Campaigner calls for Aintree Racecourse green events

David Barton at Aintree racecourse

A prominent campaigner for the heritage of Sefton is recommending that his Local Authority consider supporting Aintree Racecourse with introducing a series of green style motor racing events to strengthen its dual economic and environmental profile.

Aintree is a civil parish based across both Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council and Liverpool City Council with West Lancashire Council placed in the vicinity. The area has Anglo Saxon origins with its name translating as “one tree” or “tree standing alone”.

It was first recorded in 1226 as Ayntre with local folklore describing a prized oak tree that once existed on Bull Bridge Lane claiming to be the place’s namesake.

It began as a tiny rural village growing as a modest settlement up to 1894 when it first began to industrialise with the opening of a grand Silk Factory and the early construction of new homes for its respective workers. The flat open site conferred many key advantages commercially for enterprise allowing a rapid growth of the conurbation due to its strong transport links with the nearby City of Liverpool and the Docks from its factories that were strategically placed.

In the late 1900s, more “clean air” industries became prevalent across Aintree ranging from food processing to electrical engineering and printing. The internationally acclaimed Hartleys Village was once such proud venture combining Capitalism and Community in the perfect blend of economic harmony. This industrial locale showcased the pioneering skills of architects and business people for others to draw inspiration from, such as Cadbury in Birmingham and Port Sunlight in Wirral.

Over time popular pastimes, such as Horse Racing and Car Racing became a part of the social fabric with the opening of a brand-new racetrack in 1829. This was subsequently followed by the first Grandstand in 1836 by William Lynn- Landlord of the Waterloo Hotel adjacent to his Public House. In 1839 a consortium of respected Lords established a national racing event that would become known officially as the “Grand National” in 1847 and which still operates today.

David Barton, former Councillor for the Dukes Ward covering the Town Centre and West Birkdale, who champions high-quality Placemaking across Southport and the Sefton region affirms that each and every conurbation across the Borough has its role to play no matter the size or background.

The community campaigner, whose ultimate focus has been and remains the restoration of Sefton, believes that Aintree is presently underutilised and with the correct level of direction and guidance could once again flourish vibrantly all year round. He maintains that there is an untapped market for events entertainment that with modern day green technology could usher in a wave of economic success.

Mr. Barton says: “Although the Racecourse predominantly hosts Horse Racing as of the 2020s to date, there is scope to explore wider use of this acclaimed entertainment complex for the betterment of so many based across Sefton and beyond.”

He says: “Living greener and cleaner can be economically and environmentally viable with the correct level of technical skill and expertise. If so actioned and supported by the governing bodies, this would be a landmark achievement on so many planes bringing mass-scale net expenditure by visitors and motoring enthusiasts.”

“In utilising the unique selling points of Aintree this may even be worthy of a future or equivalent levelling up grant fund application given the wide-reaching impact this could even have on the encompassing Sefton Borough and Liverpool City Region collectively long-term.”

“By dedicating a cross-section seasonally in between the Grand National, this would fill the vacuum of potentially lost economic activity and support surrounding local businesses, such as shops, Hotels and the everyday Mainframe of Mainstays comprising any one successful place.”

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