The former MP for Southport, John Pugh has roundly criticised Southport Conservatives for not telling the whole truth about Pop-Up Cycle Lanes and called on them to share the blame for the lack of consultation.

Fast Track Cycle Lanes from John Pugh on Vimeo.

In a hard hitting, fact check video Cllr Pugh.https://vimeo.com/517061470 outlines how government funding and changing of the rules by the Conservative government last May encouraged and enabled the Council to proceed with Pop up Cycle Lanes last year without full consultation

The Pop-Up Cycle Lanes stretch from Queens Rd to Talbot St and through Houghton St.

“There have been a lot of quite predictable problems from the pop-up initiative for local businesses and Holy Trinity Church which all stem from doing things in a hurry without full consultation. Badly thought-through Pop up lanes risk giving cycle lanes a bad name. However, it is utterly disingenuous for Southport Conservatives to lay all the blame at the Council’s door when the government put up the money and changed the rules on consultation.

“People may not understand that the Statutory Instrument last May- the government proposal which removed full consultation and paved the way for the current unsatisfactory situation could have been formally objected in parliament by any Conservative MP. There is no record I can find of any of them doing so.”

Current guidance on the government website updated in January 2021 does mention “consultation” but that’s truly shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. The guidance issued back last year urges Council to get on with it "as swiftly as possible” (1).

Sneakily changing the guidance after the event is trying to rewrite history, but I guess that is what embarrassed Conservatives are actually seeking to do.”

When Covid struck last year, there was an urgent need to provide an alternative to public transport. It was that situation, which meant pop-up lanes were rapidly needed. Because many who had no car, became averse to the risk of contracting Covid. Nobody wanted to touch infected surfaces or breathe contaminated air in the confined space of a bus or taxi.

Cycling however, offered an ideal solution. Being not only cost-effective, but done in the open air with a safe distance easily maintained. A fact not lost on the general public, who descended on bike-shops in their droves and rapidly emptied the shelves.

Now Spring is here and Summer just ahead, along with the prospect of many shops re-opening. Fortunately, the towns new North-South cycle-route to the shops, stands ready to serve riders both new and old, heading into town......Therefore, it would be the utmost folly to remove the facility in a misplaced kneejerk reaction at this time - and certainly cost money to do so!

Originally Posted by The PNP

Now Spring is here and Summer just ahead, along with the prospect of many shops re-opening.

This would be an ideal time to aid the recovery of the shops by providing much needed town centre parking, instead of using the space for under used non essential cycle lanes.

Time to listen to consult local businesses and Churches and not just the vocal lycra clad minority.

Originally Posted by r4dent

This would be an ideal time to aid the recovery of the shops by providing much needed town centre parking, instead of using the space for under used non essential cycle lanes.

Time to listen to consult local businesses and Churches and not just the vocal lycra clad minority.

Finding Parking spaces in Southport isn’t a problem. I hardly think that restoring a couple dozen parking spaces round the town centre is going to be the salvation of retail in Southport. We had many empty shops even before the pandemic struck. And as for pandering to the minorities, we’re a nation of atheists now. I don’t think your ambitious plans will be filling the churches any time soon either.

Originally Posted by donkey22

And as for pandering to the minorities, we’re a nation of atheists now. I don’t think your ambitious plans will be filling the churches any time soon either.

I'm an atheist myself.

But unlike the cycle lobby I think about other people's needs and wants into account. A lot of people (many of them getting on in years or with limited mobility) find that the church provides support during these difficult times.

Whoever wrote this really ought to know how to spell Hoghton Street.

Originally Posted by r4dent

I'm an atheist myself.

But unlike the cycle lobby I think about other people's needs and wants into account. A lot of people (many of them getting on in years or with limited mobility) find that the church provides support during these difficult times.

You’re missing my point. Finding car parking spaces isn’t an issue in Southport. And it was you who mentioned about minority users in your original post.

Originally Posted by r4dent

Time to listen to consult local businesses and Churches and not just the vocal lycra clad minority.

