Councillors tried to throw out plans for controversial £700,000 cycle lanes in Southport at a meeting last night.
The plans, part of the latest round of government funding to promote active travel, have prompted strong reactions from some local residents and politicians.
Last night, members of Sefton council’s overview and scrutiny committee met to discuss the results of the public consultations over the proposed Southport Cycle lanes.
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Two different lanes were subject to consultation, one running from Hesketh Park to the Plough and one running from Birkdale to Ainsdale, although officers have stated there is insufficient funding for both lanes to be put fully into effect.
A report released by Sefton council last week detailed the outcome of consultations with local residents about the plans, which had received a large number of objections, with the majority of those who responded about the Southport lanes saying they were against the move.
However in the report, officers said the results of the consultation had been potentially skewed by a lack of responses from a younger age group.
Last week, Cabinet member Cllr John Fairclough said: “As the report says, the Council put a lot of effort into encouraging people to take part in the consultation but it seems to have been mainly people who fit a certain profile who have responded in large numbers so we need to look at how we can try to get broader responses in the future.
“And, given the multiple submissions identified, we are going to need to build in ways of detecting this into future consultations, to ensure the outcomes are truly representative of a community’s views.”
His comments sparked criticism over his use of the phrase “certain profiles” prompting Sefton council last week to clarify his comments.
A spokesperson for Sefton council said the remarks were “in reference to the high proportion of respondents to the consultation being in the over 50 age range.
The spokesperson added: “The comment acknowledged that the responses had not reflected the Southport’s overall population and recognised the need to obtain a wider presentation of responses from all age groups in future similar exercises.”
Ahead of last night’s meeting, Cllr Fairclough, who is overseeing the scheme and its consultation also said he would “look forward” to hearing the views of members to the consultation, although was not present at last night’s meeting, with Council leader Ian Maher taking his place.
After officers presented the findings of the report, Conservative Councillor Sinclair D’Alberquerque, who had earlier declared an interest in relation to a restaurant he previously owned on Horton Road, where one of the proposed lanes would run, and has been a vocal objector to the plans, said he was concerned the lanes would “undoubtedly cause more traffic” in his ward.
Cllr D’Alberquerque also said that he had “taken his tape measure out” to Preston New Road and found the lanes “wouldn’t fit” to allow HGVs to pass other traffic along the route.
Officers said the designs were based on ordnance survey maps and topographical surveys would be carried out at a later date as the plans move through the process.
Labour Councillor Greg Myers, representing Norwood ward, said that he believed the council had been placed in a “difficult position” by the way in which the funding was being handed out by central government.
He said: “The council have been left in a very difficult situation because of the Department for Transport stipulations for funding.
“Within the responses of the consultation there is some difficulty squaring the circle. People wanted less of the negative effects from traffic but didn’t want to give over space to cycling and walking.
“It is a contradiction and there is difficulty in squaring that circle.”
Head of Highways Peter Moore spoke of the challenges of the timescales for putting together the proposals and responded to queries as to whether Sefton council could have just chosen not to put forward proposals for the second tranche of cycle lanes.
Mr. Moore said: “In the ‘one year on’ review and in the agenda it was made clear that councils should not expect the government to fund transport speaks that didn’t involve active travel” adding that the the “radical changes” required for environmental commitments are “not easy.”
Cllr. D’Albuquerque, seconded by fellow conservative Cllr Shaw asked for a motion to be voted on to return the proposals to full council to be discussed further given the widespread disapproval for the scheme, a move which officers said would mean the timetable of progressing the lanes could be put in jeopardy.
Officers, however, said such a vote would be “void” as the committee did not have that authority, with members agreeing instead for the report to be noted and the concerns of councillors and an acknowledgement that there was not widespread approval in the consultation for the scheme to be “fed back” to the absent cabinet member.
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