Hello and welcome to The Southport Lead. Instead of your regular edition, I’m instead writing to ask for your support as we continue to try to provide an alternative model to local news.
In the year-and-a-half since we launched this title, giving me the privilege of once again writing about my home town, the feedback and response has been fantastic. Plenty of you have chosen to subscribe and the newsletter continues to grow. Alongside our fellow The Lead North title, we’ve also seen recognition with a Press Gazette Future of Media Award and nominations elsewhere. It is also no coincidence that having seen the response to our work, Reach PLC - which has underfunded news titles across the country - has chosen the Southport Visiter as one of two titles which will receive a paywalled website.
It’s a strange time for news in Southport. Social media activity is incredibly high but it frequently descends into inaccuracy, agendas and abuse - we filter through all of that to bring you what you actually need to know, written by a qualified and experienced reporter who lives in and care about the town. Like all genuinely independent titles, we’re also happy to give praise when it’s deserved and criticism when it is needed - regardless of who the recipient is.
In recent months, we’ve covered issues such as the shambles of the decision to close the Botanic Gardens Aviary, highlighted and effectively ended plans for dynamic pricing at public toilets, and raised the issues of cuts to Smedley jobs and cancer services.
We’ve de-bunked lies about asylum seekers staying at Pontins, provided balanced political reporting of the local election, and focused on both the positivity of major developments and the precarious state of council funds behind them.
We’ve looked at issues including the Burscough Curves and The 79th Group, and provided full explanations of how our MP voted on key issues such as assisted dying.
We were also the only outlet to fully tell the story of the bomb threat hoax which targeted Greenbank High School.
The reality is that we need to keep growing to ensure this financial model - which takes away a reliance on clickbait and adverts which block most of the screen - can be sustainable long-term. If you appreciate the work we’re doing, please consider backing us financially at the cost of less than a fiver a month.
In the coming weeks and months, I’ll be attending the Labour Party Conference, sitting in court cases and covering council meetings to uncover the news affecting Southport. Just as importantly, I’ll also be speaking with people across the town - residents, business owners, community groups - for a series of features on issues and groups which previously haven’t received the coverage or attention they deserve. All of this is only possible with your support.
I’m also keen to hear from you so if there’s something you’d like to see highlighted or examined, please get in touch at southport@thelead.uk
For those who do already take a paid subscription, your support is, as always, hugely appreciated. While there is no main article, read on for an extended briefing and I hope you have a fantastic end to your weekend.
Southport briefing
🛤️ The Southport Labour Party has called for the reinstatement of the Burscough Curves to be included as a priority infrastructure development in the borough’s new Local Plan. Sefton Council is currently holding a public consultation as part of the preparation of the important document, which identifies what developments are needed across the borough and where these should, or shouldn’t, happen. Councils are obliged to have such plans in place and without one, developers have much greater control in the planning process. In its own submission, Southport Labour argued that reopening the curves - a small stretch of railway lines which was removed in the Beeching cuts but never redeveloped - would enable a “straightforward extension of the Merseyrail system” which improves access for the whole borough to education, health work and leisure. It adds that it “would be a quicker route to an important Liverpool corridor, Preston and further north thus supporting travel from Southport and central Sefton, and our visitor economy”. While Labour controls the council, its Southport branch no longer has any sitting councillors since the May local elections. In its submission, the local party also calls for a strong focus on affordable housing and measures to address climate change through policies which have requirements for energy efficient homes, renewable energy generation, low carbon heating systems and climate resilient development. Southport Labour chair Trevor Vaughan said: “The next Local Plan is a great opportunity to shape the future of Southport and Sefton. We want to see a plan that delivers genuinely affordable homes, protects our environment, improves public transport links and ensures that economic growth benefits local people rather than simply creating profits for developers and investors. We’re interested to see the consultation responses from other local political parties”.
