Southport MP Damien Moore is calling on people who visit beaches along the Sefton coast to treat them with more respect.
Numerous constituents contacted the MP over the weekend with concerns over rubbish left on beaches at Southport, Ainsdale and Formby; illegal and obstructive parking at Southport, Birkdale and Ainsdale; and the failure of some people to respect social distancing guidelines.
Damien Moore is due to speak with the Chief Executive of Sefton Council and with Merseyside Police to share residents’ concerns and to ensure appropriate action is taken.
He said: “I have received a number of emails from residents this weekend about illegal parking, social distancing, and anti-social behaviour by some of those attending our town’s beaches, particularly Ainsdale Beach.
“We welcome everyone and want them to enjoy themselves but we don’t want anyone to leave litter, and we want them to have respect for local residents.
“We don’t want to see visitors to our beaches making a mess of the place, we want to make sure they act responsibly.
“Whilst the Government has eased some lockdown restrictions and have allowed small groups of people to meet from different households, that does not mean that we are back to normal or that there is no risk of infection. We have to remain vigilant a while longer.
“For those people who intend to visit Southport and its beaches during this unprecedented period I would encourage you to think carefully before you do so. If you are going to attend the beach, please ensure you take any rubbish home with you and do not use BBQs, which are not permitted across the Southport coastline and can easily cause a fire.”
Damien Moore and his team have taken part in a number of beach clean-ups in recent months. He is saddened to see litter discarded at local beauty spots this weekend.
He said: “I have taken part in a number of beach cleans down there. I would never throw my rubbish away on the beach, I would take anything away with me. I think people have got to be more mindful and respectful of such beautiful places.
“Already this weekend a significant amount of rubbish has been left on our beaches, which will have a lasting impact on our environment and wildlife.
“There are a number of volunteer organisations and groups who do some truly wonderful work to rid our coast of plastic and other debris and their work is being undone by sheer selfishness.”
Damien Moore has also been contacted by a number of constituents who shared concerns over obstructive and illegal parking in Southport . Sefton Council has closed beach car parks in a bid to deter visitors. This weekend saw reports of cars parked outside people’s homes in Ainsdale, along the cycle track between the Weld Road roundabout in Birkdale and Pontins in Ainsdale, and on pavements along the Coastal Road.
He said: “We cannot accept illegal parking under any circumstances.
“Any cars which are found to be blocking people’s driveways should be towed away.
“Parking over people’s driveways and blocking residents from getting out is not acceptable.
“Local residents should be able to have the peace of mind they can access their own homes.
“I would encourage anyone who encounters any issues like this to report them immediately to Merseyside Police and to Sefton Council.
“I would also like to see our police maintain their presence along our coastline. A police presence is quite useful in stopping some of these issues from happening, and for their deterrent value.
“We do want people coming to Southport to enjoy themselves but we also want them to act responsibly, to act with respect for local residents and the local environment, to respect social distancing guidelines and to stay safe.
“The Government is talking about locking down areas where there is a risk of Coronavirus cases spiking and we do not want Southport to be one of those areas where that happens.
“My major concern is for our local residents. It is about maintaining their quality of life, and keeping them safe. We want to see anyone coming into Southport to act responsibly.
“I will be speaking to the Chief Executive of Sefton Council and the local policing team in the coming days to ensure social distancing measures are enforced moving forward, and that any illegal activity by those who visit our town for a day out is met with decisive action.”
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