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Vital tree works will take place this week (commencing January 29) along Chapel Lane, Formby.

Chapel Lane will be temporarily closed to vehicles while the works take place each day. The road will reopen to traffic during the evenings.

The works will also allow for the planting of seven new trees before the end of March 2018, with replacement trees expected to be a mix of species including non-fruiting horse chestnut.

A study of the Chapel Lane trees by Sefton’s Parks and Greenspaces team has found that five existing trees are in need of pruning works, while five large and one small horse chestnut trees were found to have severely declined in recent years.

The 6 dying trees must be removed before they pose a significant health and safety risk.

Three large and one small tree are planned to be removed this week and the remaining two will be monitored and removed over a phased process.

Local residents and businesses nearby have been fully informed throughout this process.

The A5758 Broom’s Cross Road (Thornton to Switch Island Link Road) has been praised through a top industry award.   

At the start of the Broom’s Cross Road contract, Sefton Council registered the scheme with CEEQUAL (Civil Engineering Environmental QUALity scheme).

CEEQUAL is the international evidence-based sustainability assessment, rating and awards scheme for civil engineering. It promotes and celebrates the achievement of high environmental and social performance in civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping, and public realm projects.

The whole A5758 scheme was assessed, from original concept, through design, construction and completion. Following a detailed assessment against the CEEQUAL award criteria, the scheme was awarded the ‘excellent’ standard.

A certificate to celebrate ‘excellence’ was recently presented to Cllr Ian Maher, Labour leader at Sefton Council, at a Full Council meeting at Bootle Town Hall.

The 2.8 mile link road opened in the summer of 2015 and was constructed by main contractors Balfour Beatty. Broom’s Cross is the site of a medieval wayside cross near Thornton.

The road provides a faster, more direct link between the A565 in Thornton and the motorway network at Switch Island. It has also helped reduce ‘through traffic’ in the community of Netherton.

Cllr Ian Maher, Labour leader at Sefton Council, said: “It was a great honour to receive the award from CEEQUAL for a scheme that has made the whole of Sefton more accessible.

“It demonstrates the Council’s ability to deliver high quality infrastructure schemes across the borough.”

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said: “The road took a number of years to develop and construct and the fact it has been recognised through a top industry award goes to show how the time was well spent in planning and building a wonderful link road.

“Thousands of vehicles use the road every single day because of the improved links to the national motorway system at Switch Island.

“Construction of the road particularly resulted in environmental improvements to the area, including the creation of four new wildlife ponds and the planting of 39,000 new trees and shrubs.”

The total cost for the road was £20.4m – with £14.5m from the Department for Transport and £5.9m from Sefton Council.

Chris Broadbent, CEEQUAL Managing Director, said: “It is a great pleasure to be able to present a CEEQUAL Award to this project to recognise the significant environmental and sustainability achievements of the Thornton to Switch Island Link Road team.”

Paul Weaver, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s North & Midlands regional business West Delivery Unit, added: “We are delighted that the A5758 Broom’s Cross Road (Thornton to Switch Island Link Road) has achieved the ‘Excellent’ status from CEEQUAL.

“It recognises our on-going commitment to the environment throughout the construction of this new ‘link’ road. At Balfour Beatty we strive to leave a positive footprint on the local environment including the integration of environmental and sustainability initiatives throughout the project lifecycle from conception to construction.”

For more information about the scheme and the Sefton case study visit: www.ceequal.com/case-studies/a5758-brooms-cross-road-thornton-to-switch-island-link/