Facelift for Gardens
AN historic but neglected and run down Southport park could be transformed to host a hotel and wedding venue.
Sefton Council will explore potential multimillion pound projects to redevelop Botanic Gardens and return it to its position as a leading attraction for the town.
Among the ideas being considered are a wedding venue with restaurant and bar; attractions such as boat and train rides; an extra cafe on the opposite side of the park; heritage fairground rides; a larger play area; and a high ropes course.
It could also include botanical garden schemes ‘of national repute’ and the creation of a butterfly house or cactus house.
Pictures submitted with the report suggest that inspiration is being taken from the likes of King’s Gardens, Edinburgh Botanical Garden and High Lane in New York.
Sefton’s cabinet has given its backing to the idea of developing the Victorian-era park and a project team will be tasked with setting out a detailed vision for the park, working alongside volunteers from the Botanic Gardens Community Association who took over maintenance work after council budget cuts.
With the council unable to finance the work itself, officers will also be asked to explore funding options including a Heritage Lottery Fund bid, using the community infrastructure levy from three nearby development sites, a ‘Botanic Gardens Membership scheme’, or taking out a loan which would be repaid by increased income from the park.
The action comes after a successful and vocal campaign to make the facilities safe and enjoyable for all.
Southport resident David Rawsthorne won the support of thousands of residents and visitors as well as celebrities such as Tommy Fleetwood and David Lonsdale for his appeal ‘Make A Change For Ben’, which was launched in memory of friend Ben Smith-Crallan.
Initially launched to clean up the lake, the plans grew to carrying out wider improvements and the group has so far raised around £9,000.
David Cobham and fellow volunteers in the Botanic Gardens Community Association have also been calling for essential work to be carried out, including the restoration of bridges and water features.
The declining condition of the park itself and its degenerating heritage features mean that the North
Meals Conservation Area has been placed on the national ‘Heritage at Risk’ register.
A further report will set out the proposed timescales, project team structure, terms of reference for a new project board and regular updates on progress as the scheme develops.
In the report presented to cabinet, Sefton Council’s head of locality services said: “There is significant potential in the Botanic Gardens site for investment to repurpose buildings and facilities to provide improved visitor attractions and facilities and generate income to help the park become selfsustaining.
“The long-term vision for the park is to restore Botanic Gardens into a high-quality tourist destination attraction for Southport.
“The park and buildings could be redeveloped for more sustainable functions that encourage users to spend more time and money in the park.”