Victoria Road and the Wider Picture Understanding the National Trust’s Long Term Vision for Formby

Following our recent article on the changes at Victoria Road in Formby we have received a significant response from across the community. The messages reflect just how strongly people feel about this stretch of coastline and how deeply it is woven into local life.

The feedback has not been one sided. Alongside concerns about accessibility parking and the loss of familiar woodland space many readers have also shared strong support for the conservation work and for the difficult decisions the National Trust has had to make.

It is important to reflect both perspectives.

The work at Victoria Road forms part of a long term conservation programme led by the National Trust on one of the most protected dune systems in the country.

The removal of rubble from the former barracks site was not simply an aesthetic decision. Exposed concrete brick and metal had become a long standing hazard and was preventing natural sand movement. Restoring dune mobility is widely recognised by conservation specialists as essential for supporting rare species and strengthening natural coastal defences over time.

One point that has caused confusion is parking. The replacement car park at Victoria Road was never designed to increase capacity. Legal protections on the landscape strictly limit the amount of land that can be used for parking.

The aim was to create a safer more sustainable layout using existing space rather than to provide additional parking.

However Victoria Road is not the full picture.

We understand that further improvements are planned at Lifeboat Road including a new car park at the start of the road near the former Shorrocks Hill area.

This is expected to include new toilet facilities and around one hundred additional parking spaces. When delivered this should help relieve pressure at Victoria Road reduce congestion for residents and improve visitor flow across the wider area. As with all developments on protected land these plans take time and must go through careful planning and environmental assessment.

Accessibility has also been a key focus of the public response. Some readers have pointed out that Lifeboat Road already offers easier access to the beach via a maintained pathway and boardwalk and that the former Victoria Road car park itself was often affected by sand movement.

The Boardwalk at Lifeboat Road

Others have highlighted that large wheeled all terrain wheelchairs are available free of charge to help disabled visitors access the beach environment

(You can find out about the All Terrain Wheelchairs in this link).

At the same time it is equally important to recognise that for many people accessibility is not only about reaching the shoreline. For decades the woodland drive at Victoria Road offered a rare way to experience nature without the need for long walks. Sitting among the pine trees watching for red squirrels or simply enjoying the peace was part of what made this place special. The loss of that experience is deeply felt by some members of the community and it is understandable that emotions have been strong.

We have also received thoughtful comments about litter management volunteer effort tree loss and wider questions around how dune systems are managed. These views come from people who care deeply about Formby and should be seen as part of an ongoing conversation rather than opposition to conservation.

What the response clearly shows is that this is a complex issue with no simple answers. Some feel reassured by the long term environmental vision others feel excluded by the changes and many sit somewhere in between.

Our role is to reflect that full picture.

Formby’s coastline is wild fragile and legally protected. Looking after it requires long term thinking difficult compromises and continued dialogue between conservation bodies residents and visitors. As further plans progress at Lifeboat Road and elsewhere it is clear that open communication will remain essential.

This is not the end of the story. It is part of a much bigger one.