Lycra clad cyclists on their lightweight roadbikes are unlikely to be riding into town. I ask you, where would they put their shopping?

The pop-up routes are there for the use of everyday cyclists, on ordinary bikes equipped with baskets, saddlebags or panniers. The sort of people who you see in town wearing normal clothes, have an understandable fear of traffic and maybe want to do their bit re Seftons Climate Emergency.

Originally Posted by donkey22

Finding Parking spaces in Southport isn’t a problem. I hardly think that restoring a couple dozen parking spaces round the town centre is going to be the salvation of retail in Southport. We had many empty shops even before the pandemic struck. And as for pandering to the minorities, we’re a nation of atheists now. I don’t think your ambitious plans will be filling the churches any time soon either.

Parking in Southport isn't a problem!
Do you live in Southport, indeed - have you ever been to Southport?
Have you tried getting out of Tulketh Street post Easter Bank holiday?

When restrictions ease, and given how much the EU will probably bugger British tourists about, I think it will be opportunity knocks for our seaside towns.
Then we'll need plenty of parking - not 6 feet x 1000 yard white elephants.

Excellent. The Tories caught misleading the public again. I suppose that is nothing new though.
https://boris-johnson-lies.com/

If parking is a problem then perhaps opening the south curve of the Burscough curves would help. It would enable people anywhere from Kirkdale to Ormskirk to reach Southport via Burscough Bridge on a direct train instead of trailing to Sandhills and changing train. [That option could have them reaching for the car keys.] Most stations on the Ormskirk line have a lot of housing around them so have large potential passenger numbers to give Southport's businesses a boost. The new trains that are on the way have been designed to have batteries fitted so could run without the third rail and should have the range to run from Ormskirk to Southport.

gazaprop quote."given how much the EU will probably bugger British tourists about". gazaprop, did you vote for Brexit?

Originally Posted by gazaprop

Parking in Southport isn't a problem!
Do you live in Southport, indeed - have you ever been to Southport?
Have you tried getting out of Tulketh Street post Easter Bank holiday?

When restrictions ease, and given how much the EU will probably bugger British tourists about, I think it will be opportunity knocks for our seaside towns.
Then we'll need plenty of parking - not 6 feet x 1000 yard white elephants.

Ah yes, Tulketh street. A street that hasn’t lost any car parking because of cycle lanes, it has 3 large car parks and NO cycle paths on it. The problem you have here is all the traffic in and out has to negotiate a small single carriageway traffic light controlled junction that prioritises the traffic flowing on Eastbank street. You’ll have to come up with a better example than that.

Originally Posted by donkey22

And it was you who mentioned about minority users in your original post.

Oh come on.

I know that the cycle lobby are prepared to justify your views by posting "facts" that just aren't true.

But even you, with your rose coloured cycling eye protectors, cannot be claiming that cyclists are not a minority of Southport town centre users.

Originally Posted by r4dent

Oh come on.

I know that the cycle lobby are prepared to justify your views by posting "facts" that just aren't true.

But even you, with your rose coloured cycling eye protectors, cannot be claiming that cyclists are not a minority of Southport town centre users.

Please remind me exactly where I said cyclists are not the minority?
I’ve made no such claims. Like it or not, cycle use has increased during the lockdown and there should be provisions made for all road users. And sorry, but that is a fact. https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/m...m-of-2020.html

So here we have Mr Pugh blaming others and not actually fixing the problem .

this reminds me , is there an election due ?

Originally Posted by donkey22

Ah yes, Tulketh street. A street that hasn’t lost any car parking because of cycle lanes, it has 3 large car parks and NO cycle paths on it. The problem you have here is all the traffic in and out has to negotiate a small single carriageway traffic light controlled junction that prioritises the traffic flowing on Eastbank street. You’ll have to come up with a better example than that.

Come on now Donkey - think laterally not literally! The example makes the point perfectly in that parking needs to be taken away from Tulketh Street and losing parking to cycle lanes won't help do that.