SOUTHPORT & FORMBY
19 19 August 2020
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Vol 27• Issue 34
CASH OR CARD IN ALL CARS
Painting takes pride of place in The Atkinson
INSIDE THIS WEEK:
ON YER BIKE!
U-turn joy for students
Council’s pop up cycle lanes scheme punctured by critics by Danielle Thompson
A cycle lane on Coronation Walk in Southport
Gold Award Winning Clinic
PLANS to create new ‘pop up’ cycling and walking lanes across Southport town centre have been slammed as ‘absolutely ridiculous’ amid fears they could have a ‘detrimental effect’ on businesses. Sefton Council, Liverpool City Region and MetroActive are working together to create new lanes, remove pay and display parking spaces and prevent through traffic to make it easier to navigate for cyclists and walkers. The scheme is being paid for by government funds to encourage more cycling and walking, but Southport MP Damien Moore believes the traffic restrictions could put people off ‘venturing back’ at a time when businesses are trying to encourage more trade. Lib Dems in the town have also panned the scheme as ‘rushed and without the support of the public or the town’s cyclists’ - describing the scheme as ‘flushing public cash down the drain’. MP Mr Moore fumed: “There has not been any consultation about
Plans which include traffic restrictions and parking bans are ‘absolutely ridiculous and not properly thought-out’ says town’s furious MP 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 or 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.” “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 suspended car parking charges in March at all of its car parks and on-street parking spaces as the outbreak struck the UK, but reinstated charges on May 18. Mr Moore said: “Temporary free parking, even free parking up to two hours, would give a huge boost to our local businesses. What we all want to see is a thriving, busy Southport town centre. “Those are the types of measures we want to see in Southport, which will help shoppers, and help businesses. “This new project in Southport is also calling for the removal of dozens of parking places along Hoghton Street and Talbot Street. It is not acceptable in an already challenged area for traffic that the ability for shoppers to park their cars is made even more difficult. There has been no thought for the traders, for local businesses or for jobs in Southport being considered as part of this scheme.
Mikey with a local hockey player
Hockey star Mikey swings into action for club fundraiser INTERNATIONAL hockey star Mikey Hoare returned to his Sefton roots for a special fundraiser. The 34-year-old, who grew up in Formby, was invited to The Northern Club in Crosby, when he showed off some of his skills and took part in fun challenges. Also at the event was Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson, who plays the sport himself. He said: “It was fantastic to see the players smiling and enjoying hockey again after a difficult period of lockdown - I know all the players feel the same way I do about getting back to playing matches... we can’t wait!
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