John Pugh Urges Sefton Council to Invest in Southport's 'In-Between Land'

As the year ends and the Southport Theatre and Floral Hall are bulldozed not to the ground, Lib Dem council leader, John Pugh, is urging Sefton Council to be more than one-trick pony and encourage investment in the 'holiday flat' area of Southport between the Promenade and Lord St- what he calls “In-Between Land” .

“As in many other resorts, this sort of area decades ago used to be a thriving seaside area full of landladies and holiday makers”, says John Pugh, “ but it’s now largely bedsits , HMOs and small businesses struggling with costs. It’s statistically a deprived area but still with hidden charms.” 

The working assumption of the Council appears to be that the new Convention centre will pull the whole area up through some kind of 'trickle down' effect. I am urging Sefton to be more active not only in improving the streets themselves, but in actively working to tempt in private investment.

Now is the time for people to buy property there before prices rise in anticipation of Marine Lake development.

The area has the potential for an upgrade but there has to be a plan and a focus. "

Cllr. Pugh believes that housing standards need to be enforced effectively and fairly.

 “Bad landlords or problematic tenants have the capacity to blight a whole road and discourage others from investing or moving there. I am aware, however, of some first rate owners and entrepeneurs in the area only too keen to get behind a regeneration plan for the area. What would be foolish is us all passively waiting for the Convention Centre to solve every problem. “

Cll.Pugh has made a promotional video to underline the issue. https://vimeo.com/1035627776?share=copy#t=0 

“It’s not all about needs and challenges. I believe there are big opportunities in “In-Between Land”. It’s not a part of town that is well understood these days. It has some real treasures. “