Following an extended consultation process, Sefton Council has put its current Active Travel proposals for Southport on hold, so that it can consider alternative options, including ideas put forward by the community during a recent consultation.

Like many councils, in the early days of the pandemic Sefton was instructed by the Government to put active travel schemes like the Southport Active Travel scheme in place.

Now that the Council has had the opportunity to carry out the consultation it has received a wide range of feedback from residents and businesses on the proposed new scheme including a number of alternative suggestions.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “As was the case with many councils in the early days of COVID-19, the Government told Sefton Council to put active travel schemes in place without consultation.

"We had little time and no Department for Transport criteria on which to judge their performance.

“Now that we have had an opportunity to carry out our robust consultation process, it is clear that local residents and businesses support the need to do more for the environment and that doing nothing is not an option, but some concerns have been expressed about some aspects of the proposals

“It makes sense therefore to put the plans on hold while we consider options and alternative ideas.”

Cllr Fairclough continued: “Sefton Council's Climate Change Emergency declaration has received cross-party backing with councillors across the board agreeing that more needs to be done to progress this vital work.

“We remain committed to initiatives that will combat climate change and improve the health and wellbeing of communities across the Borough, including the way in which people travel.

“There is clear backing for work on further proposals for more green and active schemes that will tackle the strain and pressures our environment is facing and I look forward to seeing those plans developed after proper consideration.”

In November 2021, 30 Sefton businesses pledged publicly to reduce their carbon outputs following their attendance at InvestSefton’s net zero workshop and we are working with businesses owners to help them understand how they could play a role in tackling the climate emergency.

The decision to postpone any proposals remains subject to a ‘call-in’ period prior to approval.

Source: sefton.gov.uk

PNP, Donkey, and Lawed can now go and crawl back under their respective rocks.

Funny to see Fairclough manipulating the facts in order to try to save face.

I suspect Cllr Fairclough may be a cyclist. He is certainly good at Back Pedaling.

Defiantly an exponent of the Nuremberg defense.

Originally Posted by justbecause

PNP, Donkey, and Lawed can now go and crawl back under their respective rocks.

Funny to see Fairclough manipulating the facts in order to try to save face.

I wouldn't get your hopes up too high....
A few tweaks to appease the anti-cycling brigade, then it's full steam ahead this Summer! ;-)

Originally Posted by The PNP

A few tweaks to appease the anti-cycling brigade, then it's full steam ahead this Summer! ;-)

I must say you're definately a "glass half full type".

Whist I strongly oppose the bicycle lanes I will offer my full support to any move to introduce steam traction (road or rail) back to Southport.

The steam bus "Elizabeth" used to be a popular tourist attraction in Whitby, but is now resting in a bus garage in Weston Super Mare.

Let's bring her to Southport. Now that would be a joy to behold.

Originally Posted by justbecause

PNP, Donkey, and Lawed can now go and crawl back under their respective rocks.

Funny to see Fairclough manipulating the facts in order to try to save face.

.

Originally Posted by MICK/GILLY

.

Hard to disagree with that !

Originally Posted by justbecause

PNP, Donkey, and Lawed can now go and crawl back under their respective rocks.

Funny to see Fairclough manipulating the facts in order to try to save face.

They could just go out for a ride as normal.
Nothing is stopping them or me.

Originally Posted by local

They could just go out for a ride as normal.
Nothing is stopping them or me.

Quite right, but it won’t stop them bleating.

Originally Posted by The PNP

I wouldn't get your hopes up too high....
A few tweaks to appease the anti-cycling brigade, then it's full steam ahead this Summer! ;-)

Do tell which environmentally good fuel are you going to use to create your steam?

You quite happily talk about the anti-cycling brigade, most are not anti-cycling, simply opposed to wrecking transport of all types merely to appease a very few cycling fanatics.

Originally Posted by silver fox

Do tell which environmentally good fuel are you going to use to create your steam?

You quite happily talk about the anti-cycling brigade, most are not anti-cycling, simply opposed to wrecking transport of all types merely to appease a very few cycling fanatics.

Exactly!!
There isn’t a single person on here who is anywhere near as anti-cycling as he is anti-car driver.

Originally Posted by silver fox

Do tell which environmentally good fuel are you going to use to create your steam?

You quite happily talk about the anti-cycling brigade, most are not anti-cycling, simply opposed to wrecking transport of all types merely to appease a very few cycling fanatics.

A scheme providing people with safe infrastructure that anyone can use, isn't aimed at 'cycling fanatics'. It's aimed at housewives riding to local shops, kids riding to schools, the retired and anyone else who is currently put off by fear of traffic.

Let's not forget, that converting up to 30% of car trips into bike trips, reduces congestion by the same amount.....Not to mention reducing wear and tear on the roads, improving physical health and helping the Borough meet its CO2 reduction targets.

Originally Posted by The PNP

A scheme providing people with safe infrastructure that anyone can use, isn't aimed at 'cycling fanatics'. It's aimed at housewives riding to local shops, kids riding to schools, the retired and anyone else who is currently put off by fear of traffic.

Let's not forget, that converting up to 30% of car trips into bike trips, reduces congestion by the same amount.....Not to mention reducing wear and tear on the roads, improving physical health and helping the Borough meet its CO2 reduction targets.

Paragraph 1.
Housewives, kids and old folk ride on the pavement mostly if they can be arsed riding a bike at all.

Paragraph 2.
This might not be politically correct but nobody cares , even those that wash out yoghurt pots don’t care… about any of it, and those that pretend to still can’t be arsed with a bike . And those that will argue with me just for trolling sake and dislike ALL my posts can just get stuffed it is what it is .

Originally Posted by local

They could just go out for a ride as normal.
Nothing is stopping them or me.

Those who already ride will continue to do so, come what may.....But unless/until the rest of the bike-owning community get safe routes, their bikes will continue to gather dust at the back of the shed/garage (and there are many, many thousands of bikes out there)!

Originally Posted by The PNP

Those who already ride will continue to do so, come what may.....But unless/until the rest of the bike-owning community get safe routes, their bikes will continue to gather dust at the back of the shed/garage (and there are many, many thousands of bikes out there)!

You've counted them all, have you? You really are absolutely and utterly delusional if you think the majority of housewives and others will do the weekly shop using two wheels to do so.

Same for your nonsensical tripe about people being frightened to ride in traffic - mostly a figment of your (very fertile) imagination in the majority of cases.