Southport BID is delighted to see plans to carry out the transformation of Scarisbrick Avenue in Southport town centre become a reality.
The route is home to a number of independent local Southport businesses, as well as serving as a key link between Lord Street and the seafront area.
A package of works worth nearly £1million are proposed including new, high quality paving, enhanced street lighting, improved pedestrian crossings, environmental additions and rejuvenated signage and CCTV equipment.
Businesses, residents and stakeholders are being informed about the works, which are intended to be completed in time for the 2022 summer season.
Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “We are delighted that BID efforts on behalf of our levy payers to improve Scarisbrick Avenue, working in partnership with Sefton Council to address the issues there, are now becoming a reality.
“The BID invested funds to help Sefton Council to secure Heritage Lottery funding in order to help to preserve key buildings in our town centre.”
A total of £920,000 has been allocated for the project via the Government’s Highways Challenge Fund grant and Sefton’s Growth Programme and is subject to approval of Sefton Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee.
Sefton Council will engage with business owners and residents in the Scarisbrick Avenue area ahead of proposed regeneration works.
The route is home to some superb independent local businesses including Avenue, Spender’s, Chop House, the Dolphin Chippy, Hideaway, Concept Food Bar and others, in addition to the side of The Scarisbrick Hotel.
Spender’s bar owners Paul and Chantelle Drewery said: “We’re very excited and it will make a huge difference to this very important part of the town!”
It is hoped the scheme will greatly improve the popular walkway, which connects the heart of Southport Town Centre with the Promenade and seafront, ultimately complementing the ongoing work of both the Southport Town Deal and the Southport Townscape Heritage Project.
Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control said:
“Scarisbrick Avenue has seen an increase in footfall since 2020 with the addition of the impressive Red Rum mural, painted by famous local artist Paul Curtis, as part of the local authority’s Sefton’s Borough of Culture celebrations.
“The fantastic work of the Townscape Heritage Project team, along with the brilliant long term vision and successes we’re already seeing from the Southport Town Deal are creating a positive future for the town and these works on Scarisbrick Avenue are a much welcomed addition to those projects.”
Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said:
“Scarisbrick Avenue is one of three main routes connecting Lord Street with the Promenade and its popularity over time has led to some significant wear and tear.
“It has been a long standing ambition to secure funding to make improvements and we are delighted that we are now in a position to do so.”
