New powers are due to be granted to enforcement officers to stop motorists from driving through the pedestrianised Chapel Street area in Southport town centre.
The area was [pedestrianised in 2005 with the aim of creating a safer and more pleasant environment for shoppers.
Laws currently in place should mean a “traffic-free environment throughout the day” between 10am and 6pm.
But they can only be enforced by Merseyside Police officers, with many drivers in recent years flouting the rules with impunity.
A Sefton Council report said: “In recent years, many drivers and shop owners have realised that enforcement of the moving traffic Order can only be carried out by the Police, whose resources have been seriously depleted and switched to other duties.
“This means that for most of the time, drivers can drive into the pedestrianised areas and park up without fear of having fines imposed upon them.
“The practice of parking within Chapel Street, Tulketh Street, and Corporation Street to avoid parking charges is increasing and complaints are regularly received about vehicular intrusion into the area.”
The local authority is now planning to grant greater enforcement powers to its own Civil Enforcement Officers to issue fixed penalty fines in the pedestrianised area to stop rogue drivers in their tracks.
It is proposing to bring in a new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), to ban waiting and loading in Chapel Street, Corporation Street and parts of Tulketh Street between 10am and 6pm.
In a report, Sefton Council’s Assistant Director – Highways and Public Protection said:
“in 2005 a pedestrianised area was introduced incorporating Chapel Street, Tulketh Street and Corporation Street, Southport.
“This was introduced to provide a safer environment for shoppers and to promote the Town Centre shopping facilities.
“As part of the scheme, servicing of the shops was restricted to between 6pm and 10am, to allow for a traffic-free environment throughout the day.
“From a legal point of view, access was controlled by the introduction of a ‘Prohibition of Driving’ Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which can only be enforced by Merseyside Police.
“Sefton’s Civil Enforcement Officers cannot currently issue Penalty Charge Notices to owners of vehicles seen driving through the pedestrianised areas.
“In order to allow Sefton’s Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) to issue Penalty Charge Notices on vehicles parked in the area, or loading or unloading during the restricted hours, it is proposed to introduce a second TRO, relating to static offences (waiting or loading) which the CEOs have the power to enforce.
“This will supplement the ‘Prohibition of Driving’ Order and will prohibit waiting at any time and prohibit loading or unloading between 10am and 6pm. This will apply to Chapel Street and the most northerly section of Tulketh Street immediately adjacent to Chapel Street.”
The Traffic Regulation Order would apply on both sides of Chapel Street, Southport for its entire length; on both sides of Tulketh Street from the southeasterly back of the footway in Chapel Street to a point 18 metres south-east of the southeasterly back of the footway in Chapel Street; and both sides of Tulketh Street, from a point 18 metres south-east of the southeasterly back of the footway in Chapel Street to a point 60 metres north-west of the north west kerbline of Wesley Street; and on both sides of Corporation Street, for its entire length.
The cost of advertising the new Traffic Regulation Orders, together with associated signage, amounting to £1000, will be funded from the 2024/25 Traffic Management revenue budget.
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