Foul Lane to reopen and major Kew roundabout redesign
Plus: Historic pub demolition confirmed and Andrew Brown's What's On guide to the week ahead
Hello and welcome to the 22nd edition of The Southport Lead.
Today’s newsletter comes at the end of a week in which a new contractor was announced to lead the development of the Marine Lake Events Centre - the £72m facility which will replace Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.
That announcement, which had been an admittedly poorly kept secret, was a significant next step in the development of what will be a major facility for the town and should provide a huge economic boost.
But it is not that contract which we focus on today and instead another which is soon to be confirmed - the appointment of a contractor to carry out improvements and changes to Kew roundabout and Foul Lane as part of Phase 2 of the Southport Eastern Access scheme. Read on to find out more about what exactly is changing and how it is designed to improve things for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Also in today’s edition, confirmation of the demolition of one of Southport’s oldest pub - as discussed in the sixth iteration of this newsletter. We’ve also got the latest headlines from across the town and Andrew Brown’s What’s On guide to the week ahead.
Kew roundabout and Foul Lane works move forward with contractor to be appointed
Plans to redesign Kew roundabout and re-open Foul Lane to traffic will take a key step forward next week.
With works ongoing on the first phase of the Southport Eastern Access (SEA) scheme - the Sussex Road and Norwood Road junction is currently being redeveloped - progress must be made on Phase 2 before a funding deadline runs out.
The overall work is designed to improve key routes on the route into Southport from Ormskirk and Scarisbrick which is currently associated with frequent congestion.
Among the Phase One elements which are already in progress are the plans to widen the junctions at Sussex Road/Norwood Road and Bispham Road/Norwood Road in order to add ‘right only’ lanes which are hoped to reduce long queues which often plague these areas.
The Phase Two plan involves more drastic changes, including the reopening of Foul Lane to traffic and building a new cycle path along Foul Lane separate to the main road.
The route has long been closed to traffic in a bid to prevent a “rat run” being created into the Crowland Street area but the old park and ride site which surrounds the closure is now being redeveloped into housing.
Improvements to the often chaotic Kew roundabout also form a key part of the plan and include the addition of cycle lanes running around but away from the road (including a diversion through Meols Cop Park) and safer pedestrian crossings. The plans also include widening the carriageway on Scarisbrick New Road to extend the two lane approach in a bid to reduce queuing here.
At a Sefton Council cabinet meeting on Thursday (April 3), councillors will be asked to approve the appointment of Balfour Beatty to carry out the next stage of the works. The international construction and infrastructure company is already carrying out Phase 1 developments as well ‘Les Transformations de Southport’ works currently taking place outside Southport Market.
According to a report prepared for the cabinet meeting, the funding for the SEA scheme is being provided through a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) grant but comes with tight deadlines on when it must be spent.
This, combined with Balfour Beatty having been involved in the initial design process and carrying out the Phase 1 works, mean it is argued it is considered best to re-appoint the firm for the Phase 2 rather than carry out a full tender. If approved, Balfour Beatty’s instruction will commit the contractor to developing a ‘Social Value Action Plan’ factoring in requirements in “local labour, local spend, percentage of waste diverted from landfill, and SME engagement”.
As well as this contract, further activity remains ongoing behind the scene to ensure the works can be carried out in accordance with the deadlines associated with the near-£20m grant from (LCRCA) which covers the entire project.
The report adds: “Phase 2 involves the acquisition of land. This is mainly grassed verge and landscaped areas on commercial properties. Cabinet approved the principle of the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order in December 2024 with the details of the Order, including schedule, maps and statement of reasons, in March 2025.
“It should be noted that the intention is to secure all land by negotiation and heads of terms have been agreed with some owners.
“The new areas of land to be secured will be subject to planning approval. Applications [are] being compiled for submission in March 2025.”
Historic pub to be flattened after standing derelict for two years
A pub which dates back more than 150 years to near the time of Southport’s incorporation as a town can now be demolished.
Sefton Council has granted planning permission for the former George Hotel to be knocked down and replaced by a Co-op store. The original plan had been for the oldest elements of the building to be retained and converted but this has now been abandoned.
As previously reported by The Southport Lead, the Duke Street building was partially demolished before sitting empty and exposed to the element for more than two years. The Co-op blamed the financial collapse of contractor Clement Dickens for this delay and said it was left with “no alternative” but to instead knock the building down.
It explained: “Specialist temporary works designers were appointed to design a propping solution to support the remaining structure. This was extremely complex due to the deterioration of the building, the required piled foundations and challenging ground conditions.
“Several options were investigated but it became apparent that the building was no longer safe to continue the conversion works.
“A project design team meeting was held (attendees: project manager, structural engineer, contractor, piling contractor, temporary works designer, architect and health and safety consultant) with the outcome being the project could not continue safely.
“Due to the unsafe nature of continuing with the current permission, we unfortunately have no alternative but to submit a planning application to demolish the existing structure and replace it with a new building.”
Despite the building’s age and involvement in Southport’s heritage - it is almost as old as the adjacent cemetery and was built to meet demand for visits to the town in its early days - it is not listed and there is therefore no protection in place for it.
Explaining the decision to approve the demolition, a council planning officer wrote: “The proposed commercial units are acceptable and would not adversely impact on existing centres. The development is of a scale and format that would not be harmful to the character of the area.
“The site is readily accessible, and development would not have a detrimental impact on highway safety or the wider road network. The living conditions of future occupiers of the flats is acceptable and the development would not be significantly harmful to the living conditions of occupiers of residential properties within the vicinity of the site.”
News in headlines
Tommy Fleetwood receives Liverpool John Moores University honorary fellowship (ITV)
Prevent boss leaves role after Southport failings (BBC)
Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards 2025 to raise funds for Southport Strong Together Appeal and ICU Steps charity (Stand Up For Southport)
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What’s on this week (March 30-April 5)
Today is Mother’s Day, with lots for Mums to enjoy in Southport - including trips around town in heritage buses.
Here are some of the things to look forward to in the week ahead:
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