The Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor has come out strongly in defence of Southport’s threatened rail service to Manchester Piccadilly, warning that the town could be ‘left behind’ if it is cut.
Steve Rotheram makes clear the government’s role in the issue while backing a local campaign which accuses a Department of Transport (DfT) led consultation of being a “stacked deck” against Southport.
Critics point out that all three options offered in the consultation result in the town losing its direct service to the south of Manchester and say it’s not the first time that the DfT has tried underhand tactics in recent years, with a previous attempt at deliberately misleading Southport residents and commuters being exposed in the House of Commons in 2018.
Started by local councillors, the “Hands Off” rail campaign is asking residents to swiftly sign its online petition and also respond “No change” to the consultation, which ends on March 10th.
It’s already receiving widespread support, with groups such as the area’s passenger association OPSTA and local business leaders among those backing it. Both Sefton Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority are expected later today to reject the consultation proposals given the damage they will cause to Southport if implemented.
Now, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is also lending considerable support to the campaign, explaining:
“For all of Boris Johnson’s talk about ‘levelling up’ across the North, cutting services like Southport to Manchester Piccadilly only leaves communities left behind.”
“We’ve already fought to save it once before but now the Conservatives are trying to slash this vital rail service once again, cutting the area off not just from south Manchester directly but also all the towns along the route.”
“I’m not going to settle for a second class service for our area – the government needs to be investing in and growing our railways, not cutting back.”
“I’d encourage as many Southport residents and commuters as possible to get behind the “Hands Off” rail campaign so that the government gets the message loud and clear.”
Campaign co-organisers Cllrs Greg Myers and Gordon Friel say they are delighted to have the Metro Mayor’s contribution.
Cllr Myers commented: “As well as local residents and commuters responding to the petition and consultation, it’s vital we also have as many strong voices as we can speaking out against this threat from across the region.”
“So we are delighted to have Steve Rotheram fighting Southport’s corner and backing our campaign. We’d ask once again that the town’s MP does likewise, as sadly, so far he has failed to do so.”
Cllr Friel added: “Southport has the strength and support of the city region behind it now on this issue, and the Department of Transport, the town’s MP and this government need to recognise that and the damage they will cause to it if they carry regardless.”
The petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/HandsOffSouthport-ManchesterPiccadilly
State “No Change” to the consultation via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/timetable-options-to-improve-rail-performance-in-the-north-of-england
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