Following the success of being awarded one of the largest Town Deals to date, the Southport Town Deal Board has now agreed which of the projects originally proposed in the Town Investment Plan will now receive Town Deal funding.

Having bid for £50 million and received £37.5 million, the Town Deal Board faced a challenge in deciding where to allocate the funding. However, the Board agreed unanimously that the Town Deal funding should be allocated to projects which will stimulate other funding and investment opportunities to ensure the investments made bring the widest range of benefits to everyone who lives in and visits the town.

The projects which will be progressing with Town Deal funding, subject to government confirmation, are:

• Marine Lake Events Centre
This project will transform the existing Southport Theatre and Convention Centre into a high quality, distinctive entertainment and business events venue capable of providing great experiences to audiences and users

• The Light Fantastic
The creation of a UK-first light, water and sound show in Southport’s Marine Lake to attract visitors from further afield and encourage them to stay for longer in the town

• Enterprise Arcade
Refurbishment of Crown Buildings to create new business incubator space, supporting Southport's emerging creative, digital and tech sector

• Les Transformations de Southport
The project will start to deliver high quality public spaces and an accessible and well-connected transport network, providing priority for walking and cycling in support of clean growth

• Building Better Customer Experience
This project will work with a wide range of stakeholders and businesses to deliver a range of training and development programmes for everyone who has contact with visitors and customers in Southport.

The Town Deal funding will cover the full costs of some projects but not all, and there is still a significant amount of funding required to meet all the projects in the Town Investment Plan. Securing further public and private funding, including from The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, will be equally as important to ensure successful delivery of the wider projects.

This includes not only the projects above, but also some of the other developments included in or stimulated by the Town Deal. Project Barnum, the name given in the bid to the development of an indoor visitor attraction at the Southport Pleasureland site and led by Universal Rides Ltd, is still proceeding. The new Southport Market project is close to completion and opening, and a range of other exciting public and private sector projects are also underway across town.

Leader of Sefton Council, Cllr Ian Maher, commented: “We are looking forward to the next phase of the Town Deal and building on the good work of the Board. The council will now develop and deliver robust final business cases for the projects which will demonstrate the full benefits of each in economic and social terms. This step will be completed in the next 12 months, after which the £37.5 million promised by government would be delivered”.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Like many people, I’ve got lots of happy memories of going to Southport as a kid. It’s great to see these exciting projects to help breathe new life into the town moving forwards.

“Southport is still a vital part of our region’s visitor economy and I’m sure this funding will assist in the regeneration of what is one of the North West’s great seaside towns. I’ll be continuing to work closely with Sefton Council to support their plans for the town and the wider borough.”

No doubt Mr Steve Rotherham and many thousands more over the years would have "flocked" to our once wonderful seaside town! What I wonder was the first place those people headed for.....the beach! What beach?? The beach from Weld Rd to Fairways is a disgrace and has been for many years of neglect. Families once came to enjoy the miles of Golden sands as advertised many years ago, they would no doubt have an ice cream, fish n chips, visit Pleasurland then head into town and visit the many thriving shops?

Also, when is the coast rd due to open again? I thought I heard May 16th? just asking!

Originally Posted by Trevellas43

No doubt Mr Steve Rotherham and many thousands more over the years would have "flocked" to our once wonderful seaside town! What I wonder was the first place those people headed for.....the beach! What beach?? The beach from Weld Rd to Fairways is a disgrace and has been for many years of neglect. Families once came to enjoy the miles of Golden sands as advertised many years ago, they would no doubt have an ice cream, fish n chips, visit Pleasurland then head into town and visit the many thriving shops?

Also, when is the coast rd due to open again? I thought I heard May 16th? just asking!

The people who flocked to the beach for the novelty of parking their car on it have long since realised that beach holidays are better in countries where sunshine is guaranteed.

The Coast Road hasn't been closed for months. Do you mean Marine Drive?

The projects which will be progressing with Town Deal funding, subject to government confirmation, are:

1. Marine Lake Events Centre
2. The Light Fantastic
3. Enterprise Arcade
4. Les Transformations de Southport
5. Building Better Customer Experience

Is that in priority order?

What about the https://www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/n...t-55048031.htm has that now gone?

Originally Posted by roving-eye

What about the https://www.qlocal.co.uk/southport/n...t-55048031.htm has that now gone?

That is private investment and not part of the town deal hence why it was announced long before the town deal award was made. Do you not understand the articles you post?

Originally Posted by salus.populi

The people who flocked to the beach for the novelty of parking their car on it have long since realised that beach holidays are better in countries where sunshine is guaranteed.

The Coast Road hasn't been closed for months. Do you mean Marine Drive?

The majority of people who come to southport come for the day and go to the beach. why is sefton council determined to destroy the beach? salus.populi are you from southport??

Originally Posted by condemnation

The majority of people who come to southport come for the day and go to the beach.

All the more reason to keep cars off it and allow people to actually enjoy themselves without worrying about their kids getting knocked down by a car.

why is sefton council determined to destroy the beach?

What are they doing to destroy the beach?
Do you mean they're just letting nature take its course? The coastline has been moving out westwards for longer than Southport has existed. All of Southport's seaside attractions are built on land that was beneath the sea 150 years ago. The Victorians capitalised on this rather than moaning about it or trying to halt it.

salus.populi are you from southport??

Yes, would I have registered on a Southport forum using the town's motto and contribute to it daily if I wasnt? I'd have better things to do if I wasn't.
But even if I wasn't from Southport why would that make any difference? Would my opinion be less valid? That would be an odd stance from locals in a town that relies on visitors.

Originally Posted by condemnation

why is sefton council determined to destroy the beach?

The beach is still there, it’s further out, caused by a process called accretion. It predates Sefton council by several centuries, so if you want to blame someone, it’s going to have to be good old Mother Nature.

Bankfield Lane in Churchtown was so named for the former sea wall, which can still be seen along the edge of the Botanic Gardens. And it’s been going on a lot longer than that.

Les Transformations de Southport
The project will start to deliver high quality public spaces and an accessible and well-connected transport network, providing priority for walking and cycling in support of clean growth

When I read this my heart dropped as I thought of pop bicycle lanes, the eyesore that is Chapel St and our amazing Market Quarter ….. we have history

Originally Posted by roving-eye

• Les Transformations de Southport
The project will start to deliver high quality public spaces and an accessible and well-connected transport network, providing priority for walking and cycling in support of clean growth.

Clean growth is precisely what is needed......Can't wait to see and experience the result of this exciting scheme!

Originally Posted by Kritou

When I read this my heart dropped as I thought of pop bicycle lanes, the eyesore that is Chapel St and our amazing Market Quarter ….. we have history

If motorists had their way with this cash, all shops would be converted for their exclusive use.....With a handy drive-thru bay at every store front, enabling purchases to be paid for and collected without ever leaving the driving seat!

Originally Posted by The PNP

If motorists had their way, all shops would be converted for their exclusive use.....With a handy drive-thru bay at every store front, enabling purchases to be paid for and collected without ever leaving the driving seat!

I thought Southport was a smokeless zone … what are you on?

Originally Posted by Kritou

I thought Southport was a smokeless zone … what are you on?

I'm on the bike!