Cllr questions impact of new lanes
SEFTON’S Lib Dem leader has called for the council to explain what “success” would be for its controversial new cycle lanes.
A widespread backlash has greeted changes to Southport’s roads, which include closures to traffic and replacement of parking spaces with cycle lanes.
Cllr John Pugh met up with fellow councillors and represetatives of Holy Trinity Church and local businesses to discuss the impact of the changes, which took place without formal consultation.
Sefton Council says that consultation was impossible in the timeline set by the Government but has promised to review the changes in six months before deciding whether to make any permanent.
But Cllr Pugh expressed scepticism about that promise.
He said: “These hastily planned Boris Bike Tracks that the government have decreed will need to be fairly evaluated.
“That means saying now at the start what the main objectives are and how we will measure them.
“To be fair to everyone the council should make clear what success and what failure looks like.
“That must include looking at business and employment impacts as well as environmental effects.
“Churches are worried about parishioners, weddings and funerals, the school about access, the LittleTheatre about patronage and businesses about customers. Much of this can be measured as easily as the number of additional cyclists.”
Vic Foulds, owner of the Baytree Hotel, added: “It would be shocking if business and employment impacts were dramatic and the increase in cycling was minimal and that’s why collecting the data is important.”