Too early for an April fool but this is what Sefton issued on 17th January 2023 (yes over a year ago).

Meanwhile today, March 14th 2024, and Easter is two weeks tomorrow ...
New toilets not complete, maybe as late as late summer
Portaloos due as replacements
No news on a food / drink concession at the beach entrance
Pontins has closed
No developments for the Sands

From January 2023...

Sefton Council have gone out to tender for works to deliver improved facilities at Ainsdale-On-Sea. The tender will be live until February 10 [2023].

Through the summer months in 2022, visitors to Ainsdale were again able to enjoy the benefits of initiatives being funded by the Council to improve the experience for beach goers.

This included the reopening of existing toilet facilities after a small refurbishment earlier in the year. A daily cleaning regime was in place through the summer months, ensuring the amenities were maintained to a high quality.

And, now as part of additional funding for 2023, further improvements to toilet and wash facilities will be delivered, which will see a full refurbishment of the building, the reintroduction of shower facilities, drinking water and an accessible Changing Places toilet installed too.

The funding will enable the delivery of infrastructure improvements to the coastal gateway, including the development of an off beach car park. An updated planning application has been submitted and works are now out to tender.

The car park will have solar-powered pay and display machines, cycle parking and electric vehicle charging points. Monies generated from parking charges will fund new Rangers on site to welcome and guide visitors as well as repaying a loan for the funding.

Once completed, the car park will provide an alternative parking area for visitors in the summer months and will allow parking during the winter unaffected by weather and tides.

New fencing will be fitted to guide visitors from the car to the beach, while helping to protect the more sensitive areas of the dunes and important habitats.

After two years of trialling food and drink outlets, a new tender will soon be advertised for a concession from 2023 onwards at Ainsdale beach entrance and by the new off beach car park.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

“These developments are in recognition of the need for us to create infrastructure that gives visitors a high-quality and enjoyable experience, reduces the pressure and inconvenience on local residents and protects our natural coast with its very special mix of habitats and wildlife.

“Ainsdale-on-Sea has been recognised as one of these key access points to the coast and there are many exciting possibilities being explored that could form part of the longer-term rejuvenation of the area.”

Another positive sign at Ainsdale is the progress on the redevelopment of the former Sands pub. The building is currently out to market looking for a private sector partner to invest in, develop and operate the site.

A good level of interest has been shown so far, with a decision likely in Spring [2023] on a preferred potential developer for the site, with more work to firm up proposals leading on from there.

You just could'nt make this news story up,this council IS an absolute joke,with NO thought for the visitors or the residents who come into the town,it is an absolute disgrace,and this needs sorting ASAP...How is a town meant to survive without the money coming into the area ? There could be thousands of people hoping to visit the coast and the shops in Southport...And what is going to be there to greet them ? NOTHING...The beaches being closed,the pier closed,and a run down shopping area......

Originally Posted by SteveandLois

You just could'nt make this news story up,this council IS an absolute joke,with NO thought for the visitors or the residents who come into the town,it is an absolute disgrace,and this needs sorting ASAP...How is a town meant to survive without the money coming into the area ? There could be thousands of people hoping to visit the coast and the shops in Southport...And what is going to be there to greet them ? NOTHING...The beaches being closed,the pier closed,and a run down shopping area......

The beach isn't closed and the shopping area isn't run down. I think you must be looking at somewhere else. The only thing correct is the pier is closed but would you prefer that visitors be put at risk?

[QUOTE=editor;6898225]

Too early for an April fool but this is what Sefton issued on 17th January 2023 (yes over a year ago).

Meanwhile today, March 14th 2024, and Easter is two weeks tomorrow ...
New toilets not complete, maybe as late as late summer
Portaloos due as replacements
No news on a food / drink concession at the beach entrance
Pontins has closed
No developments for the Sands

From January 2023...

Sefton Council have gone out to tender for works to deliver improved facilities at Ainsdale-On-Sea. The tender will be live until February 10 [2023].

Through the summer months in 2022, visitors to Ainsdale were again able to enjoy the benefits of initiatives being funded by the Council to improve the experience for beach goers.

This included the reopening of existing toilet facilities after a small refurbishment earlier in the year. A daily cleaning regime was in place through the summer months, ensuring the amenities were maintained to a high quality.

