Marshside, Sefton

Marshside's most notable features are neighbours: the sandwinning plant on the beach by the junction of Marshside Road and Marine Drive (the "Coast Road") and the SSSI and nature reserve on the opposite side of Marine Drive. The sandwinning plant extracts thousands of tonnes of Southport sand per year for use in industry, while the nature reserve provides food and accommodation to countless native and migratory birds. The nature reserve is managed by the RSPB .

Marshside's traditional industry was Shrimping , and the practice still continues to a diminished degree today.

Marshside has three schools: Marshside Primary School, Larkfield Primary School (between Larkfield Lane and Preston New Road) and Stanley High School (on Fleetwood Road). The last of these is the largest, with around 800 pupils between the ages of 11 and 16.

Marshside has surprisingly few pubs (compared with neighbouring Churchtown , possibly in part due to the strong tradition of Methodism in the former village. However, there is the Shrimper on Fylde Road (next to the immensely ugly Kwik Save/Somerfield supermarket, currently being redeveloped). The Shrimper is a typical modern food-serving pub and part of a large chain. It's only notable feature is a fish & chip shop built on to the back of the building in the car park, although this is no longer operational.

The only other place to get a beer in Marshside is the Fleetwood Hesketh Sports and Social Club, also on Fylde Road. Build on land acquired from the Meols Hall estate in Churchtown, this private members club has various sports teams including Football , Cricket , crown green and indoor Bowls , Darts , and Snooker . Although long-established, the club didn't have a licence to serve alcohol for many of its early years due to the Methodism of the majority of its members.

The main modern industry in Marshside is situated on the estate behind the Shrimper pub, housed in a number of featureless metal-clad buildings. There is a bakery and a publisher's warehouse amongst others.

• http://www.northmeols.merseyside.org/html/history.htm