If it was your job

[said]

If it was your job to do so, how would you improve the town of Southport? What would you like to see changed, what would you keep and what would you like to see rid of?

Personally, I would like to see the beach improved and more features added similar to St. Annes. I would like to see that ugly block of flats on the Promenade demolished and a more aesthetic building in its place. I would also like to see the underground block of shops under Neville Street restored as a tourist attraction - but maintain it as underground, keeping the road above it.

[Chas King]

If it was your job to do so, how would you improve the town of Southport? What would you like to see changed, what would you keep and what would you like to see rid of?

Personally, I would like to see the beach improved and more features added similar to St. Annes. I would like to see that ugly block of flats on the Promenade demolished and a more aesthetic building in its place. I would also like to see the underground block of shops under Neville Street restored as a tourist attraction - but maintain it as underground, keeping the road above it.

I would have a word with the people at Lytham and ask them what the secret is ?

[jamyramy]

sadly our beach cant return .is now glass and cement somewhere else,over backdoor pilfering jiggery-pokery with the sand winning.but yes id open it up again to full use as before.the parkng well its necessary,but with a more user friendly adoption,the use of your hours minimum ticket across all portions of the the town,a properly designated central parking facility,a major rethink on the disastrous pedestrionisation ,on the fluidity of traffic flow within our town centers layout.get rid of the buissnesse enemy and councils friend the bid!.a sensible rating strategyto encourage new starters alongside a realistic rental capping on premses in line with the economic demograph(not some londonners portfolio remit).but all said its too late to bring it back anyway,theres more going after this xmas for sure.so our views will be too late to save this old horses reigns.

[grassroots]

First of all I'd like to see Southport out of Sefton .
I'd like to see something done with the beach , the pier is starting to look shabby already so that need upgrading. There are too many empty shop units I'd like to see more help for the small businesses, and more incentive to attract more business.
There is too much vandalism in the town that should be dealt with more efficiently.
But most importantly more encouragement for New Businesses.

[The PNP]

All depends on what you believe town centres are for....

A) To provide an unimpeded through-route aimed primarily at attracting traffic that is heading elsewhere. If so, remove the on-street parking and bus-lanes etc, leaving you with a fine dual-cariageway.

or

B) To be an attractive low-stress destination free from constant stink and roar of traffic. Somehere special where shoppers can feel welcome and safe, increasing footfall. If so, eliminate through-traffic, by allowing only bus/taxi/cycle access between Monument and Scarisbrick Hotel. Send undesired through-traffic around via seafront and/or Prom.

[Chas King]

If you construct shopping malls on the edge of town with free parking then people will shop there. Place double yellow lines on half the roads in the town and charge for parking where there is no double yellow lines and you have effectively driven a lot of people out of town. Add internet shopping , Liverpool One and the Trafford Centre and the job is complete ! Sad but true !

[Toodles McGinty]

The north end isn't a beach anymore. It's a field. Restore it as a sandy beach. And considering that we are supposed to be a resort, there are virtually no attractions by the beach. Few facilities. Hard pushed to find a loo, in fact.

Sure, Pleasureland, when it is open, is a vast improvement on the old place, but it is out of the way. Probably why MaccyDs is so busy all of the time. You can use a toilet and grab a cheap bite for the kids. Not sure exactly what I'd put down at the beach, but something to make it feel less bleak. The rear view of aircraft hangars does not contribute to a 'classic resort'.

Start offering reduced rates on the empty shops. I know this is happening all over the country, but it looks terrible. On Lord St and Eastbank. With all of the take-aways, Eastbank St reminds me of Rusholme - not the ideal first impression for visitors coming into town from that direction.


Bu the very first thing I'd do is move the market, on account of it is out of the way for most shoppers. It is dire with all of the empty stalls. I feel sorry for the stallholders. Move the market to the ground floor of the BHS building. Smack bang in the middle of town. That way the lovely old building is in use and the market traders would actually have some customers.

