SOUTHPORT THEATRE and convention centre could be put up for sale to help Sefton council make £20m of savings.

Other drastic measures being considered include closing the borough’s tourism service – which helps support thousands of jobs – slashing parks maintenance and library budgets, and pushing up prices for using sports grounds.

Social services’ specialised transport unit may also be cut.

The raft of options up for public consultation was revealed in a report to go before Sefton cabinet next Thursday.

They amount to £25m of savings, which is £5m more than the council needs.

It is feared that public safety in the borough’s parks and green spaces could be at risk if slashing the maintenance budget by £500,000 is agreed.

The report states that park users would experience a “significant decline in the standards of park maintenance”.

This, in turn, would “increase the incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour, and make parks feel less safe”.

Sunday league football players and cricketers could see a huge increase in fees and charges, and costs per player at the bowling greens would shoot up from £7.88 per year to £119.90.

Southport’s theatre and convention centre is also at risk. It is currently owned by the council, but run by Ambassador Theatre Group on a contract which expires in June next year.