One Merseyside town centre could be the subject to several drastic alterations which would see how people travel around the town change.
Sefton Council is looking to redesign the layout of Southport town centre with the key change recommending lowering the speed limit on Eastbank Street from 30mph to 20mph. In a report published by the council, a number of changes to the dynamic of the town centre were laid out ahead of the cabinet meeting on Thursday, September 1.
The report has proposed that the pavement becomes wider and the speed limit is lowered along the entire length of Eastbank Street due to the road being a main gateway into the town. Another key change would see Market Street pedestrianised following the success of Southport Market since it reopened last year with an emphasis on serving food and drink.
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The pedestrianisation of the road would go from the junctions of King Street to the service entrance at Southport Market, with the remaining portion of the road going from one-way to two-way to provide access to the market and surrounding properties. It will also see the removal of six parking spaces to allow enough space for two-way traffic.
In addition to the changes on Eastbank Street and Market Street, it has also been proposed that a portion of King Street between the junction with Eastbank Street and the junction with Market Street is changed to a one-way system, with traffic coming from Eastbank Street in order to improve safety and introduce a wider pavement on the eastern side of the street.
All the changes proposed for the town are part of the Les Transformations project funded by the Town Deal awarded to Sefton Council last year allowing them to invest sums of money into improving the town from the central government. Moving forward, the council is set to speak to occupiers and owners on Market Street, King Street, Eastbank Street and Chapel Street before the end of the year.
The council also confirmed in its report that the details on phase one of the project and contract procurement process will be completed by next year with the hope of commissioning the work by early 2023. The bulk of the work will most likely be completed in late 2023 to avoid the busy summer season.
The report said: "It is recommended that the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) be authorised to implement the following modifications to the highway:
"(a) Installation of new, high-quality paving, new lighting, seating, planting and improvements to street furniture on Market Street
"(b) Widening of the footway and installation of high-quality paving, lighting, planting and improvements to street furniture on King Street
"(c) Installation of improved pedestrian crossing facilities, widening of a section of the footway and installation of high-quality paving, planting and improvements to street furniture on Eastbank Street
"(d) Removal of ‘street clutter’ and improvements to street furniture on Chapel Street."
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