The Southport Party can report that Danfo UK Ltd are in partnership with Blackpool Council and have, over the last 2 years, solved that Council's problem of providing 21 clean and decent public toilets that are up to a modern standard. The collaboration between this both national and international company and Blackpool Council has recently been rewarded with a 4-Star award for excellence.

This can be contrasted with the situation in Southport , where 3 decades of neglect by Sefton Council have left us with fewer remaining toilets, many of which are in a deplorable state. Surely there are lessons to be learned from other local authorities that have seriously addressed this perplexing problem and found the solution for little, if any, additional cost.

Instead of visiting Mons this year on a ceremonial fact-finding mission, the Sefton dignitaries and entourage should have gone on a more useful, and much less expensive trip, just 35 miles north to Blackpool , where they would have found a simple answer to Southport 's 30 year old toilet problem.

As a spin-off, the delegation might have also discovered how to present proper and efficient seafront ornamental festoon lighting to replace the current abysmal presentation, now seen dangling along our own Promenade.

No, we don't want to go and live in Blackpool , but we can learn from some of their good ideas - ideas that have contributed to their “ Britain in Bloom” award for 2004.