Southport Conservatives are demanding that Sefton Labour listen to the people of Southport and abandon their plans to impose more cycle lanes on the town.
Cambridge Ward Councillor, Sinclair d’Albuquerque, and Dukes Ward Councillor, Mike Prendergast, have long opposed the scheme with it being a central part of their local election campaigns.
Cambridge Ward Councillor Mike Morris, said, “These results are clear, people don’t want these cycle lanes and these ridiculous plans should be stopped before more public money is wasted.”
The results of the consultation are overwhelmingly against the proposals. Over 4,000 responses were received, yet the report that accompanies the results makes it clear that Sefton Council is considering more consultation.
Before the release of the results, Labour Councillor, John Fairclough had said he believed the consultation may have been “hijacked in a coordinated response’. These claims have been ridiculed by local Conservatives and many have criticised the choice of language.
Meols Ward Conservative candidate, Thomas de Freitas said, “Labour can’t ignore these results, though I’m sure they will try. We can’t have a situation where Labour try and organise another consultation because they don’t like the answers given in the first one. It seems only people who support the proposals are welcome to give their views.”
Southport Conservatives have consistently opposed the scheme. At a Council meeting earlier in the year, Conservative Councillors voted to stop the scheme, Labour voted against this and local Lib Dem’s either abstained or didn’t turn up.
Dukes Ward Councillor, Sir Ron Watson commented, “This scheme would be bad for residents and businesses in Birkdale, especially those in and around Birkdale Village. We can’t have a situation where people in the south of the borough are looking to force through a scheme that the overwhelming majority of people don’t want.”
Ainsdale Ward Councillor Tony Brough, leader of the Conservative Group on Sefton Council said, “During the week of the COP26 Conference, we all recognise the urgent need to take measures to tackle climate change but this scheme is not one of them and in many ways could be counter productive, creating more traffic congestion and air pollution.
We must receive confirmation from Labour that this scheme will not go ahead. We’ve already heard ridiculous claims that the consultation might have been hijacked.
The people of Southport were asked a question, they’ve given their answer and Labour don’t like that. They cannot impose this scheme on a town that clearly doesn’t want it.”
