Parking charges are to be introduced at the RSPB car park on the Marine Drive. It will be free for members.

A barrier will be installed along with a solar powered ticket machine and access will only be possible between the hours of 8.30am to 5.00pm.

The RSPB commented...

From summer 2019, car parking charges will be introduced at Marshside for non-members. These will be as follows: up to 2 hours - £1.50; over 2 hours - £3.

The income generated through car parking charges contributes to the ongoing cost of running all the facilities visitors use at Marshside and our vital conservation work.

Car parking will be free for RSPB members.

And why not, everyone else gets to dip their hands into the motorists pockets, so why not the RSPB?

Those who use it pay, those who don't - don't.

£3 to park overnight in a campervan as opposed to currently free - it's still cheaper than a campsite

or perhaps more campervans will park on the road beside the old Railex factory for free

Originally Posted by Coastal99

Those who use it pay, those who don't - don't.

£3 to park overnight in a campervan as opposed to currently free - it's still cheaper than a campsite

or perhaps more campervans will park on the road beside the old Railex factory for free

Quote

A barrier will be installed along with a solar powered ticket machine and access will only be possible between the hours of 8.30am to 5.00pm.

So not free, so camper vans will be parked up in free to park areas, maybe round Hesketh Park.

Originally Posted by Coastal99

Those who use it pay, those who don't - don't.

£3 to park overnight in a campervan as opposed to currently free - it's still cheaper than a campsite

or perhaps more campervans will park on the road beside the old Railex factory for free

Read the article properly. There’ll be no overnight parking for anyone. It states access will only be allowed between 08:30-17:00.

So when there is an incident for the emergency services to deal with out on Rainfords track, we’ll be left with a couple of Fire engines, several Police vehicles, an Ambulance, a Coastguard 4x4 and a couple of Lifeboat quads all parked on the pavement because the car park is closed!
But then, I don’t suppose the RSPB would want the emergency services disturbing the birds at night anyway.

Originally Posted by donkey22

Read the article properly. There’ll be no overnight parking for anyone. It states access will only be allowed between 08:30-17:00.

The current sign says No Overnight Parking .. does that stop them ?

Where does it say they will be forced to leave once access has been gained between those hours ?

A Traffic warden ? don't make me laugh they are too busy looking for flipped tickets at ASDA

Why close it at 5pm in the summer though?

Originally Posted by salus.populi

Why close it at 5pm in the summer though?

Because the bloody birds are tired after posing all day for the intrepid camera men, they need some rest time as well.

is it worth the effort ?

thousands spent on equipment that will be subject to sea like conditions , salt , blown sand .

will be interesting to see the return on that investment .

Originally Posted by Knot wright

is it worth the effort ?

thousands spent on equipment that will be subject to sea like conditions , salt , blown sand .

will be interesting to see the return on that investment .

It isn't being done to make a return on the investment, its just a further attempt by the RSPB to discourage anyone other than bird watchers from the area, this along with the fences they've erected around part of the seaward side of the marshes, [effectively closing off footpaths which have been used for many years by casual walkers and dog walkers etc.] and the many "strictly no entry and dogs must be on leads or no dogs" signs.
I'm not sure this fencing off areas complies with the "Freedom to roam" laws which cover beaches and marshes, but it is the RSPB doing it, a powerful organisation which can do whatever they want it seems, with the council's blessing.

"its just a further attempt by the RSPB to discourage anyone other than bird watchers from the area"

thats the feeling I got a few years back when I went up with a dog ...... our RSPB subscriptions never got renewed .... and we tend not to favour RSPB places with our visits .......

I thought that the Marine Drive embankment was built by Southport Council which went onto merge to become Sefton Council. This 'car park' is sited on what would be considered to be Sefton Land as such it forms part of the Marine Drive which is Local Authority controlled, in fact I'm fairly certain that the car park was originally constructed by Sefton Council. Has this been formally handed over to RSPB, or is it still classed as Sefton Council estate because as I understand, the Marine Drive and revetments is the responsibility of the local authority and this area of land falls within it's bounds?

Originally Posted by Sandpies

I thought that the Marine Drive embankment was built by Southport Council which went onto merge to become Sefton Council. This 'car park' is sited on what would be considered to be Sefton Land as such it forms part of the Marine Drive which is Local Authority controlled, in fact I'm fairly certain that the car park was originally constructed by Sefton Council. Has this been formally handed over to RSPB, or is it still classed as Sefton Council estate because as I understand, the Marine Drive and revetments is the responsibility of the local authority and this area of land falls within it's bounds?

my understanding is sefton gave the rspb a 100yr lease on the beach and the reserves..thats after the sandwinning debacle.(many pockets lined there)!!!so called enviromentalists that deny the population of their environment unless paid for!

Originally Posted by jamyramy

my understanding is sefton gave the rspb a 100yr lease on the beach and the reserves..thats after the sandwinning debacle.(many pockets lined there)!!!so called enviromentalists that deny the population of their environment unless paid for!

That makes sense, the Council have form for awarding long leases, (as you so subtly put it, 'many pockets lined there'), think Royal Birkdale Golf Course, Pleasureland.
However I still believe that it is still on proscribed land and as such would still belong to Sefton Council. As you state the Council gave the 100 year lease to RSPB, on the beach and the reserves. The Marine Drive and embankment does not form part of either of the beach or the reserve, that is why fences were erected as the Council purchased the land to construct part of the sea defence.
Incidentally the lease given to the original company to extract sand from the shore, I believe, had a clause that the area where the sand winning plant was created. This was to ensure that the land was to be restored to the original beach level should operations cease.