Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
Given the many delays and issues which have hit major developments across Southport and beyond, it’s easy to adopt an attitude of ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’.
It’s a statement which has become commonplace in discussions about future works - especially in Facebook comments where people seemingly take glee in the suggestion of failure.
Today’s edition looks at three biggest developments which are ongoing in the town - and all funded by public money - as progress becomes tangible in all three.
Southport briefing
🚓 A Southport man has been charged after an apparent bomb hoax sparked a police response in the town centre. Police were called on Friday afternoon to reports a man was carrying a knife and a black bag with a reported bomb inside on Eastbank Street and Lord Street and it was also said that he raised his fists to hit a member of the public as he walked past a shop in the area. Adnel Mateus, of Alexandra Road, was soon arrested outside Caffe Nero on Chapel Street and police have now confirmed that no suspicious items were found. The 47-year-old was later charged with breach of a community protection notice and common assault and released on conditional bail.
⛔ A property associated with drug, noise problems and public urination has been repossessed. The force has been repeatedly called over issues of antisocial behaviour associated with the flat at Grosvenor Court over a period of months, including drug deliveries and people drinking and urinating in communal areas. The occupants have now been removed from the property after it was repossessed by the bank following work by the Southport Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Merseyside Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership. Sefton Area Commander Karl Baldwin said: “I hope this result reassures residents in the community who endured considerable fear, distress and anxiety as a result of this ongoing anti-social behaviour. The launch of the Merseyside Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership this year is evidence of our commitment to such crimes. Merseyside Police recently implemented our new operating model, and we are already seeing the benefits on the frontline. Having additional neighbourhood policing officers across the force allows us to provide a faster and more effective response, serving local needs. The repossession of this address demonstrates the power of greater local knowledge, and the availability of our officers to tackle these issues.”
🕛 The McDonald’s at Central 12 Retail Park is requesting permission to operate 24 hours a day - two years after agreeing shorter hours to achieve planning permission. The fast food giant opened on the retail park in 2024 and had originally wanted to open all day but modified its proposals to opening hours of 6am-11pm when neighbours objected. It has now submitted a request to remove that time limit, arguing the increased hours will allow them to meet customer demand, create additional jobs and provide more hours for existing employees. The application states: “The applicant is not aware of any complaints relating to plant noise or other operational noise from the premises, nor of any significant anti-social behaviour associated with the current operation of the restaurant. The extension of hours is intended to enable the restaurant to better meet customer demand during the late night and early morning periods and to improve overall operational efficiency.”
£10m Town Hall Gardens plans mark hat trick of progress on major developments
By Jamie Lopez
The announcement of a new consultation phase for the £10m redevelopment of Town Hall Gardens marked a hat trick of progress on major Southport projects.
New drawings have been published showing the latest design of how the space outside Southport Town Hall and The Atkinson could look after a transformation into a botanical garden and performance space
The area is being redeveloped through £10m of funding - £5m from the government and £2.5m each from Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - in a regeneration project inspired by its role as a focal point for the community after the 2024 attack.
It came a week before the next stage of construction began for the proposed Marine Lake Events Centre and amid progress on the refurbishment of Southport Pier.
While the latter two developments have been plagued by issues including delays and soaring costs, they remain firmly on track and represent investments totalling more than £120m.
Andrew Brown, founder of Stand Up For Southport and vocal advocate of the town’s offering, said: “Southport has an incredibly exciting future with all the major projects taking shape. You don’t have to walk far without seeing builders busy at work in our town, and it’s a sign of real progress.
“During my time living and working in Southport, I’ve seen big developments happen before - the £20 million The Atkinson redevelopment, the much-heralded four star Ramada Plaza Hotel, the brand new Vincent Hotel, Ocean Plaza and others. All of these, while significant, were one-offs.
“This time it’s different - we’re seeing work to create the £106 million Marine Lake Events Centre; the innovative new Light Fantastic in the Marine Lake; the £20 million Southport Pier restoration; and the £10 million Town Hall Gardens transformation, which will have such a positive impact on the town centre.
“When Southport secured its vital £37.5 million Town Deal funding, the expectation was that it would ultimately act as a catalyst to attract a further £400 million in investment.
“We’re now seeing concrete evidence of that taking shape. Momentum is happening. Wetherspoon has committed £5 million, and its own building team, to creating Southport’s own Wetherspoon Hotel. Proposals for the new Cove Resort continue.
