Southport: What is the point of a Victorian pier in 2025?

Southport pier is the the second longest in the country. It has survived war, storms, fires and the constant exposure to sea water.

It has also had its fair share of expensive repairs – in 1990 a council vote to demolish it was defeated by just one vote.

Yet again, in 2025 it is facing an existential crisis.

The owner of Southport’s Pleasureland theme park, Norman Wallis, caused controversy when he began the new year with an open letter encouraging people in the resort to “dream bigger” when it came to the town’s future.

He described the pier as “something few outside our town wake up wanting to visit”.

Southport’s MP Patrick Hurley vehemently disagreed with the description.

“I love Norman but he’s got this one wrong” he said, adding: “The pier is fantastic and should be opened as soon as possible.”

Business owners at another Victorian icon in the town, the Wayfarers shopping arcade, agreed that fixing the pier is a priority.

They said footfall had declined without the attraction being open.

Rob Rix from Master Barbers said it baffled him how the Victorians could achieve such feats of engineering

“Yet with today’s technology they’re stumbling around and wasting time,” he said.

“This is a sea side resort. It deserves a functional pier”.

Fellow shopkeeper Eileen Lippa said the pier was one of the Victorian elements of the town.

“People come and they like to walk along the pier, have a coffee or an ice-cream.

“Southport is the jewel in Sefton’s crown and the council should be prepared to spend the money,” she said.