Beach parking should be reopened safely, Sefton Council told

More residents have called on Sefton Council to better prepare Southport’s tourist sites for the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions after the recent “fiasco” on Ainsdale beach.

Local businessman Mike Sammon wants the council to open-up parking facilities there.

“After 10 weeks of lockdown, with contradictory advice from the Conservative Government, I think Labour-run Sefton Council still should have anticipated crowds would flock to the beach on sunny days.

“The majority of day-trippers who visited were responsible and practiced social distancing, but otherwise the beach was totally unprepared. Cars were abandoned on the road because there was nowhere else to park; litter was discarded because bins were full.”

Mr Sammon believes Sefton Council needs to invest much more in the town’s tourist infrastructure.

“Tourism is Southport’s life-blood. We should be getting ready for tourists before lockdown ends, not telling them to stay away even though the Government is easing restrictions.”