Have your say on future improvements of Southport’s Hesketh Park

Sefton Council’s Green Sefton team has launched a public consultation to gather ideas and thoughts on ways to further improve the facilities at Southport’s Hesketh Park.

 Residents across the Borough, as well as volunteer groups, visitors, and local businesses, are being asked to share their opinion on priorities for the park for the local community and visitors alike. Development ideas will be considering both recreational and heritage-led improvements. They might include ways to improve play facilities, and opportunities for improvements to ground maintenance, planting and heritage features. New ideas are also welcomed to help form a new vision for the park.

 Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “With more than 30 main parks across the Borough, we have a wide range of facilities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy spending time outdoors. Our Green Sefton team is always looking at ways to work with the community to enhance and improve our offer, so I welcome this opportunity for people to share their vision for Southport’s Hesketh Park.

 “All views and ideas are welcomed to ensure the Green Sefton team incorporates the community’s ideas into any potential improvement plans.”

 This public consultation builds upon the work already undertaken by the Green Sefton team to ensure that the much-loved park remains true to its past but also stays fit for future generations to enjoy. The first phase of repair works on the Park’s historic conservatory has now been completed. This was as a result of Sefton Council successfully securing a £22,000 grant from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund for stabilisation of the structure before a more extensive refurbishment of the building could be planned.

 Green Sefton is working in partnership with the Hesketh Park Heritage Group to undertake the consultation. Together they want to hear from members of the local community, and visitors, of all ages and backgrounds, to ensure any plans and subsequent funding bids are as representative as possible for those that utilise the park.

 This follows the news that the Council has been contacted by the executors of a local family who wish to donate in the family name a substantial sum of money to the development and improvement of Hesketh Park following the passing of a family member.

 Other funding schemes will also be scoped out following feedback gathered from the consultation in order to bring to fruition the community’s priorities.

 Cllr Moncur added: “The consultation can be easily completed online and isn’t very lengthy, so please do get involved.”

 The consultation is now open and will run until Wednesday 15th September. People can take part online and are encouraged to share the consultation with others that might like to share their thoughts and ideas.

 The consultation can be found at: https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/