Sefton Council will tonight debate this week a proposal calling for it to throw its weight behind a drive to improve Southport’s links with Manchester which has been described as a crucial key to future prosperity.
Cllr. John Pugh, the Liberal Democrat opposition leader on Sefton and a former MP for Southport, is proposing that a council task force or working party be set up to relentlessly and single-mindedly bottom out Southport’s prospects of better transport and commercial links with Greater Manchester.
It remains the case that the slowest way to get to Manchester is by a poor quality train – a journey which can last up to 1 hour and 52 minutes and more – the same time as it takes to fly to Berlin.
The journey by road is considerably quicker subject to traffic, but 15 miles longer. There are only two trains per hour to Manchester from Southport – half the number that go to Liverpool.
Cllr John Pugh said:
“Every serious study has shown that poor connectivity with the Manchester region is a serious constraint on Southport’s prosperity.
“Historically though Southport grew because of its links with BOTH Manchester and Liverpool but whereas the Merseyside connection has grown stronger over time, links with Manchester and East Lancashire have been hampered by a deteriorating transport environment.
“Every MP that Southport has elected in recent times comes to recognise this and lobby for improvements like the restoration of the Burscough curves, but the real power locally rests with Manchester and Liverpool City Region transport bodies. Sefton Council is an important part of the Liverpool City Region with its own transport expertise and expert professional staff.
“Up until now it has backed better Southport and Manchester links simply with warm words and encouragement. Actively pushing Southport’s case though has largely been the preserve of local politicians and commuter groups.
“What I believe Sefton now needs to do is to roll up its sleeves and try to make things happen. This could easily involve co-opting the energy of locally elected representatives and businesses, but this is a long term project which requires the persistence and the permanence of a Council, as well as its connections and expertise.
“Frankly if we are to avoid the perpetual cycle of raising the Southport public’s hopes to little effect, we in Southport need Sefton to show a bit of municipal bloody-mindedness. There are many areas across the North West eyeing up the limited amount of cash for transport enhancements – many with better leverage over the Transport Authorities and we’re not going to wean government transport ministers off the ‘London-first’ mentality any time soon.
“The obstacles are formidable, but it’s an old Lancashire saying ‘that nothing comes to those who wait’ . I hope the Council can be persuaded to seize the initiative.”
Cllr. Pugh’s proposal can be found in full HERE https://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/documents/g11520/Public%20reports%20pack%2024th-Apr-2025%2018.30%20Council.pdf?T=10
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