The purpose of charging for the beaches of Southport,including total income and expenditure including details of allocation of funds to projects as a result of charging for beach access

Mr Rimmer,

SOUTHPORT BEACH

There has been a charging policy on the northern beaches in Sefton for many decades and it is not possible to find an exact date when charging cars to access the shore at Ainsdale and Southport was implemented. The beach and foreshore down to low water is owned and managed by Sefton Council.

The purpose of charging on the beaches is to increase income from visitors to contribute towards to the cost of Council services and support to the setting of the Council tax for Sefton residents.

Your request for information on the total income over the duration of charging is likely to be impossible to equate due the fact that many records are no longer available and will take time to research. In order to process your request, I need to advise you of the administrative and materials charges that will apply in dealing with it. These charges cover such things as the preparation of letters, stationery and postage etc.

These charges are as follows:

This letter No Charge
Research the information requested No Charge (unless greater that £450.00)
Response letter including up to 10 sheets of photocopying £10.00
Additional photocopying 20p per subsequent A4 sheet
30p per subsequent A3 sheet
Plan printing £5.00 per plan
Information on CD £5.00 per CD

We have estimated that (subject to consideration of exempt information) the total administration of cost of this enquiry will be in the region of £470.00

A Beach management Plan was implemented in 1993 and zones were established to reconcile conflicts between recreational use and the nature conservation interests of the foreshore. The beach plan has driven improvements in respect of safety, cleansing and the reduction of conflict between competing usages.

Yours Sincerely,

Dave McAleavy
Head of Coast and Countryside

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