to inspire change after realising having already represented Another group that uses the venue is the she was the only black compet- Great Britain and England on 2nd Crosby Scout Group, which was estab- itor in her sport - not only in the numerous occasions. lished in 1908 and is one of the UK’s oldest UK, but across Europe. Turn to page 5 scout groups. Some of the groups’organisers outside the church Continued on page 5 PAPER ADVERTISEMENT Protect our Rejuvenate our Providing the Time for remaining high streets and real opposition greenbelt land town centres to Sefton Labour Council change in Conserve historic Invest in the buildings and our protection of our Sefton Central local heritage coastline Promoted by Martyn Barber on behalf of Sefton Central Conservative Candidates, all of Sefton Central Conservative Association, Oce 8, 37-39 Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5RB. CHAMPION SERIES THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 143,191 JAN-DEC 2020 100% FREE 2 G Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion G Wednesday 28 April 2021 325 new homes earmarked for land in Lydiate A MAJOR housing developer wants to build 325 pied by Morton’s Dairies which remains an operational homes on fields along the edge of Lydiate, which will dairy although this will relocate as part of these propos- involve the demolition and relocation of Morton’s als. Dairies. “Throughout the layout design process, a key focus has Bellway has submitted a planning application to been to ensure delivery of a new neighbourhood that Sefton Council to create the huge development on a integrates into the wider settlement. patch of land to the north of Kenyons Lane, between Liv- “The vision was designed around existing and potential erpool Road and the A59. new green infrastructure to encourage community activ- As part of the plan, Morton’s Dairies, on Kenyons Lane, ity. Theconnection to the wider area has been embraced, will be torn down with the business relocating else- reinforcing the gateway into the development. w h e re . “The development has been driven by the need to pro- Bellway state in their planning application: “The site is pose an appropriate scheme which logically integrates split into two distinct parts. The northern part comprises into the community of Lydiate. The layout has been low level maintained grass. The southern part is occu- formed to create a highquality residential development within the context of Lydiate.” Sefton Council has not yet made a decision on the plans. Morton's Dairies, on Kenyons Lane (above) and how the plans would look (left) NEW 2021 Liverpool Sailings ON SALE NOW! Touring British Isles Discovering Spain & the Balearics Departing 2nd September 2021 for 9 nights Departing 11th September 2021 for 15 nights Onboard BOREALIS Introducing Borealis Onboard BOREALIS Interior from £1399pp Interior £2199pp Oceanview from £1699pp NEW TO LIVERPOOL in 2021 Oceanview £2499pp Terrace from £2599pp Terrace £3999pp Includes FREE Drinks Package or £125 per person on board spend* Includes FREE Drinks Package or £250 per person on board spend* SAILING HIGHLIGHTS SAILING HIGHLIGHTS Liverpool, UK - Falmouth, UK - Portland, Liverpool, England - Málaga, Spain - Palma, Spain - Mahon Dorset, UK- Harwich, UK - Portsmouth, UK - Belfast, (Menorca), Spain - Barcelona, Spain - Valencia, Spain - Cádiz, Northern Ireland - Liverpool, UK Spain - La Coruña, Spain - Liverpool, England Call 0151 920 1000 Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm www.visioncruise.co.uk BOOK WITH VISION CRUISE TODAY – YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT FOR OVER 30 YEARS TERMS & CONDITIONS: These Terms and Conditions are in addition to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice, cannot be combined, are subject to *Choose either FREE All Inclusive Drinks Upgrade or FREE On Board Spend, applicable to new bookings only, (FOCL) standard Terms and Conditions, which are available on request. Both must be read before availability and cannot be applied retrospectively. Cruise descriptions (and images in the email) include made from 21/04/21, on new cruises S2131, S2121 & T2128. FREE On Board Spend ONLY applies to new booking. Fares are per person, based on standard occupancy of the lead-in cabin of named category, optional, chargeable experiences that may be enjoyed independently and/or with optional Fred. Olsen Cruise T2131. Offer is subject to availability. Charters, exclusive sailings and Tour Operator holidays are subject to availability. ‘PP’ is per person. Information shown is correct at time of going to print (April Shore Tours. Shore Tours are subject to availability and service operation. Fred Olsen reserve the right to excluded. Freedom fare terms and conditions apply. 2021), but fares are capacity controlled and may change at any time. Call for latest prices. All offers amend itineraries for operational reasons. Some ports may be at anchor. E&OE. Full terms and conditions on All Inclusive and on board spend are available on request. The Champion G Wednesday 28 April 2021 Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com G 3 Force takes part in week-long campaign to highlight knife crime in Merseyside POLICE in Merseyside are taking ers. Superintendent Jenn Wilson activity along with our proactive previous year (2019-2020). part in a week-long campaign to said: “Although this week highlights policing can deter them from get- “Our collaborative #BladeFree highlight knife-crime. knife crime in particular, this ting involved in this sort of campaign also provides a hub for The national campaign, known as remains our priority all year round. criminality and provide them with young people to find exciting clubs #OpSceptre, started on Monday “With determination from us and appropriate advice and support to and activities in their area to ensure (April 26) and aims to proactively support from the public, I have no seek more positive futures. they are steered away from crime. target those carrying weapons, doubt that we can positively impact “In addition to #OpSceptre, we “We are always looking for sup- reduce these offences, raise aware- our communities and make changes continue with our own forcewide porters and hope that whether you ness of the dangers of knife crime, to ensure the safety of all those liv- initiative; Operation Target, which are a member of the public, run a and provide young people with ing in and visiting Merseyside. is focused on reducing all serious club or volunteer at a community more positive alternatives to crime. “This concentrated week of action and violent crime. centre, you too can get involved.” Decision to close In Merseyside, officers are carry- is dedicated to tackling knife crime, “We ’re proud that this financial To report someone in possession ing out a variety of policing activity but we will also spend a lot of time year (April 2020-March 2021) has of a knife, know whether they are social centre is met including open land searches, stop talking to the wider public and edu- resulted in 4,312 people being being hidden or are simply con- searches, high visibility and plain cating young people about the arrested for knife and serious viol- cerned about your loved one, clothed patrols, weapon sweeps as dangers carrying a knife can lead ence offences as well as seeing a contact police on 0800 555 111, or with dismay by MP well as working with their partners, t o.