National Trust Formby announced the closure of Formby beach car park from Thursday (1 May 2025) until summer 2026 as part of a major conservation scheme People can learn more about the project and what is entailed by heading to Formby beach car park closure | National Trust Formby To support both visitors and residents who enjoy spending time along Sefton’s Natural Coast the Council has put together a list of alternative beaches and important information Sefton’s coastline is a protected nature haven that offers something for everyone Many visitors may not realise this landscape is legally protected and can be described as “rarer than a rainforest” and a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest status the Sefton Coast is more ecologically rare than a typical rainforest and all three offer a different experience for visitors Crosby is the perfect destination to soak up the sun and relax Visitors should never enter the water at Crosby beach It is not a bathing beach due to areas of soft mud and the risk of changing tides It is the only beach in the country to have 365-day RNLI Lifeguard cover due to the dangers present Crosby beach is also known as the home to many popular food and drink outlets And it is only a short walk away from Merseyrail train stations making public transport the easiest and quickest way to travel Ainsdale beach is known for its rare habitats There is beach car parking available from April to September but it’s important to check ahead as there can be closures and reduced capacity due to high tides and poor sand conditions The newly refurbished toilet block at Ainsdale is available for visitors and includes both men’s and women’s, and an accessible Changing Places toilet facility. Further information is available at www.changing-places.org/find Baby changing facilities are also within the toilet block Sitting on the most northern part of Sefton’s beautiful coastline is Southport beach a nostalgic seaside resort with protected natural landscape The beach is home to many thousands of wading birds from their northern breeding grounds and sees flocks of migrating birds that rely on this landscape to feed and rest It’s also known as the gateway to the Ribble Estuary and a place where the coast and countryside connect in an amazing way Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing we understand many people want to visit our beautiful natural coastline and we encourage people to research which beach is the right fit for them “Whether you want the bucket and spade experience at Ainsdale immerse in nature and wildlife watching at Southport or enjoy the heritage and hospitality offering at Crosby Coastal Park we only ask that visitors respect and protect the landscape and wildlife by following our advice It’s a small ask with a big payoff in conserving this special place for generations to come.” All visitors are asked to take their litter home with them after a trip to any of our beaches and lighting fires or BBQs are not permitted anywhere along the coast Visitors can learn more and find the latest information by heading to www.sefton.gov.uk/beaches and following Sefton Council on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com Subscribe Now for Real-time Updates on the Latest Stories Created by Digital Media Guys Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Lidl and M&S foodstores will lead the way but the vast majority of the proposed development off the Formby bypass will be industrial floorspace A hybrid application has now been lodged with Sefton Council by applicant Sefton & Formby Developments The consultation process for the project in late 2024 drew a storm of criticism with Place North West’s comments section recording dozens of angry comments on the potential relocation of M&S Foodhall to the out-of-town location as S&FD explain in the online description of the project the store in the Cloisters is “fundamentally too small” to accommodate a modern M&S Foodhall a successful arm of the retail group that has expanded to include Plant Kitchen and Eat Well areas Scheme promoter Sefton & Formby Developments is working with Mono Architectural Design and Plan A on the project Remada Geo Consultants and JPM Acoustics are also no the professional team and if approved would sit on 31 acres north of Formby Business Park The land is allocated as a strategic employment site The M&S store at The Point would be just under 16,000 sq ft on behalf of Sefton & Formby Developments it is estimated that over 1,000 full and part-time jobs would be created The vast majority of these new jobs will be in areas such as manufacturing Hundreds of additional jobs will be created during the construction phase We look forward to working with Sefton Council as the application progresses.” At least 75% of the site will be for employment uses potentially covering industrial & logistics Mono’s design & access statement said: “The proposed development will deliver the high-quality business park envisaged by the Local Plan policies which will perform a strategic role in attracting significant local and inward investment and generating a high level of job outputs within a high-quality environment.” To enable the business park element though it is necessary for the plans to “include a limited number of other uses in order to cross-subsidise/enable the delivery of the proposed employment floorspace these other uses will cross subsidise the construction of a new signal-controlled junction on Formby Bypass to provide access to the business park will enable significant site constraints to be overcome and will facilitate the provision of essential infrastructure and utility supplies.” the development company was formed in 2023 Documents relating to the application can be viewed on Sefton Council’s planning portal with the reference DC/2024/02165 Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" They want their planning application back The public sector-focused travel management company has signed for 6,500 sq ft at Castleforge’s Manchester office building who has been with the Manchester-based design practice since the outset while Enrique Rodriguez has been made an associate Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Craving the feeling of sand between your toes Check out our guide to some of the best beaches near Manchester for some much-needed sea air Summer might not be here just yet, but we’re so bloomin’ ready to explore all of the beauty the UK has to offer. And a trip to the seaside is sure to give perk you up Ditch the concrete jungle that is Manchester for a day and head West to the coast where you’ll find a selection of beautiful sandy beaches near Manchester you never knew existed One of the North West’s most beautiful spots, Formby Beach is a National Trust nature reserve sand dunes and high sandy hills to explore The beach is pristine and spans 13.2 kilometres Soak up the sun while sprawled on the soft sand overlooking the Irish Sea or check out the nearby nature reserve and the wildlife that inhabits the area New Brighton Beach can be found near Wallasey and is a 3/4 mile stretch of soft golden sand with stunning views of the Liverpool skyline For those who prefer exploring over sunbathing The beach also features a bit of a shipwrecked look including a community-built driftwood boat that resembles a pirate ship Crosby Beach is one of the closest and is home of the beautiful sculpture project ‘Another Place’ which consists of 100 cast iron figures that can be found spread out across the shore The iron figures stare out towards the horizon and are the subject of almost all photos taken at the beach While Crosby beach isn’t a ‘bathing beach’ it’s a great spot to check out the ‘Another Place’ installation and take a relaxing stroll across the coast and promenade Featuring little beach huts that make up a stretch of the St Annes seafront with many booking up their beautiful little beach huts for the day to comfortably enjoy the long stretch of sand and St Anne’s Pier The Victorian seaside resort has a whole lot more to offer and all the typical beachfront shops you’d expect to find in the UK or unleash your inner child and check out a few of the rides Ainsdale Beach is well-known for being a prime spot for kiting (we know it’s a peaceful sandy beach with similar sand dunes to those you’ll find at beautiful Formby The pretty spot has the oldest iron pier in Britain and is ideal for those looking to swim and bathe in the sun you’ll find the Natural England Nature Reserve which is home to all sorts of wildlife including lizards Arthur tells Vernon Kay on Radio 2 he left ransom notes in place of garden ornaments in seaside town in 1977 The closest that residents in the sleepy seaside town of Formby got to violent crime in 1977 was, the BBC solemnly reported So the mysterious disappearance of garden ornaments It led to a media circus as journalists were dispatched to investigate the “phantom gnome snatcher of Formby” Now, nearly 50 years, on the mystery has been solved. On Tuesday, a 62-year-old man calling himself Arthur went on Radio 2’s Vernon Kay show to confess – and apologise Arthur told Kay that he was 15 at the time and he committed the misdeeds with his five-year-old brother Colin.“I still can’t remember what made me do it,” he said Arthur recalled seeing a gnome in a garden and wondering why people had them “We went out that evening and looked around the neighbourhood and found at least a dozen gardens with gnomes in and made a note of them We crafted some fairly amateurish ransom notes and left it at that “We checked the sort of locations we put in the ransom notes to put 25p on the phone box or behind the park bench and there was nothing there “So three nights later we put them all back again and thought absolutely nothing of it.” Kay read one of the ransom notes out to Arthur: “Listen your gnome has seven hours to live unless you wrap 25p and leave it at the car park at Safeways near the bowling green asked for the money to be left under the roundabout in the park 18 garden ornaments all mysteriously appeared together on the roundabout The Liverpool Echo reported that it included eight gnomes and an identification parade was held to allow householders to reclaim their ornaments Arthur made his confession after a woman called Jenny heard a Vernon’s Vault archive item from Nationwide about the thefts “And he tells that story most Boxing Days and each time he gets a little bit wearier you can see the weight of his conscience on his shoulders.” Arthur admitted he was something of a wayward teenager “It’s been on my conscience over the years that I did this terrible thing,” he joked I think one of the gnomes was damaged when we lifted it because it was concreted in and we actually broke it.” Kay tried to assure Arthur that the nation would forgive the “harmless prank” Arthur replied: “I hope the statutes of limitations have passed on this one but I would like to beg forgiveness from all the families that I have caused