"Labour Council Budget Prioritises:- 'Councillor Slush Fund' Over Public Services" say Lib Dems

LIVERPOOL Liberal Democrats refuse to back Labour's pay more, get less budget, branding a new:- �4 million unallocated fund a:- "political slush fund" designed by Labour to buy votes ahead of next year's elections.

The City's main opposition group tonight abstained from voting on Labour's:- 'Pay more, Get Less' budget, which will see Council Tax by the legal maximum for the 5th consecutive year. The Lib Dems argue that with frontline services in decline and the cost-of-living crisis biting, residents are being forced to bankroll Labour's financial mismanagement and vanity projects.

Meanwhile, the Council is set to make:- �20 million in cuts, but Labour will vote to give their Councillors millions of pounds to spend on vanity projects, which in the past have seen the Council lose hundreds of millions in the past.

On Council Tax, the Liberal Democrats argued that services have not improved enough to warrant another tax increase and that Labour is failing to deliver good value for money for residents. They argue that rather than wasting money on vanity projects, the administration should focus on getting the basics right, such as:- core services and preventing further overspends.

They also called Labour's new pot for members' priorities a political slush fund in an election year. The Lib Dems called for guarantees that the unallocated funding would be allocated fairly and impartially across the City, not just where Labour looked vulnerable at the polls.

Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats, said:- "When I'm out talking to residents, they tell me that they are confused that their Council Tax goes up each year but their services seem to get worse. It's gone up by over:- �950 in 6 years. When families in this City are feeling the burden of the cost of living crisis, we have a Labour Council and Labour Government both indifferent to the struggle of thousands of ordinary people. So we won't be backing yet another Council Tax increase, not whilst services are so poor. Residents should not pay more to get less."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Andrew Makinson said:- "This budget is built on shoddy maths once again - Labour commits to millions in savings that they never met and so overspend across the balance sheet. There's no accountability from their own back benches over the financial mess they are creating; they just nod it through. Like they will not throw this:- �4 million political slush fund at it in the run up to the all out elections next year. Will they share it fairly? Will they heck."

1 of Southport's oldest golf courses invests in exciting new look

WITH The Open Golf Championship returning to Southport this summer, 1 of the Town's longest established and most popular courses is busy upgrading its facilities - including:- the Space Race Rocket, the Watermill, and The Helter Skelter.

Southport Crazy Golf - also known as The Masters Putting Green - has been entertaining generations of golf lovers ever since the course 1st opened, in 1965.

in 2026 1 of Southport's most cherished family attractions, owned and operated by generations of the same family, celebrated its 60th Anniversary.

The owners have marked the occasion by investing in new infrastructure and giving the course a fresh new look ready to welcome visitors of all ages from around the world in what will be 1 of Southport's busiest seasons for many years.

The Masters Putting Green is working closely with established Southport business CWS (Custom Welding Services) to put everything in place.

Work is taking place throughout the week with the course still available for players to come down and play every Saturday and Sunday.

It's an exciting, fun and challenging course to play, with something to suit all tastes and abilities.

The attractive 18-hole miniature golf course is situated in 1 of the most scenic spots in Southport, inside the scenic Kings Gardens, and next to the Marine Lake.

It is surrounded by other long standing family attractions too including:- the Southport Model Railway Village, the Southport Marine Lake boats, Silcock's Carousel, Silcock's Funland, Adventure Coast Southport, the miniature railway and others.

The course is open between:- 10am and 6pm, weather permitting, with just:- �5 per person for 18 holes.

Anyone who rings the bell on the 19 hole can win a free game too!

The:- 'Masters' was originally called the:- 'Arnold Palmer' putting green, with the original Mr Law taking on the franchise, with the design influenced by 1 of golf's greatest legends.

Some of the holes are inspired by some of the world's most iconic greens, with others having a crazy golf theme.

Mr Law bravely risked all he had to take on the Arnold Palmer franchise. It was the very 1st course to be built in the UK and is still run today by the same family.

Over the years the putting course has fondly become known as:- 'Southport's Crazy Golf.'

This 18 hole miniature golf course has historic and much-loved obstacles situated around the course to challenge all players, such as the Windmill, Lighthouse, Hurdy-Gurdy and the Helter Skelter.

Southport Crazy Golf is an easy to play, fun course, suitable for players of all ages and abilities. Its layout is also suitable for wheelchair access where play is possible on most holes.

Charles Law from Southport Crazy Golf said:- "We're excited to let everyone know that work has started! We are still aiming to open during weekends if the weather is nice - we look like we have a great weekend ahead. At the moment we will be closed during the week, working our hardest with massive investments this year improving the course. The very talented Terry from CWS in Southport has manufactured from scratch a new Rocket and a new Lighthouse which we are currently painting. He is then moving on to other obstacles for improvements. He has put so much time, energy and vision into the project; he is a pleasure to work with. This week Terry has fitted new gates with a big welcoming arch which will have the Masters crazy golf logo on to welcome everyone onto our course. The jetwashing, scraping and painting starts now for our family now, getting the course the best we can ready for full Easter opening! There are 18 holes in all, 9 of the holes are quite a challenge for the serious golfer out there. The other half of the course is just crazy and fun, this is why the course layout appeals to everyone with mixed abilities, families can have a great time. Hole number 19 is our:- 'Lucky Last Hole' where every player has the chance to ring the bell and win for themselves a free game pass, which can be saved for another visit at any time. We can't wait to welcome locals and visitors alike. This is an incredibly exciting year for Southport with The 154 Open Golf Championship, plus new events like Lightport, Cristal Palace, the Big Top Festival and Books Alive adding to established major events like Southport Flower Show, Southport Air Show and this year's North West Armed Forces Festival, which will be hosted here in King's Gardens. We are all looking forward to seeing work starting soon on Southport Pier and the Marine Lake Events Centre as well. There are so many reasons for people to come and enjoy all that Southport has to offer this year."

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"Labour Council Budget Prioritises:- 'Councillor Slush Fund' Over Public Services" say Lib Dems

1 of Southport's oldest golf courses invests in exciting new look