St Helens Borough Council has launched a consultation to seek views on plans to deliver sustainable and active transport improvements at one of St Helens’ busiest railway stations.
The Eastern Region Interchange and Connectivity (ERIC) scheme – a joint partnership between St Helens Borough Council; Liverpool City Region; and Northern Rail – proposes a number of upgrades at Lea Green which, since 2018, has seen more services stop at the station, offering more opportunities to travel across the UK.
Plans focus on making sustainable transport an easy choice to make for commuters by linking up Lea Green with dedicated pedestrian and cycling routes connecting nearby residential, leisure and employment areas.
This includes changes to the Bull and Dog junction to make it easier to use on foot or cycle – and providing links to a number of brownfield sites with planning permission for new homes nearby to encourage the developments to be more sustainable.
The proposal also includes a new station building with waiting room and other customer facilities, along with a decked car park which would increase the park and ride capacity to around 450.
From today (Friday 12 February) residents, local businesses, and anyone connected to Lea Green railway station, are invited to take part in a short survey to help shape the project.
Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said:
“These plans intend to make walking and cycling an easier option and thereby encouraging active travel for short trips. It should also have a positive wider impact on our air quality and the environment through reduced vehicle pollution, with public transport encouraged for longer trips.
“Our intention is to make sure this scheme is fit for the future by planning in future development of nearby brownfield sites so that sustainable travel is built in from the start of developments to help create healthy habits from the beginning.
“Like any proposed planning development, it is important that the public form part of the process which is why we’d welcome any constructive feedback to help strengthen plans and make them the best they can be for all concerned.”
Councillor Liam Robinson, Transport Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: “We’re always looking at ways we can make travelling by public transport more appealing and accessible, and these proposals for improvements at Lea Green station support this.
“It’s also important that we recognise the need to make walking and cycling viable options as part of a journey and reduce the reliance on private vehicles to improve air quality in the city region, which we believe this scheme can achieve.
“We would always encourage people to take part in the engagement process on schemes like this so that their views can help shape the final proposals.”
View the plans, watch an animation of the station proposals, and take part in the survey, by visiting: sthelens.gov.uk/leagreen
If you are not able to complete the survey online, please get in touch with our Contact Centre on 01744 676789 or contactcentre@sthelens.gov.uk to request the information in a different format.
The consultation will close on Monday 28 February.