grief.” The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The speed limit along a section of Formby Bypass will be reduced ahead of 286 new homes being built on land next to the road Proposals have been put forward by Sefton Council to reduce the speed limit on the section between Woodvale and Freshfield from 60mph to 50mph approval was given by Sefton Council’s Planning Committee to an application for the construction of 286 new homes after the demolition of existing structures south of RAF Woodvale between Southport Road / Southport Old Road and Wham Dyke on the west side of the A565 Formby Bypass Due to the increased vehicle movements generated by the development a Planning Condition was attached which required the developer to fund the introduction of a new signalled junction with pedestrian facilities and the reduction of the speed limit on the A565 Formby Bypass at this location from its current 60mph limit to a new 50mph limit in both directions Sefton Council says the introduction of the lower speed limit will have a number of benefits including:  Safety Considerations: It will reduce the severity of potential collisions Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety: The development will introduce increased footfall and cycle use; a lower speed limit improves safety for vulnerable road users Junction Operation Efficiency: A 50mph limit will improve traffic signal compliance and allow safer vehicle movements north and southbound and out of the new development National Guidance Compliance: The Department for Transport’s guidance supports lower limits where roadside development increases conflict points The proposal change in speed limit will be applied to both north and southbound traffic revoke the existing 60mph Speed Limit Order on the A565 Formby Bypass and introduce a new 50mph speed limit from a point 254m southwest of the southwest kerbline of the Coastal Road to the northwest kerbline of Southport Old Road (south junction) in a southbound direction and in a northbound direction between the northwest kerbline of Southport Road to a point 260m southwest of the southwest kerb line of Woodvale access road Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail Sefton & Formby Developments has secured the signatures of the two well-known retailers as it progresses plans for a shopping and employment complex east of the Formby bypass and Costa Coffee have all agreed to take space within the 270,000 sq ft scheme known as the Point on 31 acres north of Formby Business Park M&S will relocate its existing Formby food store into a larger 16,000 sq ft outlet while Lidl is a new entrant to the town and will also take a 16,000 sq ft unit The project also features plans for a health facility The retail element will take up around a quarter of Sefton & Formby Developments’ scheme while the remaining 75% will be given over to employment uses The developer has launched a consultation on the project Have your say on the proposals said: “This site has been allocated by Sefton Council to provide modern high-quality and much-needed employment space in Formby “It has long been recognised that new employment development is needed in the town to satisfy demand from established local businesses and to attract new companies to the area.” said a discount supermarket would fill a gap in Formby’s retail scene “Not only would this [store] provide residents with access to our affordable high-quality products—especially when people across the country are seeking value—but also provide a significant boost to the local economy by creating new job opportunities for locals.” M&S property director Will Smith explained the rationale behind its decision to relocate its Formby store from the Cloisters to the Point “We are rotating our store estate so that we have the best stores in the right place so our customers can shop when and how they want “Our proposals in Formby will enable customers to shop the full M&S range in a fresh market environment with fresh bakery produce and flower shop as well as everyday staples and the quality and trusted value that they expect from M&S.” A hybrid planning application will be submitted to Sefton Council in the coming weeks I’m still absolutely gobsmacked that we continue to build these out of town retail parks A sea of asphalt traffic generating car parks We know that building apartments on top of retail that has a street frontage is the best way to solve the jobs and housing crisis in one go Currently residents of Formby can walk to the store and this store already has a wide food offering The move to across the bypass will encourage increased use of cars Makes no sense from a sustainability aspect Build houses on it if the need is so desperate Aren’t bypasses built to bypass places – not to relocate them and their congestion The Cloisters is being sold and the brochure on rightmove shows that M&S have a lease until 2027 there and that the shop size is 325m2 which is pretty small Looks like a pretty easy and obvious move for M&S and one the Council couldn’t do much about given the short lease and they are now part of the developer’s PR campaign using their special term of “rotating the store estate” when they mean large-scale closures drastic down-sizing of major stores (eg Liverpool City Centre) and making their remaining stores inaccessible to anyone not in a car And do you really think they will be clubbing together with Lidl for a shuttle bus Some unbelievable and selfish comments here by people who have no idea about the real world Don’t blame M&S but direct your anger at the landlords of the Cloisters who forced out some of the smaller much loved businesses like The Bakehouse by demanding extortionate rents Someone’s suggested building houses on the bypass land You can’t get a doctors or dental appointment as it is so that really would help wouldn’t it? There’s no guarantee Sefton Council will approve this anyway because they refused the applications to extend the sports facilities at Formby FC and that would have improved the area and a Lidl store further north up the bypass instead of which they’ll approve residential development on land that has and always will flood More stupidity it’s all about the money not the actual real Formby residents they’ve already ruined it with that awful pinewoods estate A remodel of the cloisters to better accommodate M&S would be a much better outcome for Formby Put it on the by-pass if you have to but it could have gone near the shops at the Little Altcar end of the town before they decided to fill the last plots with housing Would rather M and S stayed in village.not a good move for older people and those without cars Formby has space already for so called expanding companies that could be developed without any new build The loss of M&S from Formby village will be a massive blow particularly for anyone elderly who does not drive The council should have a clear plan about what will fill that space If it does get built,will aldi be going on to the site I have no problem with new businesses being developed in the area There would need to be a good transport system to take people to the new stores and good investment in the village itself to maintain that feeling of community barbers or hairdressers but good interesting shops that attract customers Tremendous news for the area which in need of updating in consideration of the new housing schemes in the area Someone has there head well screwed on,what a brilliant plan as this will help to increase the infrastructure for the so many young families coming to live in Formby,there is now enough New Builds here in the past 10 years.No more houses,and also giving local employment.I hope Marks will be also be baby Just more congestion in a town that is getting increasingly over built They are building houses all the way up to the woods It’s not NIMBY to see where this lot will end up dentists but massive retail park to jam up the ‘bypass’ Great news Exactly what we need here can’t wait for this I hope that any junction onto the bypass moves traffic significantly more efficiently than the one by Tesco Formby desperately needs a retail park with the ever growing population…circa 25k people living here now 🤯 more shops and more jobs This is the start of a slippery slope in the run down of Chapel Lane in Formby if not handled properly it won’t lead to the gutting of our high street as happened to Prescot 20 years ago or so (which is now only starting to recover) after a similar out of town retail development was built Think very carefully on the implications both positive and negative for the local community for instance what is M & S’s plan for the vacated building Will it be left empty or will they be given the responsibility of finding a new tenant/ buyer Sefton Planning Department need to look good and hard at this for it to work for ALL not just businesses Would be a great opportunity for the town and bring well needed jobs but I’m very sceptical as the aldi franchise was knocked back the image looks wonderful….so inspiring This development needs good access by bus so everyone can use it Sadly Marks and Spencer moving to the new development will leave another empty shop which the village does not need How can M&S possibly say that is in the best interest of the public to close the store on the village The public of Formby need the village as it is far more accessible We have Aldi in Birkdale and Thornton which is quite enough for cheapness and sometimes verify inferior As for getting across th bypass it is dangerous enough without complicating it more A bus service was promised when Tescos was opened did it materialise Formby has enough supermarket facilities and do not need green open spaces to be built on anymore This proposal will only lead to more vehicles using one of the three exit routes out of Formby In particular Altcar Road which is used as a main route to the shops and businesses located the other side of the bypass It’s already gridlocked at certain times and when it’s not gridlocked it’s impossible for residents to cross due to the speed of the many vehicles travelling on it I’m sure both Liverpool and Southport roads will be just as bad – basically turning Formby into a car park No more corporate businesses are needed in Formby Independent business should be encouraged in the village No more traffic is needed in Altcar Rd or other roads national trust have ruined the country with their capitalism Accessible healthcare required in the village please M&S is a business and needs to make commercial decisions Rent and Business rates will impact on where they trade as well potential footfall and customer base Like it or not most people drive to do their (big) shopping The M&S in Formby village is nothing more than a convenience store and is not sustainable in its present location And if the lease is up it would probably have left its present location anyway At least this option retains an M&S in Formby Unbelievable that retail parks like this are still being built You can