New Lamps Columns on Hawkshead Street

We reported recently that Hawkshead Street will soon be getting new lighting columns to replace the old fashioned cast iron columns.  A number of residents responded to ask why the original columns cannot be retained and renovated, many commenting that this may be a more cost effective option.  I passed the question on to the Highway Team and received the following response:

Unfortunately, the short answer is they are beyond repair for the following reasons:

1)   They are structurally unstable due to dissimilar metals being used in the upper section of the column.

2)   Electrically, this equipment does not meet current safety regulations.

3)   The poor spacings and the height of the existing equipment make it impossible to attain any reasonable lighting uniformity from the installation.

So now you know. 

Further Action on Hawkshead Street

We have posted details on a number of actions taken so far to improve conditions along Hawkshead Street however we are concerned that more action is still needed. As a result of this Councillor Sue McGuire has met both the Highways Maintenance and the Cleansing Managers at Hawkshead Street to show them in person the problems being expereinced here.

As Sue McGuire explains "Although a number of pot holes have been filled in following our initial request not enough has been. Following the site visit the Highways Manager has confirmed that more of the eroded areas and pot holes will be filled in."

Councillor McGuire added "There is still an on-going issue with weeds and litter which needs to be tackled however as a start I am pleased to report that direct action has been taken to tackle the weeds on the odd side."

Other issues to be tackled:
Street light obstructed by overhanging vegetation
Double Yellow line at the Queens Road junction has been obscured by recent road patching.

As always you Lib Dem Team will report back any further action

Hawkshead Street Action UPDATE

To update an earlier post councillor Sue McGuire has now visited Hawkshead Street with a Highways Engineer from Sefton Council to investigate the situation of the road surface.

As a result the various pot holes and sites of erosion have been repaired. Sue can also confirm that the repairs have consisted of enlarging the defect area to at least a square metre in size (as a minimum), breaking out the tarmac down to firm ground and then replacing with new tarmac.

Councillor Sue McGuire can also confirm that the full resurfacing of Hawskhead Street has been included in the Highways Maintenance programme for 2010/11 which will include the removal of all the tarmac by 'planing' and replacing with new tarmac.

Errosion on Hawkshead Street

During a recent visit to Hawkshead Street, Councillor Sue McGuire noticed that the road edge by the gulley was eroding away and as a result parts of the single yellow line were also being removed.

As Sue explained "The problem is happening at various points along the street - I have notified the council and am waiting to see what they say."

Sue added "I worry that if nothing is done now the situation will deteriorate further and will become a much bigger and more expensive job for the council."

Watch this space for further news.