A row has broken out over plans for a local cycle lane and how they might impact Pensby and Thingwall residents

Two Conservative councillors are concerned about a move to introduce barriers on the cycle lane in Arrowe Park Road which connects the villages of Thingwall to Woodchurch and Greasby and runs past Arrowe Park Hospital.

Wirral Council is planning to introduce WardOrca, rubber and flexible plastic bollards that are intended to provide an added layer of protection for cyclists on roads where drivers are going faster.

Leah Fraser, a local Conservative councillor, said she would like a consultation similar to one over Wirral Council's parking strategy. She believes that not enough people were consulted.

Cllr Fraser said: "It is extremely busy already and we want a consultation. We think it will make things much more difficult for residents and they have not been consulted."

Cllr Fraser, and another local councillor Mike Collins, took to Facebook to demand a consultation for residents who use the road in Pensby and Thingwall. They said the new barriers will narrow the road and lead to more congestion.

The post pointed to a petition against the segregated cycle lane on Fender Lane and has received support from councillors in nearby Hoylake.

When asked if residents had raised the issue with her, Cllr Fraser said they hadn't. She said: "They do not know about it. That's why we need to have a consultation."

Councillor Liz Grey, chair of the council's environment and transport committee responded to the criticism, she said: "It's not a residential road. Are we going to consult with people in the graveyard? There's no local residents to knock door-to-door. It was a legally robust consultation."

She went on to say: "People could have taken part in that consultation. You can't knock on everyone's door and say 'do you object to this?' It would cost a fortune and take too long."

Cllr Grey said the barriers were necessary to improve cycle lane safety on roads where speeds are high as the Council looks to connect cycle routes across the Wirral on main roads. 

She worried if cycling route schemes were stopped or delayed, funding from the UK government would disappear.

Over concerns raised by the councillors that it may impact emergency services, Cllr Grey said emergency services were consulted and that ambulances can use the cycle line if needed as WandOrcas are flexible.

Cllr Fraser insists this is not a campaign against cyclists or cycling infrastructure. She said that she just wants residents in the wider community to be consulted. She said: "To me, they are picking and choosing. If the residents want it, they have my full support and they have Mike's."