Southport’s MP is asking people who oppose the new cycle lanes in the town centre to email him as he lobbies the Government for their removal.
The pop-up cycle lanes were installed by Sefton Council along Queens Road, Hoghton Street, Chapel Street, Tulketh Street, Wesley Street and Talbot Street on 21 August last year.
The ‘Southport Emergency Active Travel Route’ was due to be in place for six months before the scheme is brought back to the council’s Cabinet to review whether or not the cycle lanes have been successful for a decision on whether to make it permanent.
Southport MP Damien Moore said: “Sefton Council is pressing ahead with temporary cycle lanes in Southport town centre, despite hundreds of objections from local residents and businesses – and no formal consultation.
“That’s why I’m lobbying the Government to stop Sefton Council making these temporary cycle lanes PERMANENT, and to upgrade pre-existing cycle lanes.
“Opposed to Sefton’s cycle lanes? Send me a quick email to damien.moore.mp@parliament.uk.”
The new traffic restrictions, which were brought in during the Covid pandemic, aimed to make cycling and walking easier in Southport town centre.
The plans saw Queens Road closed to traffic; cycle lanes replacing parking spaces on Hoghton Street; the lifting of a previous ban on cycling on Chapel Street, Tulketh Street and Wesley Street; and Talbot Street becoming a ‘Quiet Street’ with cars prevented from driving onto Eastbank Street.
The creation of the ‘Southport Emergency Active Travel Route’ came in response to more people cycling and walking since the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK last March.
Read More: 17 Southport and Bootle pop up cycle lane questions answered by Sefton Council
Funding of £590,457 for Sefton Council for schemes in Southport and Bootle was provided via the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Combined Authority Active Travel Emergency Fund, through funding made available from the Department for Transport.
The £250 million Emergency Active Travel Fund was announced by the DfT in May last year, with councils in the UK invited to apply for funding for their areas.
Southport and Bootle were among areas across the Liverpool City Region which saw 23km of new pop-up cycle lanes and expanded footpaths supplemented by traffic calming measures.
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.”
Do you have any stories for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
