Conservatives Welcome Potential Funding Pledge for Southport Pier

Conservatives on Sefton Council have welcomed the news that the Chancellor has listened to the many calls for funding for Southport Pier.

At today’s Spending Review the Chancellor mentioned Southport Pier as possibly being in line to receive funding from central government. The Pier has been closed since December 2022 when the current Labour council closed the Pier with no plan for reopening it.

Conservative Leader on Sefton Council, Mike Prendergast said, “Today’s announcement has significantly increased the likelihood that funding for Southport Pier will be granted by central government and regardless of political party, that is good news for Southport.”

“Opposition councillors and members of the public across Southport have consistently held the Labour council and Labour MP to account on the issue, we’ve written to cabinet ministers, members of the public have signed petitions and attended public meetings. The work now looks like it might have paid off.”

“Of course the devil will be in the detail and even though the eligibility criteria for the new Growth Mission Fund hasn’t been announced and won’t be available till later in the year, apparently Southport’s bid will definitely qualify. So it’s good to know that council officers won’t be putting together a bid that will be rejected, as happened with the Lottery funding expression of interest.”

“It’s also vitally important that control and responsibility for our Pier remains with local people. None of us want to see one of our key heritage assets handed over to a quango as has previously been suggested. We have to hope that the funding we are going to be getting does not come with those kind of strings attached.”

“In the knowledge that Sefton Council’s bid will be accepted, the council really needs to crack on with getting the work done. There is now no reason to delay and all of Southport will expect Sefton Council to start the work as soon as.”