Sefton Council’s approach to Conservation on Lord Street leaves a lot to be desired, members of Southport Area Committee were told by Southport Civic Society. Martin Perry and David Head, Chairman and Secretary of the Civic Society were invited to give their perspective on conservation in Southport in general and the Conservation Area of Lord Street in particular.
The Civic Society have recently completed a substantial conservation survey of many aspects of Lord Street which, as they pointed out, would cost the Council many thousands of pounds if they had to purchase such a service. The result did not make good reading
Roughly-cut tree stumps were left, month after month, Rusting verandas with gutters full of weeds, Railings and street furniture painted various odd colours, Ever-larger commercial A-Boards and other street-vending all over the pavement. Obtrusive ‘temporary’ fencing left standing for years. destroying vistas. And, right in the centre, a listed building scarred by an amusement arcade.
The Council’s newly-appointed conservation officer had not been in contact with the Civic Society and did not appear to be making Lord Street a priority. The good news, however, was that quite a lot could be done to improve the conservation environment without too much money or effort.
Conservative Councillor David Barton defended Sefton Council saying that they could only do so much.
Town Centre Lib Dem Councillor Tony Dawson, chairing the Area Committee meeting, thanked the Civic Society for their devoted efforts and asked them to keep in touch with Southport’s local councillors about their concerns. He felt that the Council’s attention to conservation was at best inconsistent and included neglect of its own listed buildings such as the Victoria Baths building on the Promenade.
Councillor Dawson is pictured above by some of the railings at The Monument which need to be painted in the same livery as the rest of the railings and lampposts.
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