Local campaigners have been ‘disappointed but unsurprised’ by the announcement this week that the cycle lane project introduced down Hoghton Street and Queens Road last summer will now be expanded to include areas of Churchtown, Crossens and Birkdale Village.

As part of this expansion, lanes will also be installed connecting the town centre to Crossens and Churchtown going North and Birkdale Village going South.

The lanes have come under severe criticism from many residents, but perhaps most of all from the local Conservative group who see this scheme as yet another nail in the coffin of Southport’s high- street and small businesses.

Thomas de Freitas, a Conservative campaigner in Meols Ward had this to say: "‘Many of us in the Conservative group warned as soon as these lanes were introduced that they would be damaging to local businesses and we have been proven right ever since.

"In areas where parking was already limited and footfall already severely reduced by the pandemic, Labour Councillors have once again voted to reduce this parking availability even further and in the case of Queens Road block traffic from using the road entirely.

"I will continue to campaign, with my colleagues, to see that members of the Council and our representatives in Meols are held to account for this decision."

Lee Durkin, who campaigns for the Conservative Party in Birkdale added: "I’ve spoken with many residents on this issue and the response is unanimous, they don’t want cycle lanes introduced into the village.

"I warned last year that the Liberal Democrats would not stop the introduction of these lanes and our Liberal Democrat Councillors condemned me, but this latest announcement I feel tells residents all they need to know about their ability to stand up for local interests.

"My colleague Thomas, now faces exactly the same situation in Meols, where there is no support for this decision, the lanes are being introduced and there are three Liberal Councillors who appear happy to stand idly by while these decisions are made for them."

Sinclair D’Albuquerque, a Conservative campaigner who has been vocal campaigning to remove these lanes since the summer added: "It’s disappointing to see the scrutiny and subsequent review we, and residents in Southport, have campaigned for undermined by further investment into making these lanes more permanent.

"Sefton Council are sending a clear message that they are determined to ignore the wishes of people in Southport and disregard their best interest. Instead opting to force through this project.

"Southport residents absolutely see through this and I believe they will express their dissatisfaction at a lack of strong representatives at the local elections when they are held later this year."

Finally, the Conservative campaigner for Dukes Ward, Mike Prendergast commented in support: "There is little to no demand for this scheme from residents and businesses in Dukes Ward. I delivered 200 surveys on the issue specifically and received exactly one back indicating support for these cycle lanes!

"The existing cycle lanes were hastily installed and have adversely affected those living and working nearby and were supposed to be subject to review but now it sounds as if the existing lanes will remain and that any proposed review was in name only.

"The proposed new lanes in Dukes will simply exacerbate parking issues in Dukes around Smedley Hydro, which I have previously successfully campaigned to help alleviate."

Residents can have their say in the summer over how they feel their local councillors have handled the situation when they go to the polls currently set to be held in May.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Local Campaigners have been ‘disappointed but unsurprised’ by the announcement this week that the cycle lane project introduced down Hoghton Street and Queens Road last summer will now be expanded to include areas of Churchtown, Crossens and Birkdale Village.

Local campaigners? Only 'campaigners' I know of, are the many concerned members of our local cycling groups, who have been asking for protection like this for many years.....

Perhaps these 'disappointed' individuals should first ask themselves why 97% of local journeys are made by car? Or why there's an obesity epidemic amongst residents? Or why residents when asked, are so fearful of using their bikes?

Just what are these 'campaigners' motives, in so doggedly opposing a simple scheme designed to encourage healthier lifestyles, to reduce unnecessary car use, to reduce air pollution, and to cut damaging CO2 greenhouse emissions?

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Thomas de Freitas, a Conservative Campaigner in Meols Ward had this to say;
... in the case of Queens Road block traffic from using the road entirely.

That's a lie. Traffic can enter Queens Road from 7 side roads and then travel along its length.

