“It’s like being somewhere completely different, like you’re in France or somewhere like that”
One of the lucky things about my job is it takes me to some wonderful places. Cycling towards Ainsdale beach this week was definitely one of those days.
Roughly a 20 minute walk away from the beach, a train station marks the start of the village centre, with a bridge over the track leading towards a floral and thriving area which has undergone a significant renaissance in recent years.The former Lancashire spot - which will soon be pushed further away from the county as it separates from its Southport constituency - has been transformed from a sleepy village into one packed with bars, restaurants and shops.
Among those visiting on a sunny day this week, Crosby resident Carlos Santos sat outside the shop enjoying a coffee while his partner was in the village for work reasons. He said he was looking forward to walking around during the day. A very short walk away, one of the newer businesses is Ainsdale Building Supplies. Set a little back from the main road, the shop was opened by a local family and serves as a garden centre, DIY shop and outdoor furniture store.
Like many others, Marcus is a fan of the beach but hopes more can be done to improve the surrounding area. “It's a shame that the Sands shut down. Obviously that’s been closed for a while. I hope it will come back at some point. On a hot day like this, it would be good to have there.” It has stood as a white elephant ever since, occasionally suffering damage through fires and storms and now stands surrounded by scaffolding as essential repairs are carried out to keep it structurally safe. Locals have long demanded something is done to bring it back to use but so far the only significant change has been the painting of a huge mural by artist Paul Curtis.
Among those visiting this week, retired couple Maureen and Alan Durkin had travelled over from Wigan and planned as much of the day as possible enjoying their surroundings. Sat on deck chairs next to the car and admiring the view, the couple explained it is a regular day out for them. They usually visit Southport rather than Ainsdale village but the arrival of Miller and Carter could change that. Revamping the Sands would also be attractive to them - “it would be a nice change rather than always bringing out butties”, Alan said.
One way or another, the development of the beachfront could have a major impact on the number of visitors the village receives. Plans are in place for the creation of an off beach car park - designed to alleviate frustrations for nearby residents whose roads become congested - and improved toilet facilities but, as is often seen with council projects, delays have caused frustration.
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