‘Pay to park’ plan for former Sands pub site
PAY and display meters could be installed outside a former pub near Ainsdale Beach in Southport. Sefton Council is proposing to generate income from motorists who leave their cars in the car park of the former The Sands pub on Shore Road.
The landmark venue closed its doors in November last year.
The local authority said the measures were being introduced to control parking.
Lyn Schinkel worked at The Sands for nearly nearly years, helping to manage the bar alongside Tommy Barton until he died last year.
She said: “Since The Sands closure I have noticed many people utilising the car park, avoiding beach charges. The introduction of council car parking charges would significantly decrease activity on the beach.
“The charges for Ainsdale Beach are extortionate anyway – so tourism to the area is on decline, resulting in the closure of local businesses.
“Taking away free parking at The Sands car park would obviously deter the local community from visiting.
“Perhaps this would be justified in the car park if they were investing in the repairs and modernisation of the building, in order for it to become an attractive investment for anyone wishing to take the place on and reopen it in some form.”
Corriene Tiffin added: “I go there quite often to walk my pooch as there are now parking restrictions on the road by beach.
“If this comes into force I hope they resurface the ground and clean the place up, it’s disgusting. The Sands is now closed so parking there is not causing any obstruction.” Pam Ela said: “It will just mean people will park outside people’s houses further up which will rightly aggravate the people living there.”
Helen Maloney said: “I hope this means they will maintain it now. Terrible lot of rubbish that local volunteers collect round there.”
But Keith Paterson said; “Sadly when the Government steals £200m from the council’s budget you have to make up the shortfall somehow. Unpopular, yes but put the blame where it belongs.”
Jack Anderson said: “It was pay and display when the pub was open so why the hysterics? The council owns the land and the freehold of the pub. And whilst it doesn’t look nice boarded up, if it wasn’t boarded up the place would get trashed.”
Brenda Porter said: “I hope over the coming months this area of Ainsdale is improved upon as a current eyesore we don’t deserve and does not mirror Ainsdale as a whole.
“I have no issues with a paid parking area at The Sands if it will stop people parking there all day and preventing others from using it.
“I would hope it is also maintained to a higher standard than it currently is and not just a money making scheme with no improvements.
“The proposed costs are reasonable in an area that could be greatly enhanced for the benefit of everyone.
“Of course we have one big eyesore we are stuck with... Pontins.”
Any objections received within the 21-day objec- tion period will be reported to Sefton Council’s licensing and regulatory committee.
The council said that the cost of installing the meters would be £5,000.
A spokesperson added: “Ongoing costs of operation – income collection, enforcement and car park maintenance – will be more than offset from the new income stream.”
Charges would match those at the Waterloo and Crosby seafront car parks which are: Up to 30 mins 30p. Up to two hours £1. Up to four hours £1.90. Over four hours £3.80.