Finally, the Conservative Campaigner for Dukes Ward, Mike Prendergast supported this saying;

‘There is little to no demand for this scheme from residents and businesses in Dukes Ward, I personally delivered 200 surveys on the issue specifically and received exactly 1 back indicating support for these cycle lanes!

.

But for balance, how many of the 200 did he get back objecting to the lanes? 0? 1? 100? I live in Dukes Ward, I didn't receive a survey from Mr Prendergast which isn't surprising as there are a damn site more than 200 residences and businesses in Dukes Ward.

As for Mr Hot Dog Jumping Frog Alburquerque it seems his loyal customers cannot be bothered walking around the corner to get to his restaurant nor does he want to give up his car parking space on his restaurant frontage so that it could be used as a pick up and drop off point for those incapable of walking around the corner.

You can never expect truth from a Tory.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

That's a lie. Traffic can enter Queens Road from 7 side roads and then travel along its length.


But for balance, how many of the 200 did he get back objecting to the lanes? 0? 1? 100? I live in Dukes Ward, I didn't receive a survey from Mr Prendergast which isn't surprising as there are a damn site more than 200 residences and businesses in Dukes Ward.

As for Mr Hot Dog Jumping Frog Alburquerque it seems his loyal customers cannot be bothered walking around the corner to get to his restaurant nor does he want to give up his car parking space on his restaurant frontage so that it could be used as a pick up and drop off point for those incapable of walking around the corner.

You can never expect truth from a Tory.

H!Ha! You think any Politician tells the truth? Which ones are up for a Sainthood this year?

Originally Posted by said

H!Ha! You think any Politician tells the truth? Which ones are up for a Sainthood this year?

Well even if you believe that to be true it doesn't excuse lies.
But then you're a proven liar yourself so obviously your standards are lower than mine.

Great news! Thank you Sefton Council.

Why are some councillors going against the obvious grain, who stands idly by watching this fall into place, if the public, the businesses and parking concessions and everyone are loosing out not benefiting from this it might be time to think who is ....and why/how.

Originally Posted by MICK/GILLY

A) Why are some councillors going against the obvious grain, who stands idly by watching this fall into place,

B) if the public, the businesses and parking concessions and everyone are losing out not benefiting from this, it might be time to think who is ....and why/how.

A) Probably because they realise our planet is in deep trouble, and know that CO2 levels along with global temperatures are heading into dangerous territory. I'm sure the anti-cyclist 'campaigners' know it too, but choose to put their own selfish short-term political gain, before care for our environment.

B) Who benefits? Why, all the thousands of residents who switched to bikes last Spring, during the first big lockdown of course....With roads virtually devoid of cars, the town felt so much safer to cycle in. Predictably, as the cars came back, the bikes went in. Obvious then, that people aren't using bikes because they have to risk it in traffic, because they don't feel safe - these are the people who will benefit.

Madness! Little Theatre will close all because of the bike fanatics.

Bikes are not the be-all and end-all.

Cycling idiots along with Sefton Council idiots are killing Southport

Have you bike lanes - they'll be a road to nowhere.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

That's a lie. Traffic can enter Queens Road from 7 side roads and then travel along its length.


But for balance, how many of the 200 did he get back objecting to the lanes? 0? 1? 100? I live in Dukes Ward, I didn't receive a survey from Mr Prendergast which isn't surprising as there are a damn site more than 200 residences and businesses in Dukes Ward.

As for Mr Hot Dog Jumping Frog Alburquerque it seems his loyal customers cannot be bothered walking around the corner to get to his restaurant nor does he want to give up his car parking space on his restaurant frontage so that it could be used as a pick up and drop off point for those incapable of walking around the corner.

You can never expect truth from a Tory.

Which just goes to prove how utterly pointless and futile it is barring entry to Queens Road from Park Crescent and Manchester Road.