see why some developers take advantage of the general public’s idea of what makes good place making It’s definitely not car centric retail parks Interesting how Manchester is attempting to get rid of its retail parks They can run a bus that goes to the retail park Regarding the proposal for M&S re locating and new Lidl opening and health facility with no bus route that goes up there how do people who don’t drive and obviously can’t walk up to these sites get there has this been looked at or thought through Hope you are doing something about transport ie busses to and from formby area I bet less than 1 in 10 people walk to the village and the council insist on screwing the motorist by charging higher and higher car parking charges It is the council who have blighted Formby high street cafes and restaurants and no problem parking the car I can’t wait for M&S and Lidl to open Also it will provide competition to Tesco and Waitrose who will have to get their game hat on to keep their customers Not everyone appreciates retail parks and car parks Just coffee shops and charity shops remain Having rejected Peloton Real Estate’s proposals for open storage at Blackburne Street in April Liverpool City Council’s planning committee will be asked to set out its position ahead of any subsequent appeal Developer BXB has selected the Warrington-based firm to prepare the ground for a link road aimed at unlocking the Cowley Hill residential 104-acre site in St Helens Liverpool City Region’s largest brownfield site and the work that is carried out to protect it By InYourArea Community · 1 May 2025 CONSERVATION PROJECT: Rubble spilling onto the beach at Formby (Image: © NT Images / Harriet Wilkinson) This week’s column is brought to you by our friends at National Trust Formby as they embark on a major conservation project to restore rare sand dune habitats The Sefton Coast is one of the UK’s fastest-moving coastlines Its naturally shifting sand dunes are a haven for rare wildlife.  tonnes of rubble that makes up the foundation of the National Trust Victoria Road beach car park in Formby is preventing sand from moving as it should – disconnecting wildlife habitats and limiting beach access for people.  The rubble is all that remains of the old Harington Barracks which were demolished after the Second World War The demolition rubble was used to form the foundation of the current beach car park Natural processes that create Formby’s fast-shifting shoreline means that each year more rubble is exposed A major conservation project is underway that will see the huge amounts of rubble removed and rare sand dune habitats restored The majority of the rubble will be re-purposed on site to create the subbase of a more sustainable car park mobile sand dunes can also act as a natural sea defence This project is part of the Trust’s long-term commitment to look after this very special part of the Sefton Coast and will benefit wildlife by reconnecting the dunes and creating a healthier habitat To keep everyone safe large metal fencing will be going up around the work site area which starts at the junction of Victoria Road and Badgers Rake continuing along the car park out on to the beach Some noise is expected from the heavy machinery working on site bins or visitor access to the beach through the work site area at Victoria Road from May 1 2025 until spring 2026.   Our Lifeboat Road car park and toilets will remain open people are advised against driving to National Trust Formby on sunny days this summer Visitors should consider travelling by train to Formby station or using alternative car parks along the Sefton Coast We understand people may be disappointed to miss out on a trip to Formby beach this summer but everyone’s support and understanding is greatly appreciated as we work to enhance this special space for wildlife and people We’re continuing to collaborate with partners along the Sefton Coast to manage the increased challenges busy days will bring during this summer. To keep updated on the project follow us on social media @NTFormby or visit our website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/formby the Sefton Council service which brings together the Coast & Countryside Risk Management and Grounds Maintenance teams for a joined-up approach to the vital management development and oversight of Sefton's beautiful coastline See more from Southport LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Proposals have been granted to create two new padel courts in Formby to meet huge local demand for “the UK’s fastest growing sport” Having access to the new courts will be warmly welcomed by players at Formby Village Sports Club after the huge popularity of the existing court The facility will be supported by new floodlighting Approval was given for the first padel court in March last year An application submitted by PadelTech on behalf of the Club said: “The successful implementation of that padel court and high demand for its use has led to this subsequent application “Since the first padel court was installed and opened in July 2024 the membership at Formby Village Sports Club has grown from 400 to 600 there is a current waiting list of 750 for padel membership alone “Padel is widely acknowledged to be the UK’s fastest growing sport “The proposal to add a further two padel courts at Formby Village Sports Club is to satisfy burgeoning growing demand “National & Local Planning Policy encourages sustainable development and the more efficient use of land It recognises that opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of local communities “Since the first padel court opened in July there have been no complaints received by the club or council regarding noise.” Formby Village Sports Club comprises a single storey clubhouse four artificial grass tennis courts and a recently completed outdoor padel court positioned in the northwest quadrant of the overall site The site is currently vacant grassland with no previous use and extends to 964 sqm (0.096 ha) The proposed opening hours of the two additional courts will be in keeping with the existing hours of use of the club from 8am to 10pm weekdays Parking for the proposed padel courts will be provided by existing on-site arrangements shared with Holy Trinity Church together with the adjoining Cloisters public car park with 170 spaces Public transport is also readily available within walking distance of the club on Chapel Lane PadelTech said: “Occasionally referred to as Padel Tennis easy to play and learn unlike all other racket sports such as tennis “It is always played as doubles on a court which is purposely designed to have a transparent structure “Padel is played over a net using carbon fibre bats / rackets and a tennis ball The shorter racket handles make the game easier to learn for beginners hence its wider appeal than traditional racket sports with the glass panel walls used as part of the game “The reduced court size and ability to play off the walls also enables players with reduced mobility to participate as there is less court space to cover “It is played in groups of mixed ages and abilities “The growth of padel in the UK is set to grow from 500 courts to at least 10,000 over the next ten years according to the Lawn Tennis Association.” Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com  Marks & Spencer is looking to open a brand new store at The Point development next to Formby Bypass It is part of a £50 million investment being made by the firm in stores across the North West M&S is focusing on its store renewal and rotation programme which aims to place sites at prime locations M&S announced that its store rotation programme is picking up pace as new and renewed stores are trading well which is spread across the next three financial years will see three stores across the North West renewed to the latest format Five new stores have been announced for previously untapped locations in Liverpool All new store plans are subject to planning permission M&S plans to open the doors to a new food hall at The Point development The venue will see an upgrade in scale and support 60 local jobs A brand new full-line store will open in New Mersey Retail Park in Speke The site will replace the existing food hall and bring a bigger range of M&S products than ever before the full-line store in Gemini Retail Park in Warrington has been redesigned to cater to a wider range of customer shopping missions we want to open new stores we can be proud of and that deliver the best possible shopping experience for customers “Our pipeline of stores for 2025 demonstrates our continued investment in market-leading stores as we deliver our transformation priorities “We have the opportunity in the North west of England to continue investing in market-leading stores as part of our renewal and rotation strategy offering great quality products with that touch of M&S magic and the trusted value our customers expect and deserve “M&S already has many local supplier partnerships such as Park Cakes in Oldham who make the customer-favourite Colin the Caterpillar cakes and these new stores will help showcase their products and support jobs throughout the supply chain.”  Stand Up For Southport reported how Plans have been revealed to create a new M&S Foodhall Lidl supermarket and business park next to Formby Bypass creating “substantial employment opportunities” for the area The ambitious scheme would also include small-scale business starter units; co-working spaces; light industrial facilities; and new research and development hubs Local residents could also see a new medical facility a Costa Coffee drive-through and another drive-through A planning application by Sefton and Formby Developments Limited has been submitted to Sefton Council for the 31.35-acre site in Formby on land the the north of Formby Industrial Estate and east of the A565 Formby Bypass is “strategically phased to enable the site’s ultimate purpose of creating substantial employment opportunities” The 2,185 sqm Lidl store would be served by a 123 space car park The 2,006 sqm M&S Foodhall would offer 178 customer car parking spaces and an additional 11 car parking spaces for staff A new junction would be constructed to facilitate access and servicing for the development The first phase also incorporates a 1,033 sqm community medical facility on behalf of Sefton and Formby Developments Limited by Mono Architectural Design said: “As a whole the proposed development will deliver the high-quality business park envisaged by the Local Plan policies which will perform a strategic role in attracting significant local and inward investment and generating a high level of job outputs within a high-quality environment it will be necessary for the development proposals to include a limited number of other uses in order to cross-subsidise / enable the delivery of the proposed employment floorspace will enable significant site constraints to be overcome and will facilitate the provision of essential infrastructure and utility supplies to support the employment function without which the business park would not be viable in isolation “The business park will remain the dominant use and employment uses will be the primary job generators with the enabling development being subordinate in scale but also making a valid contribution towards job outputs “Given Sefton & Formby Developments commitment to invest in Formby be constructed at the earliest opportunity and will provide a quantitative and qualitative improvement in the employment offer in Formby.”   