A number of roads in Birkdale and Hillside could be blocked to traffic as Sefton Council looks to extend its cycle lanes.
The council has launched a consultation seeking people’s views as it looks to create a North-South cycling route stretching from Ainsdale to Crossens saying “we want to make the roads and streets easier for everyone to move around.”
Sefton recently declared a Climate Emergency in the borough.
In Birkdale and Hillside, the roads which could be closed to traffic in new ‘Quiet Streets’ include: Trafalgar Road; York Road; Alma Road; Greenbank Drive; Dover Road; and Hillside Road.
A number of changes could also be made to other roads in the area, including: installing parking bays, reducing the width of the road, making pavements wider, putting in new benches and linking walking and cycling lanes directly to local schools.
Last year Sefton made a number of changes in Southport town centre, which included: blocking Queens Road to vehicles; installing cycle lanes and removing parking bays along Hoghton Street; and reversing the cycling ban on Chapel Street, Tulketh Street and Wesley Street.
Now Sefton Council wants to extend the scheme north towards Crossens and south towards Ainsdale.
Sefton Council wants to hear people’s views before Sunday 27th June 2021
By calling: 0345 140 0845
Or visit: yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/yourstreets
Or email: Transport.planning@sefton.gov.uk
Sefton Council has secured £700,000 from the Department for Transport to make the changes. The money must be spent by 31st March 2022.
Here are the changes Sefton is proposing to make in Birkdale and Hillside:
Route 2.1 – Birkdale to Ainsdale Roundabout via York Road and Liverpool Road
Using Hollybrook Road, Aughton Road, York Road, Trafalgar Road and Greenbank Drive and Waterloo Road and Liverpool Road to Ainsdale Roundabout. Passing; The Grange Surgery• St Joseph’s Catholic Church • Smedley Hydro. • Southport and Birkdale Sports Club. • Greenbank High School. • Hillside Train Station. • Hillside Village. • Southport Rugby Club. • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. • Hillside Train Station. • Birkdale High School. • Sacred Heart Catholic Church. • Liverpool Road Cemetery. • Southport Rugby Club. • Toby Carvery.
Aughton Road
On Aughton Road, our plans and ideas include reducing the width of the road to make sure the people walking and cycling feel safer. We will also look to formalise parking to reduce pavement parking. This will help to make the road a nicer route to walk and cycle.
We also want to reduce the distance for people walking to cross York Road and Hollybrook Road at Aughton Road. We will do this by making the pavement bigger.
York Road
Our plans and ideas include making York Road a quiet street, which will mean we will look to remove through traffic. We will do this by placing a filter on the road. The filter will be on York Road on both side of the junction with Weld Road. This means you will not be able to turn into or out of York Road at this junction if you are driving. If you are walking or cycling you will be able to go straight on along York Road or turn up Weld Road. If you get the bus your journey will not change as the bus route and the stops will stay the same. You will still be able to get to all properties by car or van but you will not be able to drive along the full length of York Road.
Trafalgar Road
Our plans and ideas include making Trafalgar Road a quiet street. We will do this by placing a filter on the road. The filter to remove through traffic will be at the junction with Grosvenor Road on the south side of the junction.
This means if you are in a car or van you will not be able to drive past the Grosvenor Road Junction on Trafalgar Road you will have to take another driving route. If you are walking or cycling you will be able to continue along Trafalgar Road. You will still be able to get to all properties by car or van but you may have to take a different route. You will not be able to drive along the full length of Trafalgar Road.
Greenbank Drive
Our ideas include making Greenbank Drive a quiet street. There will be no filters on Greenbank Drive but the filters on the other streets will make Greenbank Drive quieter. You will still be able to get to all properties by car or van.
Greenbank High School
This walking and cycling route will link directly to Greenbank High School, helping pupils to walk and cycling to school independently / by themselves.
Waterloo Road from Greenbank Drive
Our plans and ideas include the creation of family friendly cycle lanes linking to Greenbank Drive and along Waterloo Road. On the bridge one cycle lane will need to be on the wide footway. It would be too expensive to move the edge of the road to make enough room on the road for people cycling. The cycle lane on the footway would be separated from people walking and this would mean less space for people walking on one side of the bridge.
Liverpool Road / Carr Lane Junction
Our ideas for this junction include making it safer and easier for people walking and cycling to use.
Birkdale High School
This walking and cycling route will link directly to Birkdale High School, helping pupils to walk and cycle to school independently/ by themselves.
Liverpool Road
Our plans and ideas include looking at where we could put benches to provide places to stop and rest. For people cycling our plans and ideas include creating family friendly cycle lanes on both sides of the road.
Route 2.2; Birkdale to Hillside Shops via Alma Road and Dover Road
Using Aughton Road (From York Road), Upper Aughton Road, Alma Road, Birkdale Village (Liverpool Road), Welbeck Road, Walmer Road, Crosby Road, Dover Road and Hillside Road Passing; • Upper Aughton Railway Crossing. • McCains • Kellen’s butchers • Ka Yoga Studio • Birkdale Shops • Sunflowers Nursery • The Pines • Headlines
Upper Aughton Road
On Upper Aughton Road our plans and ideas include reducing the width of the road and make a safe right turn for people cycling at the junction with Alma Road. This will help to reduce vehicle speeds. We will also look to make parking bays to reduce pavement parking.
Alma Road
Our plans include making Alma Road a quiet street. This will mean putting a filter at the Liverpool Road end of Alma Road. This will make Alma Road quieter and nicer for people walking and cycling to the Village. It will also help to reduce the speed of vehicles as it will not be a through route anymore. Vehicles will not be able to access Liverpool Road from Alma Road.
Birkdale Village
In Birkdale Village our plan and ideas include making it easier for people to cross the road. We will also look to add in new cycle parking in the village
Welbeck Road, Walmer Road and Crosby Road
As Welbeck Road, Walmer Road and Crosby Road are already very quiet our plans are to add direction signs. We will try our best not to put in new poles and use what is already there. The signs will help people cycling know where they are going.
Dover Road
Our ideas include making Dover Road a quiet street. We plan to put in a filter near to the bridge steps. This will stop through traffic making the street quieter and nicer to walk and cycle along. You will still be able to get to all properties by car or van and receive deliveries, but you will not be able to drive along the full length of Dover Road or onto Hillside Road.
Hillside Road
Our plans and ideas include making Hillside Road a quiet street. We plan to put in a filter near to the bridge steps. This will stop through traffic making the street quieter and nicer to walk and cycle along. You will still be able to get to all properties by car or van but you will not be able to drive along the full length of Hillside Road onto Dover Road.
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