There was a mixture of bafflement, bemusement and ire as Covid 19 roads in Ormskirk were unveiled today.

Hardly anyone knew about it - and when they saw it some could hardly contain their feelings.

Paul Anderson of Ormskirk Taxis beckoned QLocal's Roger Blaxall over to vent his spleen; clearly upset on behalf of many of his elderly customers he was baffled as to how new 'safety' measures for cyclists and pedestrians would protect some of the most vulnerable members of the local community - pensioners who rely on taxis and can't access them properly from Moor St.

"It's a conspiracy," added one contractor.

"They want to make driving though Ormskirk so difficult folk will have to either walk or get a bike."

Ironically he was sitting opposite Harry Middleton's cycle shop which was entirely coincidental...

Local politicians were as bemused as locals, too, according to Adrian Owens from OWL who said the only one in the know was council leader Ian Moran quoted in this LCC press release:

'Lancashire County Council is introducing some temporary changes to roads in Ormskirk to help social distancing and encourage people to walk and cycle for regular journeys as lockdown restrictions ease further.

It has been working closely with West Lancashire Borough Council to safely reopen the town centre as footfall increases, and prioritise walking and cycling due to continued restrictions on public transport.

A number of measures will combine to create a better cycling link between the town centre and Edge Hill University, and make more room for pedestrians on narrow pavements linking to the railway station.

Moor Street will be closed to vehicles where it meets St Helen's Road to extend the existing pedestrianised zone, while maintaining access for businesses to load/unload.

This will tie into a pop-up cycle lane on the east side of St Helen's Road from Moor Street to the junction with Ruff Lane. Pop-up cycleways are temporary cycling routes on existing roads, created by adding bollards, cones, or water barriers to separate cyclists from other traffic.

Ruff Lane will be closed to through-traffic at its junction with St Helens Road to reduce the number of vehicles using Ruff Lane, making it a quieter route which is better suited for cyclists.

A barrier will also be placed along the western edge of Railway Road from its junction with Leyland Way to Derby Street to create more space for pedestrians using this busy link between the town centre and the railway station. This will result in the temporary loss of some parking.

Work to introduce the measures is due to begin on Thursday afternoon, and be completed on Friday.

County Councillor Keith Iddon, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We're working closely with councils throughout Lancashire to make our town centres as safe as possible as lockdown measures ease and footfall increases.

"Our focus is to create more room for pedestrians to prevent the spread of the virus, and make it easier to cycle due to the continuing restrictions on public transport.

"Current advice is to avoid using public transport unless your journey is really necessary, so instead we're asking people to walk and cycle if they can.

"These temporary measures will create more space for people to keep apart in the busiest areas of Ormskirk town centre, and make it easier for people to walk and cycle as an alternative to using public transport or driving.

"They are part of our emergency response to help Lancashire control and recover from the coronavirus, and we will keep them under review."

Councillor Ian Moran, leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: "The safety of people living and working in West Lancashire is really important and as well as working with Lancashire County Council we have taken further measures.

"These include installing signage in different parts of the borough to remind shoppers to keep a safe distance and providing guidance to organisations on how they can be Covid safe.'

You're blaming the council for putting measures in place that have been put in lace not just around the UK but around the world, they announced a trial in Preston and Lancaster at the start of June and asked the lancashire public to recommend other routes that would benefit from extra spacing. For once, the council listen to public recommendations and act to try to protect the public, and what do you do? You attack them.

Originally Posted by Tom1789

You're blaming the council for putting measures in place that have been put in lace not just around the UK but around the world, they announced a trial in Preston and Lancaster at the start of June and asked the lancashire public to recommend other routes that would benefit from extra spacing. For once, the council listen to public recommendations and act to try to protect the public, and what do you do? You attack them.

There is nothing wrong with putting safety measures in place but have you driven, cycled or walked around these so called ' safety measures '? They look more like road works and force more traffic into less space. I've already identified five places where it is now more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists than before. The U.K., unlike many other countries, does not have spare capacity and the barriers erected in Ormskirk do in themselves actually take up space. If cyclists kept to the rules pedestrians would be far safer. In OZ, cycling on pavements gets you an on the spot fine and their pavements are wider. Here cyclists run into you, which is what happened to Garry, a mate of mine, this last week.

Originally Posted by australia

There is nothing wrong with putting safety measures in place but have you driven, cycled or walked around these so called ' safety measures '? They look more like road works and force more traffic into less space. I've already identified five places where it is now more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists than before. The U.K., unlike many other countries, does not have spare capacity and the barriers erected in Ormskirk do in themselves actually take up space. If cyclists kept to the rules pedestrians would be far safer. In OZ, cycling on pavements gets you an on the spot fine and their pavements are wider. Here cyclists run into you, which is what happened to Garry, a mate of mine, this last week.

Have you ever driven in Ormskirk, particularly at junctions such as by the bus station? Pedestrians and cyclists are constantly cutting accrossa without looking for cars, thr e is no pedestrian crossing there so people dash whenever they can, as a driver I feel so much safer now that these prevaut3are in place, driving past them last night, I've never felt safer.

Just worried about a major incident in Ormskirk and police, fire and ambulance wasting vital minutes trying to cross town...

Note, not one cyclist can be seen meanwhile stationary traffic is emitting more poisonous gases, ridiculous idea !!!!

Originally Posted by ands71

Note, not one cyclist can be seen meanwhile stationary traffic is emitting more poisonous gases, ridiculous idea !!!!

Has there been a census carried out resulting in credible evidence that a cycle lane up to the University is needed?

Originally Posted by rogerblaxall

Just worried about a major incident in Ormskirk and police, fire and ambulance wasting vital minutes trying to cross town...

None of it makes sense, (copy and pasted that from every article ever posted relating to West Lancs decisions )

Originally Posted by australia

There is nothing wrong with putting safety measures in place but have you driven, cycled or walked around these so called ' safety measures '? They look more like road works and force more traffic into less space. I've already identified five places where it is now more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists than before. The U.K., unlike many other countries, does not have spare capacity and the barriers erected in Ormskirk do in themselves actually take up space. If cyclists kept to the rules pedestrians would be far safer. In OZ, cycling on pavements gets you an on the spot fine and their pavements are wider. Here cyclists run into you, which is what happened to Garry, a mate of mine, this last week.

l use the St Helens Road/ Park Road traffic lights to get to work by turning right, so now one lane filters into two lanes of traffic turning right , scary stuff, bad enough two lanes turning right when people don’t know which lane they need before the junction!

Originally Posted by MissDotty31

l use the St Helens Road/ Park Road traffic lights to get to work by turning right, so now one lane filters into two lanes of traffic turning right , scary stuff, bad enough two lanes turning right when people don’t know which lane they need before the junction!

Totally agree with you. It might have been better if the council had spent the time and money on re-doing the worn-out road markings at the junction you mentioned. I turn right from the left hand lane and always watch out for those in the right hand lane as they often cut across you. Even locals do this to gain a few car lengths and then turn left at Aughton Street or at Morrisons.

The majority of people who cycle are drug runners dressed in black with hoodies and baseball caps on or middle aged men dressed in lycra

Originally Posted by roving-eye

The majority of people who cycle are drug runners dressed in black with hoodies and baseball caps on or middle aged men dressed in lycra

And if true, why is that? Because the average person is too scared to ride a bike amongst heavy traffic!

One hopes these safety measures will become permanent. Allowing for greater numbers to choose the bike, instead of always driving.......Not only reducing the tally of riders who get knocked off, but improving general health/saving NHS vital money, but also cutting local greenhouse gas emissions.