Plans have been revealed to create a new M&S Foodhall also making a valid contribution towards job outputs.” adaptable workspaces for startups and small businesses 2) Co-Working Spaces: Collaborative environments for freelancers and small teams 3) Light Industrial Facilities: Spaces for light manufacturing and assembly such as Automotive assembly 4) Research and Development Hubs: Flexible spaces for tech startups and innovation The layout emphasizes accessibility and sustainability promoting economic growth while enhancing site functionality Mono Architectural Design said: “ said: “At present altered and levelled sympathetic to its context and environment Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com Please whitelist confidentials.com to continue to our site and enjoy an Ad-Light experience A restaurant’s first opportunity to win you over is by catching your eye from the outside with pretty signing or a fancy façade Myself and Alanya popped into the restaurant at around 11:15am and the venue was already bustling friends catching up and making the most of the good weather whilst families were out celebrating the first few days of the summer holidays with a stack of pancakes.  We were told that the next table would be available at 11:45am so we took a half an hour walk up and down the high street until it was our time to experience what Emily’s had to offer A good sign indeed if a place has a waiting list for breakfast We arrived back right on time and were taken through the beautifully decorated restaurant past the bar area and towards the back where the conservatory was Waltzing through Emily’s is like exploring the Amazon rainforest; every corner you looked there was bunches and bushels of flowers organised in jaw-dropping arrangements in huge vases or hung from the ceilings to form a sort of veil none of which looked out of place or tacky I can see this being a popular spot for Mother’s Day celebrations or a girls’ day out The seating follows on with the jungle-esque theme with brightly coloured scatter cushions in snakeskin and zebra prints neatly arranged across the banquettes It truly is an Instagram-lover’s dream.  The smoothies arrived within ten minutes of ordering and added an extra pop of colour to the already bountifully bright room I went for the Dragon Passion; a bright fuchsia pink concoction made with passionfruit dragon fruit and agave - an incredibly sweet but incredibly moreish drink that could have benefitted from being just a tad more tart (perhaps a squeeze of lemon?).  Alanya chose the Mango Tango; strawberries mango and orange juice which looked (and tasted a bit like) a liquid Solero - very welcome on a day like this one A few short moments later our dishes arrived both well presented and Instagram-worthy.  My steak and eggs were very visually pleasing indeed served on a bed of cubed potato hash with a drizzle of chimichurri dressing and Tajin seasoning which were perfectly cooked and runny in the middle My steak was ordered medium and sliced into manageable pieces to make eating a little more elegant.  This Formby restaurant has all the visual appeal of somewhere like The Ivy style and grace you’d wish for when celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself to somewhere out of the ordinary.  If you’re looking for an independent alternative to your favourite show-stopping chain with a well-varied menu of both food and drinks and servers who take pride in making you feel right at home Emily's All scored reviews are unannounced, impartial, and ALWAYS paid for by Confidentials.com and completely independent of any commercial relationship They are a first-person account of one visit by one knowledgeable restaurant reviewer and don't represent the company as a whole this is how we score: 1-5: saw your leg off and eat it Entertainment venue from El Gato Negro follows successes in Leeds and Manchester Which restaurants have our readers been visiting in March Looking for a little lift through your letterbox The Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool received its Charter from Le Grand Conseil de Vins.. has been sold to Lisbon-based Harland & Poston Group The resort is located in the heart of the North West’s ‘Golf Coast’ only 30 minutes from Liverpool It is a 200-acre resort estate with extensive world class amenities including an 18-hole Championship golf course The site is well poised for a major expansion and was offered to market on a vacant possession basis Cushman & Wakefield advised on the sale were advised by West Ridge Asset Management The transaction follows a string of Cushman & Wakefield hotel deals across the UK in 2024 According to Cushman & Wakefield the UK hotel transaction market continues to rebound with momentum driven by underlying confidence in the sector and a resurgence in portfolio and platform trades Head of Hospitality UK & Ireland at Cushman & Wakefield said: “Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa represented a rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful golf and spa resort while providing operational flexibility and a host of value-add opportunities for the buyer underlining the enduring appeal of quality opportunities in the UK regional markets “We extend our congratulations to Harland & Poston and Whitehay Capital on their acquisition.” This year’s Star Trekk 2025 promises to be a night to remember — not only for the sea of walkers lighting up the Southport coastline Queenscourt Hospice is proud to announce Southport and Formby Health as the official medal sponsor for this year’s event walking in memory of their much-loved colleague and friend A founding member of Southport and Formby Health Paul was more than a colleague — he was a dedicated leader Paul served for over ten years as Practice Manager at Ainsdale Medical Centre touching countless lives through his quiet dedication and compassion Queenscourt Hospice provided comfort and dignity in his final days his colleagues are giving back in the most meaningful way they know how — by walking together in his memory and ensuring others receive the same loving care Louise Sproat of Southport and Formby Health said:  “We are honoured to sponsor the Star Trekk walk in memory of our friend and colleague This event is our way of saying thank you to Queenscourt for the kindness they showed him and for the incredible work they do every single day.” A team of 30 colleagues from Southport and Formby Health will take to the streets in Paul’s honour who were invited to a special lunch with the team to share memories and celebrate his life Fundraising Manager at Queenscourt Hospice “We are truly grateful for Southport and Formby Health’s support as this year’s medal sponsors and their generosity will help us continue to care for patients and families when they need it most.” Star Trekk is more than just a walk — it’s a celebration of life And thanks to supporters like Southport and Formby Health A development scheme which could support more than 1,000 jobs in Formby is seeking feedback on the proposals for 25,000 sqm of new employment space alongside the Formby bypass (A565) A limited proportion of the site will be made available for retail development uses and a potential health care facility which will provide private sector funding to enable the employment development to happen The site is allocated for employment development in Sefton Council’s Local Plan and around 75% of the site will be dedicated to employment light industrial and logistics floorspace to support established and growing businesses in Sefton Members of the public are being asked for feedback on the plans which also include new Lidl and M and S foodstores a Costa Coffee drive-thru and a potential new health care facility If the planning application for The Point is successful Lidl will be the first discount supermarket in Formby and M and S intends to relocate from its existing store in Formby Village to a modern store capable of stocking the full M and S food range Information leaflets are being delivered around the area and the plans and proposal details can be found online at www.thepoint-formby.co.uk on behalf of Sefton and Formby Developments high quality and much needed employment space in Formby “It has long been recognised that new employment development is needed in the town to satisfy demand from established local businesses and to attract new companies to the area “Complementary uses are being proposed that will help fund the project These include a new Lidl discount supermarket and a modern M and S foodstore for the town significant highways improvements are also planned including traffic light-controlled access from the Formby bypass.” He added: “We would encourage the local community to take part in the consultation to let us know what they think about the plans.” said: “We believe that a new Lidl store would bring substantial benefits to the community Not only would this provide residents with access to our affordable high quality products but also provide a significant boost to the local economy by creating new job opportunities for locals.” said: “We are rotating our store estate so that we have the best stores in the right place so our customers can shop when and how they want Our proposals for a new 16,000 sq ft M and S in Formby will enable customers to shop the full M and S range in a fresh market environment with fresh bakery produce and flower shop as well as everyday staples and the quality and trusted value that they expect from M and S.” In July this year Sefton councillors rejected £9m plans by supermarket chain to develop a new site on brownfield land just off the Formby bypass The proposal was rejected over concerns about the impact a new supermarket would have on traffic described the proposal as “the right store said the plan was “inappropriate use of the green belt” He was also concerned about traffic implications with shoppers queueing to enter the store from a 60mph carriageway He said: “The Formby bypass would become the Formby seizure.” Advertise with us Video Services Guenther Steiner to bring acclaimed ‘Unfiltered Live’ tour to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall later this month Liverpool City Region’s top emerging tech companies named in 2025 Tech Climbers info@theguideliverpool.com +44 151 702 0143 Calendar Food & Drink Craft Beer Expo returns to the Baltic Triangle later this month 14 things you can do this week in Liverpool (6 May – 11 May 2025) Nightlife New