The go ahead has been given by Sefton Council to improve facilities at Ainsdale and Southport Beaches after granting approval at a full council meeting.
The proposed facilities and
resources will improve safety and enhance the user experience for residents and
visitors alike.
This includes measures to
reduce vehicle queueing times with new initiatives such as wider and improved
entrances.
Rangers will now patrol the
beach up to 8:30pm during peak times, and the beach will then be closed to
vehicles overnight to prevent unauthorised vehicle access, restrict anti-social
behaviour and prevent dangerous driving and other practices. A new fee has been
introduced to discourage people from driving out of the demarcated car park
areas, due to the costs incurred by rescuing stranded vehicles and the damage
they can cause.
Improvements to the facilities
on site such as to the toilets and new welcoming signage and flags are also
included in the plans. Cleansing regimes will also be overhauled, to deliver an
improved service on bank holidays and other busy days.
The investment will be funded
by increased parking charges, which had previously remained the same since
2017.
The new charges will include an
£8 per day rate, with a reduced twilight fee of £4 after 4pm.
The increase will place the parking charges in line with other coast land owners in the area such as the National Trust, RSPB and Pleasureland.
A season ticket will be
available for regular visitors, at a cost of £60, which means people will save
money after seven visits over the six-month season.
Council has also agreed to a
new £30 season ticket for all Sefton residents to encourage locals to enjoy the
beach and save money after just three visits. This specially reduced ticket
will also be available to anyone driving an electric or hybrid car, as part of
measures to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly transport.
Residents and visitors alike
will be encouraged to travel by other means too, and improvements have already
been made to access the beach from Ainsdale station and village for wheelchairs
and prams.
It is exciting times for
Ainsdale, with a consultation on the future vision of the ‘Ainsdale on Sea
Gateway’ to be launched in March. This will run across the summer and will seek
to gather views on how we can make the most of our wonderful coastline – to the
benefit of people, nature and the local economy.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council
Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “During peak periods our beaches
attract a lot of visitors, so measures to alleviate queueing traffic will be of
significant benefit to both residents and beach users alike.
The increase in resources and
improvement of facilities will enhance the visitor experience for everyone and
also provide a safer environment to enjoy theses fantastic assets, whilst
helping protect our special wildlife and landscape, within our borough.
I am particularly pleased the
Council will be able to offer a favourable car parking rate for Sefton
residents, and electric and hybrid car drivers, encouraging people to enjoy
these special sites, and for people to think about their carbon footprint.”