[Alikado]

The north end isn't a beach anymore. It's a field. Restore it as a sandy beach. And considering that we are supposed to be a resort, there are virtually no attractions by the beach. Few facilities. Hard pushed to find a loo, in fact.

Sure, Pleasureland, when it is open, is a vast improvement on the old place, but it is out of the way. Probably why MaccyDs is so busy all of the time. You can use a toilet and grab a cheap bite for the kids. Not sure exactly what I'd put down at the beach, but something to make it feel less bleak. The rear view of aircraft hangars does not contribute to a 'classic resort'.

Start offering reduced rates on the empty shops. I know this is happening all over the country, but it looks terrible. On Lord St and Eastbank. With all of the take-aways, Eastbank St reminds me of Rusholme - not the ideal first impression for visitors coming into town from that direction.


Bu the very first thing I'd do is move the market, on account of it is out of the way for most shoppers. It is dire with all of the empty stalls. I feel sorry for the stallholders. Move the market to the ground floor of the BHS building. Smack bang in the middle of town. That way the lovely old building is in use and the market traders would actually have some customers.

Not a field, a salt marsh which it always has been, it's a depositing coast area as opposed to an eroding one such as Formby, it is nothing new it has been going on for donkeys years.
The Promenade was the Promenade - the Seafront, Kings Gardens, the Marine Lake & Southport Municipal Golf course are all on what was the beach. The bank that runs from Hesketh Dr passed Stanley High School through to the Pumping Station is the original Seawall.
If you want the Golden Sands of yesteryear they are still there - just further out.
Time & Tide stop for nobody.

[salus.populi]

One presumes these wish lists of reversing the forces of nature and restoring things that were demolished over a century ago are based on money no object funding?
If you reduce business rates then that's less funding for public services.

[MICK/GILLY]

I think businesses shouldn't have to pay for putting tables out on Lord St but if they do pay then the money should go towards the upkeep of the floral decoration in the street. I think that they should put the tourist information office back where it was and have them advertise coach excursions like they used to do and although much progress has already been made on the promenade the finishing touches such as some rubbing down, priming and repainting a few old railings would convince visitors that we care about our resort even though we will soon be the only resort with a Pier in a field.

[Albion102]

Not a field, a salt marsh which it always has been, it's a depositing coast area as opposed to an eroding one such as Formby, it is nothing new it has been going on for donkeys years.
The Promenade was the Promenade - the Seafront, Kings Gardens, the Marine Lake & Southport Municipal Golf course are all on what was the beach. The bank that runs from Hesketh Dr passed Stanley High School through to the Pumping Station is the original Seawall.
If you want the Golden Sands of yesteryear they are still there - just further out.
Time & Tide stop for nobody.

Alik is quite correct. Remember that in the 1600/1700s Parkgate was the main port for traffic to Ireland and in the 1800s was a seaside resort. Silt and Spartina (aka "grass") put paid to that. Southport is never going to be a seaside resort in the bucket and spade sense again, and an alternative future is needed. Incidentally near me, Clacton and Walton on the Naze have fantastic beaches, but it hasn't stopped them being sh**holes. The only area of the Tendring coast that is half tidy is Frinton which is renown for its determination to be a nice town with a nice beach rather than a seaside resort - reminds me in some ways of Birkdale.

[RobinC]

Frinton was always known as being the town with no pubs when I lived in the South East. Is this still the case?

[Ceam]

I think everyone has their own opinion on what should happen, It's another thing if there is a budget to do them.

[whiplash]

So many empty shops,,,,no can afford to fill them.
I bet Christmas pop up shops will appear soon for 3 months.

[Ceam]

So many empty shops,,,,no can afford to fill them.
I bet Christmas pop up shops will appear soon for 3 months.

Is it that they can't afford them, Or the fact it is cheaper and easier to shop online for many items that used to be sold on the high street?

Which of course has the knock on effect of not making the shops profitable due to lack of foot fall/sales. Vicious circle. Not sure how it can be reversed without using a time machine and not inventing the internet.