MP slams plan to cut town parking spaces
SOUTHPORT’S MP has slammed plans to restrict parking in Southport town centre as ‘ridiculous’.
Sefton Council, Liverpool City Region and MetroActive are working together on plans which will create pop-up cycle lanes by removing pay and display parking spaces.
The changes are part of Government-funded efforts to make town centres more friendly to cyclists and pedestrians and help businesses recover from the effects of lockdown.
But MP Damien Moore has warned the changes will have the opposite effect as a result of the loss of parking spaces.
He said: “There has not been any consultation about this. This has not been properly thought out.
“We don’t know how it is going to affect travel into Southport town centre, people just have not been asked for their views.
“Where is the business case that this would even work? Where is the business case over how much this would impact businesses in Southport town centre?
“I would much rather see money spent on other routes which will make cycling and walking easier while also helping to grow trade, not damage it.”
Among the proposed temporary changes, cyclists will be allowed to use Chapel Street, Tulketh Street and Wesley Street; while pay and display spaces will be removed from Hoghton Street and Talbot Street to make way for pop-up bike lanes. Through traffic will also be restricted on Queens Road.
Mr Moore, who has previously called for free parking to be introduced, is concerned that the planned traffic restrictions may deter people from visiting town centre businesses as owners battle to win back trade.
He said: “The priority has to be for people to be able to get in and out of Southport town centre and park once they get there as easily as possible.
“I think these plans are absolutely ridiculous.
“What we need to be doing in Southport town centre is to see people come back into our town, fill their cars up with whatever goods they buy from our local shops and head back home happily.”
Sefton Council has defended the changes, which will be under constant review, and said the short timeframe made a full consultation impossible.
A spokesman said: “Working with Sefton Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority submitted a bid to the Government fund and was successful in securing funding for two schemes in Bootle and Southport Town Centre.
“These two schemes are based on key routes previously identified in the Liverpool City Region Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and make it easier and safer for people to visit town centre shops, workplaces and other facilities in Bootle and Southport by bike or on foot.
“Because the Government stipulated Emergency Active Travel Fund schemes had to be started within four weeks and completed within eight weeks of the funding being approved, it was not possible to carry out a consultation in the way we normally would. However, all properties on the routes have been sent explanatory leaflets and more details are available at www.activetravelsefton.co.uk/ emergencyroutes
“The council will be monitoring the routes and keeping them under review over the coming months, so that we understand how we can improve them for people who walk and cycle.”
The spokesman added that a wider, interactive consultation is running until August 31 and can be found at seftonliveablestreets.commonplace.is