£2.5m Les Transformations De Southport project aims to restore the town’s ‘Victorian grandeur’ and secures Government approval. Tony McDonough reports

A £2.5m project to restore Southport’s “Victorian grandeur” will go ahead after securing Government approval.

In the 2021 Spring Budget, Southport secured £37.5m in Town Deal funding. Its Town Deal board submitted a range of projects which demonstrated that they could create jobs and attract further investment.

Now one of those projects – Les Transformations De Southport – has been given the go ahead. It will focus on improving physical connections and routes across the town centre. And it will see the creation of new events spaces.

Work on the first phase will start in early 2023. This will see changes to Market Street, King Street, Eastbank Street and Chapel Street. Future phases of the project are being developed and will be delivered as funding becomes available. Phase one involves:

Market Street

• Creation of a traffic free section on Market Street alongside the market, from the junction of King Street.
• Increased space for additional footfall and event hosting provision.
• Conversion of the existing carriageway to a new paved surface that will provide level access for pedestrians as well as service vehicles.
• New tree planting and raised floral planters.
• New street lighting.
• Maintaining traffic provision from Market Street to Princes Street with a new two-way section.

King Street

• Introduction of a new one way traffic flow arrangement on King Street, from Eastbank Street to the junction with Market Street.
• Widening of the pavement to provide more space for pedestrians and for use by businesses.

Eastbank Street

• Improved pedestrian crossing provision.
• Introduction of a 20mph speed limit along Eastbank Street from the junction with Virginia Street to the junction with Lord Street.
• Provision of a new, wider paved surface along sections of both sides of Eastbank Street.
• Installation of raised planters to enhance the street environment.

Chapel Street

• Upgrades to street furniture.
• Investigation into potential improved lighting.
• Working with station property owners to encourage further improvements.

A public consultation held earlier this year showed a positive response from residents and visitors to the proposals. However, Sefton Council is keen to ensure anyone affected by the works is kept closely informed. It aims to address any potential issues to minimise disruption.

The council has written to residents and businesses in the area to keep them up to speed with phase one of the project’s progression. It will also be consulting further with businesses and other stakeholders in the Market Street area.

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Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “We all know the famous story that, while living in exile in Southport in 1838, Prince Louis Napoleon, later Emperor Napoleon III, was so inspired by the grandeur of Lord Street that he ordered Baron Haussmann to model the reconstruction of Paris on it.

“Les Transformations de Paris made the French capital the “Southport of the South”. Les Transformations de Southport will ensure we again fulfil the potential of our public realm spaces.

“We believe that projects and attractions such as these, along with the recently completed Southport Market, will act as a catalyst for emerging private sector investment across the town centre.”