The final decision on the controversial redevelopment of Lime Street’s road network could be made behind closed doors.
Liverpool Council’s cabinet is due to discuss and potentially ratify proposals for a trial to go ahead as the controversial development rumbles on.
However, the agenda for next Friday’s meeting indicates that the decision could be taken without members of the press or public present.
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Observers and journalists were also shut out from a discussion on the implementation of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) at the authority’s climate change and environment sub-committee on Tuesday.
Committee chair Cllr Lena Simic told assembled members that the decision was being made to remove press “as we are dealing with commercially sensitive information.”
On Friday, the council’s executive is expected to give the green light to an ETRO being put in place for upto 18 months.
An experimental order is a legal document which imposes traffic and parking restrictions such as road closures, controlled parking and other parking regulations indicated by double or single yellow lines.
Under the proposed amendments to the long-running project, buses could be given the green light to travel in both directions on Lime Street.
The alterations will also include enhanced pedestrian crossings, improved cycle facilities, secure cycle parking, a bus stop outside Lime Street station, disabled parking facilities and the introduction of a 20 mph zone together with access-only restrictions on Lime Street, between Queens Square Bus Station and London Road.
The proposals require an additional £1.5m due to the pre-Christmas safety works which were necessary to be undertaken when the main contractor went into administration.
The much-maligned project also led to the resignation of a former cabinet member.
The Lime Street scheme, which also includes a widening of St George’s Plateau, is part of the Liverpool City Centre Connectivity (LCCC) programme and has already delivered upgrades to key roads such as The Strand, Dale Street and Victoria Street, and has created a dedicated new bus hub and coach park.
The plans will go before Cabinet on Friday February 4 at 10am.
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