Plans to extend cycle lanes across Southport, including into Birkdale, have come in for heavy criticism from Conservative Council candidates, Mike Prendergast and Lee Durkin, standing in Dukes Ward and Birkdale Ward respectively.
Sefton Council have recently announced funding for an extension of the cycle lane scheme that could include York Road, Trafalgar Road and Alma Road as well.
Mike Prendergast said, ‘These plans show a complete ignorance of the area and the issues that affect local residents and businesses. Trafalgar Road and York Road are already blighted by parking problems from those who work at Smedley Hydro and installing cycle lanes here is just going to make the problem worse.
One of the main problems is that these decisions are taken by Labour councillors in Bootle who have no connection with our town and are totally out of touch with what people in Southport want.’
The installation of cycle lanes in Southport town centre without consultation has already been met with a barrage of criticism with many calling for them to be removed.
Lee Durkin said, ‘I’ve been campaigning for the people of Birkdale as I want Birkdale to have a voice on Sefton Council. This ridiculous plan just shows that we are being told what will happen rather than being properly consulted.
Our existing Lib Dem councillors have totally failed to provide any form of effective opposition. It is only in recent weeks, as we approach an election, that they have taken an interest which is a bit odd given last year they were delivering leaflets in support of cycle lanes in Birkdale!’
Both candidates are urging local people to vote for a change at Sefton Council in the local elections in May by voting for Southport Conservatives.
