Year-long car park closure to begin at National Trust Formby
Plus: Car park scam warning and What's On this week
Hello and welcome to the 19th edition of The Southport Lead. Today’s newsletter takes us to Formby and an attraction which brings in more than a million visitors each year.
The National Trust site covers more than 1,000 acres and includes sand dunes, woodland walks, rare wildlife and, let’s be honest, one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
On a summer’s day, it is a magnet for tourists and, as visitors flock in from near and far, traffic regularly becomes an issue and parking is a source of great frustration for those living nearby as the streets become lined with cars.
That issue is set to temporarily get a lot worse, with a planned closure of the Victoria Road car park set to last for around one year. Read on to find out more about why this is happening and what the impact will be.
Also in today’s edition is a warning over another car parking scam reported to be operating in Southport and your guide to the week ahead.
Parking warning ahead of vital conservation work at National Trust site
The main car park at National Trust Formby is to close for around one year as part of plans to remove dangerous rubble and restore rare sand dune habitats.
A closure of the Victoria Road car park begins in May and is scheduled to run until spring 2026. Over that same period, the toilets at the Victoria Road side will also be closed, with bosses saying no safe access can be maintained.
With traffic problems already a source of frustration whenever the popular nature reserve - which welcomes more than a million people each year - is greeted with good weather, this summer is likely to prove an even greater irritant for those living nearby.
It is already an extremely regular occurrence for the existing car parks to hit capacity early on sunny days from spring to autumn and that closure will add to the street parking issues which have long frustrated those lucky enough to live nearby..
Some visitors have threatened to cancel their membership over the reduction in parking availability, while work is ongoing behind the scenes to create a transport management plan.
With Freshfield station around a 20 minute walk from the reserve, there is also hope that more people will take up the habit of using public transport or on foot or by bike. As one visitor noted, “Formby folks getting worked up over not being able to drive their cars to the beach to go for a walk is the most Formby thing ever.”
Why is the closure happening?
While the car park is closed, one of the main works being carried out is the removal of increasingly exposed rubble from the beach. The rubble, which contains the likes of lampposts and huge piles of concrete, is the remains of the former Harington Barracks.
These were used up to and throughout World War II, with some of those involved in the D-Day landings having trained there. The barracks were demolished after the war and used to form part of the current car park. However, more of the rubble is being exposed each year, with bricks used in sleeping quarters, gyms and canteens currently on show.
Natural coastal change means that each year more rubble is being exposed as the sand dunes roll back and the National Trust says it is disconnecting wildlife habitats and restricting visitor access to the beach.
The removal will restore these sand dunes to make them healthier and better for the wildlife which thrives here. Justin Matthews, Formby and Central Lancashire Area Ranger, explained: "Areas of naturally shifting sand create special habitats for rare dune wildlife. Mobile sand dunes can also offer protection for coastal communities, acting as a natural sea defence, if they have space to shift and change over time.
“The old construction rubble is creating a barrier and stopping natural sand movement. If we do nothing this issue will become worse over time"
Meanwhile the works are also creating an opportunity to improve car parking provision. Around one third of the car park’s spaces have been reclaimed by nature since the 1980s, with another eight spaces typically lost each year according to the National Trust. The rubble is to be processed and reused on site to form the foundations of a replacement car park, further away from the sand dunes.
The new car park will hold the same number of cars, but spaces will be more defined with an improved turning circle, making parking more efficient and improving traffic flow on and off site.
Vicky Blane, Formby and Lancashire general manager at National Trust, said “The Victoria Road project is part of the National Trust’s long-term commitment to look after this very special part of the Sefton Coast. Relocating the car park not only solves the rubble issue but will also help ensure there is space for people to park and enjoy Formby for years to come. Our vision is to create healthier habitats where rare dune wildlife can thrive and a safer, more natural space for people to enjoy.”
The rocky road to permission
Plans to carry out these works were first brought forward in 2022, only for a planning application to be rejected by Sefton Council due to the removal of trees in part of the project.
However, this was overturned by the government on appeal last year, with an inspector concluding the benefits outweighed any loss. After the decision was made, the reserve’s management insisted that “enhancing the tree health, species diversity, and age structure of Formby’s woodlands continues to be one of our conservation priorities at Formby.”
The dune restoration element of this project is part of a wider programme of conservation work happening across the site and is being funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and EU LIFE Programme.
Ms Blane said: "The Victoria Road project is part of the National Trust's long-term commitment to look after this very special part of the Sefton Coast.
"Relocating the car park not only solves the rubble issue but will also help ensure there is space for people to park and enjoy Formby for years to come."
Parking tickets scammers target Botanic Gardens user
Only a few weeks after con artists used fake QR codes to steal money from motorists using Southport car parks, another fraud warning has been issued.
This time Sefton Council says that people have posed as traffic wardens to demand on the spot ‘penalties’ against drivers who have supposedly parked wrongly by Botanic Gardens.
A council spokesperson said: “We've had reports of an individual posing as a Civil Enforcement Officer at Botanic Gardens, Southport, demanding 'on the spot' payments via card machine.
“⚠️ Our officers NEVER take payments directly. Legitimate fines can only be paid online or by post.
“If approached by someone telling you to pay via card or cash, DO NOT PAY and report it to Merseyside Police on 101 immediately.”"
News in headlines
Merseyside police chief announces retirement (BBC)
New luxury bingo lounge could replace former furniture shop on Lord Street (Stand Up For Southport)
Inside Southport's soft play area for dogs with huge ball pit and obstacle course (Liverpool World)
Deafblind student adventurer picked to start race (BBC)
Many thanks for reading this latest edition of The Southport Lead. If you haven’t already, please do sign our petition to Save Southport Pier and also spread the word about The Southport Lead too.
If you have something you think we should know about we’re on southport@thelead.uk and now to our what’s on feature, which is only for paid subscribers. So if you can please consider a paid subscription by tapping below to receive Andrew Brown’s guide each week and help support us to bring The Southport Lead to your inbox every Wednesday and Sunday too.
What’s on this week
By Andrew Brown
Southport is alive with St Patrick’s celebrations!
There is lots to enjoy at The Grand, Punch Tarmey’s, Connolly’s, The Auld Dubliner and more.
Here are some of the many things you can enjoy in Southport this week (16th March 2025 - 23rd March 2025):
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Southport Lead to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.