Archive News

Southport Cycle Hire looking for staff

If you are in the job market and would like to join the Southport Cycle Hire team working in Southport, please see the details below:

Description - Hourbike Ltd are looking to recruit several part-time staff to work in the Southport Cycle Hire shop based at the Eco Centre in Southport. The job entails looking after all aspects of the cycle hire process along with some very basic adjustments on the bikes for each hire. The hire process is a clerical process and will involve accurately filling in forms, taking customer details and processing payments etc... Basic numeracy skills are required and you will need to be able to move the bikes during the hiring process. The shop also has a small number of items that can be purchased. Flexibility to cover shifts is preferred as the jobs will cover weekends, bank holidays as well as weekdays from May to September. There is only one staff member covering at any time so you must be comfortable working on your own. Full training will be provided.

Salary - £9 per hour

Send applications to - sop-jobs@hourbike.com

Coastal Road, Ainsdale

Please be aware that the Coastal Road, Ainsdale will be temporarily closed for works which include widening of the existing cycle track and drainage works. 

The closure will take place between 18th May 2020 and 15th June 2020. The road will be closed to traffic in both directions.

Access will be maintained for Emergency Services, and wherever possible for residents.

The closure will be from Pinfold Lane to Shore Road. A signed diversion route via the A565 will be in operation. The diversion route will be via Shore Road, Kenilworth Road, Liverpool Road, Coastal Road and vice versa.

The Coastal Road will however remain open for cyclists and pedestrians who will be able to use the closed section of highway whilst the works are ongoing.

Coastal Road, Birkdale

Please be aware that the Coastal Road, Birkdale will be temporarily closed for works which include widening of the existing cycle track and drainage works. 

The closure will take place between 25th May 2020 and 15th June 2020. 

Access will be maintained for Emergency Services, and wherever possible for residents.

The closure will be from Shore Road to the Weld Road roundabout. A signed diversion route via the A565 will be in operation.The diversion route will be via Shore Road, Station Road, Liverpool Road, Waterloo Road, Lulworth Road, Weld Road and vice versa.

The Coastal Road will however remain open for cyclists and pedestrians who will be able to use the closed section of highway whilst the works are ongoing.

25% off - limited time only

Didn't get that bike you wanted for Christmas?  Then we may have the answer, Southport Cycle Hire are now selling some of their unused and used Pashley Prontos.

The bikes are dark green, quality built and robust long lasting cycles, specifically designed to be low maintenance.  Their specification is as follows :

• Welded steel frame (large size 22" / standard 18")
• Heavy Duty 26" rear, 24" front wheels
• Sturmey Archer 3 speed rear gear hub
• Low maintenance Sturmey Archer hub brakes
• Shwalbe Marathon puncture resistant tyres
• Full length aluminium mudguards
• High comfort padded saddle
• Heavy duty forged steel cranks (170mm 42T chainring) 

The unused Pashleys are now £225 (rrp £600+) and the used are £75.  These prices are available for a limited time only so act now!

You are very welcome to view and test the bikes but please make an appointment first. Appointments and viewings will take place at our centre in Southport Station.  

All bikes will be checked and fully serviced by our qualified mechanics prior to sale.  

Unfortunately no warranty can be provided with any of our cycles, which are sold as seen. 

If you would like to arrange a viewing, please email Southport Cycle Hire  

Our Yellow Hammer leaflet is currently being updated in partnership with Gorse Hill Nature Reservie and to celebrate we will be holding a free guided walk on Sunday 4th August.

Starting at 11am from Ormskirk Train Station car park, the walk will take you through the historic market town of Ormskirk and out to the rolling countryside, with a special visit to Gorse Hill Nature Reserve.

On the day of the guided walk there are two options:

• Take the guided walk from Ormskirk Train Station out to Gorse Hill Nature Reserve. Enjoy a stop for drinks & refreshments and hear from the reserve volunteers who will give a short talk about the work of the reserve. Afterwards you can continue to walk the remainder of the Yellowhammer Route back to Ormskirk, led by the Council’s Countryside Rangers: Distance approx. 7 miles

Or

• Take the guided walk from Ormskirk Train Station out to Gorse Hill Nature Reserve, stop for refreshments and hear from the reserve volunteers. Led by the volunteers you can take a walk around part of the nature reserve which is often closed to the public. From here you can return back to Ormskirk at your leisure. Distance approx: 5 miles.

Although there is no need to book a place to attend the walk it would be helpful for the organisers to know numbers. Please contact West Lancashire Borough Council on 01695 712645 between 9am & 5pm to let organisers know you are interested.  Walkers should arrive 15 minutes before departure time, wear suitable footwear and clothing. This walk is fairly level with some gentle gradients and uneven footpaths. Children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult.

