Representatives of the six councillors representing Birkdale have been nominated to work with the staff and management of the Smedley Hydro to see if ways can be fund of reducing problems caused by careless car parking in the Trafalgar Road, Grosvenor Road and Crescent Road areas.

There are 500 employees working at the Smedley Hydro – the second biggest workplace in town after the Hospital – and only about 250 on site car parking spaces.

Managers from the Hydro have specifically requested a small number of councillors take these concerns forward rather than have a meeting with all six councillors. So , local  councillors John Pugh and Iain Brodie Browne will be acting on behalf of all residents and other elected members.

The worst problem associated with a small minority of inconsiderate Smedley Hydro staff members parking is their parking in the entrance to Regent Close. This can sometimes completely restrict the entrance of emergency vehicles and bin lorries.  People’s drives are sometimes blocked all day in the the closes off Trafalgar Road and there are safety concerns involving some drivers parking too close to busy corners.

‘The Smedley’ is on the shore side of the Liverpool railway line but drivers looking for places to leave their cars all day also find ‘quiet spots’ in the residential streets off Crescent Road on the other side of the rail line from which it is only a short walk to work.

West Birkdale Councillor Tony Dawson (above) says: 

“There is a similar problem related to long-time commuters using the railway at Birkdale Station (as the station car park is inadequate for present demand) in the closes off York Road. Most drivers, of course, park perfectly properly and are wrongly tarred with the sticky black brush of the minority.”

“The real issue is why do so many people who do not need access to their cars all day all need to bring them to work. There are, of course exceptions but the vast majority of these cars never move all day long and the vast majority of drivers are able bodied. The Smedley Hydro is, unfortunately, a little further from both Birkdale and Hillside Stations than many people want to walk, especially when in a hurry or in driving rain. Various solutions have been promoted in the past, including use of the Southport & Birkdale cricket club car park but the issues still persist.”

“Nothing will happen in relation to any of this unless there is a concerted effort by councillors from both affected wards working with both council officers and with the staff and management of the Smedley.”

Councillor leads action to combat car parking nightmare

A campaigning councillor is leading moves to resolve a car parking nightmare for residents in the Trafalgar Road area of Southport.

Cllr David Barton said the situation had become worse over the Christmas period, with the parking particularly bad at the Oxford Road junction with Trafalgar Road and York Road.

He said cars are regularly parked on either side of the road leading to visibility issues when entering and exiting the junction.

The area is close to the Smedley Hydropathic Centre, formerly Her Majesty’s Royal Passport Office and a hotel which is currently the home of the General Register Office for England and Wales.

Cllr Barton, who represents Dukes Ward on Sefton Council, has now held talks with bosses at the building to try and ensure staff park considerately to help alleviate the problem.

Cllr Barton said: “There have been a wide range of issues, including blocked driveways, parking on pavements leading to mobility difficulties for senior citizens and young mothers with prams, difficulties for emergency vehicles and doctors and cars parked up to the corners of the street, compounded further by speeding cars at junctions.

“I recently conducted a community consultation with concerned residents across the area and have managed to collate feedback from over 100 residents, who have spoken of the varying issues.”

He said that whilst there has been a small increase in staff working at the former Smedley Hydropathic Centre it does not charge the staff to park in its car park.

Proposals to reduce the incidence of staff parking across the Birkdale area have been put forward including a potential Park & Ride and increased encouragement to utilise the nearby Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club car park.

Costings for the Park & Ride are presently being investigated.

Cllr Barton said: “Whilst on a guided tour of the complex it was noted that the existing car parking grounds are fully utilised but as staff tend to start early and finish early at 3:30pm, some may have difficulty around 9:30am which has led to overspill across surrounding roads.

“However centre representatives are welcome to any and all suggestions to further improve this wherever feasible.

“It is sending out additional internal communications this week to notify staff to park as considerately as possible at my request.

“There are over 200 car parking spaces altogether on site and the Oxford Road/ York Road/ Trafalgar Road crossroads junction shall be monitored with the support of neighbours and feedback from the community.

“I have now been invited back to attend a secondary meeting to hear from staff at the Smedley Centre to incorporate their feedback into achieving the best possible car parking arrangements as possible for all concerned.”