Sefton Council’s leader, Cllr Ian Maher, has responded to a number of comments regarding the installation of central government required cycle lanes in the borough.



Earlier this year the Government announced its Emergency Active Travel Fund, and called for Councils to reallocate road space urgently to produce cycling and walking facilities.

“Working with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Sefton Council submitted a bid to the Government fund and was successful in securing funding for two schemes in Bootle and Southport Town Centre. Both of these met the Government criteria for the fund.

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.

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council said: “In May during what was and still remains an incredibly difficult time for councils across the country, the Conservative Government, through their Emergency Active Travel Fund, placed significant pressure on Sefton Council to urgently reallocate road space to produce cycling and walking facilities.

“To further compound these pressures, the Government then stipulated that these schemes had to be started within four weeks and completed within eight weeks of funding being approved.

“This unfortunately meant it was not possible to carry out a consultation in the way we normally would with our valued communities, due to the incredibly restrictive nature of Mr Moore’s Conservative Government’s timescale and requirements.

“We are wholly aware of the continued need to make savings and recoup income to help cope with ongoing and ever increasing Government cuts in funding and Mr Moore is correct in saying this Central Government scheme will indeed further cause Sefton Council to lose out on much needed revenue.

“The Council will be monitoring these routes closely and will keep them under review over the coming months, so that we understand how we can both improve them for people who walk and cycle as well as further support our local economy at this crucial time.”

Cycle lanes are absolutely fine but you have to wonder which genius decided to place them on Queens Rd and Hoghton St? Are they really cycling hotspots? When councils are struggling for cash, is it really wise to lose thousands in parking revenue by removing parking meters? When there aren't enough parking spaces anyway and businesses are desperately needing more trade?

Originally Posted by timelord

Cycle lanes are absolutely fine but you have to wonder which genius decided to place them on Queens Rd and Hoghton St? Are they really cycling hotspots? When councils are struggling for cash, is it really wise to lose thousands in parking revenue by removing parking meters? When there aren't enough parking spaces anyway and businesses are desperately needing more trade?

Can't you read ;-

"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."

There are more than enough parking spaces, many of the lost ones are outside premises where the occupants have been complaining about Pay n Display blocking access to their property.

Originally Posted by Alikado

Can't you read ;-

"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."

There are more than enough parking spaces, many of the lost ones are outside premises where the occupants have been complaining about Pay n Display blocking access to their property.

I fail to see how it makes it easier to visit town centre shops by foot.

Yes it makes it easier and safer to visit town centre shops by bike.

But I doubt if this will increase the number who actually do.

I have walked down London Street many times from Central 12 to Chapel Street. Hardly ever have I seen a single bike using the dedicated cycle lanes.

This is what the local businesses in that area think :-

https://standupforsouthport.com/busi...o-be-scrapped/

If they've previously been complaining about cars blocking access, they really have something to complain about now.

So to sum up the government gave us a few months to come up with a scheme that a few socially distanced phone calls or drive throughs would have kyboshed as useless in minutes.

FFS, why is it so difficult to understand? The government has said these routes have to be in place. Read the Gov guidance online.
Where do you suggest the lanes are placed if not on Hoghton St? Lord St? That would be worse.
The lanes have to access town centres, so by they’re nature they have to be placed where they are. It’s really not difficult to understand.

Originally Posted by lawed143

FFS, why is it so difficult to understand? The government has said these routes have to be in place. Read the Gov guidance online.
Where do you suggest the lanes are placed if not on Hoghton St? Lord St? That would be worse.
The lanes have to access town centres, so by they’re nature they have to be placed where they are. It’s really not difficult to understand.

It’s easy to understand, most of us recognise utter stupidity with ease, hand a main access route from vehicles to bikes, is a mark of unthought, box ticking, with very little to recommend it.

Originally Posted by silver fox

It’s easy to understand, most of us recognise utter stupidity with ease, hand a main access route from vehicles to bikes, is a mark of unthought, box ticking, with very little to recommend it.

Genuine question, if the Government says these routes have to be in place, where else would you put it?

Technically the main access route is via Albert Road, hence the signs that have been there for years sending HGVs along this way, so where else can it go?

For your information, I don't agree with the restrictions along Hoghton Street, but partly agree with the restrictions on Queens Road, where I think restricting traffic entering from Manchester Road is a good thing, but not necessary, in my opinion, at the Park Crescent end.

Originally Posted by Sap33

Genuine question, if the Government says these routes have to be in place, where else would you put it?

Technically the main access route is via Albert Road, hence the signs that have been there for years sending HGVs along this way, so where else can it go?

For your information, I don't agree with the restrictions along Hoghton Street, but partly agree with the restrictions on Queens Road, where I think restricting traffic entering from Manchester Road is a good thing, but not necessary, in my opinion, at the Park Crescent end.

I know it would probably irk the Fire Brigade, Ambulance and Police but it might have been better to make both Albert Rd and Queens Rd one way.

Originally Posted by Alikado

I know it would probably irk the Fire Brigade, Ambulance and Police but it might have been better to make both Albert Rd and Queens Rd one way.

As in one in, one out?

Sounds a sensible option and shouldn't affect response times by a huge amount.

Originally Posted by Sap33

Genuine question, if the Government says these routes have to be in place, where else would you put it?

Technically the main access route is via Albert Road, hence the signs that have been there for years sending HGVs along this way, so where else can it go?

For your information, I don't agree with the restrictions along Hoghton Street, but partly agree with the restrictions on Queens Road, where I think restricting traffic entering from Manchester Road is a good thing, but not necessary, in my opinion, at the Park Crescent end.

So, these restrictions have been put in place to supposedly encourage cyclists to ride into town and yet you advocate keeping the no entry in to Queens Road from Manchester Road, which is heading OUT of town, and yet you think the no entry from Park Crescent isn’t necessary, even though that is heading INTO town. BIZARRE.

Originally Posted by justbecause

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So, these restrictions have been put in place to supposedly encourage cyclists to ride into town and yet you advocate keeping the no entry in to Queens Road from Manchester Road, which is heading OUT of town, and yet you think the no entry from Park Crescent isn’t necessary, even though that is heading INTO town. BIZARRE.

The restrictions are to encourage safe cycling, not just cycling into town! Keeping the traffic from entering Queens Road at Manchester Road means less traffic on that stretch, making it quieter for cyclists as it gives motorists space to overtake. The bulk of traffic coming into town from the North, tends to follow the sign posts for Albert Road anyway, so not really bizarre.