Proposed Southport Eastern Access Scheme to Improve Congestion and Journey Times

Sefton Council is asking the public to have their say on proposals which would transform travel opportunities in and out of Southport.

The Local Authority is calling on pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and visitors to the town to give their views on potential changes to the highway network around the road network to the East of the town centre, which includes Eastbank Street, Scarisbrick New Road, Kew Roundabout and Foul Lane.

Known as the 'Southport Eastern Access Scheme,', the proposals would seek to reduce congestion, improve journey times and promote active travel initiatives in an area that has a high level of road use.

One of the proposals involves the reopening and redesign of Foul Lane, which would provide a new traffic corridor through to the Meols Cop and Blowick areas from Southport Road.

As well as the introduction of new junctions, works would also be carried out to upgrade existing junctions and provide additional walking and cycling provision to and from Southport Town Centre.

Sefton Council is proposing to create active travel routes along Scarisbrick New Road, Southport Road, Kew Roundabout and Castlemore Junction, which would then connect to the newly reopened Foul Lane and Meols Cop Road through to Norwood Road.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: "Southport's Eastern Access is one of only three routes in and out of the town and sees tens of thousands of road users on its carriageways each year.

"As the main road to the resort from the East, it is unquestionably busy with motorists but is not as suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and those who don't drive.

"Our Southport Eastern Access improvement scheme seeks to address some of these long standing issues as well as putting in place advanced active travel infrastructure that will vastly improve how we travel in and out of the town.

"By reopening Foul Lane we can provide an improved corridor for residential traffic to access the high density areas of Blowick and High Park, which will reduce the amount of congestion on Scarisbrick New Road and Meols Cop Road.

"Improving junctions around Southport Road will also make accessing local retail parks much safer and the introduction of new active travel infrastructure will open up new opportunities for people travelling in and out of the town from neighbouring communities in the East.

"We want everyone to take time to read through our proposals and have their say. Ultimately this is a project that seeks to benefit all who use our highways."

The consultation will be open from Friday November 3rd until Friday December 8th and can be accessed on the Your Sefton Your Say https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/investment-programmes-and-infrastructure/sea-improvement-scheme-public-engagement 

All feedback will be reviewed and considered in the development of the next stages of the scheme.

Following this, a report will be produced summarising the consultation feedback and next stages of the scheme and will be made available on Sefton Council’s website.

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