The Big Dig: Liverpool delivers its verdict

Jan 21 2008 by David Higgerson, Liverpool Daily Post

EIGHTY PER CENT of city centre users say business has suffered in Liverpool as a result of the £73m Big Dig roadworks project, the Daily Post can reveal.

A survey commissioned by the Daily Post also reveals that Liverpool's regeneration bosses are in danger of losing the support of the public for the scheme.

Although 69.4% of people support the principle of the Big Dig works – to deliver a 21st century city – only 32% believe the work completed so far has been worth the travel problems caused, with another 22% undecided.

And, three years after the Big Dig got under way, 85% say works could have been better planned.

Key findings of the online survey run via the Liverpooldailypost.co.uk website include:

80% of respondents say business has suffered as a result, while 40% think tourism has suffered

45% of people believe the completed projects so far don't justify the problems caused

80% say business has suffered as a result, while 40% think tourism has suffered

85% think the roadworks could have been better planned, particularly in terms of liaising with utility companies over their planned works

85% say journeys around the city centre have got longer

67% saying the roadworks have meant they now try to make fewer journeys to, or around, the city centre

Just over half – 51.5% – believe that the long-term economic impact of 2008 could be hampered by the Big Dig.

The survey also showed that a drive to get more people to use public transport during the Big Dig has not been entirely successful:

61% have not tried other modes of transport to get into the city, with only 20% doing some journeys by train and 27% by bus.

Asked how much longer journeys made by car had become, 38.4% said 10 to 20 minutes, while 24.2% said journeys had become up to half an hour longer.

Business leaders said the figures confirmed the feeling of many traders around the city, and called for better support for shops while the works continue.

Cllr Mike Storey, who was council leader at the time of the Big Dig launch and is now executive member for regeneration, admitted things could have been done better but insisted the problems now would be worth it.

He said: “There has been massive investment in Liverpool city centre in recent years after decades of economic decline and stagnation.