Tighter controls are to be given to Sefton Council over anti-social behaviour in coastal spaces
10:38, 12 Jul 2025Updated 10:39, 12 Jul 2025
The full car park at Formby Beach
An 11-year-old driving a car in a beach car park is among some of the issues that will have to be revisited after police were called to a Sefton Council meeting that descended into chaos. Since 2022, the borough council has implemented a public spaces protection order (PSPO) which places restrictions on activities around coastal and visitor areas.
On Thursday, it had been expected councillors would reach an agreement on extending the existing rules for a further three years. However the meeting was hit with disruptions and forced to pause twice as people in the public gallery continued to interrupt proceedings.
The LDRS understands a decision will now be pushed back for members to reconvene. The PSPO powers include giving officers power to confiscate alcohol where they suspect anti-social behaviour and banning barbecues from the beaches at Formby and Crosby.
Just 15 minutes into the meeting last week, Mayor of Sefton Councillor June Burns was forced to pause the proceedings as shouting erupted from the public gallery as Cllr Burns told them: “I will not be insulted.” One source who was present at the meeting described it as “fiery” as tensions grew.
The meeting was eventually adjourned, with Merseyside Police confirming officers were called to Southport Town Hall. As a result, no formal decisions were taken.
Analysis of the period in which the PSPO has been in effect has identified some of the most egregious examples of people breaking the rules. These include coastal rangers finding a nude man in the dunes and an 11-year-old behind the wheel of a car in a beach car park.
The car parks at Formby beach were filling up as early as 9am today(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
More than 2,000 incidents have been dealt with by Green Sefton coastal rangers since 2023, with almost 1,500 relating to offences within the existing PSPO boundary. The areas of the extended coast and visitor PSPO include not only areas managed by the council such as the coastline, and certain parks but sites including – such as the National Trust owned areas of the Formby Coast, Natural England’s National Nature Reserve in Freshfield/ Ainsdale, Lancashire Wildlife Trust areas, and the RSPB reserve at Marshside.
The rules are monitored by council officials and partner agencies in a bid to maintain the coastline and protect against any damage. The PSPO allows fixed penalty notices to be issued when individuals are flouting the rules.
Among the other issues reported include suspicious drunken behaviour, multiple barbecues and fly-tipping. Horse welfare matters were also noted given restrictions on where they are permitted to be ridden.
The move to extend the order was endorsed by Merseyside Police inspector Kenneth Sumner. In a council report, he said there had been 12 reports of anti-social behaviour in the coastal and visitor areas. The majority of these involve youths playing with fireworks or attempting to light fires in the evening.
Signage was extensively put up in 2022 at almost 100 locations and has largely remained intact despite some minor acts of vandalism. Should councillors agree to extend the PSPO, this would continue for a further three years until July 2028.
No overnight stays on sites would be permitted without written endorsement, while the report said “actions such as weeing, spitting, pooing are not allowed outdoors in these areas.”