The Southport Lead story so far and what your support brings
A message from the editor as we reflect on a busy few months
Hello and welcome to the 28th edition of The Southport Lead.
I’m doing things a little differently in today’s newsletter as I take a moment to reflect on the first few months since its launch - it’s been a busy few months and it’s been a particular treat for me to be able to return to writing about my home town.
Normal service will resume next week as we continue to bring you news you can’t read anywhere else - all on a platform that is free of annoying ads that bring your phone or computer to a halt, and with headlines that are free of clickbait.
We launched the newsletter with a focus on issues and locations around the town which people had lots of questions about and sought to find out those answers. Edition one focused on the much loved Broadhursts bookshop - and spoke to the owner to find out why it was still closed and what could happen next.
Similarly, we shared an update on progress finally happening at the former BHS building, identifying the new owners and explaining how things will finally progress. We’ve taken a closer look at what’s happened at The George Pub which has sat derelict for two years and will soon be demolished - in direct contradiction to the original plan which would have seen the historic building saved. News of the demolition being approved was only published elsewhere after The Southport Lead had done so.
January also saw the sentencing of Axel Rudakubana - it had never been our intention to cover the trial on a regular basis but when he finally admitted his guilt it was only right to focus on it.
I attended court for that sentencing but whereas some publications rushed to share video footage which had no need to be in the public domain, The Southport Lead coverage was instead centred on the victims and their families.
Our most read story so far followed a few weeks later as we took a look at plans to allow Hillside Golf Club to expand onto public land to please The Open bosses ahead of their return in 2026. This allowed us to raise awareness of plans few knew about as well as giving some context to both the concerns they raised and exactly why it was being considered.
In the same month we were able to look over to Banks, a village which receives very little news coverage, and publicise concerns over two planned developments which had caused unhappiness among those already living there. One of those planning applications, for a pet crematorium, has now been withdrawn.
We also got Network Rail to admit that, despite making promises to do so, it had made zero progress and allocated no money to adding full barriers at a level crossing where two people have died.
We’ve always aimed to offer more depth than typical news sites and the possibility of a church being knocked down allowed a look at Southport’s increasing detachment from its Methodist roots - which go back right to the creation of the town.
We’ve also focused on the need and efforts to improve transport infrastructure, reporting exclusively from The Convention of the North as Andy Burnham discussed plans to bring Southport into The Bee Network public transport system.
The Southport Lead was also the place you were first able to read about plans for the first full-size 3G football pitch to be built in the town, while another of our best read newsletters focused on a different sport - the hugely popular junior darts club which has quietly grown without much attention.
Each newsletter is written by experienced journalists who based in and care about the town and once a week paid subscribers are given access to Stand Up For Southport founder Andrew Brown’s What’s On guide.
There are fewer reporters than ever plying their trade in local journalism but we think it's important to maintain that so we can ensure that people know what is happening in their town and can be given a voice where there are concerns to be raised.
There’s much more planned to come next, with more voices to be added and more stories to tell. All of this is only possible thanks to your support though so please consider a paid subscription to The Southport Lead.
News in headlines
He kept his past life in Italy secret and continued his criminal career (Liverpool Echo)
Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan and Alan Shearer send good luck messages to London Marathon runners racing to support Churchtown Primary School (Stand Up For Southport)
SAS Who Dares Wins Chief Instructor Ant Middleton announced for special event at The Grand in Southport (Liverpool World)
Thanks and we hope you’re having a great long weekend.
You are doing fantastic reporting. I hope you continue to thrive and expand. Happy Easter. (Former Visiter reporter.)