The largest indoor shopping centre in Liverpool has raised concerns over proposed changes to one of the city's major roads ahead of a vote tomorrow.
St Johns Shopping Centre said it is "concerned about the continued uncertainty and delay" of the planned redesign of the City Centre Connectivity Scheme, "particularly at a time when businesses within St Johns are focusing on recovery".
The centre said that under the new plans, St Johns’ car park will be accessible via Elliot Street and Skelhorne Street, but with no route available from Lime Street, as had previously been the case – a significant change to the original design which has been planned and approved".
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St Johns added that it has previously "consulted at length" with Liverpool City Council throughout the planning and development of the Lime Street scheme and is "disappointed and surprised that changes are being proposed at this late stage".
The city council is due to vote on the plans at a meeting of the Environment and Climate Change Committee on Tuesday, January 25.
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 20mph zone together with access-only restrictions on Lime Street, between Queens Square Bus Station and London Road.
The council added that the road has already been narrowed from Lime Street Station up to the Adelphi Hotel, and that "no further changes are planned here".
The Lime Street and St George's Plateau revamp was delayed after the scheme's contractor went into administration last year.
St John's added that its "current priority is to understand the technical assessments that have been undertaken on the revised proposal that demonstrate that congestion and air quality issues are not being created at other locations and major junctions elsewhere in the city".
Centre manager Neil Ashcroft said: "Our concern is not just for the centre itself, but for the many businesses, theatres, museums and cultural venues in the surrounding areas that rely on the easy accessibility of parking in this part of the city centre.
"These new plans may well translate to increased journey times for those travelling by car, which will, in turn, have a negative impact on emissions.
"To understand how the revised scheme will work for shoppers, workers residents and visitors, we need the highway modelling data to be made public.
"The Connectivity Scheme has always been about creating an improved experience when travelling around the city and we are keen to have assurances that this is still being achieved under the new plans."
