Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Now and Then The Future of Birkenhead Town

The ferries made a profit (totally unsubsidised) the last two financial years.

Merseyrail made a massive loss when you take into account their huge subsidy.

Tunnels broke even by a bit of financial wizardry.

i agree with all you say,but im afraid the public dont have any say in the way things happen,the decisions are made by the people with the money and money is power,i personally enjoy shopping at asda and the like,because its the nearest we,ll get to the old high st,the council charges so much for shop rentals rates etc that its mainly charity shops that can survive as they get all sorts of discounts,even the market has gone really downhill,there are only three butchers left in the country produce,its all blooming cafes,no characters left like ELI from the old marketwho would give you bargains shouting from his stall and a few laughs,greed is the name of the game im afraid Most decisions about the librarys ect are all ready made long before the public get to hear of them,all the communty spirit has gone or is dwindling,hardly any good pubs left,not many post offices were people used to meet on pension day and have a chat,its a real shame but i can see the day when we will do everything on line and there will be hardly any reason to leave your home,sorry so long winded

The council is in turn hand-cuffed by the restraints put in place by central government.

Government love the situation, they call the cards and the councils get the blame.

Some central grants are only available if the councils do certain things - this isn't simple bribery, its corruption because the councils can't survive without these grants.

That is also the main reason for privatisation, its not to do with saving money, its more to do with passing blame.

true take your point im not very up on politics,but as i said money talks and money goes to money ,those with itmake the decisions and ,yes the buck gets passed,not sure what we can do about it i grew up with a few people who are now local councellors and i know they are doing their best but hands are tied

To Bert1, not sure about the sun and me noggin could be that and the amount of Aussie beer. With Charing Cross they could have left the cross and still put the lights in, so instead of going straight you just go around the cross.

To Cathcart, I never left in the 1940's it was 1970 and the old town still had some character then.