Kapsule music venue opening at Invisible Wind Factory this weekend Brad Kella announces first UK headline tour following breakthrough success Family Mum creates chilled Scandi style play cafe that parents will love as much as kids Directory The Northern Guide Advertise The Guide Liverpool: Getting Ready for the BIG dates in 2025 12 ways The Guide can help support your business in 2025 Today we turn the spotlight on Christmas in Formby This village on the Sefton coast has cosy cafes festive light displays and much more to get you in the spirit The Christmas lights in the village will be switched on this Thursday The main road through the village will be closed and local businesses will be joining in the fun Lux 37 will have an outside bar open from 4pm serving festive tipples cakes and there will be Christmas characters to entertain the kids and musical performances from local schools and choirs Enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie while you learn how to paint four Christmas candles to take home You can also order a special festive cheese board to nibble while you paint See their Instagram page for more The Rotary Club will be bringing cheer to Formby with the annual tour that starts on Sunday 1 December As well as visiting as many roads as possible during the tour you can also see the sleigh in Waitrose carpark on 7 December from 10am-2pm Tesco carpark on 14 December from 10am-2pm and in the village on 21 December from 10am-1pm Find the Santa Wagon route here Grab the pooch and head to Woodwards Wine Bar to meet up with other dogs and their owners for a special charity walk The walk will take in Duke Street Park before heading back to Woodwards for coffee and dog treats All funds raised on the day will be for the Goa Dog Foundation which focuses on animal welfare animal birth control and education on the Indian island and adoption in the UK Get in the Christmas spirit with some of the best songs and carols at Holy Trinity Church on 7 December hot drinks and mince pies all while raising money for Queenscourt and Woodlands hospices festive activities and receive a gift at The Grapes There will also be unlimited tea and coffee for the adults Starts at 10am on Sunday 15 and 22 December See their Facebook page for more The festive displays at Emily’s have become legendary since the bar and restaurant opened two years ago The venue has been turned into a winter wonderland with its gorgeous candy cane theme for Christmas 2024 There is also a special addition to the menu for the season sage aioli and cranberry sauce skewered with pigs in blankets and served with mini rosemary roast potatoes and a pot of turkey gravy See the website for more details Formby has an array of independent cafes where you can warm up with a hot chocolate or special coffee with all the winter warming drinks you will need.  Or why not try the newly re-opened No.6 in Freshfield It’s right across the road from the station and is the perfect place to drop by after a walk at the beach.  They have great coffee and a new brunch menu that will warm you up on a winter’s day The Guide Liverpool proudly shares regular stories from in and around Liverpool Our editorial team is made up of trained journalists and media professionals meaning you will never miss a moment from the city region Buy Tickets Sign up today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers Download it today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar Environment Agency Updated: 14:57 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Fine and settled under the influence of high pressure. Chilly but bright to start with plenty of sunny spells through the morning. Turning cloudier from the east during the afternoon, but remaining dry for all. Light winds, and feeling warm the sunshine. Maximum temperature 15 °C. Rather cloudy into the evening but dry for most. Some clear spells developing overnight, but not feeling as chilly as recent nights with most places remaining frost free. Minimum temperature 4 °C. Another widely dry and settled day with a few sunny spells breaking through largely cloudy skies. Settled with light winds, and feeling warm with temperatures slightly above the early-May average. Maximum temperature 17 °C. The remainder of the week will see high pressure dominating. It will stay dry with plenty of sunny spells. Breezy at times but temperatures will be on the rise. Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period. Overall, fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this may be interspersed by occasional spells of rain and showers, with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places. Overall, temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average. making her the oldest person in the North West has shared the five key rules she lives by offering advice on how to make the most of life Marjorie credits her longevity to a combination of good genes and a philosophy of life centred on five key rules “Life is for living and it is up to you to make the most of it "I believe that you should do all the good that you can “Good rules to live by that are in my mind every day and if you aim to follow them affectionately known as "Auntie Marj," was born on April 1 and is currently the ninth oldest person in the UK and the oldest in the North West Now residing at Formby Manor Care Centre in Merseyside Marjorie moved to the area in 2020 to be closer to family and she has celebrated every birthday milestone there since she recalls the air raids of World War I and even sang at the 1948 Olympic Games opening ceremony in London Marjorie spent much of her life educating young children Her time as a teacher touched thousands of lives primarily working with children in their reception years Marjorie’s life has been marked by both joy and hardship Marjorie continued to live a life full of love Marjorie’s family and the team at Formby Manor have pulled out all the stops to make the day unforgettable 'Maggie and Mandy,' will provide entertainment and the children from Freshfield Primary School Year 6 will join in to sing “Happy Birthday.” Marjorie has also planned her ideal afternoon tea Formby Manor’s head chef has crafted a special Madeira cake for the occasion Marjorie will enjoy a game of “Heads Up” with the staff and residents The festivities will also include well-wishes from friends and Marjorie recently received a personal congratulatory card from King Charles III shared her admiration for Marjorie: "Aunt Marj is an incredible lady and a real character "She is a key part of the community in our home and continues to enjoy life with trips to the garden centre and keeping her mind active with word searches and watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire "It is a privilege to celebrate this special day with her turning 111 is not just about celebrating a remarkable life but also about sharing wisdom and reminding others to live fully and kindly Credit: via AcuitusThe site last sold in 2002 an M&S Food-anchored retail complex in the affluent Sefton town is on the auction block with a £3m guide price The 18,000 sq ft Formby retail scheme will be sold at Acuitus December auction if a buyer does not emerge sooner Cloisters has been owned by the same London-based property company for 22 years Eight are occupied and the other is under offer M&S occupies 3,500 sq ft and is the complex’s anchor tenant While the shops are located on the ground floor of the two-storey centre the 7,000 sq ft first floor used to be home to a gym Cloisters generates just shy of £333,000 a year in rent and also benefits from a 180-space car park You may as well close off Chapel Lane whilst you are at it There is nothing left now but wine bars and pubs This significant undertaking forms part of the Trust’s long-term commitment to safeguarding this unique area of the Sefton Coast and promises considerable benefits for both people and wildlife The project involves the removal of the existing beach car park and large volumes of associated construction rubble Much of the rubble is being processed onsite and repurposed to create the sub-base for a new large metal fencing will be installed around the worksite starting at the junction of Victoria Road and Badgers Rake and extending along the car park out onto the beach Some noise disruption is expected due to the use of heavy machinery or visitor access to the beach via Victoria Road The National Trust’s Lifeboat Road car park and toilets will remain open; however Visitors are strongly advised to travel by train to Formby station or consider alternative beaches and car parks along the Sefton and Wirral Coast “Formby is part of one of the fastest-moving coastlines in the UK Areas of naturally shifting sand create special habitats for rare sand dune wildlife including natterjack toads and sand lizards Sand dunes can also act as a natural sea defence if they’re given the space to shift and change over time The old construction rubble is creating a barrier and stopping natural sand movement.” “This conservation project will help us restore Formby’s sand dunes to their natural state and re-connect important habitats creating space for wildlife to thrive.” The project also aims to address the long-standing issue of rubble from the demolished Harington Barracks which was used as the foundation for the beach car park after World War II Due to the natural movement of Formby’s dynamic coastline increasing amounts of rubble are being exposed each year disrupting wildlife habitats and restricting visitor access to the beach Relocating the car park not only resolves these environmental concerns but also ensures long-term access for visitors creating healthier habitats where rare dune wildlife can flourish “We understand people will be disappointed to miss out on a trip to Formby this summer but everyone’s support and understanding is greatly appreciated as we work to enhance this special space for wildlife and people.” The National Trust continues to work closely with partners along the Sefton Coast to manage visitor challenges during the project including diversion route signage for vehicles and pedestrians The National Trust Formby website and social media channels will be regularly updated with the latest information regarding closures and visitor guidance “We urge everyone to park responsibly to ensure that our firefighters can respond to potentially life-threatening emergency incidents without delay and keep the area safe for all we ask visitors to please take your rubbish home giving as much detail as possible including the nearest main road “We strongly encourage visitors to explore public transport options active travel such as cycling or walking to our coastline Not only are there many wonderful health benefits to active travel but it is also small changes like this that help our collective efforts to reduce carbon emissions We understand that local residents may have concerns regarding parking and traffic during this period that’s why the Council is working