For details of the walk, see here 

Please note that on Monday 8^th April, the Coastal Road between its junctions with Weld Road, Birkdale and Shore Road, Ainsdale will be required to close to vehicles to facilitate filming for a major production. The road will be closed from 10.00 hours until 23.59 hours for the purposes of the filming and to ensure a safe evironment.

As the Coastal Road is an important route for walkers and cyclists and the diversion route for all traffic is quite extensive, walkers and cyclists will still be able to use the cycle path adjacent to the Coastal Road during the day however they will be asked to wait until a suitable break in filming arises when they will be able to pass through.

The diversion for all vehicles will be via Weld Road, A565 Lulworth Road, A565 Waterloo Road, A565 Liverpool Road, Kenilworth Road and Shore Road and vice versa.

On Saturday 9th June, in partnership with the Eco Centre’s award winning education service and the on-site fabulous cycle hire service, World Environment Family Day took place.

It was a glorious day, celebrating all things environmental and the 10th season of Southport Cycle Hire and we could not have asked for better weather. Active Travel were also on hand offering lots of advice and information about walking and cycling.

Our legacy sculpture being designed.

As part of the day, people had the chance to contribute to the design of a legacy sculpture Made from reclaimed bike wheels which will now be on permanent display in the Eco Centre. Our wooden cycle ramp course took centre stage and we had lots of children as well as mums and dads having a go.

Dr Bike was on hand offering free health checks to anyone who brought their own bike along and Merseyside Police Safer Roads Problem Solving Team came along to showcase their Close Pass Initiative demonstrating safe passing distances for cyclists.

The event was also supported by several community groups and organisations including the soon to be new neighbours of the Eco Centre, Southport Lifeboat. Also in attendance were RSPB, local scouts groups and the Gillmoss Recycling Discovery Centre. 

There were also prize draws, free eco-friendly gifts and special offers on cycle hire. If you came along, we hope you enjoyed it.

Our War Horse leaflet has recently been updated and to celebrate, we will be holding a free guided walk next Monday 7th May (bank holiday).

The walk will include a talk from local historian Andrew Beeston from Aughton & Ormskirk U3A who will be telling the story of the war horses and the contribution they made.

For details of the walk, see here 

The new leaflet can be downloaded here 

Please note: if you are going to try our Wetlands & Waterways Walk over the next few months, the access to and from the walk via Burscough Bridge interchange is currently closed until the 18th May. This is due to on-going works to repair an unsafe wall.

The UK’s first multi-user route is pleased to announce a new local leaflet available for Sefton and West Lancashire.

The Trans Pennine Trail, or TPT as it is more usually called, was created as an imaginative project back in 1989 through the unique partnership and enterprise of 27 northern local authorities. Starting at its most westerly terminus in Southport the Trail travels via Liverpool over 370 miles across the north of England until it reaches its most easterly points of Hull and Hornsea, including spurs to Leeds, York, Chesterfield and Kirkburton.

This well signposted route is open throughout the year and entry is entirely free to all users. Thoughtful route design means that the Trail connects with many local railway stations and bus stops permitting public transport to be used at the beginning and end of your day out on the Trail. Car parking (including horse box parking) is provided at several places where the Trail intersects roads.

The TPT Seamark feature stands proudly on the Southport promenade to entice users to start their journey eastwards or welcome those who have completed their journey westwards from Hornsea.  From here the Trail into West Lancashire provides 14 ½ miles of route that welcomes all walkers and cyclists, meandering along the coastal path onto the former railway section, Cheshire Lines.

Trail users can take advantage of some wonderful facilities along the route. You are surrounded by nature in its magnificence on the trail, from the wonderful welcoming coastline to the award winning Southport Eco Visitor Centre (which also includes a cycle hire centre). There is also the Ainsdale Nature Reserve and beach, where you can join forces with the wind to enjoy a spot of kite surfing before you head off to the Cheshire Lines section in West Lancashire.

The Cheshire Lines was home to the Cheshire Lines Railway Company until 1952 and bought by West Lancashire Borough Council in 1988.  This disused railway line now provides a further 5 miles of route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders alike.

TPT Chairman, Gillian Ivey, notes “We want to broaden the experience for visitors to the Trail and increase visitor-numbers, so a great way to do this is by providing local leaflets to encourage as many people as possible to get out and enjoy the Trail.  We are very grateful to the Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail for funding this project.”

Pam Ashton, Chair of the Friends of the TPT said, “The main idea behind the local leaflet project was to get people to enjoy the Trail, many of whom  don’t realise that this fantastic free resource is right on their doorstep.  We need greater recognition of the Trail as a national recreational and sustainable transport facility and what better way is there than getting local community support.”

The Sefton & West Lancashire leaflet can be downloaded here or contact us for a copy.

This route also forms part of the National Cycle Network, NCN 62.

