These were the scenes on Chapel Street in Southport at 1.00pm today. More than half of the stalls in the Christmas Market were closed and the others struggling to attract customers.

One trader told Qlocal... 'the whole thing is a disaster. People are not going to come to Southport when they can visit Liverpool or Manchester for a better experience. It's depressing.'

Sefton Council have described the Market as a "Winter Wonderland"

And in their latest press release...

A host of festive treats, fun filled activities and shopping bonanzas are in store this Christmas across our beautiful borough.

Sefton has already started to buzz with merriment as thousands of residents get into the Christmas spirits, whether it be sampling wonderful Christmas markets, donating to the Mayor’s Toy Appeal, enjoying a day out at Splashworld or taking advantage of late night local shopping!

We’ve put together all the info you need to know to make sure you have the most wonderful time of the year!

Shopping

Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of South Road, the bargains of Bootle Strand, the boutiques of Lord Street, Formby’s Chapel Lane or Central Square in Maghull, Sefton is a huge shopping spree waiting to happen all year round.

And it’s no different at Christmas! A number of retailers across the borough are taking part in Late Night Shopping hours on Thursday evenings in the run up to Santa’s arrival, while local businesses are well prepared for a surge in present buying, last minute scrambles and a flurry of winter buys.

A Christmas Market on Chapel Street, Southport runs until December 17 with festive tipples and yuletide treats galore! The market will compliment Southport’s other vibrant shops, stunning Christmas lights and the arrival of the Southport BID supported ice rink which will be open from December 1-31.

In Formby Chapel Lane is already buzzing with festive shoppers while South Road, Waterloo is the perfect place for a mouth watering meal and a warming drink!

Toy Appeal

Christmas is a time for giving. And what better way than to donate to the Sefton Mayor’s Toy Appeal?

The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson, is asking as many people as possible across the borough to get behind this year’s Christmas gift appeal.

The annual request asks all residents in Sefton to try and provide presents for some of the borough’s most deserving children and make this Christmas extra special for them.

Gifts, for children of all ages, can be taken to either Bootle or Southport Town Halls or dropped off at any Sefton Council library or leisure centre by Wednesday, December 20.

Splashworld

Dive right in and take full advantage of Splash World’s reduced prices this December with all adult & junior standard tickets reduced to £5 and all adult & junior gold tickets reduced to £7.50.

Splash World is open as usual every weekend on the run up to the festive period until December 17.

During Christmas, Splash World will have a temporary change to its opening times. It will be open:

December 23: 11am-3pm

December 29: 11am-3pm

December 30: 11am-3pm

January 2: 11am-3pm

January 3: 11am-3pm

January 4: 11am-3pm

January 5: 11am-3pm

Libraries

Libraries across Sefton will come alive with Christmas cheer and fascinating workshops. Musician Tony Crotty will enchant library users with a magical music recital of Christmas songs,
and will play a series of historical Instruments and discuss their origins. The sessions are free but booking is advisable. He will perform at: Crosby Library (December 13) at 2pm (0151 257 6401), Bootle Library (December 14) at 2pm (0151 934 5781) and Formby Library (December 19) at 2pm (01704 874177)

All Sefton Libraries host Story and Rhyme times for young children and their carers. In the run up to Christmas the stories take on a festive theme, with snowmen, reindeer and a jolly man in a red coat featuring. More information on this is available via the Sefton Library Facebook page.

“A winter wonderland”, who writes this stuff.
Splash World, closed most days of the holiday period, and the days it does open, only for four hours.
Why not just close Southport altogether.

A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO Llandudno had their street Christmas Fare,

The streets were blocked off and an entrance fee of £2.50p per person was charged. Also Llandudno has a 3 hours free parking policy. The place was chocker all the hotels had No Vacancies in the windows. It was a total success. The weather was very good no rain, that obviously helps

I just thought the Southport organisers may be interested in my comments.

One trader told Qlocal... the whole thing is a disaster people are not going to come to Southport when they can visit Liverpool or Manchester for a better experience. Its depressing.

Isn't it up to the traders to be selling stuff that will attract people to their stall?
Was this trader selling overpriced takeaway food or fake designer purses and bags?

the market that is usually on is better than this rubbish. Cant wait for late night shopping what a flop that is going to be.

