Southport Pier funding announcement

THE Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced funding for Southport Pier in her speech, setting out UK's spending plans in the House of Commons on:- Wednesday, 11 June 2025.

The Member of Parliament for Southport Patrick Hurley has publicly said:- "The condition and closure of the Pier has been a huge source of concern for everyone in Southport over the last 2½ years, and the whole community shares the desire for the Pier to be reopened. That is why I am thrilled to tell you that we now have Government backing for the restoration of Southport Pier, thanks to the Growth Mission Fund announced today in Labour's Spending Review. In the almost 12 months since my election as your MP, I have worked diligently behind the scenes to raise the issue of the Pier with Government ministers, Council officers, Councillors, business leaders, and other national bodies to ensure that the importance of the Pier’s restoration remained in full focus of everyone involved. It is clear how powerful an emblem the Pier is for our Town, and I could not be more pleased to know that it will now stand proud once again as the focal point of our coast."

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has added that:- "Today's announcement is great news for Southport, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I had some time with the Prime Minister during our meeting at Lancaster House to talk specifically about Southport, where he gave his word that he’d support the town, and it’s good to see him following through on this commitment, especially after the news earlier this week about Town Hall Gardens. This hasn’t happened by chance. It’s the result of tireless work by people who’ve never stopped fighting for the Town’s future. Cllr Marion Atkinson and the Town’s MP Patrick Hurley have helped lead the charge locally, and the community has shown real determination to see Southport thrive. With the Marine Lake Events Centre taking shape, our new trains better connecting our community, and new investment on the way, there’s a real sense of momentum building. We’ll keep doing our bit, and we’re ready to work with the Government to make sure Southport gets the backing it’s long deserved."



Also, Silcock's Funland owners have added:- "This is amazing news. We did not expect it! The Pier is not just a structure; it forms part of the Town's identity and is part of the UK's heritage. This news is fantastic, as we have been overlooked for so long. It has been a massive effort by all parties and businesses to get the funding, and this announcement out of the blue is just... Well, sorry to use the word again, amazing!"



Conservative Leader on Sefton Council, Mike Prendergast said:- "Today's announcement has significantly increased the likelihood that funding for Southport Pier will be granted by Central Government, and regardless of political party, that is good news for Southport. Opposition Councillors and members of the public across Southport have consistently held the Labour council and Labour MP to account on the issue. We've written to cabinet ministers, and members of the public have signed petitions and attended public meetings. The work now looks like it might have paid off. Of course, the devil will be in the details, and even though the eligibility criteria for the new Growth Mission Fund haven’t been announced and won't be available till later in the year, apparently Southport's bid will definitely qualify. So, it’s good to know that Council Officers won't be putting together a bid that will be rejected, as happened with the Lottery funding expression of interest. It's also vitally important that control and responsibility for our Pier remain with local people. None of us wants to see one of our key heritage assets handed over to a quango as has previously been suggested. We have to hope that the funding we are going to receive does not come with those kinds of strings attached. In the knowledge that Sefton Council's bid will be accepted, the Council really needs to crack on with getting the work done. There is now no reason to delay, and all of Southport will expect Sefton Council to start the work as soon as."

Owners of Silcock Leisure Group hail funding to restore Southport Pier as huge boost to resort

THE owners of Silcock Leisure Group in Southport have hailed the announcement of funding to restore and reopen Southport Pier as a huge boost to everyone in the Town.

Silcock Leisure Group operates the historic Carousel in front of the Pier entrance, known as the:-- 'Golden Gallopers' were built in 1901 and were last year voted as the 4th best seaside attraction in the UK.

The family-run firm, which has been entertaining families for 6 generations, also runs Silcock's Pier Family Restaurant and Silcock's Funland on the Pier Forecourt.

They have been part of a real community effort calling for Southport Pier to be reopened, and hosted a packed public meeting earlier this year looking at ways how it could happen.

It followed a poll on Stand Up For Southport in January which showed that 97% of local residents wanted the Pier to reopen, from over 1,700 respondents.

Silcock Leisure Group Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince said:- "We are absolutely thrilled! It's just the best news we could have wished for. It is an amazing boost for all the families and all the businesses here in Southport and across the Liverpool City Region. It's wonderful news. Everyone in Southport will be celebrating! We're all so elated. This is exactly Town everyone in Southport wanted and deserved. Southport Pier is the main attraction in our Town and it has been for so many generations, going back to when it 1st opened in 1860. Since then, it has attracted many millions of visitors of all ages who love walking along the Pier and looking out to sea, breathing in that fresh sea air. People come from all over the UK to walk along Southport Pier. We've missed it! For health, wellness and wellbeing, there is nothing better than a walk along Southport Pier. It has had a significant impact on so many businesses in Southport since it closed in 2022. It is so iconic. It is the best pier in Britain, the oldest iron pier in the country, and the second longest pier. Southport Pier is a unique part of our national heritage and we are overjoyed to hear that it will be able to reopen once repairs are complete. In the meantime, there are so many reasons for people to come and visit Southport with a huge array of attractions and events. You'll never get bored in Southport! We'd like to say a huge thank you to the Government for agreeing to provide the funding to restore Southport Pier, and to Southport MP Patrick Hurley and his team for a huge amount of hard work, perseverance and dedication to making this happen. We'd also like to thank Sefton Council, Sefton Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson and RAL Architects for carrying out the survey on the Pier and then drawing up a full planning application and securing Listed Building Consent, so the scheme would be fully ready to go when the opportunity arose to seek funding. We're also very grateful to the huge and constant support shown for the restoration of the Pier by the local community in Southport. This has been a real Town effort! When we held our Southport Pier public meeting earlier this year, we quickly ran out of chairs. Everyone wanted to help. The room was packed and there was so much passion from people who wanted our Pier back open again. It is a wonderful, positive thing to happen for Southport and we're so glad the Government has listened so carefully to Town people in our Town were so desperate to see. It follows on from yesterday's announcement of the £10million to create a new Town Hall gardens in the memory of the 3 girls, and also comes at a time when BBC Radio Merseyside has been spending all week in Southport broadcasting their popular Breakfast show to listeners across the Liverpool City Region. This has been the most amazing week for Southport; it's an historic time for our Town. We can look to the future now with a real sense of excitement."

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