closely with Merseyside Police and National Trust to minimise disruption as much as possible.” “With regular services every 15 minutes travelling by train is the most convenient way to visit beaches along the Sefton Coast this summer We recommend getting off at Formby station which is in walking distance from the National Trust Lifeboat Road car park Join us in supporting this important conservation project whilst enjoying a hassle-free journey.” Cheetham Hill Construction (CHC) has been appointed as the main contractor for the successful delivery of the project They are working alongside expert partners Civic Engineers and Stace LLP Specialist ecological support is being provided by Tyrer and Simply Ecology to ensure that wildlife at Formby is protected throughout the works The dune restoration initiative forms part of a wider programme of conservation work being undertaken through the Dynamic Dunescapes project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the EU LIFE Programme This UK-wide initiative is based on the pioneering principle that dynamic shifting dunes are healthier for nature than stabilised dunes The National Trust is also funding a substantial part of this conservation project Sign up today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers! Download it today to be the first to hear exclusive Liverpool news & offers! A nursery is celebrating 50 years since opening with the owner still at the helm now aged 89-years-old Pamela Edwards opened the Formby Day Nursery now running it with the help of other family members Pamela says she loves what she does and has looked after generations of the same families there were no playgroups or nurseries at all and lots of children so we decided we would go for it," she said "We started with four children and now we have 46 We have a lot of parents that came here as children Pamela has been known as Mrs Edwards but recently she has earned a new special title courtesy of the children she cares for “Most of them call me Grandma," she added you hear everyone say ‘look here’s grandma’ who also works at the nursery says her dedication and passion is an inspiration: “It’s amazing working with her I’m just so proud of her and if I am half the woman she is then I’ll be proud of myself as well The 89-year-old is still as present as ever and has no plans of slowing down anytime soon When asked about retirement she told us she had no plans "I’ve never thought of doing anything else Guest Blog by Catrin Hughes Volunteer Centre Sefton Southport is blessed with some beautiful public and community space People who wanted to give back to their community and make their part of the world a better place Volunteer Centre Sefton are shining a light on the power of volunteering Whether it’s an hour a week or a few days a year Cornerstone Library in Churchtown is seeking a Trustee/Secretary to join their Board Help shape this essential library’s future Garden Volunteer Hesketh Park If you love being outside and getting your hands dirty then volunteer to help Hesketh Park look its best You will have the opportunity to be involved in the growing process from seed sowing to planting out as well as take part in general maintenance tasks  5th Formby Scout Group is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help run their three vibrant sections: Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just keen to give back From showing a young person how to boil an egg to helping them pitch a tent No special experience needed—just a sense of fun and a willingness to get involved It’s a rewarding way to make a real difference in the lives of local young people Join Oxfam’s fight against global poverty by volunteering 4–8 hours a week at their Southport (24 London Street) or Formby shop No experience needed—just a willingness to help Roles range from shop work to social media This is only a small curated list of the volunteer roles in Southport and Formby, go to our website to view many more volunteer roles. Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail  Revised plans have been submitted for a new Sainsbury’s supermarket in Formby The site at 109 – 111 Liverpool Road in Formby would include the subdivision and partial change of use of the Former Everlast Gym building to form three separate units a Howden’s Kitchen supplier and a small retail unit The number of car parking spaces would be reduced by 76 to 29 Disability spaces would be reduced from 5 to 2 while 8 new cycling spaces would be created The proposed opening hours and proposed number of employees has not been included within the application A planning application has been submitted by Alder King Planning Consultants on behalf of  we write to seek full planning permission for partial change of use site layout changes and revisions to the elevations of an existing retail unit at the former Everlast Gym on Liverpool Road “The changes are required to facilitate occupation of the building by a Sainsbury’s Local convenience store a Howden’s Kitchen supplier (use class B8) and one small retail unit “The proposed development is very similar to that permitted in 2023 albeit the extent of area for which a change of use is sought is reduced “Similar to the approved scheme (which remains extant) the proposal is for a partial change of use revisions to the car park layout and changes to the existing building’s elevations “The building would be subdivided into 3 units “The larger unit will be occupied by a Sainsbury’s Local convenience store No occupier currently exists for the smaller retail unit “The third unit will be a trade-counter style operation (Class B8) at 885 sqm and will be occupied by Howden’s who supply kitchens to the trade and public “The proposed Sainsbury’s Local store would sell a range of convenience items sandwiches / lunch items and general grocery goods the store would sell a limited range of non-food items such as kitchen essentials and household cleaning products “Such stores are commonplace across the country and serve mainly to provide top-up shopping negating the need for customers to travel further for essential everyday items.” Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com  Andy Powell Content Editor Horse Racing stats man Andy has contributed to OLBG for 18 years - An Ipswich fan and F1 fanatic he also contributes EFL football and Motor Sport opinion Formally known as the Tolworth Novices Hurdle was run at the Sandown racecourse, however, as of 2023 the race was moved to Aintree and is now run on Boxing Day and is known as the Formby Novices Hurdle the race is contested over just shy of two miles during which a total of eight hurdles are faced The have been some good winners of this race in recent years future Aintree Hurdle winner L'ami Serge won it in 2015 Yorkhill in 2016 who went on to dual Cheltenham Festival success (Neptune in 2016 & Golden Miller in 2017) and in 2017 Finian's Oscar was successful who went on to further G1 success over both hurdles and fences How competitive is the Formby Novices Hurdle market When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals the most competitive market was in 2015 when the race had an over-round of 107% The race in 2008 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 116% whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Formby Novices Hurdle which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £112 which is bet Below you will find the 2025 Formby Novices Hurdle Trends, see which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal, we also have a section that looks at the Formby Novices Hurdle Trend Analysis These are the top three quickest-run Formby Novices Hurdle over the last 20 renewals: Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 20 if you had followed the winner of the Formby Novices Hurdle next time out then you would have backed a total of 7 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of +9.76. Remember to bookmark the racing tips page to access the OLBG racing picks easily daily trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by A P McCoy who set the fastest winning time in the Formby Novices Hurdle the runner won the race in a time of 3:58.29 when winning the race in 2014 it was the combination of trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey James Bowen with Jango Baie who set the slowest winning time the race-winning time was 4:27.10 in the 2023 renewal Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com Here are the Formby Novices Hurdle past winners for the last 10 renewals the horse which won along with the age & weight of the horse The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Formby Novices Hurdle are also displayed along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Formby Novices Hurdle have been based: The leading trainer in the Formby Novices Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is Nicky Henderson who has won the race six times with those six winners coming from Minella Class (2011) Constitution Hill (2022) and Jango Baie (2023) The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Formby Novices Hurdle is Paul Nicholls (4 wins) Here are some of the top Formby Novices Hurdle trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place): Here are some of the top Formby Novices Hurdle jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 1 The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor High percentages are less appealing than lower ones as you would expect them to do well Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, It is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Formby Novices Hurdle by adding a tip on the race here ✅ The trend factor which produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP an LSP of +12.94 is when runners had 1 season win ❌ The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 5 career starts in Non-Handicap races when backing these the trend shows a record of 0-17 The courses that have produced the most winners of the Formby Novices Hurdle are Cheltenham and Ascot there has been a total number of 5 winners from each of those courses The race is open to both sexes with the Male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 122 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 6 runners these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Formby Novices Hurdle: © 2002-2024 OLBG, part of Invendium Ltd ‘By killing himself Farquharson gave himself the best defence in the world’ Dear readers — we hope this newsletter reaches you just in time to offer some solace from the gale force winds that nearly blew us away yesterday it is Laurence who is off enjoying his holiday today instead of budding international jetsetter Abi…  investigative reporter Matt O’Donoghue returned to our ranks with Part One of his investigation into the Huyton Firm The piece examines how brothers Vincent and Francis Coggins were finally brought to justice using messages infiltrated by the police on the now infamous app EncroChat.  