Author: Amy Hitchmough

Sefton Council is one of 85 local authorities identified by the Government who have received a £85,000 grant for much-needed improvements to two of the Borough’s parks and greenspaces.

Poets Park in Bootle and the open space on Seaforth Road will benefit from improvements as a result of the funding. Community engagement and education campaigns will be carried out alongside the work.

Improvement works

The open space on Seaforth Road will see boundary improvements, new footpaths, and a new litter bin. Some of the existing mounds around the site access points will be opened up, helping to increase the feeling of safety for park users.

There will be informative signage installed and the Council will consult with local stakeholders to re-name the space, creating more of a community identity.

The works will also include some much-needed Health and Safety Tree works, a number of trees have been identified for removal along the park boundary with Crosby Road South. It is always unfortunate when trees are identified for removal but leaving these trees would pose an unacceptable Health and Safety risk to the public.

However, there will be over 35 new trees planted on the site, which will bring colour and year-round interest to the park, help improve air quality, and over time, create a barrier between the park and the busy road.

At Poets Park, with the additional support of Ward Councillor funding, there will be a further 41 new trees planted that will provide more shade, help improve air quality, and support wildlife. New site signage will also be installed.

Tackling litter and fly tipping

Environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy is being commissioned to support the Council in its delivery of a community engagement campaign to discourage litter and fly tipping. The aim is also to generate a sense of community between the parks and local residents.

Cllr Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Sefton Council said: “Every park and greenspace in our Borough provides an important community space for residents, and it’s fantastic to see improvement plans for Poets Park and the Seaforth Road open space that will benefit people of all ages in the area.”

The works are planned to begin in the coming weeks.

Sefton Council has today published a revised Orrell Mount Park master plan.

The revised master plan sets a vision for the park in the future, for which funding will now be sought.

Improvement plans

Renovations to the Park’s pavilion building, new and improved play and recreation facilities and the creation of a ‘Nature Trail’ are among the proposals. Benches, bins, and signage in the park will be upgraded and the Park’s biodiversity broadened by the planting of additional trees and shrub.

In 2022, Sefton Council undertook a two-month consultation on the master plan to find out what local people wanted for the Park’s future.

Seventy per-cent of the respondents supported improving the pavilion building and bringing the building back into use for the community and over sixty per-cent supported the work to improve benches, bins, and signage.

Cllr Maher, Sefton Council Leader and local ward councillor said:
“This master plan for Orrell Mount Park shows that we have taken account of people’s views and put together a set of proposals that reflect what people told us they want to see.

“It will bring considerable improvements to this space for communities and future generations, and I look forward to seeing it progressed, should funding become available.”

3G Football Pitch Proposal

Almost 1,000 people provided feedback on the proposals which included the creation of a 3G football pitch for use by local groups and clubs. Because there was no clear majority for the pitch proposals – forty-nine per-cent voted for it, forty-nine per-cent voted against it and the remaining two per-cent neither supported nor opposed it, the Council decided it would not go ahead and brought forward the revised master plan.

Cllr Maher added:
“At each stage we have taken every opportunity to engage and liaise with the local community, and this will continue as proposals develop.”

As ‘Walk Your Dog Month’ comes to an end, Sefton Council are encouraging residents to continue to embrace the winter weather and explore the many wonderful greenspaces across Sefton.

February is a time when people begin to abandon their New Year’s Resolutions, making it as important as ever to enjoy time outdoors and reap the many proven health benefits of taking a walk with a furry friend.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “The winter months provide a great opportunity to work on small targets to get out walking with your dog and establish habits long term that benefit you both.

“I would encourage everyone to make the most of some fresh air when they get outdoors, as well as enjoying everything that nature has to offer in our Borough. That’s not just on our coastline but also our canal walks and Sefton’s many greenspaces and parks.”

Sefton’s coastline, nature reserves, parks and greenspaces offer both people and dogs a variety of dynamic and satisfying walking routes. To discover more, head to:

Visiting Sefton’s beaches

Sefton’s parks and open spaces

While most dog owners act responsibly and clean up after their dogs, dog mess can still be an issue on many sites. The Council reminds people that a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is in place and those not picking up after their pets could receive a fixed penalty notice or fine. More information can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/dogs/