Public consultation and engagement was carried out in February and March 2022 on the Les Transformations de Southport project, which is part of the Southport Town Deal. The project aims to provide improvements to movement, access and connectivity in Southport town centre and improve links to the railway station. The aim of the consultation was to get feedback on the proposals for the first phase of the project and ideas about the future phases of the project. People were also asked about direction signs, parking and wayfinding information for pedestrians. A range of consultation activities was carried out, including specific engagement with businesses and schools.
Responses from the general public, businesses and schools were generally supportive of the proposals for the first phase of the project. In particular, the proposals for traffic free section on Market Street were supported. The responses relating to the proposed one-way on King Street and the wider pavements on King Street and Eastbank Street were more balanced with no clear position, either for or against the proposals.
Ideas for including in the future phases of the project were provided, with support for various measures that would improve the appearance of the town centre. The schools wanted to see places that were more attractive, were safer for pedestrians, provided space for people to sit outside, were better for disabled people and had less pollution.
The consultation and engagement process has provided an extensive amount of information. The results of the consultation will be used to inform the final designs of the first phase of the project and the development of the future phases.
Key findings of the consultation
Eastbank street
New pedestrian crossing: There was support for the idea of a new pedestrian crossing on Eastbank Street, although a lot of respondents considered that the existing crossing was fine. Any additional crossing would need to take account of the existing crossing facility.
Widening the footway on part of Eastbank Street: There was a mixed response to the suggestion of widening the footway on the south side of Eastbank Street, between the existing parking bays and King Street. The responses were quite evenly split and there was no clear preference.
Disabled parking bays: There was clear support for retaining the disabled parking bays on Eastbank Street.
Market Street and King Street (Market area)
Traffic free section on Market Street: Although some concerns were expressed about parking, traffic impacts and the effects on businesses, there was strong support for the idea of creating a traffic free section along part of Market Street.
Planting or paving option: Respondents were asked to give a preference between two options for the street environment at the entrance to a potential traffic free section of Market Street. One option was all paving, while the other included some elements of ornamental planting, shown at the junction with King Street. Of the 222 responses, 130 preferred the planting option, 52 preferred the paving and 40 said that they had no preference. The option with planting was therefore perceived as the better option, although some respondents again raised the importance of good maintenance.
Tree planting and seating on Market Street: The suggestion of providing tree planting and seating along Market Street within a proposed traffic free section was strongly supported by respondents. The issue of maintenance was also raised again by some respondents.
Two way section on Market Street (between Princes Street and the service entrance to the Market): If a traffic free section is created on Market Street, it will be necessary to change the existing one-way arrangement along Market Street and allow two way traffic at the eastern end of the street, providing access to and from the service area to the Market via Princes Street. This was not as strongly supported as other aspects of the proposals. A number of people expressed no preference, but others were concerned about whether it could be implemented.
One way section on King Street: There was a mixed response to the suggestion of making King Street one way from Eastbank Street to the junction with Market Street. Some respondents were very supportive of the idea and a small number even suggested that it should be made traffic free. However, many others did not agree and thought it should not be changed. There was no clear preference in the overall responses.
Widen footway on King Street: There was also a mixed response to the suggestion of widening the footway on one side of King Street. There were slightly more responses in favour than not, but there was no clear preference in the overall responses.
Disabled parking and loading bays on King Street: There was clear support for retaining the loading bays and disabled parking bays on King Street.