OTS News says: The draft design for the Sustrans Liveable Neighbourhood scheme is a labyrinthian mess that should be wholly rejected by the people of Southport.
Sustrans – a ‘walking and cycling charity’ from Bristol – have recently unveiled draft proposals for their ‘Liveable Neighbourhood’, essentially a significant amount of traffic calming measures over a three-mile perimeter area close to the town centre.
The plan features 19 different road blocks, and a splash of paint to dress the area up.
A review of the plans lasting more than a few moments clearly reveals that the ideas have been concocted by bean-counters brandishing a calculator and a map while suffering from a severe lack of common sense, and absolutely zero real local knowledge of the area.
OTS News today joins with the existing vocal public opposition to these plans and encourages residents to submit feedback to Sustrans via https://sustrans.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/southport-designs-feedback before the closing date of 21 November.
What are the plans?
Sustrans has worked in conjunction with Sefton Council to design, trial and eventually implement a ‘Liveable Neighbourhood’ in an area close to the Town Centre that will include cosmetic improvements, the installation of measures to support and encourage cycling, and implement significant traffic restrictions.
Sustrans’ full plans can be found HERE
Following the conclusion of the consultation, Sustrans will review findings, hand a revised draft to Sefton Council, before a trial run is implemented with temporary measures sometime in 2022. A final consultation will take place before final implementation in 2022/23.
Through journeys through the area will essentially be fully prevented creating a complex routing system, segmenting certain areas.
Why is OTS News publicly opposing the plans?
At OTS News, we accept that the climate emergency is real, significant and should be a major priority for our politicians.
We do not arbitrarily stand against either cycle lanes, or traffic calming measures, but we do feel we are required to make a public stand over measures that will directly negatively affect the lives of Southport residents and businesses.
The plans submitted by Sustrans will place considerable difficulties on the mobility of Southport residents.
Frankly, Sustrans don’t care about that. In schemes throughout the country, Sustrans has attracted considerable criticism for railroading schemes without the support of local residents or community groups. Plenty of examples can be found with a five-minute internet search.
Sustrans believe backlash to their proposed changes can be “managed”. In an article published just last year, Sustrans implores Councils to proceed with their schemes regardless of local opposition. And of course, they would, given that their funding model relies upon the implementation of plans like these.
As a testament to Sustrans’ backlash management plan, OTS was contacted by Sustrans in April upon publishing a story detailing the opposition of business on Shakespeare Street. A member of Sustrans press team told OTS that the article detailing opposition to the Liveable Neighbourhood presented “one minority view”. The article, which mainly consisted of quotes from Shakespeare St business owners and public consultation responses apparently amounted to “opinions expressed are not accurate and are very misleading about the project.” A request from OTS to Sustrans for supporting evidence was not responded to.
Little consideration has been given to the commercial and industrial businesses that have operated on Shakespeare Street for decades. Little consideration has been given to residents elsewhere in the town who may not have the option to walk or cycle on a journey that takes them through the area, particularly given some significant traffic and layout issues elsewhere in the town.
It would, of course, be beneficial if our local councillors could work together across party lines so that Sefton could play it’s part in tackling the climate emergency, designing a range of effective measures acceptable to a majority. Some have tried, many haven’t.
Schemes designed to support cycling measures or to reduce our burden on the environment should generally be supported, on the proviso that they are well organised and can offer genuine benefit to residents. Sadly, the Sustrans Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme fits neither of those two important criteria.
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