New ‘Ainsdale Gateway’ to be created this Winter with £350,000 council plan for new parking facilities

A brand new ‘Ainsdale Gateway’ in Southport could be developed this Winter in a bid to accommodate growing visitor numbers while generating revenue for Sefton Council. 

Ainsdale Beach was hailed as one of Britain’s 50 Best Beaches for 2020 by The Times in July. 

And now Sefton Council is looking to build on the area’s stunning beach and sand dunes with an investment of over a third of a million pounds. 

The work would be completed in time for Spring / Summer next year, when it is envisaged that a combination of Covid-19 vaccinations and mass testing will have reduced lockdown measures and enable visitors to enjoy days out at the seaside again. 

Ainsdale saw some friction between residents and visitors earlier this year, with the area unable to cope with large numbers of people trying to park their cars. 

Sefton is proposing to include investment within its next Budget to solve some of those issues. 

Southport Town Deal’s ‘Big Ideas’ which were published earlier this year had included proposals for a new ‘Ainsdale-on-Sea Visitor Hub’. 

More details of Sefton’s plans for the area this Winter are yet to be revealed, although news of the work will be welcome news for local residents. 

In his report to councillors, Sefton Council Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services Stephan Van Arendsen said: “Ainsdale Beach saw significant visitor numbers in 2020. To cope with these additional visitors, beach parking was provided free of charge for a number of months until August and portable temporary toilets and skips were provided to deal with the extra numbers.

“There are now opportunities for improvements to parking facilities at the coastal gateway in advance of the 2021 summer season, that will mitigate the impact of larger visitor numbers on local communities and will create long-term revenue streams for the council.

“It is proposed to make a capital investment in the Ainsdale Gateway over Winter 2020, so that by Spring / Summer 2021 there are new and semi-permanent facilities in place to provide for anticipated increased visitor numbers, to reduce impact on local communities, and to create potential income streams.

“Cabinet is therefore recommended to recommend to Council to approve a supplementary capital estimate of £352,000 for inclusion in the capital programme the cost of which will be met from income generated.”

Earlier this year, Southport Town Deal’s ‘Big Ideas’ had suggested an option to invest in an Ainsdale-on-Sea Visitor Hub.

This would involve developing a plan for investment in the leisure assets in Ainsdale-on-Sea to create an enhanced visitor experience including:

Visitor reception facilities

Education / interpretation of the Sefton Coast

Food and drink offer

Cycle hub and facilities

Car parking

In July, Ainsdale Beach was named one of Britain’s 50 Best Beaches for 2020 by The Times. 

Writer Chris Haslam praised the area for its excellent wind sports and for the sandhills nature reserve which runs along Birkdale / Ainsdale. 

He wrote: “If you want to pose go to Formby; if you want to play come to Ainsdale, which has established itself as one of the UK’s best beaches for wind sports. Blo-karts, kite-buggies, and wind and kite surfers blow in from across the northwest to whizz along the shore (if you want to join them, obtain a free permit at sefton.gov.uk). 

“For peace and quiet, head along the hard-packed sands to Ainsdale and Birkdale Sandhills Nature Reserve, a vast area of dunes and coastal woodland offering a glimpse of what this coast looked like in prehistory.”

Water quality was judged to be good with car parking at £5, toilet facilities, dog friendly and wheelchair accessible, although a lack of refreshments was noted. 

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