Formby news
Formby news, newest first, from Southport Today: planning, roads, schools, business and what's on in Formby, with every story linked to its source.
Top story
Ainsdale Library and Hesketh Conservatory: Viewings 5 Nov
Groups can now bid to run Ainsdale's old library, Hesketh Park Conservatory and a Formby park building. Viewings start 5 November; no closing date yet.
More stories
Formby
Formby Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Formby weather today: overcast, 14°C by day and 9°C overnight, with a 0% chance of rain and winds up to 11 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
Formby
Formby St Jerome's Hall to Become Little Pegs Family Hub
Sefton approved Little Pegs' plan for the old St Jerome's church hall in Formby on 13 October: toddler play, a family café and parties, 17 families a session.
Formby
Formby Dunes Cattle: 18 Longhorns Back Until April 2027
18 longhorn steers return to Formby's Ravenmeols dunes from mid-October and graze until April 2027. What dog walkers should do if they meet them.
Crime
Southport Crime Down 10% as Formby Shoplifting Doubles
Recorded crime in central Southport fell 10% in the year to August, with burglary almost halved. In Formby, shoplifting reports more than doubled to 163.
Health
Southport Cancer Centre Cut: GPs Blame £427k Funding Loss
GPs will stop funding the Southport Macmillan Centre's cancer navigators, who give emotional, practical and financial support, after March 2027. What changes.
Food hygiene
Southport Food Hygiene: 31 Venues Rated 5 in September
Royal Birkdale, Gusto Trattoria and 29 more Southport venues were rated 5 in September. Lower scores publish weeks later, as August's 15 below-5s show.
Formby
Formby Christmas Lights Switch On: 19 Nov, Lights at 7pm
Formby's lights go on at 7pm on Thursday 19 November in Chapel Lane: fairground rides 3pm to 8pm, Santa at 3.30pm, school choirs on stage from 4pm, DJ Alex.
Formby
Formby Sports Bar on Brows Lane Can Open Until 12.30am
Sefton approved a sports bar with pool, snooker and darts above the shops at 27 Brows Lane, Formby. Customers are allowed in until 12.30am at weekends.
Christmas
Southport Christmas market 2026: three weekends in December
Southport's Christmas market runs at the Market Hall on King Street over three December weekends, 4 to 20 December 2026. Opening times, and Formby Hall on 29 November.
Schools
Formby High School Teacher Banned From Teaching For Life
A former Formby High School teacher is banned from classrooms for life, with no right to ask for it to be lifted. The decision was published on 16 September.
Planning
Formby Lidl and M&S Scheme Refused Against Officer Advice
Councillors refused the Lidl and M&S scheme off the Formby Bypass against officers' advice. The council's own consultants put the village's trade loss at 15.9%.
Planning
Formby Lidl and M&S: Planners Urge Yes Before 16 Sept Vote
Sefton planners back a Lidl and M&S Foodhall off the Formby Bypass, with a vote on Wednesday. Council consultants put the village centre's trade loss at 15.9%.
Food hygiene
Sefton Food Hygiene: Every August Rating So Far Is a Five
All 34 inspections published so far for August scored 5, from a Lord Street chippy to Formby's Chapel Lane. No venue in the borough currently holds a zero.
Formby
Formby Hall Hosts Golf Tourism England Convention, July 2027
Golf Tourism England's 2027 convention runs 25 to 27 July at Formby Hall, ten years after the first one was held there. A pre-event trip to Royal Birkdale and Hillside is planned.
Schools
Southport Ofsted 2026: Every Grade for 7 Local Schools
Birkdale High scored Strong standard in four of six areas. Educ8 Southport needs urgent improvement. Every 2026 Ofsted grade for seven local schools.
Formby
Formby dunes fire burned 10 hectares, six engines sent
Six fire engines fought a gorse fire in the dunes near Albert Road from 8pm on Wednesday. Wind pushed it to 500m by 200m, and lighting a fire there is already an offence.
Business
Emily's Formby operator in liquidation a year after CVA
Rebel Restaurants Group Ltd, which trades as Emily's on Brows Lane, Formby, went into liquidation on 6 August, 13 months after a rescue deal.