Sefton Council has issued a warning to beachgoers ahead of another warm weekend. The council is urging visitors to plan ahead, use public transport where possible, and park responsibly if driving, as it braces for another busy spell along the borough's coastline.
Temperatures are expected to reach a comfortable 17C on Saturday (June 13), with sunny intervals throughout the day. Sunday will be slightly warmer, with highs of around 18C, though cloud cover is expected for much of the day.
Posting on social media, the council said: "The weather is looking better this weekend and if you're planning on visiting our beaches to enjoy it, please plan ahead for your trip. Parking is limited, but all our beaches are just a short walk from local rail stations, so please consider using public transport where possible."
"But if you do choose to drive, please park responsibly and legally. Avoid blocking driveways, pavements and access routes. Irresponsible parking can cause problems for local residents, pedestrians, buses and emergency vehicles."
"During the last sunny weekend, more than 700 parking tickets were issued to those who parked illegally and inconsiderately. It's your choice – fine weather vs. whether a fine."
The warning comes after widespread disruption across Sefton's coastline during the recent bank holiday, when unusually high visitor numbers caused significant congestion and parking problems in both Ainsdale and Formby.
Residents reported being effectively trapped in their own streets as vehicles were parked across driveways, pavements, grass verges and cycle paths. In some cases, drivers abandoned cars on double yellow lines and even on traffic islands, as beach car parks reached capacity and surrounding roads quickly became gridlocked.
Ainsdale and Formby beach car parks were both closed after filling up, with pay-and-display facilities full by midday on the busiest day. As a result, drivers were pushed into nearby residential streets, where congestion rapidly escalated.
People living in Formby and Ainsdale described being unable to leave their homes, with some saying they could not get cars off their drives due to the sheer volume of parked vehicles blocking access. Residents on Shore Road and surrounding routes reported double and triple parking, with roads so congested that even bin collections were disrupted.
