Council approves £350k funding for Ainsdale Beach

At its meeting today, Sefton Council’s Cabinet approved funding to support over £350,000 of improvement works at Ainsdale Beach.

After a year of unprecedented demand, this investment in new and semi-permanent facilities, including ‘off-beach’ car parking arrangements, toilets and rubbish management will ensure a better experience for residents and visitors. It will also improve safety and accessibility as well as providing vital protection to the natural environment.

The new ‘off beach’ car parking facilities will help to reduce the impact on local communities who have been affected by irresponsible parking in the past. It will also generate income to cover the cost of the works and the long-term care of Sefton’s unique, 22-mile coastline.

During 2020 huge numbers of visitors flocked to the coast and temporary measures, including portable toilets and rubbish skips, were provided to deal with the extra demand.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “During peak periods, Ainsdale Beach attracts a lot of visitors and this year we saw perhaps more people than ever taking advantage of this fantastic setting. Temporary measures were put in place to ensure that the site could cope with such numbers, but it highlighted that this additional investment, which will benefit residents and beach users alike, is needed.

“The further improvement of facilities will provide a better environment for people to enjoy this beautiful space, while protecting our special wildlife and landscape, and tackling car parking concerns.

“The approval for funding today is just the first step towards these improvements and work will now commence to ensure that we are engaging relevant organisations, community groups and residents as we plan how these improvements will take shape.”