Local Liberal Democrat councillors in Meols Ward have continued to back work to improve Botanic Gardens with a donation of £5,000 towards work to dredge the park’s lakes. The councillors have been working closely with the Make a Change for Botanic group and Botanic Gardens Community Association and now want to make a financial contribution.

The Make a Change group was originally set up to do something special in memory of Ben Smith-Crallan, whose life was sadly cut short due to a tragic chain of events. It was also to raise awareness of the desperate need to clean up Botanic Gardens Lake. This remains the main focus of this campaign, along with helping to raise funds for other repairs, renovations and initiatives.

Councillor Yaso Sathiy, one of the three Lib Dem councillors in Meols, said, “We have always supported projects within Botanic Gardens and we felt it was important to continue that support, especially for the plans to dredge the lake.”

“The Make a Change group and the long-standing work of the Botanic Gardens Community Association have both achieved a great deal and their drive to improve the Gardens is wonderful to see. We will continue to support and work together with the Make a Change group and the Botanic Gardens Community Association to make real progress. We really are so lucky to have the Botanic Garden and we will always work together to maintain and improve the gardens for residents."

Chair of the Make a Change group, David Rawsthorne, said, “Thank you so much to the Meols Ward Councillors for this substantial £5,000 donation to that Botanic Gardens lake campaign. Gestures of this kind will hopefully encourage others to help out. Myself and Jess Thwaites, my campaign partner, applaud their generosity.”

From their own pockets or from council funds?
It really ought to say.

not to be the kill joy here but if this is from ward funds it would need to be allocated to a certain project otherwise it would actually be breaking rules and possibly the law.If they have donated from their own pocket then this is a huge thing to do and the town could certain learn a lesson from those people.

Originally Posted by town36

not to be the kill joy here but if this is from ward funds it would need to be allocated to a certain project otherwise it would actually be breaking rules and possibly the law.If they have donated from their own pocket then this is a huge thing to do and the town could certain learn a lesson from those people.

It's been clarified elsewhere that it is ward funding so this press release no doubt written by the lib dems themselves is misleading and the thanks should be to all the residents of Meols Ward whose money it is but who no doubt had no say in how it is used.