Record crowds flocked to the famous links last summer and the sport’s governing body, the R&A, has agreed to provide a six-figure sum from the proceeds of the Championship. Tony McDonough reports

Community and environmental projects in Sefton will benefit to the tune of £100,000 thanks to legacy funding following last summer’s staging of the 146th Open at Royal Birkdale.

Record crowds flocked to the famous links last year to watch the world’s greatest golfers and the sport’s governing body, the R&A, has agreed to provide a six-figure sum from the proceeds of the Championship to Sefton Council in order to support three major projects”

• £40,000 towards improving ‘green’ tourism and connectivity on Southport Pier for more people to enjoy. This will include new RSPB telescopes on the oldest cast iron constructed pier in the country to view wildlife and terrestrial and underwater webcams and television screens to view other marine life. A new access point on the pier will also be constructed
• £40,000 to the Aspiring Instructors training pathway scheme – this provides customised training opportunities in the leisure and sports sector for residents not in work. The Aspiring Instructors scheme is run in partnership with Sefton@Work and the council’s leisure team. It is hoped the new programme will help 25 new starters on the scheme.
• The remaining £20,000 will go towards improvements on Birkdale Common which was integral to hosting the 146th Open. Money will go towards a new noticeboard, an accessible boardwalk ramp, new signage and boundary improvements.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “While the superb championship may seem like a distant memory, this money kindly donated by the R&A will go a long way to preserving the legacy of one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

“The funding clearly aligns with our 2030 Vision and our objectives of building resilient communities across the borough. It links with improving our tourism offer, employment opportunities and ensuring those communities impacted by the Open will benefit.”