Locals think big events are ruining Sefton Park. Are they right?

In January, Greg James – host of BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast show – announced that the station’s annual Big Weekend festival would this year be held in Sefton Park. The news was touted as a major coup for the “City of Music”, the latest in a recent cavalcade of colourful events from hosting Eurovision in 2023 to Taylor Swift’s hattrick of concerts at Anfield last year.

“Radio 1’s Big Weekend has found the perfect home this year in Liverpool,” said City Council leader Liam Robinson. “Our music, our audiences and our history of delivering world class major events add up to what is certain to be an incredible three days this May.”

But beneath the tidal wave of excitement was an undercurrent of displeasure. Some locals fretted about noise pollution, while regular users of Sefton Park raised the issue of litter and potential ecological damage. Even festivalgoers had questions: chiefly about why the park’s usual Africa Oyé event could not go ahead while the Big Weekend could.

As the event has drawn nearer, further discontent has dragged the venture into disrepute. Closed roads, shuttered schools and large sections of the public park being cordoned off have further inflamed the discourse. 

And, perhaps the most contentious revelation of all: the BBC flagship event will actually cost the city council £250,000 to stage.

Big Weekend begins this Friday, and the debate looks set to continue right up to and beyond the first act. Are the detractors just NIMBYs and malcontents, or put-upon locals with a genuine point? And has the argument over Big Weekend dragged the very idea of Sefton Park events into disrepute? For this week’s edition of Answers in the Post, we sent Laurence to the park to find out. 

But first, celebrations are in order! Tuesday night was the prestigious Paul Foot Award ceremony, hosted by Private Eye. Abi’s investigations into Liverpool charity Big Help Project were shortlisted for the award, and while she didn’t take home the trophy we’re still immensely proud of what our little team has achieved. 

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Southport’s MP has called for the government to establish a new national organisation to save the UK’s piers. As Southport enters its third consecutive summer without use of its pier, Labour’s Patrick Hurley wants a National Pier Service to preserve those that have become “dilapidated”, dangerous and disused. The Grade II-listed Southport Pier, opened in 1860, is the second longest pier and the longest iron pier in Britain. It closed in late 2022 for health and safety reasons after freezing temperatures had caused damage to the structure. Sefton Council has estimated the repair cost to be £13 million, which it cannot currently afford. It’s thought that the closure of the pier has had a significant impact on the town’s leisure and tourism. In January, a poll of more than 1,700 people on the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group showed 97% of respondents wanting Southport Pier to be restored. Hurley added that seaside towns with seasonal economies like Southport had specific challenges: "Bed and breakfasts, 2p slot machines, fun fairs and theme parks — all of the things that we go to the seaside for are all struggling across the country."

Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) has unveiled its future plans for the historic Merseyside model village. Port Sunlight was built by manufacturing firm Lever Brothers to accommodate workers in its soap factory, now part of Unilever, and boasts 900 Grade II-listed buildings. While hoping to retain this 19th century history and aesthetic, charity PSVT — which took over stewardship of the village from Unilever a quarter of a century ago — aims to create an inclusive, vibrant place to live, work and visit and will work with residents and partners to this end. One such project will involve making a third of its Grade II-listed properties energy efficient with secondary glazing, costing £1.5 million. Another plan is to revitalise underused garage sites across the village’s 130 acres of landscaped spaces.

And the full lineup for Radio 1’s Big Weekend is now available. Gates at Sefton Park will open tomorrow at 2pm, and the opening day will feature Biffy Clyro, Tom Grennan, Natasha Bedingfield and The Wombats. On Saturday, gates open at 11am, and the line-up includes Sam Fender, Sugababes, Tom Odell and Blossoms. Sunday is another 11am gate, and acts featured include JADE, Mumford & Sons, HAIM, Wet Leg and Tate McRae. All three days are scheduled to end at 10pm. There will be a dedicated shuttle bus service from Charlotte Street / Elliot Street to the event site at Croxteth Drive. For the full schedule, you can visit the BBC website.

In today's edition of Answers in The Post, Laurence unpicks whether large-scale events like Radio 1's Big Weekend are actually beneficial to our city.

How many events take place at Sefton Park?

According to the council, the number of events varies each year, but in the last decade it has ranged from no major events to three, including free-to-attend music festivals like Africa Oyé and commercial ticketed events such as Cream in the Park, not to mention hundreds of charity runs or sports that may take place each year, all co-ordinated by the council’s Parks team.

Do these events bring in a lot of money for the council?

The council say fees vary depending on different factors, but that any money raised is reinvested back into the park. Some groups are exempt from charges – such as Park Runs, Friends Groups and some other community groups. As for Big Weekend, read on to find out…