Better transport links on the horizon to support Southport growth

SOUTHPORT is expected to receive a much needed boost to its transport links in a bid to aid the town's growth and improve connectivity with Manchester and Liverpool.

In a recent visit to the North West, Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary and MP for Epson and Ewell, has vowed to improve rail connectivity in Southport and its neighbouring Regions, as part of the Conservative's Northern Powerhouse commitment.

While visiting several key businesses in Southport, on Thursday, 25 January 2018, including the head office of Fletchers Solicitors, he was keen to discuss the transport links between Southport, on both a local and national scale, and the impact they have on businesses in the town.

The key focus of his discussion centred around the motorway links between Manchester and Liverpool, and on improving the rail timetable and line services between Southport and Manchester Piccadilly to increase connectivity with the rest of the North West.

Fletchers Solicitors, which has a 2nd office located in central Manchester, was keen to stress the importance of improving access to and from Manchester to the Transport Secretary, highlighting that enhanced connectivity would help to improve the talent flow in and out of Manchester, so local businesses in Southport can thrive by attracting skilled workers and also new business opportunities.

Plans have been suggested to restore and re-open the Burscough Curves, which would allow train services to operate between Southport, Liverpool and also Preston.

The Transport Secretary is looking at various projects in the Region to increase rail connectivity and move commuters away from the roads and onto the tracks in a bid to foster greater growth and bring more revenue into the area.

Ed Fletcher, CEO at Fletchers Solicitors, said:- "It is great to see that Southport's transport links are a key topic in parliament and plans are being put in place to get our Town on the national map. The Town is in need of an upgrade to its transportation infrastructure, especially its rail services where the dreaded pacer trains are still ever present. After hearing our feedback on what Southport needs in terms of its connectivity and transport links, we hope it will be taken on board and the Government will act accordingly to help provide Southport with transport links suitable for the the 21st Century."

It's a wheel waste… a quarter of a million pounds...

IT is estimated that 300 wheelchairs and expensive pressure relief cushions; worth in excess of ₤250,000; have not been returned to the NHS and instead are either thrown away or given to charity shops or even sold in car boot sales.

Wheelchair technicians and engineers are urging members of the public across West Lancashire, Chorley and South Ribble to telephone the wheelchair hotline number:- 01695 556 492; so that staff can go out to collect the unused wheelchairs.

The 300 missing wheelchairs are each valued between ₤300 and ₤1,500. In addition, there are about a handful of wheelchairs which are battery powered and each worth as much as ₤2,000.

Yvonne Baron, Wheelchair Service Manager, at Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust said:- "The NHS is losing out on thousands of pounds worth of wheelchairs each year. It is a great source of frustration to staff that the NHS has to spend cash replacing items not returned. As well as costing so much, the failure to return these items when they are no longer needed can lead to delays in making them available to others. We would urge patients or family members who no longer need the NHS wheelchair to telephone the hotline number:- 01695 556 492, and we will arrange for 1 of our engineers to go out and collect them at a convenient time to you."