All I know is that the same amount of traffic is diverted onto other roads which which is causing more chaos. People travelling from out of town have to use their cars to get to work and for shopping, no consideration seems to be given to them. The cycling brigade seem to think they are some sort of elite who can dictate to the rest of us, without any sort of discussion on the subject. It would be interesting to know what sort of chaos is being planned for Birkdale, Churchtown and Crossens areas. It'll be another case of 'spot the cyclist'

Originally Posted by The PNP

A) Probably because they realise our planet is in deep trouble, and know that CO2 levels along with global temperatures are heading into dangerous territory. I'm sure the anti-cyclist 'campaigners' know it too, but choose to put their own selfish short-term political gain, before care for our environment.

B) Who benefits? Why, all the thousands of residents who switched to bikes last Spring, during the first big lockdown of course....With roads virtually devoid of cars, the town felt so much safer to cycle in. Predictably, as the cars came back, the bikes went in. Obvious then, that people aren't using bikes because they have to risk it in traffic, because they don't feel safe - these are the people who will benefit.

A ). Old shite rhetoric, no one is against common sense, I have never heard of anti cyclist campaigners and there’s not many out on bikes this morning in the global warming freezing ice .

B ). It’s a bit over egging it trying to convince us that THOUSANDS have switched to bikes around Southport because of this costly town and business killing none sense and covid, no nobody will buy that when most are against this when the country is in difficulty and there are pennies to be pinched and not wasted and most see it as a ridiculous and dangerous waste of public funds.

If you were to read between the lines of my post you would have seen that I was trying to imply that some with power who don’t oppose this stupid expense may have something personally to gain or to loose if they can’t push this and that the vast majority TENS OF THOUSANDS of residents don’t want their taxes wasted on and that those who stood idly by or promoted the idea might have some incognito incentive to go against the public grain of opinion or not want to ask them as they know the answer would be no, no thank you.

So for those that couldn’t read between the lines of my first post or comprehend this last paragraph then maybe they didn’t hold meetings for public opinion as the vast majority would have argued or laughed it away and they knew. Could it be that those minority that support this or stand idly by are misappropriating funds or getting backhanders from a private company that has something to do with making bicycle lanes. The whole thing stinks of skulduggery, years ago I remember a pic of you on here outside the town hall are you a councillor pushing this agenda?, does anyone amongst your family or friends own a bicycle lane making company.

The problem is use.

The call has been made for separate cycle lanes for years but so often they remain little used or empty where they are provided.

The people that promote cycling have clearly failed in this town maybe it's time they stood aside.

Originally Posted by libraryguy

Madness! Little Theatre will close all because of the bike fanatics.

Bikes are not the be-all and end-all.

Cycling idiots along with Sefton Council idiots are killing Southport

Have you bike lanes - they'll be a road to nowhere.

Why would it close?
It's not as if everyone who attended parked in Hoghton St
The loss of a couple of dozen parking spaces shouldn't affect a several hundred capacity theatre unduly.

Originally Posted by MICK/GILLY

A ). Old shite rhetoric, no one is against common sense, I have never heard of anti cyclist campaigners and there’s not many out on bikes this morning in the global warming freezing ice .

B ). It’s a bit over egging it trying to convince us that THOUSANDS have switched to bikes around Southport because of this costly town and business killing none sense and covid, no nobody will buy that when most are against this when the country is in difficulty and there are pennies to be pinched and not wasted and most see it as a ridiculous and dangerous waste of public funds.

The whole thing stinks of skulduggery, years ago I remember a pic of you on here outside the town hall are you a councillor pushing this agenda?, does anyone amongst your family or friends own a bicycle lane making company.

A) What else can you call people who repeatedly call for removal of cycle-lanes and calling themselves 'campaigners'....?

B) Well, thousands did switch back to bikes, digging out and dusting off their old ones from sheds and garages. Meanwhile, those who had no bikes, were cleaning out every bike shop in the area. Btw, removing the new bike-lanes would cost even more money.

No, I'm not a Councillor and I don't manufacture bikes. We were (our cycling group) outside the Town Hall waving banners, supporting a vote on 20mph limits and attended the Area Committee meeting being held that night.