WIRRAL Council is moving forward with a major scheme that will “stretch over several miles” between two Wirral towns despite some controversy over the plans.
At an environment and transport committee meeting on July 15, councillors from Labour, the Greens, and Liberal Democrats approved for more work to be done on a cycling and walking route from Birkenhead to Liscard taking into account public feedback and developing a case for funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Those in favour said the scheme would improve things for future generations and make it easier and more accessible for people to walk and wheel between the two town centres.
However, the move was opposed by the committee’s three Conservative councillors who said it could become “another white elephant where no one will use it.” However the Conservatives also came under fire over comments by their leader, Cllr Jeff Green, that made reference to an “Active Travel Taliban” in the local authority amid concerns about councillor safety.
The scheme is currently projected to cost around £10m though this is based on dated projections for original £18m plans to extend the route to New Brighton and Wallasey Village. The cost is expected to increase further due to continued inflation since 2020.
The funding for the scheme is expected to be covered by active travel grants awarded to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority which are earmarked for improvements to help people walk and cycle and cannot be spent on other services. Wirral Council officers said there would be further consultation on any changes made to the scheme and the Royal National Institute of Blind People would be involved going forward.
The report came to the committee following public feedback. Thousands of people were reached in a public consultation exercise but only 366 people responded with 45% in support and 44% against.
Labour councillors who spoke in favour of the scheme called it “a golden opportunity” and the scheme would be “building the infrastructure for the future” with potential benefits for local businesses. It was highlighted how Wallasey school children had described their route to school as “dangerous, dirty and polluted.”
Cllr Gill Wood said the project was about connectivity, adding: “This will positively improve lives. It’s not about us sitting here today. It’s about that modal shift.” Pointing to previous health measures such as seat belts and smoking bans, she said: “This change is about thinking about the long term health benefits for future generations.”
Others pointed out issues of air quality around Liscard as well as improving transport options for people as it would provide a safe route for people in mobility scooters and walkers too.
Liscard councillor Janette Williamson said she had had concerns raised with her about the scheme but strongly supported it, adding: “We have to always think at the end of the day is this change for good which I do believe it is.” She criticised the Conservatives arguing there was “no need to stoke those fears with such inflammatory rhetoric.”
However, Conservative Cllr Vida Wilson compared the scheme to the controversial Fender Lane route, adding: “It’s going to take a lot of the highway away. We’re going to end up with more traffic congestion and who’s going to use it?”
Vice-chair Cllr Max Booth, when pressured to respond to comments made by school children, accused other councillors of “targeted questions towards my members” suggesting it was “a hatched plan before the meeting.” He added: “I am not going to rise to it. I will vote on what is in front of us.”
The three Conservatives on the committee ultimately voted against moving the proposals forward. In the meeting, councillors also voted to move forward a review of how bin collections will be provided, steps taken to address climate change, as well as a new contract to manage trees across the borough.
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