Cycling Town Programme given go ahead in Southport

A new cycling scheme for Southport has been given the go ahead by councillors. The Southport Cycle Town Programme will see a range of schemes aimed at encouraging cycling to work and shops, as a leisure activity and as a tourist attraction.

Included in the programme will be an east/west cycle link across the town, linking the Business Park, hospital and housing in Kew to the town centre and seafront, the development of cycle parking facilities across town, adult cycle training courses and a cycle hire scheme operating through loan centres, the conference centre, hotels and guesthouses.

In June 2008 Cycling England announced Southport as one of 11 new cycling towns and the town played host to a round of The Tour Series this year.

Kew councillor Fred Weavers, who is Cabinet Member for Communities and a member of the Sefton Cycling Forum, said in the Southport Visitor: “It’s so important to have this programme in place – it benefits everyone.

“We want to try and lift the number of people using bikes – there’s an awful lot to gain from this scheme. It can help the parking issues in the town and make road conditions better. It’s also better for the environment and the health and fitness of the population.”

Councillors agreed to include it in this year’s Capital Programme. A grant of £1.8m – to be matched by the council – of revenue and capital funding from the Department for Transport has been secured after an annual work programme was agreed with Cycling England.

There will also by cycle routes established along Portland Street, Wennington Road and Selworthy Road and improved cycle parking and access to schools.