🎾 Planning permission has been granted to replace one of Victoria Park’s remaining tennis courts with car parking spaces. A total of 17 spaces will be created on the court, with the owners of neighbouring padel facility saying it is essential to ensure it remains operation when parking restrictions are in place during major events on the park. Three of the six courts have been removed to enable to creation of the popular padel facility and as part of the agreement for the land, Birkdale Padel Ltd must improve the remaining courts and ensure they remain open for free, public use - the new agreement means just two tennis courts will remain. As part of the agreed permission, former public toilets at the park will be converted and extended to provide changing facilities, a disabled toilet, and a food and drink kiosk with an associated terrace. There will also be the installation of a “wellness area” which included a sauna, cold plunge pools and changing rooms to be used in association with the padel facility.
🎄 Southport BID has announced details of this year’s ‘Southport Christmas Spectacular’ which will officially launch the festive season in the town. The free event, which runs 11am-4pm on November 14, will include live entertainment at the Lord Street Bandstand alongside a lineup of festive activities outside The Vincent Hotel. The line up for on-stage performances and family-friendly shows includes Toy Story, K-Pop Vs Saja, superhero shows, local dance schools, Christmas choirs and the Marshside Brass Band. Other activities include meet and greets with Paddington and Buzz Lightyear, Christmas crafts and facepainting, a giant snowglobe photo opportunity, and children’s Christmas wellbeing sessions. Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “Christmas is a magical time in Southport and we’re looking forward to launching the season in style with our Southport Christmas Spectacular. It’s a day when the community comes together with some fantastic performances and lots happening that families will love throughout the day. It’s the perfect day to come into town and explore all the shops, restaurants, cafes, attractions and other local businesses. Events like this one are made possible through the investment of the Southport BID business community. We have more exciting news about new Christmas initiatives to announce over the coming weeks.”
🚌 The future of Southport’s Esplanade Park & Ride site will be reopened to interested parties after a period of exclusivity for a developer which wanted to create a £75m surfing resort ended. Sefton Council’s cabinet will receive an update on efforts to secure a prosperous future for the site at a meeting next week and a report says The Cove plan remains a “credible potential option” but that others should also now be considered amid growing investor interest in the local area. It states: “Market engagement and discussions with potential partners demonstrates wide interest in a range of assets and opportunities both in Southport and across Sefton. This includes, but is not limited to, the Esplanade site, and it is therefore proposed to fully consider this potential interest and these options, to ensure that best value is secured for the site, for the public purse, and for Sefton’s community and economy.” Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “This is an important site and we have a responsibility to make sure its future use delivers the best possible outcomes for Southport and its residents. Our investment in the town, alongside that of our partners in the private sector, is generating undeniable interest in what comes next. We want to turn that interest into tangible benefits for Sefton.The Open Golf Championship this summer brought the eyes of the world to our borough, and our events programme continues to bring footfall and profile to Sefton. We will therefore be robustly testing options before committing to any particular proposal. Public consultation and engagement will also take place as part of any future proposals.”
🚓 Adults and teenagers from across Southport and beyond were arrested during a police operation launched to detain wanted suspects. Merseyside Police carried out the action last week as part of Operation Sprint, which targets offenders suspected of posing a risk to victims and communities, supporting wider efforts to reduce crime, and brought in a total of nine people. Among those, a 55-year-old man from Banks in Southport was arrested on suspicion of breaching a restraining order, a 47-year-old woman from Southport, was arrested on suspicion of theft, a 15-year-old boy from Ainsdale was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery, and two 15-year-old boys from Southport were arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery. The operation was delivered using resources from Proactive Teams, Neighbourhood Policing, CID, the Public Protection Unit and Response Policing. Inspector Graeme Chalinor, Sefton Proactive Team said: “Today’s results reflect the proactive work taking place across Sefton to identify and disrupt those involved in criminality. Keeping our communities safe is a priority, and we will continue to take robust action against offenders while supporting victims and those most at risk of harm. The activity carried out today builds on the ongoing efforts of officers and partners across the borough. We will continue to work together to prevent crime and make Sefton a safer place for everyone.”
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