WIRRAL Council has published a map of where it could put 28 new cycle lanes across the borough over the next two decades. The routes are mainly focused around Birkenhead and Wallasey but stretch as far as West Kirby, Heswall and Bromborough.

The plan has been published by the local authority as it seeks to get opinions from people on where new routes should go to make it easier to walk, wheel, or cycle across the borough more safely. It hopes to build and expand on a number of existing routes including the controversial cycle route along Fender Lane.

According to the local authority, it wants feedback about whether the routes will support people’s everyday journeys, which routes should be a priority or existing routes need improving, as well as any routes people think are missing and need to be added. A page to give this is up on the council’s website.

The issue of active travel continues to be controversial with recent references made by Conservative councillors to an “active travel Taliban” within the local authority and arguments the schemes are unwanted. The Conservatives have also called on the local authority to remove the route along Fender Lane describing it as a “complete waste of money.”

However, councillors in favour of one route from Birkenhead to Liscard cited comments made by schoolchildren that described their route to school as “dangerous, dirty, and polluted” with one child writing the words “zoom die” about one junction. People in favour of active travel who spoke to the LDRS felt they could get killed on their daily commutes to work and knew friends who had had life changing injuries due to accidents.

The map published by the council suggests routes to Seacombe and Liscard as well as several in central Birkenhead will be built in the next three years. In five years, this is expected to expand to include Wallasey village, New Brighton, Cleveland Street, as well as Arrowe Park Road connecting the Woodchurch to Thingwall.

In the next ten years, further routes could be built connecting Wallasey to Leasowe and Moreton, Birkenhead to the Beechwood estate as well as routes to Prenton and Bebington. In the next 15, routes could be expanded to Greasby, Upton, and Bromborough. Beyond this, routes could extend further west into Heswall, Pensby, and West Kirby.

Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said: “These are not necessarily routes that people will walk, cycle or wheel the whole length of every day. Instead, the goal is for different sections of the routes to be helpful for various journeys for different individuals.

“Providing options and infrastructure that support alternative means of transport is crucial for ensuring that more residents and visitors can access necessary destinations. It also promotes healthier choices, potentially improving the health and well-being of our community.

“The consultation will significantly influence the council’s decisions on which areas to change and update in the coming years. Therefore, it is important for as many people as possible to share their opinions on the proposed routes. We need to know if these routes will help people in their area reach essential places like shops, medical centres, and train stations or if there are better routes available to consider.”