Easter is nearly upon us and there has been a lot of discussion about the beach entrance at Ainsdale such as: Will the new toilet block be ready? Will there be a food and drink concession? Ainsdale Cllr Lynne Thompson has detailed the many aspects of Sefton Council's plans and budgets as follows:
January 2023 Sefton councillors were asked to approve additional funding of £540,000 for improvements to the Ainsdale Beach area, £490,000 in council funding plus £50,000 from a Changing Places grant.
The money was to be used to create better car parking facilities and new accessible Changing Places toilets. A 249-space car park facility would be accessed via the Promenade.
A cheaper option for parking during the summer months, with solar powered pay and display machines allowing payment for shorter stays and a cheaper day rate than parking on the beach. It would also provide parking during the winter months.
In a report, Sefton Council Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services said: “The Sefton Coast Plan recognises the need to create high quality visitor infrastructure at a number of access points, known as coastal gateways, along Sefton’s Coast.
“The purpose is to drive growth within the visitor economy to the benefit of local businesses, provide a high-quality visitor experience at these access points, and reduce visitor pressure on areas of high conservation value and on local residents.
“Ainsdale-on-Sea has been recognised as one of these coastal gateways.
“The area is formally protected as an internationally important dune habitat and supports many rare and important species of flora and fauna. It is designated as an SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar site and Local Nature Reserve.
“The area includes natural sand dunes, a “good” bathing water quality beach, and is one of the key bases for Green Sefton. It also contains a number of buildings that are owned by Sefton, including Toad Hall, and the former Sands public house.”
He also said: “The improved off-beach car parking facility would generate new income to Green Sefton that would cover all operational and revenue costs for the project.
“A project budget of £0.352m was previously approved by Council in January 2021 funded by Prudential Borrowing.
“Approval for a further supplementary capital estimate of £0.540m to implement the improvements was sought and agreed. Contributions to the scheme would also be made as part of the Council’s approved Highways Capital Programme.”
This was all subject to Planning Permission being gained, and the tender processes being completed, with the hope new facilities at Ainsdale Coastal Gateway would be open for the tourist peak season 2023.
Plans were initially hampered by spiralling costs and concerns over quality of ecological surveys done.
Questions I submitted to Council.
Is Council now saying, despite additional capital, costs of intended regeneration still cannot be met?
If there are still issues around finances is there a possibility of more funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (Green Resilient and Safe Communities) / Liverpool City Region?
Ainsdale has been waiting decades for something positive to happen at our Beach Gateway.
Toad Hall - Having searched through information available the last planning brief I could find in relation to Toad Hall dates back to 2011/12 where it states site deemed surplus to operational requirements and should be sold. The planning brief also confirmed the type of development acceptable in principle taking account of planning policies and other constraints affecting the site.
I asked has there been any other planning brief in relation to Toad Hall since 2012? If not why not!
Sands Hotel - Last year The Cabinet member for Regeneration and Skills stated at a full Council meeting there had been a great deal of interest in Sands Hotel site. Councillors were informed options had been short listed and announcement would be made February 2023, this was pushed back to Spring 2023. Now (2024) there is growing concern those shortlisted options are no longer considered viable. I have also questioned this drift and delay many times.
Sefton's forward Plan shows £838,000 to be spent from year period 2022/24 2025/26.
Since 2017 my message to the Council has always been to deliver the smaller projects, The Sands, the lakeside, better toilet facilities, refurbished picnic area. Off beach parking, simple food concessions We have an amazing beach and village.Lets keep both the best they can be.