Sefton Council Urged to Factor Southport Pier's Restoration into Next Year’s Budget

Opportunity knocks for Pier restoration and re-opening as Sefton Council in the next few weeks prepares its budget for the next financial year. 

According to opposition leader, Liberal Democrat, Cllr. John Pugh this is a ' window of opportunity’  and he has written to Labour council leader, Cllr.Marion Atkinson, asking her to modify the Sefton budget with a view to getting a section of the Pier open in 2025.

The council will fix this month its running expenditure (revenue) and the major capital projects it will carry out- part of which will be financed by borrowing. 

Clr.Pugh said, “ At this time last year we in my party tried to get the Council  to make a start on Pier repairs by modifying and trying to amend the capital budget and were voted down. This year to avoid any repetition it makes sense to ask in a sensible fashion the ruling party to come up with their own proposals. It really does not matter who gets the credit as long as it gets done. 

Sefton’s capital budget already includes a sum of nearly £3M for new planks, but as Cllr Pugh points out none of that will be spent unless funds are found for the ironwork. 

“It's dead money as it stands,” says Cllr Pugh,. “Better to use it (and more) to make a start on the landward side of the Pier where much of the wood has already been renewed. If mid-year manna from heaven or any lottery money arrives, that can only help, but leaving the Pier to deteriorate further just ups costs.”

* I have had no reply to my letter from either Marion or the Chief Executive, but I hope they can take the hint. I do understand their dilemma. Sefton's capital budget next year is scheduled to rise from £77m to £108M with £37M to be spent on part-building the £72M Events Centre.

 However. leaving the Pier for another year is not going to save money in the long term.”