Business owners slam town centre cycle lane as petition launched

Furious business owners in the town centre are in a spin over the ‘ridiculous’ cycle lanes which have appeared outside their places of work.

Popular restauranteur Sinclair D’Albuquerque has blasted the new cycle lane which has decimated parking opportunities outside his bar Reuter’s as well as impacting dozens of other businesses too.

A petition against the lanes has attracted nearly 1,000 signatures.

The new pop up lanes stretch from Chapel Street for over half a mile to Queen’s Road.

Sinclair said: “I have seen one cyclist use it and others use the pavement. This is not enough to justify installing this ridiculous cycle lane.

“I would like to know what we are supposed to do when we get a delivery because now we will be blocking the entire carriageway.

“I’ll be out every day monitoring it but it isn’t being used.”

A Sefton Council spokespersons said “In May, the Government announced its Emergency Active Travel Fund, and called for Councils to reallocate road space urgently to produce cycling and walking facilities.

“Working with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Sefton Council submitted a bid to the Government fund and was successful in securing funding for two schemes in Bootle and Southport Town Centre. Both of these met the Government criteria for the fund.

“These two schemes are based on key routes previously identified in the Liverpool City Region Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and make it easier and safer for people to visit town centre shops, workplaces and other facilities in Bootle and Southport by bike or on foot.

“The Council will be monitoring the of the routes and keeping them under review over the coming months, so that we understand how we can improve them for people who walk and cycle.