Beach parking prices frozen as Southport and Ainsdale set to open in April
Sefton Council is continuing the price freeze on season tickets at its Ainsdale and Southport beach car parks for all Sefton residents.
Just £30
This means Sefton residents who are regular visitors to the coast, will pay just £30 for the annual tickets. And, as part of Sefton Council’s drive to combat climate change, the £30 offer is also available to any electric or hybrid car users.
A £2 reduction to the standard day visitor rate will mean parking on Southport beach will cost just £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 re-opens at Ainsdale on Friday 1st April and at Southport from Tuesday 5th April, because of high tides.
Season tickets are now available to buy online at https://forms.sefton.gov.uk/beachparking
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 in capacity at other times.
Less-polluting
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.
Action Plan
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 to 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 will be undergoing refurbishment work in March to prepare them for reopening from 1st April as the beach car park re-opens. The men’s, women’s and disabled people’s toilet facilities will be re-opened.
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