Safety improvements to a busy Formby junction have been given the go-ahead after a campaign from Labour councillors and the town’s MP.
Cllrs Nina Killen and Catie Page, and MP Bill Esterson, wrote to Sefton Council in June to request that a light-signalled pedestrian crossing be installed on Altcar Road near to the proposed McDonald’s restaurant.
Sefton planners were unable to negotiate investment from McDonald’s for the crossing, but have secured funding from the landowner and Sefton Highways budgets.
In their letter to Sefton Council, Cllrs Page and Killen and MP Mr Esterson wrote: “While we broadly support the application which will bring around 65 jobs to the town and will mean a currently empty building will be put back into use, we are concerned about the safety of the nearby junction on the Formby bypass.”
“McDonald’s is likely to be hugely popular with young people, who may travel there on foot from the main residential part of Formby, crossing the busy Formby bypass in the process.”
“Currently there is just one light-controlled pedestrian crossing across the bypass. There is no light-controlled pedestrian crossing across Altcar Road on either side of the junction.”
“We ask that through the planning system or otherwise, the safety of this junction is improved for pedestrians by installing light-controlled crossings across Altcar Road on both side of the bypass, and ideally on the fourth side also, so that no matter where pedestrians cross there is a light-controlled pedestrian crossing to ensure their safety.”
The new light-signalled crossing will be installed across Altcar Road from Tesco to the new restaurant.
Sefton planners wrote to the councillors and MP, saying: “In combination with funding that Highways have already secured externally and earmarked from internal budgets, the land owner has made up a significant shortfall, such that a pedestrian light crossing across the existing signalled junction at Altcar Rd can now be delivered. This will now be expedited.
Cllr Killen said: “We are really pleased that our representations to Sefton Council have resulted in these safety improvements at the junction. Some residents contacted me to ask that a bridge be installed but unfortunately that was just not possible with the funding available.”
“Thank you to Sefton planning, Highways and the landowner for the work they have done to bring this forward.”
TOP PIC:
Cllr Killen (left), Cllr Page and MP Bill Esterson at the junction near to the Formby McDonald’s site where there will be a new light-signalled pedestrian crossing
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