A new cycle lane connecting parts of Wirral has been approved despite objections from some residents.
The new cycle lane will be built along Beaufort and Wallasey Bridge Road in Bidston and St James as part of Wirral Council’s plans to invest in cycling infrastructure across the borough. It sits near Birkenhead North train station.
The project will cost £1.2m with funding coming externally including from the Wirral Waters Fund and the Liverpool City Region.
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A Wirral Council report said: “The project will create an environment that is safe for both walking and cycling and to help embed walking and cycling as part of new long-term commuting and social habits.”
The development is part of an almost £3m investment in cycling infrastructure across the area that was announced in January this year.
The scheme will come with a four-metre verge and landscaping and a 3.5 metre cycle path. A number of trees will be removed as part of the scheme which will run for approximately one kilometre.
Several residents raised concerns the new cycling and walkways would cause issues for blind people or those with visual impairments.
One resident said: “Cycles are extremely difficult for blind and partially sighted people to see or hear, and it is not always obvious to cyclists which pedestrians are blind or partially sighted.
“This means that shared use areas and pathways which force cycles and blind and partially sighted pedestrians to mix present potentially serious dangers for both groups.”
In response, Wirral Council said: “The scheme will be closely monitored, and segregated facilities may be carried out as part of a future scheme.”
Concerns over potential overgrown vegetation were addressed as this will be monitored. One resident objected saying it did not give enough priority for cyclists.
There were letters of support praising the look of the scheme for its look and infrastructure for cyclists connecting Wallasey to Birkenhead and joining up with other schemes. One person said: “It looks great.”
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