Public Consultation Panel asked to consider plan for Southport’s historic Botanic Gardens
Next week’s meeting of Sefton Council’s Public Engagement and Consultation Panel will be asked to consider proposals for a consultation on the future development and improvement of Southport’s historic Botanic Gardens.
Long-term vision
If the report is approved, the Council’s Green Sefton service will be asking residents, regular park users, visitors, and the dedicated volunteer groups to steer the longer-term vision for the Botanic Gardens.
It is expected to ask people for their views on plans to restore many of the park’s Victorian buildings and help the Council to develop new attractions that would bring more visitors and generate income that would be earmarked for the park’s maintenance and management.
Boost
As well as offering better facilities for local communities, developing Botanic Gardens would generate a positive boost to the local visitor economy and support the creation of new jobs.
Improvements already underway include the ordering of two new floating fountains that will aerate the water in the lake, which are currently on their way to Southport from Italy, where they are made. Around £30,000 of short-term works, including the Botanic Gardens lakeside mural to be repainted by its original artist Robert Newbiggin are also progressing. Plans are also being drawn up to use recently raised funds to make further improvements.
Using the outcome of the planned consultation, Sefton Council intends developing a £5 million programme to improve Botanic Gardens supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund Bid.
Lottery Fund Bid
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:
“Southport’s Botanic Gardens are incredibly popular and mean so much to so many people and carrying out this planned consultation would enable us to plan their future and together a Heritage Lottery Fund Bid that is in line with people wishes and views.”
Fundraising
The £8,500 cost of the new aeration fountains is coming from fundraising efforts from the Make a Change for Ben group. The Group donated the sum to the Botanic Gardens Community Association, a long-standing voluntary group overseeing maintenance and activities at the park. Sefton Council is overseeing the installation.
In November, Sefton Council announced that artist Robert Newbiggin will be creating a replacement mural that will adorn the lakeside area of Southport’s Botanic Gardens. Robert painted the current mural was around 14 years ago. It has weathered in the elements over the years and now Robert has offered his time, at no cost, to replace the mural. The new design will depict Victorian scenes within the park, reminding people of the history of the site and its inclusion on the Historic Parks and Gardens Register.