A decision is due to be made on the ambitious changes to roads and pavements in the Promenade area of Southport.
The investment aims to make the area safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, while creating a more attractive space for visitors to the Marine Lake Events Centre and Southport Pier with work taking place at both schemes.
It would see a new cycle lane created along the centre of the Promenade; one-way sections brought in on parts of Nevill Street and Bold Street; four new pedestrian crossings on the Promenade; new taxi and coach parking provision; and fewer pay and display car parking spaces.
Sefton Council is due to decide this week on a series of changes to the Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) on roads including the Promenade, Bold Street, Nevill Street and others.
It would be the second phase of ‘Les Transformations do Southport’, with the first phase concentrating on the Market Quarter area.
The main construction phase would be carried out between Autumn 2027 and December 2028.
Funding would come through Transport for City Regions (TCR) from the Government from 2027 to 2032.
The scheme focuses on the Promenade (B5245) covering the area from the Marine Parade / Promenade junction and Nevill Street, to the Seabank Road roundabout.
Bold Street
Bold Street is proposed to become one-way southbound from the promenade. Bold Street would remain two-way between Back Bath Street and Lord Street.
The scheme primarily addresses walking, cycling, local traffic movements and vehicle parking bays, and safe pedestrian crossing provision. It provides dedicated cycle tracks, widened footways, and improved junction facilities.
Marine Parade
From Marine Parade southbound, traffic would be able to turn both left and right onto the Promenade.
Traffic would be able to turn into Marine Parade moving northbound, but the promenade right-turn lane southbound into Marine Parade would be closed.
This is intended to improve traffic flow with added pedestrian improvements.
Sefton Council says that ‘for many travelling from Ocean Plaza retail park, their movement from Marine Parade will be mostly unchanged. For immediate residents along the Promenade, the change means a longer route to the retail park or Lord Street by car to accommodate the pedestrian crossing and public realm changes’.
Nevill Street
It is proposed to become one-way westbound towards the promenade from West Street and include a contra-flow cycle lane.
It would remain two-way between West Street and Lord Street. For Maritime Court car park users, drivers leaving the car park could turn left or right into Nevill Street. The bus stop on Nevill Street eastbound towards Lord Street is currently not served by buses and would be suspended as a highway function as part of the design.
The Nevill Street junction with the Promenade would change to become left-turn onto the Promenade only.
The Nevill Street / Promenade junction would no longer have traffic signals, which would improve the free-flow of traffic from Nevill Street onto the Promenade. Traffic would not be able to turn into Nevill Street from the Promenade toward Lord Street.
Promenade
Four additional pedestrian crossings are proposed with improved demarcation of the crossings for safety purposes.
The crossings would have capacity for a higher volume of pedestrians.
To accommodate the crossings and road markings associated, there is a reduction in on-street parking bays, but limited waiting bays are proposed for buses, taxis and blue badge holders.
Conversion of the current central grass verge into a segregated cycle lane is proposed, plus improved connections with existing cycling lanes on Marine Parade, and a contra-flow cycle lane on Nevill Street.
Onward signposting to the Trans Pennine Trail and National Cycle Network routes along the coast, and into the town centre will be installed for continuity.
Parking changes
The number of pay and display space would be reduced by 40, from 55 to 15 spaces.
There would be space for one additional taxi rank, and space for three coaches.
The change of existing on-street car parking is to facilitate the provision of coach parking and minor increases of taxi rank, disabled bays and short stay parking space on the west side of promenade outside the MLEC.
In addition, the additional pedestrian crossing points on the promenade take up space where some existing car parking currently exists. The change will prioritise road safety, public realm and pedestrian movement within the area.
The existing on-street parking that remains would be ‘formalised’ with the new paving and widened footways to neatly demarcate it.
Currently, on-street parking is provided on the inside lane of the carriageway in each direction of the promenade which, for pedestrians, contributes to the sense of a vehicle dominated environment.
In a statement last year Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills said:
“We want to improve road safety for the many people visiting the waterfront. The future improvements are aimed at reducing the risk of collisions in an area with high pedestrian footfall, whilst addressing some of the concerns raised. Our aim is to improve the safety of all road users when travelling to our tourist attractions.
“We want people to visit the MLEC and the pier, and it just makes sense to ensure the route people will take to go there is made safer and looks nicer with planting.”
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: [email protected]
