'Dangerous' depot on Formby bypass

The Sefton Council depot has been dubbed 'an accident waiting to happen'

The Sefton Council depot on Formby Bypass. Photo by Google Street View

Formby residents have raised concerns about a ‘dangerously’ situated council depot.

At the Southport Area Committee meeting on Wednesday (September 23), a member of the public brought up the matter, stating that the depot’s location causes large heavy goods vehicles to queue on the bypass.

With cars travelling at 60 or 70mph, this has been dubbed ‘an accident waiting to happen’.

Sefton Conservative Group leader Cllr Terry Jones, a ward councillor for Ainsdale, said: “I believe the depot is in the wrong place and if it must be there then it should have included a lay-by for their vehicles to turn into instead of blocking the dual carriage way.”

Southport businessman Phil Gee said: “As a frequent user of the road, I can tell you that having large, slow accelerating vehicles turning left out of the salt bay onto the Formby bypass is madness.

“The drivers need to take both lanes due to the size of the lorries, meaning that each lorry turning out of the salt bay will present a significant hazard to traffic already on the bypass.”

The Sefton Council depot on Formby Bypass. Photo by Google Street View

Tanya Jones, a shop-owner from Churchtown , said: ““I don’t understand why the depot is where it is. “From what I can understand, the lorries can turn out of the depot towards Southport, but entering the depot they need to approach from Crosby way and turn left into the site.

“The whole layout and design confuses me.”

However, Nurse Kate Humphries said: “I drive along the bypass all the time and can honestly say it has never affected me, nor have I ever noticed lorries queueing.”

Lucas Voce-Russell, a marketing manager from Birkdale agreed. He said: “I drive along there most days and didn’t even know there was a depot there!”

Keith Lack, a compliance manager from Southport, said: “‘I am unsure why this has been deemed dangerous to be honest.

“If drivers are paying attention to the road, and what they are actually doing, (which they always should be) then there should be no greater risk of accidents then at any other time in my opinion.”

Story and Photo source: Southport Visiter