Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for new pop-up cycle lanes in Southport to be scrapped.
Contractors for Sefton Council have closed Queens Road to traffic and are in the process of replacing the pay and display parking spaces on Hoghton Street with double yellow lines and new cycle lanes along both sides of the road.
Sefton Council has also reversed the ban on cycling in the pedestrianised Chapel Street area.
The aim is to reduce traffic and create a new route to increase cycling and walking along Queens Road, Hoghton Street, Chapel Street, Tulketh Street, Wesley Street and Talbot Street.
The route is temporary for six months but then be made permanent.
Oldfields Autos Ltd, which has been on Queens Road for over 70 years, started the petition, which says: “Closing Queens Road to everyone except buses and cycles is absurd.
“The road has hotels, private houses and flats as well as a long established family run car dealership.
“It will add time to a large percentage of local peoples’ journeys, make the side access roads onto Queens Road far busier which means people have to travel further using more fuel and thus damaging the environment, not to mention the fact that it will put visitors off visiting the town centre.
“Taxis will have to make detours to access residencies on Queens Road.
“There was no consultation with local residents or businesses, apparently our local councillors knew nothing about it until it had been approved.
“Local residents cannot park outside their own property, the car showroom and other shops will not get any passing trade.
“As a family run car dealership that has been here since just after the Second World War, providing transport for generations of local families.
“We are disgusted that this has been done without any dialogue with local people as it affects our lives and livelihoods.
“We are all in favour of cycle lanes but to close the road to all but buses and cycles is absolutely ridiculous. Please help us to petition Sefton MBC to rethink!”
The changes are being made following the increase in people cycling and walking since the Coronavirus outbreak struck the UK in March.
Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services said: “Our vision for Sefton is a confident and connected borough, where people can enjoy the use of many cycle and walking friendly routes, where we all work together to keep Sefton clean and green with a commitment to low pollution and better air quality.
“The Emergency Active Travel Fund will allow us to make changes to two routes in Sefton, one in Southport and one in Bootle which will encourage cycling and walking and make significant improvements to our streets to enable people to use cars less and move around in a different way.”
You can access the petition here:
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