3 More Heritage Open Days at Southport's Hesketh Park Observatory

SOUTHPORT Astronomical Society will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Heritage Open Days by opening the Hesketh Park Observatory for all to visit.

If you missed the 1st event on:- 7 September, you will be pleased to hear both floors of the observatory will be open from:- 11am until 3pm, on the following dates:- 11 September, 13 September and 15 September 2024.

Members will also be on hand to talk about the telescope and the history of this Grade 2 Victorian observatory and to answer questions on a wide range of astronomical topics of interest to visitors.

Come along and discover the people behind the telescope, how it was used and how it works. Marvel at the beauty of Victorian clockwork engineering.

There are some steep steps to climb to enter the observatory.

Entry is free, donations welcome!

For more information please visit the Southport Astronomical Society's website:- SouthportAstro.Org.

Letter to Editor:- "Southport - Park and Pay?"

"MY husband and I visited Southport regularly over the years and park in the Esplanade park and ride for £2.00 all day and use the toilet facilities on site before boarding the bus to the north end of Lord street to walk to the south end visiting shops on the way. As everyone knows there has been a sad decline in Lord street with shops closing down or moving. On our last visit we were surprised to find the kiosk at the car park closed and we drove into the car park to find that it had been changed to pay and display and that it would cost us:- £5.50 for all day parking. Then we found that the on site facilities were closed and there was no bus to take us into Lord street. I do not know whether this is a temporary or permanent measure but if it is permanent it is so sad to think of the staff who worked there losing their jobs. We can afford the £5.50 although we feel that it is a very steep rise from:- £2.00 and losing the toilet facilities and the bus service. We also can walk into the town but fear for the elderly and disabled who may not. We arrived at the old Beales shop to find its closing down sale!! Now there were many bargains for the shoppers but it was tinged with sadness for the employees who will lose their jobs. We obviously do not know the reason for the closure, whether it is due to the online shopping boom of the cost of renting the rental properties in Lord street. We are also aware that councils need to balance their books, but feel it is a retrograde step and will damaged visitor numbers for the future. And the idea of a park and ride service is to keep traffic from the town centre but also increase footfall in the shops. When we have visited in the past the car park has been well filled but this time there were 11 cars on our arrival and thirteen when we left." Yours sincerely, Joan Price, Liverpool.

Editors note:- "Thank you for your letter you had posted to us. We have sent Sefton Council a copy of your message for comment."