Catch the Bus Week is a nationwide campaign aimed at driving awareness of the benefits of taking the bus. This year, the campaign runs from the 3rd to the 9th July  and there will be events, ticket giveaways and other activities taking place across the country, with bus companies, local authorities and passenger groups involved. 

Our new Sefton Circular cycle route is available for download now.  The route is a 24 mile long predominately off road cycle route which explores the wonderful Sefton Coast in addition to the Cheshire Lines path which links Maghull to Ainsdale.

When following this route, you will cycle through pine woods, alongside Antony Gormley’s statues, pass through Rimrose Valley, cycle alongside the Leeds Liverpool Canal and follow the line of the former Cheshire Lines railway. This enjoyable half day cycle ride is suitable for all abilities to undertake at your own pace, why not take your time and stop off for refreshments, whilst you take in what the local area has to offer. 

Download it now or contact us for a copy.

The latest edition of Sefton’s Walking and Cycling Newsletter is out now.  It's the perfect companion if you enjoy walking and cycling in Sefton.  The newsletter is full of events and activities delivered through Active Cycling, Active Walks and Active Travel teams within Sefton along with information about partner organisations events and activities with a cycling and walking theme.

It's produced on a quarterly basis and is available in hard copy from Health Centres, Libraries, Community Venues and Leisure Centres.  The newsletter is also available here for download now.  This latest edition covers the period from April to June.

Looking for something to do over the Easter Holidays ? Fancy a bike ride but don’t have your own bike? 

Southport Cycle Hire provides bikes for all the family at 3 centres in Sefton.  Bikes can be hired for as little as £6.00 for up to 4 hours.

Cycle Hire is available every day at Southport Eco Centre and Crosby Lakeside and don’t forget our centre at Southport Station (reopening on Monday 10th April) which also provides a retail and maintenance service in addition to cycle hire.

Opening times vary so please see here for details of times and prices 

Have a look at our newly revamped interactive map.  Now with google maps as a base, this map is compatible with tablets and smart phones and will allow you to follow our walking and cycling routes easily.

Have a look and let us know what you think?

Sefton’s Walking and Cycling Newsletter is the perfect companion if you enjoy walking and cycling in Sefton.  The newsletter is full of events and activities delivered through Active Cycling, Active Walks and Active Travel teams within Sefton along with information about partner organisations events and activities with a cycling and walking theme.

The newsletter is produced on a quarterly basis and will be available in hard copy from Health Centres, Libraries, Community Venues and Leisure Centres throughout Sefton from next week.  The newsletter is also available here for download now.  This latest edition covers the period from January to March.

Now available for download - Sefton's Walking & Cycling Guide.  The guide has 16 different routes some specifically for either walking or cycling and some which are great for both.  Alternatively, complete our contact form and we can send a copy out to you.

Sefton’s Walking and Cycling Newsletter is the perfect companion if you enjoy walking and cycling in Sefton.  The newsletter is full of events and activities delivered through Active Cycling, Active Walks and Active Travel teams within Sefton along with information about partner organisations events and activities with a cycling and walking theme.

The newsletter is produced on a quarterly basis and is also available in hard copy from Health Centres, Libraries, Community Venues and Leisure Centres throughout Sefton.  The newsletter is also available here for download.  This latest edition covers the period from October to December.

Two people can travel together for the price of one this Bank Holiday Weekend with Arriva!

Purchase a special Bank Holiday Day Saver ticket through the m-ticket app and take a friend with you for free.

So, why not plan a fun packed day out this Bank Holiday and rather than sitting in traffic, looking for parking or worrying about the right change, let Arriva take care of your travel needs?

Whatever you have planned, make the most of the offer by purchasing your special Bank Holiday day ticket via the m-ticket app and use it between the 27th and the 29th of August.

All you need to do is buy your special Bank Holiday ticket in advance, activate it before you travel and simply show it to your driver when you and your friend get on-board.

Download the m-ticket app today and start planning your fun packed weekend.  For more details, see the Arriva website.

Are you a cyclist, would you like to be involved in discussions on cycling in Sefton? Then why not come along to the Sefton Cycling Forum which provides the opportunity to discuss the cycling agenda across Sefton and how you can shape future improvements and promoting it.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 20^th July at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre.  The meeting will start at 6.30 pm.

Our partners at Active Travel are looking for some new photographs to use in their publicity so if you are a keen amateur photographer or just like taking photos, why not enter the competition.  We are looking for any photographs which fit in with the Active Travel theme – so whether it’s a cycling or walking theme or something to show you being active in your community or workplace, why not enter it in the competition and you never know, you may see your photos helping us to promote Active Travel and VISIT.

The competition closes on the 17th July 2016.  For more information and details how to enter, please see the Active Travel website 

A new festival for Waterloo takes place on the 17th and 18th June.  This two day event starts with an Artisan Food & Drink Fayre on Friday evening which will take place in the Old Christ Church on Waterloo Road.

