John Pugh calls for clearer plans after Town Hall Gardens consultation

The debate about the eventual shape of the Town Hall Gardens continues despite the all too brief two-week consultation period set by Sefton being closed. Many issues such as blue badge access to events at the Atkinson remain unresolved and councillors await a more clearly specified scheme.

Lib Dem opposition leader on Sefton, Cllr. John Pugh, welcomed the willingness of Sefton to accept further input as healthy.

 “The scheme is still in process of evolution and pictures presented at the last consultation differ markedly from those presented at the time of the first consultation. 59 members of the public took part in the first consultation and over 300 in the second, but even that is less than 0.5% of Southport’s population."

"People need explanations,” sys Cllr .Pugh, "not just about the disappearance of the balustrades and lamps”  and in a newly released video thought piece poses three questions .https://youtu.be/rnXL8il_tzI

1-Why with such an open plan the new children's “ exciting activity area” is positioned so closely to passing traffic adjacent to Eastbank Rd and Lord St. and not nearer the Town Hall- which obviously poses fewer risks ?  

2- Why the overall event and performance area ends up apparently smaller than one that could be created  by simply moving the central fountain ?

3- Why unlike other successful town centre projects the possibility of an outside cafe and catering has been rejected  ?  

“There are other issues that people raise like the decision to get rid of the Rotary Wishing Well which has been there for more than half a century or how future processions will be accommodated and there may be decent answers. 

However the key thing is to have the conversation that a two week consultation did not allow for. At the end of the day this is a project that the community of Southport must own. To have the right civil and civic conversation though requires a listening Council."