Southport Councillor secures temporary bus for Manchester Road

A Southport Councillor secures temporary bus for Manchester Road.

Residents have secured a temporary bus stop during highway improvement works following the intervention of a campaigning local councillor.

Cllr David Barton stepped in after work on Manchester Road, Southport, resulted in the suspension of Merseytravel’s Number 49 bus service to the area.

The lack of a bus stop has affected residents, senior citizens and customers wanting to use local businesses in Manchester Road.

Cllr Barton has previously appealed for a bus service to be diverted down Hawkshead Street, on to Queens Road, and then allowed to re-join Roe Lane, to serve the Manchester Road area but was told it was not possible.

Now, following talks with Sefton Council, the highways contractors and Merseytravel, he has now secured a temporary bus stop in the absence of the official Bus Service which has been diverted down Hawkshead St, on to Queens Road, and then allowed to re-join Roe Lane.

Cllr Barton, who represents Dukes Ward on Sefton Council, said: “From my own consultation and research within the local area many of the service users are senior citizens and those with disabilities and mobility issues, especially during the daytime.

“I raised this with urgency given the potential for an accident, how vulnerable many of the local residents are and the grave inconveniences brought to these residents in the absence of the bus service.

“There is also a chance that a bus service may be diverted into the area as the roadworks progress.

“I am grateful to all those residents and prominent local establishments who raised this issue with me and for their feedback.

“On behalf of local residents I should also like to thank Merseytravel for their continued assistance here.”