Why doesn’t Sefton Council close beaches at places like Southport, Ainsdale, Formby and Crosby?
It is a question many have asked after a busy weekend along our coastline.
On Friday, Sefton Council joined with Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service to urge people to please stay away, despite the Government recently easing some lockdown rules.
But the plea has fallen on deaf ears with some people. This weekend has seen police break up rave-like gatherings at Formby and Crosby beaches; seize alcohol at Formby; and order 100 vehicles to move away from Ainsdale Beach.
Read More: Southport Lifeboat rescues 40 people cut off by tide at Southport Beach
Southport Lifeboat meanwhile have been called out to rescue 40 people stranded by rising tides at Southport Beach and reunited a lost child with their family.
A Sefton Council spokesman said: “As our beaches, coastal towns and villages continue to see a high number of visitors despite our pleas for people not to drive to Sefton’s beaches, we have seen a few messages asking why we don’t close the beaches.
“We manage 22 miles of coast. Aside from a couple of hundred yards at Altcar Rifle range, it’s completely open access with hundreds of individual access points, little footpaths and other ways to walk on.
“There is no way we can ever ‘close’ the beaches.
Southport Lifeboat volunteers rescued 40 people who had been cut off by the tide at Southport Beach
“What we are doing is stopping access to the car parks, and are working with our partners at Merseyside Police to restrict access to roads.
“Ultimately we need people to please listen to our advice and warnings to stay away from our beaches during this time.”
They added: “Our beaches are tempting but they are not able to cope with high levels of visitors at the moment.
“We understand that some lockdown measures have been eased nationally but that does not mean that we are through the worst of this and as ever, the health and safety of our communities comes first.
“For those few who do visit our coastline at this dangerous time, they are advised that stringent parking restrictions are in place, all rubbish must be taken home and BBQs are strictly prohibited along the entirety of the Sefton coastline.
“We need people to think about their safety and the safety of others.”
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