This Is Cheshire

Park and ride idea starts to take shape

From the Guardian Series, first published Thursday 19th Aug 2004.

PLANS for Newton's eagerly awaited park and ride scheme have been submitted to St Helens Council.

The scheme, which includes 233 car parking spaces, disabled parking, bus bays and a taxi rank, would be built on the current McFalls Salvage business, at the bottom of Rosemary Drive, if councillors give it the go-ahead.

To build the park and ride, Mersey Travel would have to acquire the land, either through mutual agreement with Mr McFall or via a compulsory purchase order.

So far the owner Brien McFall has heard nothing from either Mersey Travel or the council. He hopes to pass the business on to his son, who currently works on McFall's other site, at Vista Road.

Paul Taylor, chairman of Newton Residents Association, welcomed news of the proposed park and ride. He said: "We're really pleased because it is something we've been campaigning for for years.

"Double-yellow lines were painted on Southworth Road because of the cars parking there but the lines only moved the problem further up Southworth and on to Willow Road.

"Commuters use Newton Railway Station to get to Manchester and Liverpool. Coaches also collect people on High Street to take them to their places of work, so the area really needs a good car park."

Newton councillor Suzanne Knight sits on the planning committee that will make the decision, so was unable to comment, but councillors Peter Astbury and Neil Taylor said: "The scheme is wonderful. It will take all the cars off the roads surrounding the station that at the moment cause so much disruption to residents."

People can see the plans at Earlestown Town Hall.

A spokesman for Mersey Travel said: "Newton is a key station that serves both Manchester and Liverpool.

"The park and ride is needed because there are parking problems in the area.

"It is always difficult to upgrade a listed building, such as Newton but it is something we hope to do in the future."

The spokesman said the car park would be free to use for customers of Mersey Travel.

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