The Southport Conservative council group have decided to retract a requisition for a full extraordinary meeting of the council to discuss the consultation into the cycle lane proposals for Southport.
This comes following the response, on the same day the requisition was received by the council, that the results would finally be published.
The threat to hold an extra council meeting to discuss the cycle lane proposals was unanimously agreed by all the Conservative Councillors last week following lengthy delays in delivering any information to the public or elected representatives.
The leader of the Conservative group, councillor Tony Brough said, “we are sick and tired of being fobbed off with these unnecessary and lengthy delays”. “We were told that the data had been collated and finalised weeks ago, what have the council got to hide on these cycle lane proposals, a matter that will have a huge impact on Southport residents?”.
Labour’s cabinet member for locality services, Councillor Fairclough, following receipt of the requisition for a full council meeting, finally released the dates for the publication of the results. He also revealed that there were some “strange outcomes” to the responses to the consultation, which appear to be against the proposals.
Cllr. Fairclough stated that he had never known people be so adamantly against plans to introduce crossing points that would improve safety for pedestrians, while also saying that it seemed to have been mainly people who fit a certain profile who have responded in large numbers.
Conservative councillor, Sinclair D’Albuquerque said “I think the people of Southport were not fooled by this consultation”, in response to the comments made by Councillor Fairclough.
He continued, “It was a consultation that would have had a huge and detrimental impact on many of Southport’s residents. I am glad they were not deceived by the leading and loaded questions asked during this exercise. The residents knew what this consultation was really about!”.
“I am shocked at Councillor Fairclough’s comments that, people who fit a certain profile responded to the consultation”. “I think the people of Southport will be angered with his response”.
Councillor Mike Morris said, “I call on the cabinet member, councillor Fairclough to qualify his remarks so that the residents of Southport know who he is targeting”.
