Author: Ollie Cowan

Sefton Council has sent out letters to residents and businesses on Lord Street, Southport to let them know about an upcoming carriageway resurfacing project.

Through a series of technical surveys and engineering analysis undertaken across the borough, Lord Street has been identified as a priority for resurfacing works.

Lord Street will undergo an important series of resurfacing works, to improve the carriageway, commencing on Monday, September 18 and taking approximately six weeks to complete.

In a bid to minimise disruption, the works will be managed in four stages:

Stage 1: Duke Street to Eastbank Street
Stage 2: Eastbank Street to Nevill Street
Stage 3: Nevill Street to Manchester Road
Stage 4: Eastbank Street junction and Nevill Street Junction

Each phase will be carried out between 8am-5pm with the exception of Phase 4, which will be carried out after 7pm.

Pedestrian access to shops and amenities will be permitted at all times, while access for deliveries is restricted between 7.30am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm daily.

There will be ongoing liaisons with properties affected as the works progress.

Diversions will be in place via Duke Street, Victoria Way, Esplanade, Promenade and Seabank Road.

Cllr John Fairclough, Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “We are eager to improve the road surface on Lord Street, especially in the run up to Christmas time which sees a lot of people visiting Southport.

“The timing of the works has been designed to minimise the impact on businesses, residents and visitors

“Sefton is a borough on the move and regenerating the carriageway on Lord Street is a key priority for us.

“The scheme will be carried out by Dowhigh Ltd and we expect any disruption throughout the improvement works to be kept to a minimum.

“Additional information will be posted out to residents and businesses at least two weeks in advance of the works to update people further.”

For further information on road closures across the borough visit www.sefton.gov.uk.

Two of Southport’s conservation areas are in the spotlight as their official conservation appraisals are updated and reviewed. Sefton Council has produced draft updates to the existing appraisals of both the Lord Street Conservation Area and the Promenade Conservation Area, which are now set to undergo a period of public consultation.

Conservation area appraisals aim to protect the inherent qualities of a conservation area by providing a thorough understanding of their character.

These appraisals examine Southport’s special characteristics and aim to determine local distinctness as well as offer proposals for preservation and enhancement. Cllr Daren Veidman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Planning and Building Control, said: “The appraisals highlight what is special about the area, its positives, negatives, as well as identifying opportunities for change and review of its boundaries.

“This information will also be helpful to those considering investment in the area and can be used to guide the form and content of new development.

Please take the time to get involved in the consultation and share your comments regarding these important conservation areas in our borough.”

The public consultation will allow the local community and all those with a stakeholder interest the opportunity to comment on and contribute to the final appraisal documents. Each appraisal would be a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications.

The documents will also support the development of policies to help maintain and enhance the character of the conservation areas.

The draft documents are out to public consultation until September 20, 2017 and can be viewed at www.sefton.gov.uk/conservationareas or alternatively hard copies can be viewed at The Atkinson Library on Lord Street, Southport or the Planning Office at Magdalen House, Trinity Road, Bootle. Any comments people may wish to make on the contents of the appraisals would be most welcome and relevant additions may be incorporated in the final document before publication.

All written comments by post, website or email will need to be received no later than September 20, 2017.

If you wish to discuss any specific aspects of the documents, Council officers will be available by appointment to discuss Lord Street Conservation Area on Tuesday, August 15 and to discuss Promenade Conservation Area on Thursday, August 17 both at Southport Town Hall, Lord Street, between 5pm-7pm.

To avoid disappointment, please ensure an allocated appointment can be made through Conservation@sefton.gov.uk or on 0345 140 0845 (option 4).