Parking sefton are so tihick

Why not just sell sheds ?

Originally Posted by m/sport

Parking sefton are so tihick

Says someone who can't string a sentence together.

well last year we had the shed traders leaving them to go elsewhere to make up their losses,this year minimal take up.homebased traders running on fresh air as well.weve plenty of bistro pee up joint opening yet as many established lifestyle bistros going as well.nightlife doesn't have the parking regime yet the trouble offshoot is rising as a result of a lack of policing,vandal city is thriving too.you can now find a parking space aplenty now that people arnt coming in.guess its only when the admin of our parking regime outstrips the income brought,that maybe then sefton will wake up.it wont be long coming!when thecharity shops are having sales as well the writings on the moss laden wall!but the council aint bothered empty premises means more dosh as the landlords get screwed for full rates if they cant find tenants.but we got a bid .an icerink and pleseantly smiling bowler hatties,oh and still a broken market sign held up with ducktape,since its installation.amazing ducktape lasts for years ,the only solid purchase seftons made theselast few years.oh happy days!and aped up xmas for all our hardtrod traders.x

Originally Posted by theantiquesman

A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO Llandudno had their street Christmas Fare,

The streets were blocked off and an entrance fee of £2.50p per person was charged. Also Llandudno has a 3 hours free parking policy. The place was chocker all the hotels had No Vacancies in the windows. It was a total success. The weather was very good no rain, that obviously helps

I just thought the Southport organisers may be interested in my comments.

I'm not surprised John, Llandudno and surrounding area's are 'run' by Mostyn Estates, a local family company, for the last 500 years.
A very well run concern, Llandudno itself is well organised, clean and, more importantly, daytripper friendly, also one of my favourite destinations!

Originally Posted by jamyramy

well last year we had the shed traders leaving them to go elsewhere to make up their losses,this year minimal take up.homebased traders running on fresh air as well.weve plenty of bistro pee up joint opening yet as many established lifestyle bistros going as well.nightlife doesn't have the parking regime yet the trouble offshoot is rising as a result of a lack of policing,vandal city is thriving too.you can now find a parking space aplenty now that people arnt coming in.guess its only when the admin of our parking regime outstrips the income brought,that maybe then sefton will wake up.it wont be long coming!when thecharity shops are having sales as well the writings on the moss laden wall!but the council aint bothered empty premises means more dosh as the landlords get screwed for full rates if they cant find tenants.but we got a bid .an icerink and pleseantly smiling bowler hatties,oh and still a broken market sign held up with ducktape,since its installation.amazing ducktape lasts for years ,the only solid purchase seftons made theselast few years.oh happy days!and aped up xmas for all our hardtrod traders.x

Eh?

I suppose the 'Christmas' market might attract more footfall if it wasn't for the fact that it seems to be the same traders that are there every other time there are stalls on Chapel street. The food stalls don't look that appetising. Plus the huts themselves don't look exactly festive. Looks like a row of sheds rejected from B&Q.

Looks like a row of sheds rejected from B&Q.

.............and Sefton charge £80+ PER DAY for them!

If you think £80 per day is expensive take some time to consider the traders affected by these parasites being introduced by Sefton, you simply cannot trade down there for that amount in any of the adjacent premises on a cold day in January never mind in the run up to Christmas.

I suppose it’s sad in some ways, but I’ve lived in Southport for all of my 65 years, and if we ever think of going shopping or visiting Christmas markets, our local town would never, ever be one of our considerations. The Trafford Centre is less than an hours drive and has everything you could want, shopping, somewhere to eat, FREE parking, AND, some atmosphere. Unfortunately, Southport is dead, the once beautiful Lord Street, now a decaying scruffy remnant of what it used to be, charity shops, coffee shops, but more importantly, loads of empty shops. The place just looks so uninviting.

Originally Posted by local

If you think £80 per day is expensive take some time to consider the traders affected by these parasites being introduced by Sefton, you simply cannot trade down there for that amount in any of the adjacent premises on a cold day in January never mind in the run up to Christmas.

I know, and why hold it in Chapel St?

We have a so called market in the town, and a one way street called Market St, with a wide pavement, limited parking on one side only in front of the markets entrance that could be suspended, for me a perfect place to locate these sheds!