Editor’s note: To read Part Two of Matt’s thrilling investigation into the Coggins brothers — which is due to drop next week — you’ll have to be a paying member of The Post It costs just £7 a month to become one of our members and it’ll give you access to our entire back catalogue of articles You’ll also be first on the list for an invite to our events where you’ll get to ask our writers to spill their secrets about some of our biggest investigations and stories to date Thanks to the FT for sponsoring today’s edition Top line: Sefton Council has denied it is refusing to accept liability after failing to investigate reports of sexual abuse at a council-run school over 30 years ago Dozens of students at Formby High School have accused former teacher Ian Farquharson of sexual abuse and they’re attempting to sue the council for not properly investigating him at the time While the council said it is willing to work with claimants to settle the dispute victims say the council is refusing to acknowledge its role in the matter The council denies this is the case.  Context: Ian Farquharson was the former head of lower school at Formby High School between 1975 and 1992 and he has been accused of being a prolific sexual predator he was taken to trial on charges of gross indecency against several male pupils at the school It was alleged he bribed his pupils with lemonade after school hours and encouraged them to commit sex acts while he watched through a keyhole.  he was cleared of this charge; his defence claimed the boys who had reported him were simply trying to “get him into trouble” after he had disciplined them he was allowed to carry on teaching.  allegations of sexual abuse continued to circle Farquharson One former pupil told ITV News last week it was “common knowledge” he was a paedophile describing how Farquharson got permission from the headteacher to take him out of class twice a week Farquharson allegedly sexually assaulted him another complaint was made about Farquharson to the then-headmaster of the school Hours after he was informed of this complaint raised by a pupil Farquharson drove to North Wales and committed suicide.  a total of 66 pupils who allege they were abused by Farquharson have begun legal action against Sefton Council claiming it failed to properly investigate allegations made against him in a recent hearing at Liverpool County Court a barrister acting for the local authority stated the council would not be admitting liability as there had been no conviction because of his suicide.  “The absurdity of this argument is that once a person is dead criminal proceedings cannot be pursued,” a solicitor acting for the pupils responded “By killing himself Farquharson gave himself the best defence in the world.” explaining to take cases forward they need medical evidence and more information about each claimant A spokesperson for the council said: “The court has ordered the claimants to provide this information to the court and the council within the next six months The council continues to engage with the claimants and to seek to bring these matters to a conclusion.” only 16 claimants have received a settlement from the council since the case was launched it’s clear it will take much longer for most victims to get the justice they’ve pursued for over three decades – if We adore this five bedroom semi-detached house in Birkenhead with its superb clashing décor. Of course, if bold wallpapers and quirky mirrors aren’t your thing, there’s plenty more to like, including Victorian archways between rooms and ample space for a herb garden. It’s up for £240,000 — take a look here.  😂Tonight, a set of stellar comedians take over Hot Water Comedy Club for a night of fundraising for children’s hospice Zoe’s Place 📙Waterstones welcomes esteemed author Kate Summerscale on Wednesday. She’ll be discussing and signing her gripping new book The Peepshow: The Murders At 10 Rillington Place.  🍸On Saturday, the annual Gin and Rum Festival returns to Lutyens Crypt Discover new favourites with samples from hand-picked guest distillers whilst enjoying music from DJs and live entertainment 🎸Then on Sunday, fans of New Order can dance the night away at The Cavern Club with a show from tribute band True Order a spokesperson for Homes England told us they’d be seeking “the swift correction” of Social Value Housing’s website to remove any mention of their name the relaunched website still claims Social Value Housing is a Homes England partner It’s not the only error we’ve found: in a series of press releases churned out by the company this month the CEO of Social Value Housing — a proudly named Peter Michelle — says he is “made up” that the company has officially added 100 homes to its portfolio We’d suggest a proof read and thorough fact check before the site’s next update… The home of Axel Rudakubana, the teen accused of killing three girls in Southport in July, has allegedly become a tourist spot with people posing outside his family home for photographs Residents of the Old School Close in Banks have reported that "cars are driving down slowly and turning around people are having their photos taken outside [Rudakubana’s] house people come walking down with their dogs acting as if they’ve gone the wrong way People have even been seen getting off the bus and walking down here to have a look” Rudakubana is set to appear in Liverpool Crown Court for a plea hearing this week And Maghull railway station has made it through to the finals of the “World Cup of Stations” up against Kings Lynn station in Norfolk and Dorridge station in the West Midlands The competition is hosted by the Rail Delivery Group and this year has focused its efforts on celebrating nearby amenities and local businesses with residents praising its rocky road cakes and sandwiches The winner is set to be announced tomorrow.  “The two last remaining indie video rental shops in the UK are each run by a guy named Dave. Different Daves. There’s 20th Century Flicks down in Bristol, but for anyone up North looking for good, old-fashioned film perusing, they’ll have to head to the Dave in Bebington, Merseyside.” Author Tilly Foulkes speaks to the owner of Snips, the North’s last film rental shop in this piece for STAT Magazine Tune in at 10pm to watch after you check out The Mill’s interview Thanks to the FT for sponsoring today’s edition — get your discounted subscription now The seven bedroom house in Victoria Road was home to Jürgen Klopp and his family until he departed the club in May the sprawling house in exclusive Victoria Road was lived in by former Liverpool manager – and current Celtic boss – Brendan Rodgers The first superstar owner was Steven Gerrard who bought the property in 2005 from a developer who created what was at the time the biggest house to be built in Formby in 90 years It sits in huge landscaped garden and behind high walls and electric gates Liverpool midfielder Gerrard later added a state-of-the-art gym at the bottom of the garden with massive windows giving a panoramic view from the exercise equipment He now splits his time between the Middle East and another multi-million-pound nearby house in the Sefton village But it was Klopp who became the most loved resident of the huge red brick house He was often seen enjoying a pint in the nearby Freshfield pub or walking on the beach or local park with his dog The family also enjoyed meals in Formby village restaurant Sway He was always happy to stop and chat to neighbours and Liverpool fans in Victoria Road and such was the affection for him the street signs at either end were painted red rather than the standard dark blue of this part of Formby Klopp was thought to rent the house from Rodgers but it is not clear who the owner of the property is now Rental prices in the area for a similar property can reach £12,000 per month and Rodgers joked a few years ago that Klopp was a good tenant and always paid on time The German was seen inside the house in a video posted on his Instagram account in May with packing boxing and empty clothes rails in the background while he got ready to attend a farewell event in his honour in Liverpool He now lives mostly in Majorca. There were rumours that new Liverpool manager Arne Slot would take over the lease on the house but it would appear he has decided to live elsewhere. He was spotted pre-season at the two Michelin Star Moor Hall restaurant in Aughton but it is not known if he has chosen to live in West Lancashire Price details for Jürgen Klopp’s former home are yet to be revealed but a five-bedroom house in nearby Freshfield Road is on the market for £2,250,000 while a five-bedroom house in Shireburn Road is being marketed at £2,900,000 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Passengers travelling on Merseyrail’s Southport line are being advised of a rail closure in August while Network Rail replaces a bridge crossing the River Alt in Formby Network Rail is holding an event at Ravenmeols Community Centre where residents and passengers can drop in between 4pm and 7pm to meet the project team and find out more about the work engineers will replace the ageing bridge with a new concrete structure making sure it is safe and reliable for years to come train services are unable to run between Hall Road and Formby Buses will operate between these two stations there will be non-stop buses running between Southport and Hall Road from approximately 06:30 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 18:30 Journey times will be extended for these five days Journeys between Southport and Liverpool city centre are expected to take an additional 30 mins A normal timetable will be in operation from Saturday 24 August.  said: “I’d like to thank Merseyrail customers and Formby residents for their patience while we replace the bridge across the River Alt in Formby “I’m looking forward to meeting the local community on Tuesday 6 August at Ravenmeols Community Centre where we will share more about what the work means for passengers and people living near to the work site “We will do all we can to keep disruption to a minimum throughout the work.” chief commercial officer and deputy managing director at Merseyrail said: “We’re sorry that customer journeys will be affected by this engineering work “If you have any questions about how this project will affect you please do attend the public engagement event at Ravenmeols Community Centre or speak to a member of our team at any staffed station.” to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years engineers will replace the 110-year-old bridge with a new concrete structure There will also be non-stop buses running between Southport and Hall Road said: “I’d like to thank Merseyrail passengers for their patience while we replace the bridge across the River Alt in Formby “I’m also grateful to the local community who live near the bridge for their understanding We will do all we can to keep disruption to an absolute minimum during the work.” chief commercial officer and deputy managing director at Merseyrail “We have put a comprehensive rail replacement bus service in place which will help customers get to where they need to be customers should allow more time for their journeys.” To find out more information about alternative transport during this time use the journey planner on the Merseyrail app or on the website at merseyrail.org.  