And, now as part of additional funding for 2023, further improvements to toilet and wash facilities will be delivered, which will see a full refurbishment of the building, the reintroduction of shower facilities, drinking water and an accessible Changing Places toilet installed too.

The funding will enable the delivery of infrastructure improvements to the coastal gateway, including the development of an off beach car park. An updated planning application has been submitted and works are now out to tender.

The car park will have solar-powered pay and display machines, cycle parking and electric vehicle charging points. Monies generated from parking charges will fund new Rangers on site to welcome and guide visitors as well as repaying a loan for the funding.

Once completed, the car park will provide an alternative parking area for visitors in the summer months and will allow parking during the winter unaffected by weather and tides.

New fencing will be fitted to guide visitors from the car to the beach, while helping to protect the more sensitive areas of the dunes and important habitats.

After two years of trialling food and drink outlets, a new tender will soon be advertised for a concession from 2023 onwards at Ainsdale beach entrance and by the new off beach car park.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

“These developments are in recognition of the need for us to create infrastructure that gives visitors a high-quality and enjoyable experience, reduces the pressure and inconvenience on local residents and protects our natural coast with its very special mix of habitats and wildlife.

“Ainsdale-on-Sea has been recognised as one of these key access points to the coast and there are many exciting possibilities being explored that could form part of the longer-term rejuvenation of the area.”

Another positive sign at Ainsdale is the progress on the redevelopment of the former Sands pub. The building is currently out to market looking for a private sector partner to invest in, develop and operate the site.

A good level of interest has been shown so far, with a decision likely in Spring [2023] on a preferred potential developer for the site, with more work to firm up proposals leading on from there.[/Q

Is there anybody in this town surprised about all this? This is normal service from a cowboy Council not fit for purpose. It will be open Christmas no doubt, what year is anybodies guess,

Originally Posted by onehorsetown2

The beach isn't closed and the shopping area isn't run down. I think you must be looking at somewhere else. The only thing correct is the pier is closed but would you prefer that visitors be put at risk?

Quite correct. I bet SteveandLois doesn’t even shop in town. They probably drive to some out of town retail dump. Walk to a pub and fill up of crap and booze. And then moan that Southport isn’t the place it used to be. You couldn’t make it up….

Quite clearly there is no one within the council who has an understanding on how to sort out the problems and run the seafront successfully and until that happens it will continue to decline.

Ah but ........ if the Ainsdale seafront were moved to the Queens/Bedford or Peel/Knowsley area it would have money thrown at it from all directions. Much of what is good that happens in the South of the Borough is due to the 'proactive' activity of their local Councillors - begs the question on what do our local councillors actually do?
After all - the recent draft from this neck of the woods wear the same colour rosette as the Bootle politburo - you'd like to think there'd be some back scratching between comrades.

Originally Posted by lawed143

Quite correct. I bet SteveandLois doesn’t even shop in town. They probably drive to some out of town retail dump. Walk to a pub and fill up of crap and booze. And then moan that Southport isn’t the place it used to be. You couldn’t make it up….

Go back to your own effing dump,as we DO shop in Southport,and as for pubs,we live near to a pub which is presently closed and being renovated,which we do use some times,as I am NOT even an alcohol drinker,but my wife and I go there for meals on the odd occasion..And as for calling the "Out of town retail area" a dump,get your facts correct before bleating..

Originally Posted by gazaprop

Ah but ........ if the Ainsdale seafront were moved to the Queens/Bedford or Peel/Knowsley area it would have money thrown at it from all directions. Much of what is good that happens in the South of the Borough is due to the 'proactive' activity of their local Councillors - begs the question on what do our local councillors actually do?
After all - the recent draft from this neck of the woods wear the same colour rosette as the Bootle politburo - you'd like to think there'd be some back scratching between comrades.

Very little because the Labour politburo in Bootle doesn’t allow them to.

Originally Posted by gazaprop

Ah but ........ if the Ainsdale seafront were moved to the Queens/Bedford or Peel/Knowsley area it would have money thrown at it from all directions. Much of what is good that happens in the South of the Borough is due to the 'proactive' activity of their local Councillors - begs the question on what do our local councillors actually do?
After all - the recent draft from this neck of the woods wear the same colour rosette as the Bootle politburo - you'd like to think there'd be some back scratching between comrades.

you mean rather like the money that's being spent on Southport town centre?