Community campaigner welcomes increased safety measures at busy roundabout 

Community campaigner welcomes increased safety measures at busy roundabout

A former Councillor and campaigner for the restoration of Southport Town centre is celebrating after learning of new safety measures to be implemented at a busy Southport roundabout.

Mr David Barton’s proposals to Sefton Council Highways Department had included overall structural maintenance to the whole roundabout structure in addition to a white ring zig zag outer perimeter at the northern roundabout adjoining Albert Road, Manchester Road and Leicester Street.

Also read Southport Councillor calls for increased safety measures at busy roundabout

He said the work is to be carried out at all three of the historic Coronation roundabouts, established in honour of Her Majesty’s ascension to the Throne back in 1953, including the Central roundabout adjoining Eastbank Street and the Southern roundabout adjoining Lord Street West and Duke Street. This would prevent accidents being caused by any of the three tall columns which have since deteriorated over time and therefore become a hazard to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

Mr Barton, who represented Dukes Ward between 2014-2018, said he was delighted to learn of the latest of his ongoing requests which have now been finally granted after originally being informed of a car coming off the roundabout and crashing into the Verandah opposite at the Lords Bar, which has since been repaired.

He said: “I can only applaud and welcome these much required works and of course the Local Authority Council officers for having now granted action upon my original request which I raised with them over 2 years ago following cumulative data gathering from my then constituents wide and afar.

“It is my hope that the Highways Department shall act upon this imminently and undertake a like-for-like reconstruction of the columns as I have received numerous inquiries from residents in the past about general road safety in this area and their desire to retain these signature entranceways into the town.

“Much investment has already been sown into this area by individual property owners at both northern and southern Lord Street alongside funding which I myself have managed to secure from the Local Authority via a mutually gracious and respectful mode of working, and this shall go a long way to encouraging further investment confidence in the wider area.”

Sefton Council Highways Department is currently carrying out a number of safety projects but due to limited funding it is prioritising sites where there have been seven or more official accidents in the last three years.

The roundabouts which form the main routes linking Southport with Churchtown and Lancashire to the North, Birkdale and Merseyside to the South, in addition to the wider North West region to the East are frequented by many commuters and visitors that pass through on a daily basis.

Mr Barton added: “It is greatly encouraging to see the Authority acting upon this request which will serve a combined purpose of bolstering the safety and welfare of the Victorian town’s heritage alongside preserving its keystone heritage fort generations to come. I shall be further impressed and grateful if my final request for the zig zag white ring is implemented especially at the northern roundabout.

“If this saves just one life it will be money well invested. During my own ongoing town audit and inspections of the Verandahs I have frequently observed young mothers, younger families and senior citizens alike especially crossing Lord Street. I therefore believe this work would categorically help people to feel safer doing their shopping and in turn support the local businesses nearby.”