Sefton Council is facing criticism from opposition councillors after civil enforcement officers issued parking tickets to visitors at the centenary celebration of Sir Henry Segrave’s land speed record on Ainsdale Beach.
The event on Sunday 16 March marked 100 years since Sir Henry set the world land speed record at 152.33mph in the Sunbeam Tiger on the same stretch of sand. It attracted thousands of spectators and international attention, with Wing Commander Andy Green OBE – the current world land speed record holder – driving the original car along the beach.
But the occasion was soured for some attendees when parking enforcement officers ticketed vehicles in the surrounding streets, including, according to Liberal Democrat councillors, the car of the Sunbeam Tiger’s owner, Vijay Mallya, and the car of the High Sheriff of Merseyside, Billy Hui BEM, who attended representing the King.
Liberal Democrat opposition leader Councillor John Pugh said Sefton Council had “embarrassed itself” with its response to the event.
“It is bad enough that Sefton did not promote the event, but they regrettably added a sour note to the occasion,” Cllr Pugh said.
He pointed out that while the council’s media team published nothing about the centenary on its social media channels, it did find time to promote a Crosby Beach cafe that does not open until April.
“It is not as though the council was unprepared. They sent a team of traffic wardens down and many a visitor from afar will have had their day soured if they misunderstood the parking regime,” Cllr Pugh said. “In effect the council’s main contribution was to issue parking tickets with enthusiasm.”
The Liberal Democrats also allege the council charged the event organisers, Aintree Circuit Club, for opening the public toilets and for refreshments provided for the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor June Burns, and the High Sheriff’s party.
Ainsdale ward councillor Lynne Thompson described the council’s approach as showing “a lack of class.”
“This was a free event that brought people and business to the town and commemorated a significant event in motoring history – in our town,” Cllr Thompson said.
She has offered to cover the cost of the mayoral refreshments from the Ainsdale ward budget if the mayoral budget cannot meet it, adding: “I do not think the organisers who have provided a marvellous free event for us all should be asked to fund the mayoral refreshments or the cost of opening public toilets.”
Cllr Pugh also linked the row to the wider impact of the closure and demolition of Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.
“I do not think the penny has dropped that the economy of Southport has been badly impacted by the closure and demolition of our main conference centre and theatre these last few years,” he said. “Every additional event does a little to offset that, regardless of whether it is in the grand Sefton plan.”
Sefton Council has pushed back against several of the claims. A spokesperson told OTS News that the assertion fines had been rescinded “under protest” was “untrue.”
The spokesperson said the council’s events safety advisory group, SESAG, had raised “numerous concerns” about the event and held “robust discussions” with organisers.
“Formal road closures, which would result in the creation of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order and the suspension of parking enforcement, were not requested by organisers, despite these being highlighted as beneficial by Sesag colleagues,” the spokesperson said.
“Furthermore there was no ask for any additional parking restrictions to be introduced or for provision to be made for event vehicles.”
The council said enforcement officers observed “non-event specific vehicles parked on double yellow lines or obstructing a dropped kerb, thereby blocking access for others including emergency vehicles should they have required access to the area.”
The spokesperson added that concessions were made for vehicles taking part in the beach display, and that the organisers had arranged private parking away from the public highway “which could have been utilised by marshals to avoid illegal parking by attendees.”
On the toilet charges, the council said: “Anybody hosting an event would be liable to pay a nominal fee to ensure public toilets are suitably cleaned and maintained by staff. We would never expect anyone to work for free in that regard.”
Wing Commander Green described the experience of driving the 1925-built Sunbeam Tiger along the original measured mile as one he would “remember for a very long time.”
“It has been a pleasure to be here, 100 years to the day since Major Sir Henry Segrave set the outright world land speed record here on Ainsdale Beach in Southport,” he said.
The Sunbeam Tiger, a 3,976cc V12 twin supercharged car designed by Frenchman Louis Coatalen, remains the smallest-capacity internal combustion engine used to take the land speed record.
VIP guests included the High Sheriff and the Mayor of Sefton. The event was organised by Aintree Circuit Club and supported by Cataclean and Corkills VW.