Thingwall: controversial cycle lane to move to committee for approval

By Ed Barnes

8th Oct 2022 | Local News

Plans are being made to "improve" a cycle lane near Arrowe Park Road.
Plans are being made to "improve" a cycle lane near Arrowe Park Road.

A councillor said she is "not happy" that controversial plans to reinforce a cycle lane near Arrowe Park Hospital are moving forward.

The cycle lane is situated on Arrowe Park Road which connects the villages of Thingwall to Woodchurch and Greasby and runs past Arrowe Park Hospital.

A working group of councillors from all parties agreed unanimously to not have further consultation on the plans. The issue will be brought to a future Environment committee meeting.

It has been opposed by some local councillors. Cllr Leah Fraser, who represents nearby Pensby and Thingwall, said "I am not happy. It has clearly gone against officers' recommendations."

An initial consultation was done on the scheme, which sits on a non-residential road but Cllr Fraser says the plans will affect a wider area. She claimed officers recommended more residents needed to be consulted.

Cllr Fraser said: "I get there are no houses but it is regularly congested and busy. It is not residential but it is used so much. I must admit we feel they have let down all the people who use it on a daily basis.

The proposal is to "improve the design" on a current cycle lane on Arrowe Park Road with earlier proposals for rubber barriers to be introduced, similar to ones seen on Fender Lane. 

It is expected for the designs to change with more money invested in the scheme through another round of UK Government funding.

Cllr Liz Grey, chair of Wirral Council's environment and transport committee, said: "We decided that Arrowe Park Road had had enough consultation given that it is not residential and we recommended that the committee agree to officers requesting the latest round of funding.

"This means it will be delivered a bit later but with far more money available. This is important as material costs have gone up recently and we want it done properly.

"Local councillors may be disappointed we didn't agree to recommend further consultation but the decision was unanimous and cross party."

Funding for this scheme will not come from Wirral Council's day-to-day spending and comes from Department of Transport funding.

If approved by the Environment committee, permission must then be sought by officers with Active Travel England that manages the UK Government funding before changes are made.

Cllr Fraser said: "They seem to just want to blow these things through. I am trying to think of a polite word." A member of the Environment committee, Cllr Fraser plans to raise her concerns at the next meeting.

An Active Forum meeting, which is open to anyone interested, is scheduled for October 18.

     

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