RSPB update on Marine Drive closure Marshside in Southport

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Sefton Council are planning to resurface much of the Marine Drive coast road at Marshside, with the road  closed from Monday 24th January for up to 3 months. The aim is to improve the surface and remove the worst of the bumps that have been increasing in recent years.  It follows similar works in the spring of 2021 when the western section of the road that passes through the RSPB reserve was resurfaced.

The Council have confirmed that the RSPB car park can remain open throughout the period on all but a few days which will be notified well in advance and we will post these dates on our social media channels as soon as we have them.  Access for fisherman and the emergency services to ‘Redshank Road’, a track that leads out onto the intertidal area will also remain open to permit holders.

The road passes through the middle of the RSPB’s Marshside reserve which also forms part of the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve and is a Special Protection Area.  Comprehensive precautions are in place to ensure that the works have no significant effects on the important wildlife of the area.

RSPB Warden Alex Pigott said: “we are looking forward to the absence of traffic and the peace and quiet that will provide for visitors to the reserve and the wildlife that lives here.  We encourage visitors to make the most of the opportunity and to come and enjoy the fantastic wildlife spectacle here!  Please respect the wildlife if you do visit - keep to the paths and keep your dog on a lead.  Wild birds are especially vulnerable to human disturbance during cold weather and birds will also begin nesting during this period. Most of our birds nest on the ground and so are especially vulnerable to disturbance at this time.”

Another event takes place on Sunday 6th February when the annual ‘Mad Dog 10k’ run takes place. All the roads in the area will be closed between 0730-1230 and the RSPB car park will be closed between those times. Please keep an eye on our website for further updates:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/marshside/

The RSPB Car park is open daily, seasonal times below. Closed and locked outside of these hours.

  • Autumn/Winter opening hours: 8.30am-4pm (1 November-1 March)
  • Spring/Summer opening hours: 8.30am-5pm (2 March-31 October).

 There are no entry fees to the nature reserve, but the following parking charges apply:

  • RSPB members: FREE (please display your membership card face down in your windscreen).
  • Non-members: £1.50 per vehicle (up to 2 hours) / £3 per vehicle over 2 hours.
  • Blue badge holders: FREE (please display your blue badge in your windscreen).