The main event takes place on Satuday and is a family friendly festival featuring lots of entertainment including 

• Kids’ entertainment
• Mountain bike track 
• Food concessions in vintage vehicles
• 16 Live bands
• 2 Music stages
• 5 Outdoor bars
• 22 Market stalls
• Come Together Community Marquee

VISIT Sefton and West Lancs will also be in attendance providing lots of information about our area and ideas for walking and cycling. Our colleagues at Sefton Active Travel will also be there to provide the Mountain Bike Track so if you are attending, why not come and say hello.

For admission prices and more information about the festival, please see the Waterloo Community Festival website.

Our Southport Cycle Centre based in Southport Railway Station is now open longer and more days of the week.  Offering both cycle hire and a bike maintenance & retail service, it really is your one stop cycle centre in Southport.

The centre is now open daily though the week from 9am with a couple of late night openings to ensure you can collect your bike after its been in for repair.  The centre is now also open on a Saturday morning starting the 2nd April so why not call in?

For further details of the centre and to check the opening times, please see here.

Fancy a bike ride over the weekend and don't have your own bike? Well the good news is that the cycle hire opening times for the Easter break have now been released.  Our shop at the Eco Centre, Southport will be open on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and also Easter Monday.

Don't forget though that we do have cycle hire available in some locations 24hrs a day, 7 days a week and these include Ocean Plaza (also in Southport), Ormskirk Town Centre near the bus station, Edge Hill University and also at The Ship, Lathom.

If you want ideas of where to go, have a look at our themed routes.

The British Transport Police are offering free bike marking at Merseyrail stations. 

Really quick and easy, the security mark helps to deter would-be thieves and makes it easier for police to reunite any stolen bikes that are recovered with their owners.  If you have a bike that you would like marking, why not go along.  The first session is on the 15th January and sessions run through until April.

See below for details

We have now received our new updated Sefton Cycle Map.  Covering the whole of Sefton, the map is for everyone, whether you cycle to and from work, as a leisure activity, for a sightseeing trip or as a means of getting around day to day.  The map also shows visitor attractions, local amenities, services and schools.

The map can be downloaded here or for a hard copy, please complete our contact form.

Red Squirrel Week runs from the 28th September to the 4th October 2015, 

It is estimated that there are only 140,000 red squirrels left in the UK and you're more likely to have seen grey squirrels, natives of the eastern and midwestern United States, who are fast displacing our own native red squirrels.

Red Squirrels are quite mysterious animals and like to hide out in tree tops.  Autumn is a great time to see them as they forage nuts to cache for the winter months. The great news is that in our area, we have our own red squirrels in Formby National Trust.  Why not have a day out and cycle to see the squirrels.

To find out more about red squirrels, see the Wildlife Trust website.

If you are visiting Southport Flower Show this year, why not come and say hello!  We'll be in one of the marquees and will be promoting all things walking and cycling in addition to having copies of all of our leaflets and maps.

See you there.......

This summer marks 10 years since the famous Iron Men arrived in Sefton and a festival of events will take place to celebrate this landmark anniversary of Another Place on Crosby Beach.

The festival of activities has been put together by Sefton Council with support from Regenerus. Under its former title, the South Sefton Partnership, Regenerus was responsible for bringing Another Place to Sefton in 2005.

Events include free exhibitions, guided walks and cycle rides, community fun days and school art workshops.

If you haven't seen Another Place yet, maybe now is the time to make a visit.

Details of activities will be released during the course of summer.  For more information, visit www.anotherplacecrosby.com

Following on from the launch of the Hesketh with Becconsall Heritage walk which took place on Saturday 21st March, you can now get you hands on the new flyer produced by Hesketh with Becconsall Parish Council.

The flyer which includes lots of information about the area in addition to an easy to follow map is available for download here or can be picked up at Top Shop newsagents, Booths Foodstore or Tarleton Library.  You can also contact the Parish by email who will be happy to send one out.

Hopefully you will have noticed our new look website which we launched on the 9th of June.  The aim is to make the website much more user friendly and easier to navigate.  Why not have a look around and let us know your thoughts?  Additionally, you are now able to find all our downloads in one place.

Our very successful cycle hire scheme is expanding further....  We now have a second automated docking station located in Edge Hill University and our very latest station has just gone live in Ormskirk Town Centre.

Situated in Ormskirk Bus Station, Moor Street - the station is conveniently located for anyone travelling to Ormskirk by bus or train.  It also links with the stations at Edge Hill, Burscough and Lathom allowing you to hire at one station and leave your bike at another.

There really is no excuse now not to get on your bike and start seeing some of our wonderful area. For further details of these and other stations, please see our Automated Cycle Hire page.