Bypass is best A5036 option
says Highways England
HIGHWAYS England has reiterated its
view that building a new bypass is the best option to replace the A5036 Port of
Liverpool route in Merseyside.
The company have confirmed it would formally
defend its decision to opt for a Bypass after Sefton Council applied for a
judicial review, on the basis that a tunnel option was not included as part of
the public consultation.
Following the consultation earlier this year, Highways England announced in
August it had decided to take forward the design of a new Bypass through,
Rimrose Valley rather than try to improve the existing route between the Port
and Switch Island junction where the road meets the M57 and M58 motorways.
Highways England chief executive Jim O
Sullivan said:- "The considerable cost and disruption of constructing a
tunnel and ongoing maintenance and operational costs meant it was never going to
be a viable solution. A bypass will provide similar long term benefits to a
tunnel; an almost junction free link between the Port and motorway network; at a
significantly lower cost with less construction disruption and a much shorter
delivery time when pressure on the existing road is increasing all the time. We
want to continue talking to the Council and local people to ensure we deliver an
A5036 Port of Liverpool route which can support the local and regional economy."
Explaining why a tunnel was never put forward
as an option at the consultation, Tim Gamon, Highways England's regional
delivery director for the North West, said a bypass would deliver the same
economic benefits as a tunnel, but while a tunnel would cost more than ₤1.5
billion the cost of a bypass was around ₤250 million.
Mr Gamon said:- "The tunnel simply does not provide value for money.
Furthermore, the impact of delivering a tunnel through the park would mean the
whole of the Rimrose Valley would potentially be 'out of bounds' for
recreational use; including the sports pitches; for up to 6 years due to the
scale of the construction and safety zones required."
Highways England is working on ideas to help mitigate the impact of a new bypass
on the country park, park users and people living nearby, with a package of
mitigation and environmental improvement measures including:- landscaping,
planted screening, noise barriers and improved leisure facilities and pedestrian
and cyclist links through the valley.
Delivering a bypass would mean handing back
the existing A5036 to local people to provide a clear separation of local
traffic from commercial and commuter traffic between the port and motorway
network. Highways England will transform the existing A5036; delivering
improved:- cycling facilities, better crossing and footpaths, improved
connectivity on the Inter City routes crossing the road to benefit local
communities.
This is a highly controversial topic we would
like to know your views on this.
Please email us your views via sending them to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.Com. |
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Southport Pier will be
closed for improvement work
A section of Southport Pier will be
temporarily closed from 3 January 2018, to allow contractors to begin the 2nd
Phase of its ₤2.9m improvement works. The landward section of the pier, between
Ocean Plaza and the Marine Lake cafe, will be closed off to the public until
approximately March, 2018. This is to allow contractors to continue with a huge
improvement project to create additional jobs, increase visitor numbers and
secure Southport Pier as a valued asset for many years to come. The seaward end
of the Pier will remain fully open during the works, including the Pavilion.
Access to the Pier will be from the steps and ramp at Ocean Plaza, while signage
and directional routes will be installed to help guide visitors and residents.
Other works on and around the Pier include:-
► The creation of new retail and food units.
► New extension to the Pier pavilion.
► New steps linking the Pier deck with the beach below.
► Improvements to railings around Marine Lake.
Sefton Council told us that:- "We apologise for any inconvenience this
will cause."
Specialist Perinatal Service
appoints new manager!
THE Lancashire Care NHS Foundation
Trust has successfully recruited a Perinatal Service Manager who will lead the
new team at the new, specialist inpatient unit in Chorley.
Earlier this year, NHS England selected the Trust as a preferred provider to run
1 of the 4, new 8 bed mother and baby units (MBU) in the country. The unit is an
inpatient facility for mothers with serious mental health problems during the
perinatal period. The new MBU means that the Trust can provide the support and
treatment that women need whilst continuing to be with their babies.
Last month, the Trust successfully appointed the Perinatal Service Manager who
will begin post in February. Philip Hayes, Perinatal Service Manager at
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said of the appointment:- "I am so
excited about the new facility. It's amazing that our Trust has been given the
mandate to build this specialist unit and I'm proud to be part of the new
project. Thankfully perinatal mental health has finally been given the publicity
and governmental support it has needed for many years. Mothers will be able to
receive the care they need nearer to home whilst making partners and families
lives easier too with reduced travel time. There is a structured training and
recruitment plan to ensure that when the unit opens we are able to offer the
best support and care for mother and their babies. I live in the Chorley area
and there is already a buzz of excitement building as the project gains momentum
and staff I come into contact are asking questions about this specialist branch
of mental health care!"
The Trust plans to open the unit in July 2018 and will be recruiting a for a
number of posts in the New Year including; Band 6 registered mental health
nurses (RMNs), staff nurses, nursery nurses, a psychologist and occupational
therapist. Later in the year the Trust will also be recruiting a number of
health care support staff.
The unit is a huge step forward for everyone involved in
Prenatal Mental Health across Cumbria and
Lancashire. The Trust is also looking for people to be involved in the planning
of the new unit and has set up a closed Facebook group for people to share
experiences and have discussions about the plans for the unit. If you would like
to join the group, please email your details to:-
Communications@LancashireCare.NHS.UK.
The Trust have also launched its 5 Year Plan
which contains 6 key elements, that together, support the organisation to
achieve its overall vision of providing high quality care in the right place, at
the right time, every time. You can read more about this by visiting:-
LancashireCare.NHS.UK/5yearplan. |