Journeys between Southport and Liverpool city centre are expected to take an additional 30 minutes Approximately 30% of the homes on the development will be designated as affordable More than a year after securing planning permission for the Formby neighbourhood the housebuilder has completed its purchase of the 53-acre site Taylor Wimpey can move forward with its plans to deliver 262 homes on the plot of land off Brackenway The developer said it was hoping to start work early next year The 262 homes would have between one and four bedrooms with 79 residences designated as affordable The homes themselves would range from having between one and four bedrooms Taylor Wimpey’s plans also include the provision of 31 acres of open green space and a new access junction from the A565 Formby Bypass Part of the green space would bleed into the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Freshfield Dune Heath Reserve “This site has a number of fantastic attributes and we are very pleased to have completed our purchase following the grant of reserved matters planning permission,” said Ian Harrison land and planning director for Taylor Wimpey’s North West division Harrison continued: “The new development will offer a selection of our modern energy-efficient homes in a range of sizes and designs to suit buyers We are also particularly excited about the wealth of green open space that we will be providing creating homes for nature as well as people.” Architect Randall Thorp is behind the layout for the future neighbourhood Planner Avison Young was critical in getting the scheme planning permission Eddisons was the transport consultant for the scheme You can see the planning application for the project by searching reference number DC/2022/00938 on Sefton Council’s planning portal Just what we need more house to add to the 1000s just built With the aging population why aren’t more bungalows being built Yet more unwanted residential development in Formby No serious infrastructure improvement planned school places and public amenities before Sefton further exploits the cash-cow that is Formby Some investment and sensible planning decisions before exploitation please I’m not a Nymby but Formby is a lovely place and all I see is new estates and as usual nothing in amenities to back them up More and more green space being built on and so close to the red squirrels sanctuary There are enough urban sites which are vacant or no longer suitable for its original purpose to make housing construction on the green belt unnecessary My study tour of Pennsylvania showed that an overhaul  of the property tax system from one based on the buildings to one based soley on the value of land because the current property tax system disproportionaty burdens lower income grows and small business There are several websites explaining the merits of land value taxation for policymakers to learn from With the amount of floods on that field at least you can pay for a sea view A number of companies associated with the Southport business have entered administration as a City of London Police investigation continues The City Visitor Charge will haul in an estimated £9.2m over the next two years moved from Sandown to Aintree and granted a new title last year having been previously known as the Tolworth Among the Tolworth’s final eight runnings were three subsequent Cheltenham Festival-winning novice hurdlers It'll be interesting to see if a candidate for major spring honours surfaces again Potters Charm is just about a deserving favourite He dotted up in a Grade 2 in November and merits a shot at the highest level The jury is out regarding the strength of the Cheltenham race and dropping half a mile in trip demands something else of Potters Charm with conditions unlikely to be overly testing He is worth taking on given the breadth of opposition Country Mile and Roadlesstravelled are closely matched on their meeting in a Grade 2 at Haydock While three lengths split them at the line Country Mile’s mistake at the last appeared to knock the stuffing out of him The runner-up was an easy winner at Cheltenham recently and is no forlorn hope to reverse the form Celtic Dino has recorded two easy victories in novice company and there is no knowing where his ceiling lies With a perceived preference for a sound surface it's intriguing to see which way he goes in the market Miami Magic has also crafted his reputation on that sort of terrain over hurdles but landed a point-to-point on soft going by a wide margin the only time he encountered it His penalty-carrying Kempton victory last time was impressive enough on the clock to make him a major player.Analysis by Robbie Wilders Potters Charm's big Christmas target comes two days earlier and over about half a mile shorter than expected but connections are confident they have selected the right race for the exciting novice hurdler The unbeaten Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained five-year-old who had the alternative option of Newbury's Challow Hurdle on Saturday has been impressive in three hurdle starts most recently when winning a Grade 2 over 2m5f at Cheltenham by 11 lengths who sold Potters Charm to a group of owners including Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason said: "It was more of a strategic thing as this race is probably going to be weaker and looks a very good opportunity "He's so naturally talented and we're not really worried about the ground and trip He looks in great form and we go there very optimistic of winning a Grade 1 I wouldn't swap him for anything." trainer of Celtic DinoIt looks like it's going to be soft enough there which wouldn't really be up his street We're going to find out where we are with him in a better race trainer of Country MileThe way the Cheltenham race was run really suited him We have to give him a chance in a race like this and the drier the ground Warren Greatrex, trainer of Good And CleverHe lacks a bit of experience as he's only had the one run over hurdles but it was a nice run behind a very good horse from the Paul Nicholls stable [Regent's Stroll] He's come on nicely since then and he's a very talented horse with a bright future He wouldn't want the ground to dry up too much and hopefully it's soft enough Olly Murphy, trainer of Junker d'AllierHe's been keeping smaller company but has won very well on his two starts over hurdles He's got plenty of ability and while he's going to have to step up on what he's done so far I don't see any reason why he can't run well trainer of Miami MagicWe're very happy with him It's a very good race but he deserves his place I don't know what he's beat compared to the others I hope the ground doesn't get too soft because he's quite quick joint-trainer of RoadlesstravelledIt's not an easy task as there are a lot of good horses in the race but we're looking forward to running him in top company It was nice to see the horse who was second to our lad last time [Country Mile] winning the following time He ran at Haydock on soft ground and it didn't seem to bother him.Reporting by Andrew Dietz 'I wouldn’t swap him for anything and I'm confident he can improve again' – trainer quotes for the King George    2024 King George VI Chase runners, tips and ratings: David Jennings' pinstickers guide    It's a very modern King George, and here is why you should go against the story    Willie Mullins hoping fitness edge and mares' allowance can be decisive for Lossiemouth in big Constitution Hill clash    'He'd be my best chance yet' - Ben Jones eyeing Grade 1 breakthrough on The Jukebox Man in Kauto Star Novices' Chase    Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more Published on 25 December 2024inPreviews Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors The Community Link Foundation has given funding to a sports group to enable them to keep training for a month after their rental fees were increased Southport & Formby Special Athletes provide year-round sports activities and opportunities to compete in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual (learning) disabilities The group gives them the opportunity to develop physical fitness achieve their potential and increase their self esteem They currently meet every week for sports training sessions at Southport College but an increase in the hire costs has put a huge pressure on the organisation’s finances While they look at their options for the future Community Link Foundation agreed to cover their hire costs for the next month so they are able to continue with the training sessions ensuring there is no impact on the athletes “We are proud to support this amazing group of athletes by ensuring they have a place to train and we are honoured to be able to help them in some way We look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future.” Chair of Southport & Formby Special Athletes “The athletes and Committee of Southport & Formby Special Athletes are grateful for the donation from the Community Link Foundation “We provide training in various sports for people with intellectual disabilities The money will go towards the high cost of hiring the Sports Hall at Southport College on Sunday mornings.” Anyone interested in joining Southport and Formby Special Athletes as an athlete or volunteer can contact Chris for further information on 07779 241906 Community Link Foundation is a local charity providing financial support to people in Southport and surrounding areas Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com  Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitsliverpool north west north walesnewsBody found on Formby beach in connection with search for missing manInvestigators found the body while searching for Theeraphat Khongthale A body has been found on Formby beach as part of a missing person's investigation on Merseyside Officers from Merseyside Police had been searching for Theeraphat Khongthale after he was last seen on the beach on February 3rd Khongthale had gone missing on February 10th prompting a county-wide missing to find him The force confirmed on Sunday (February 15th) that during their search for the missing 23-year-old that a body had been found on the beach Khongthale's disappearance had been treated as an urgent appeal by officers who had become increasingly concerned for his health Merseyside Police have now said that they are treating the man's death as "unexplained" while investigations are ongoing They added that while the body is yet to be formally identified a post-mortem on the body will be carried out in due course to find out the cause of death Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898)