To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Welsh:
“The Council notes the proposal by Arriva Rail
North to end the direct rail service between Southport and
Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, leaving the only
direct service to Manchester going to Manchester Victoria.
The Council is aware that surveys have revealed that the majority
of commuters travelling to Manchester from Southport and Formby use
the direct service to Manchester Piccadilly as the Manchester
stations on this line (including Deansgate and Oxford Road) are located nearer to
their places of work than is Manchester Victoria.
The Council believes that the removal of this service will be
detrimental to commuters from the north of the Borough and could
discourage people from continuing to live in the Borough as well as
discouraging people who work in south central Manchester from
choosing to live in the Borough.
The Council also believes
that the removal of the direct service to Manchester Airport would
be detrimental to the economic interests of the Borough of
Sefton. It will disadvantage the tourism and conference
sectors for whom easy links from
Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are a vital
competitive asset. It will also disadvantage businesses in
target sectors such as digital technology. Direct access to
Manchester universities and the Airport are essential for the
development of these businesses.
The Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write on the
Council's behalf to Arriva Rail North, Liverpool City Region
Combined Authority, Transport for
Greater Manchester, Rail North and the Department for Transport,
with a copy to the local MPs representing constituencies within the
Borough strongly urging that these proposals are
reconsidered.”
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Welsh and seconded by Councillor Dodd:
“The Council notes the proposal by Arriva Rail
North to end the direct rail service between Southport and
Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, leaving the only
direct service to Manchester going to Manchester Victoria.
The Council is aware that surveys have revealed that the majority
of commuters travelling to Manchester from Southport and Formby use
the direct service to Manchester Piccadilly as the Manchester
stations on this line (including Deansgate and Oxford Road) are located nearer to
their places of work than is Manchester Victoria.
The Council believes that the removal of this service will be
detrimental to commuters from the north of the Borough and could
discourage people from continuing to live in the Borough as well as
discouraging people who work in south central Manchester from
choosing to live in the Borough.
The Council also believes
that the removal of the direct service to Manchester Airport would
be detrimental to the economic interests of the Borough of
Sefton. It will disadvantage the tourism and conference
sectors for whom easy links from
Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are a vital
competitive asset. It will also disadvantage businesses in
target sectors such as digital technology. Direct access to
Manchester universities and the Airport are essential for the
development of these businesses.
The Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write on the
Council's behalf to Arriva Rail North, Liverpool City Region
Combined Authority, Transport for
Greater Manchester, Rail North and Department for Transport, with a
copy to local MPs representing constituencies within the Borough
strongly urging that these proposals are
reconsidered.”
An amendment was moved by Councillor Friel and seconded by Councillor Maher that the Motion be amended as follows:
In the first paragraph after the words “notes the”, add the following text:
“investment that sees the removal of the awful Pacers and improved passenger facilities. However, spoiling this is the”
After the third Paragraph: Add the following new Paragraph:
“The Sefton Council’s Merseytravel Committee Spokesperson put this directly to the Arriva Rail North Managing Director at their meeting held on 7April 2016, supporting the case for the retention of the Oxford Road and Piccadilly stops.”
After the fourth Paragraph: Add the following new Paragraph:
“Also, we call on Rail North to push with us for further enhancements on the line including speed enhancements to get the journey from Southport to Manchester under one hour and furthermore, call on the Government to complete business case work on the electrification of the line, as pledged by Andrew Jones MP, when he chaired the All -Party North of England Electrification Task Force, pointing out that he is now the responsible Minister in the Department for Transport for this.”
In the fifth Paragraph: after the word “reconsidered” at the end of the paragraph, add the words “as above”.
Councillor Welsh indicated that she accepted the amendment and following further debate on the Substantive Motion, it was
RESOLVED:
“The Council notes the investment that sees the removal of the awful Pacers and improved passenger facilities. However, spoiling this is the proposal by Arriva Rail North to end the direct rail service between Southport and Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, leaving the only direct service to Manchester going to Manchester Victoria.
The Council is aware that surveys have revealed that the majority of commuters travelling to Manchester from Southport and Formby use the direct service to Manchester Piccadilly as the Manchester stations on this line (including Deansgate and Oxford Road) are located nearer to their places of work than is Manchester Victoria.
The Council believes that the removal of this service will be detrimental to commuters from the north of the Borough and could discourage people from continuing to live in the Borough as well as discouraging people who work in south central Manchester from choosing to live in the Borough.
The Sefton Council’s Merseytravel Committee Spokesperson put this directly to the Arriva Rail North Managing Director at their meeting held on 7April 2016, supporting the case for the retention of the Oxford Road and Piccadilly stops.
The Council also believes that the removal of the direct service to Manchester Airport would be detrimental to the economic interests of the Borough of Sefton. It will disadvantage the tourism and conference sectors for whom easy links from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are a vital competitive asset. It will also disadvantage businesses in target sectors such as digital technology. Direct access to Manchester universities and the Airport are essential for the development of these businesses.
Also, we call on Rail North to push with us for further enhancements on the line including speed enhancements to get the journey from Southport to Manchester under one hour and furthermore, call on the Government to complete business case work on the electrification of the line, as pledged by Andrew Jones MP, when he chaired the All -Party North of England Electrification Task Force, pointing out that he is now the responsible Minister in the Department for Transport for this.
The Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write on the Council's behalf to Arriva Rail North, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester, Rail North and the Department for Transport, with a copy to the local MPs representing constituencies within the Borough strongly urging that these proposals are reconsidered as above.”