Southport councillors met recently with the Merseyrail development team responsible for adapting Hillside Station for disabled access.

The project which has long been an aspiration of Birkdale councillors and residents is financed jointly by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Department of Transport.Designing a solution within the funding available has led to some very radical ideas for change.

“We were told ,” says Cllr John Pugh ,” that cost and the need to prevent people crowding by a lift entrance in the Covid age has led designers to favour lift towers extending from the station.

This will have some implications for access and have to address some privacy concerns raised by being closer to domestic property. However, this is all movement in the right direction- real progress that everyone wants- a collective triumph.

Local councillors will continue to remain actively involved at all stages from now on and we were assured that Merseyrail and their contractors will do everything to keep residents briefed throughout the construction phase on any disruption.”

Cllr. Simon Shaw (Birkdale) raised the issue of night-time working as it was clear that the construction and the need to radically modify the stations electrics could not all take place with trains passing through every quarter hour. A guarantee was given that disruption would be kept to a minimum and well-notified in advance.

Another councillor popping out for an unnecessary photo opp during lockdown.
Fines should be issued.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

Another councillor popping out for an unnecessary photo opp during lockdown.
Fines should be issued.

Considering this is a significant change of plan for the station, a site visit would have been essential.....At least Cllr. Shaw doesn't make a habit of it. Unlike some, we don't see him regularly standing around in pop up bike-lanes etc, like one of Lewis's, to have silly pics taken!

Originally Posted by The PNP

Considering this is a significant change of plan for the station, a site visit would have been essential.....At least Cllr. Shaw doesn't make a habit of it. Unlike some, we don't see him regularly standing around in pop up bike-lanes etc, like one of Lewis's, to have silly pics taken!

Site visit? Site visits are for the people designing and constructing the project. They're not for every local councillor, MP and prospective candidate to pop down to take credit for a decision after it has been made.
I'm sure the RELEVANT site visits will have been undertaken by the RELEVANT people.

Is there a chance that Meols Cop station is put on the list for disabled access in the near future ? Just asking out of curiosity,seeing as that is NOT an accessible train platform to some passengers...

I would be far better to open up access to the old powerhouse area and make that a car park for commuters and install a footbridge to the North Bound platform, ticketing wouldn't be a problem a couple of machines could easily be installed.