Ainsdale and Southport beach car parking 2022 reopening dates with 50% discount for Sefton residents

The beach car parks at Ainsdale Beach and Southport Beach are due to reopen for the 2022 season in a few days’ time. 

The Ainsdale Beach car park will be open from Friday 1st April and Southport Beach car park will be open from Tuesday 5th April. 

Beach car park tickets are now available to people living in Sefton for £30 per year – half of the £60 charged to non-residents. 

Season tickets are now available to buy online at https://forms.sefton.gov.uk/beachparking

The 50% discount also applies to drivers with electric or hybrid vehicles. 

A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “A reminder that Ainsdale and Southport beach car park season tickets are available now – just £30 for Sefton residents!

“Sun, sea and savings!” 

Sefton Council decided to continue its price freeze on season tickets at its Ainsdale and Southport beach car parks when it set its annual Budget in February. 

This means Sefton residents who are regular visitors to the coast, will pay just £30 for the annual tickets. 

A £2 reduction to the standard day visitor rate will mean parking on Southport beach will cost £8 per day, while the daily cost at Ainsdale beach will remain at £10. Prices are halved after 4pm subject to available space and the cost for horseboxes or minibuses at both sites is £16 per day.

Beach parking reopens at Ainsdale on Friday 1st April and at Southport from Tuesday 5th April, because of high tides.

Ainsdale, which has 2,000 spaces and Southport, which has 400, are among just a handful of on beach car parks across the UK. Unsurprisingly they are closed at some high tides and there may be limited capacity at other times.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing said: “I am pleased that we have been able to retain the £30 season ticket cost for Sefton residents and to also offer that price to people with less-polluting electric or hybrid cars.

“Income from our beach car parks will be used to improve facilities for visitors and reduce inconvenience for local residents along our coast, as well as to fund the vital conservation work of the Nature Reserve and preserve the natural beauty of our coastline for generations to come.”

Car parks provide essential funding support and contribute to the provision of Green Sefton services, including the delivery of a Coastal Visitor Action Plan to ensure Sefton’s coastline is safe for residents and visitors.

The Coastal Visitor Action Plan for 2022 will include seven additional rangers on the ground and the launch of evening patrols along the coast.

Following extensive consultations, two areas of improvements recognised were car parking and toilet facilities at Ainsdale-On-Sea.

The implementation of a new ‘off beach’ car park at Ainsdale Beach is set to be operational by the end of 2022, subject to final planning approval.

Toilet facilities at Ainsdale-On-Sea are currently undergoing refurbishment work to prepare them for reopening from 1st April as the beach car park reopens. The men’s, women’s and disabled people’s toilet facilities will be reopened.

Beach car parking charges for 2022:

• £8 per day for cars at Southport beach
• £10 per day for cars at Ainsdale beach
• £16 per day for horseboxes or minibuses
• 50% off the above rates after 4pm subject to car parking management arrangements
• £30 season ticket for Sefton residents and those who drive an electric or hybrid vehicle
• £60 season ticket for non-Sefton residents

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