A Southport Cllr wins battle for ‘Lifeline’ bus stop outside doctors surgery

A Southport Cllr wins battle for ‘Lifeline’ bus stop outside doctors surgery

A councillor has persuaded transport bosses to install a vital new bus stop just yards from a doctors’ surgery.

Councillor David Barton says the new permanent stop on York Road, Birkdale, is a lifeline for patients travelling to The Grange Surgery as well as a welcome addition for all residents in the village.

The new stop is being installed two years after Cllr Barton earned a reprieve for the Aughton Road bus service which serves Birkdale.

He persuaded CumfyBus and Merseytravel to divert its 15A service to replace the No 47 service which had been running for more than 100 years and which had been axed by Arriva.

The new bus stop involves a change in route after network provider Merseytravel deemed a trial of temporary stops in Alma Road could not be made permanent.

Cllr Barton, who represents Dukes Ward on Sefton Council, said: “I have supported the case for the York Road route due to the positives such as the wider spacing of the road, the convenience for the Surgery for senior citizens and other patients and the siting of previous bus stops for the old No 47 route, which can be brought back into use again.

“I particularly wanted the temporary bus stops to be switched for an alternate route after multiple complaints from residents who were worried about the dangers caused by traffic flow, which I have raised with Merseytravel.”

The 15A service is scheduled to change from July 24 2016 and will then be rerouted via York Road instead of Alma Road and Upper Aughton Road.

Cllr Barton said: “The use of temporary stops on Alma Road could not be sustained for an indefinite period of time and therefore either permanent stops or Hail and Ride would have needed to be introduced.

“Hail and Ride is not ideal and due to the nature of the road and parking requirements it was unlikely that a permanent stop could be agreed.

“By rerouting via York Road this still maintains access to Birkdale Village but also introduces a bus service to The Grange Surgery on York Road which we anticipate will be of value to the local community.”

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