They want to see the up and coming seaside resort thrive
Members of New Brighton Partnership who want to put New Brighton on the World map, including (left to right) Sean Murphy, Dr Lucy Richardson, Andy Moor, Jayne Casey,and David McHattie.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A new organisation has “big dreams” for their seaside town as they hope to bring the Mersey ferry back. The New Brighton Partnership is hoping to turn their seaside town into “Merseyside’s Coney Island”, taking advantage of links to a “vibrant” Liverpool.
The group was set up earlier last year to help the up and coming seaside town thrive, building on the progress seen in recent years. Members include key figures in the town from Floral Pavilion manager Pauline Campbell to Sean Martin who leads a community group of businesses.
New Brighton has had a difficult relationship with authorities like Wirral Council in the past but the partnership want to find solutions and “stop the antagonism”, believing small amounts of funding can lead to quick wins.
In 2020, house prices were rising more in New Brighton than anywhere in the country and the town has seen a new estate agents open up. For them, the resort’s close location to a major city with a booming tourism industry is an opportunity unlike any other in the UK.
In their eyes, New Brighton could have a similar relationship to Liverpool as Coney Island has to New York or Sausalito has with San Francisco.
The partnership have a number of goals for the town. These include establishing it as a coastal creative hub taking advantage of what is already there like the Floral, Adventureland, and Fort Perch Rock, developing an economy based around creative, hospitality, and green industries, boosting tourism, improving public transport, and putting the town on the map.
The partnership has been behind new murals in the town(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Referring to a recent customer she spoke to, music legend Jayne Casey, who opened up District House on Victoria Road in 2024, said: “They wanted to move to a seaside town and they wanted to be near a vibrant city with art.
“They put a pin in the map and moved here because they can visit the Tate and walk along the seafront. Really interesting people are moving here and they are moving here because it’s next to a vibrant city.”
While some people “always focus on the things we haven’t got anymore”, Jayne said: “We have got quite a lot of things going on. They are small things but we have big dreams.”
A Facebook group set up called Love New Brighton now has more than 5,500 members. The partnership helped support the town’s Christmas lights on Victoria Road, new murals, a Day of the Dead festival, and it is now establishing links with places in Germany and Norway.
Rory Wilmer said he wanted to see a closer relationship with Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
One key focus is improving public transport and signposting people to attractions like Wallasey Beach Club. Rory Wilmer, who moved back to the town from the Czech Republic, said: “The river is what unites us. It’s not what divides us.
“It’s part of Liverpool. We are Merseyside and Liverpool. This is part of Liverpool. It’s not separate.”
There could be a land train in the near future, popular at many seaside resorts, starting at the Seacombe Ferry Terminal. Longer term, there are ambitions for a lido, water taxis, and even bringing the Mersey ferry back to New Brighton.
However the group has been hesitant to put itself in the spotlight, taking the ECHO several attempts to sit down for an interview. Group member David McHattie said: “We are quietly bit by bit using the skills around the table to keep moving and progressing and encouraging things in the right direction.
“That is not what we are here for. We know there is progress being made but it’s not about us.”
New Brighton used to have a pier(Image: Mirrorpix)
However, one of the big issues looming on the horizon is new parking charges on the waterfront. Wirral Council will be consulting again this year over bringing in fees at the Fort Perch Rock car park.
Further charges may also be brought in along the Dips and Marine Promenade, prompting fears this could turn many away from an affordable day out.
The group do have concerns, particularly in light of the difficulties getting to New Brighton via public transport from other parts of the Wirral. However they are far less pessimistic than some and feel New Brighton will survive.
David said: “Following the line isn’t necessarily the answer to everything. I understand the financial pressures of the council and everything but is this really the solution to that?”
However he added: “If they make a decision, no matter what it is, we will work with that.”