This report seeks approval for the adoption of the ‘Places for People’ strategy and sets out the ongoing work to develop the detailed network plans for the proposed active travel infrastructure plan.

The report supports delivery of the following themes in the Council Plan 2023-2027

·  Working together to deliver people focussed regeneration

·  Working together to protect our environment; and

·  Working together to create safe, resilient and engaged communities.

This matter affects all wards within the borough.

Resolved (8:3) – That

1.  The Places for People strategy be approved; and

2.  The Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to undertake public and stakeholder consultation to support the development of an Active Travel Infrastructure Plan.

The Places for People strategy will support safe and effective movement on the highway network within the wider context of sustainable economic growth and regeneration. The strategy will help to underpin the delivery of active travel within the borough.

The development of the strategy is critical to align with and support other Council priorities, strategies and plans to encourage and support sustainable economic growth and regeneration of the borough, including the emerging local plan, Birkenhead 2040 and the environment and climate emergency declaration. The ambitions for the local plan are to deliver a sustainable left bank of the Mersey which includes increased levels of journeys being undertaken by active modes as a key part of the vision.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is developing the Local Transport Plan 4 for the region which will set out plans, policies and ambitions for transport services and transport investment in the Liverpool City Region until 2040. The council’s Places for People strategy will be one of the documents to support the wider transport plan for the region.

Do nothing – this option is not considered appropriate as:

·  failure to put measures in place to support modal shift would negatively impact the Council’s regeneration plans, the emerging local plan and the environment and climate emergency declaration;

·  the number of households within Wirral that do not have access to a motor vehicle is above the national average and development of an active travel network supports to reducing social exclusion by enabling residents without access to a car to access opportunities such as education and employment by sustainable modes; and

·  following the release of Gear Change strategy and the establishment of Active Travel England the funding for transport to Local Authorities is required to include an element of active travel and authorities are graded on performance in this area.