'An answer to a problem that didn’t exist' - readers have their say on the £1.6m St Annes' Pier Link
“The money could have been used better to benefit the community than this”
It’s open at last, but many of our readers have been left wondering just what has been achieved by the Pier Link road scheme in St Annes, which was designed to improve access for all between the town centre and the promenade.
Wider pavements, flower beds and, most notably, a new one-way traffic flow, towards the seafront, with reverse flow for cyclists, are the key features of the £1.6m project, which was due to take 18 weeks when work started in February, but took 33,
And it is set to be closed again for a few days in a few weeks’ time, as the road surface has been found to be substandard and will need to be done again to ensure its required longevity.
The project was Phase 2 of Fylde Council’s St Annes Improvement Scheme and the work was carried out on behalf of the council by Bolton-based contractor George Cox and Sons.
Our readers were quick to vent their feelings after the link finally opened to traffic.
David Perkins said: “I’m really sorry, but this appears to be an answer to a problem that didn’t exist.
“What’s the logic behind it being one way? Previously if you wanted to access the square you turned from the Prom to the traffic lights.
“Now you have go to a further road along, navigate two lanes of traffic without the protection of traffic lights, then finally navigate the traffic lights.
“The Square has been subjected to some bizarre decisions over the years, and this is right up there with the ‘best’ of them.”
Nicky Lucey said: “Great! So we now have a one way street for cars and a single bike lane going the other way for £1.6 million?
“What made Fylde Council think this is what residents needed - a look out of the office window one busy summer day?
“The money could have been used better to benefit the community than this, starting with road re-surfacing.”
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Tom McGrath said: “Just in time for the end of the season - you really couldn’t make this stuff up.”
Les Smith said: “Oh look, a ‘link’, that is half as efficient as the previously two way ‘link’. What exactly has been achieved?”
Carl Jones said: “If they spend the same amount of money again, the road could be two way again, and become twice as functional as it is now.
Darren Scott said: “So let me get this right...it's a road that was there before but now half the size and only one way. New paving but only on one side, an empty flower bed and two zebras just 6 ft apart - sounds like £1.6 million well spent.”
Jenn Parfitt said: “If The Pier Link is to lure people into town, why is the 'one way' driving OUT of town?”
Joanne Peet said: “So to turn right now you have to drive further up to the next road where vision is very limited (as indicated by the stop sign) and then attempt to turn right over the busy main road. This has left me so confused as to why this has been made one way.”
Ian Raby said: “Never seen anything so ridiculous in my life - one way for the cars and a one way for the bikes.”