Decision details

LOCAL CYCLING AND WALKING INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN (LCWIP) - BIRKENHEAD TO NEW BRIGHTON

Decision Maker: Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

This report provides Members with an update regarding the work undertaken to progress the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) Birkenhead to New Brighton Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) project. The report seeks approval to continue to work with the LCRCA to undertake the development of the LCWIP project in two phases;

 

· LCWIP Phase 1 – Birkenhead to Liscard

 

· LCWIP Phase 2 – Liscard to New Brighton and seeks approval for Wirral Council to undertake consultation and engagement regarding LCWIP Phase 1 in line with the proposed LCWIP Public Consultation and Engagement Strategy. This report seeks approval to undertake further development work and consultation for LCWIP only, and further reports would be brought back to this Committee for approval prior to the implementation of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the LCWIP scheme. Other active travel schemes will be subject to separate reporting to this Committee.

 

The LCRCA Birkenhead to New Brighton LCWIP will support all five themes of the Wirral Plan 2021-26:

 

Inclusive Economy, Safe & Pleasant Communities, Sustainable Environment, Brighter Futures and Active & Healthy Lives.

 

 

This matter affects the wards of Birkenhead and Tranmere, Bidston and St James, Seacombe, Liscard, Wallasey and New Brighton.

 

This matter is a Key Decision as it is significant in terms of its effect on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards

Decision:

Resolved (6:4) - That:

 

(1) the director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to:

 

(a) undertake the further development and consultation of the Birkenhead to New Brighton Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (“LCWIP”) as 2 separate phases – Phase 1 Birkenhead to Liscard, and Phase 2 Liscard to New Brighton (as set out in Appendix 3 to this report); Page 19 Agenda Item 7

 

(b) Agree, in consultation with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Chair and Spokespersons of the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee and the Environment, Transport and Climate Change Committee, the extent, alignment and design of the Phase 1 Birkenhead to Liscard route, to be the subject of the stakeholder and public consultation;

 

(c) Amend the content or timescales of the LCWIP Engagement Strategy prior to implementation if required, in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons of the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee and Chair and Spokespersons of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee.

 

(2)  the LCWIP Phase 1 Engagement Strategy (as set out in Appendix 5 of this report) be approved.

Reasons for the decision:

The Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a Liverpool City Region wide plan to develop a comprehensive cycling and walking network. Development of an LCWIP is a requirement of the Infrastructure Act 2015.

 

The Birkenhead to New Brighton LCWIP route will deliver high quality active travel infrastructure and support the Council and the LCR to address climate change and work towards net zero. Improvements to active travel infrastructure will support the sustainable regeneration of the Borough as identified in the emerging Local Plan and the Birkenhead 2040 Framework. The proposed route will improve safety for vulnerable road users, and increase the use of active sustainable travel modes, therefore reducing the reliance on the private car.

 

Undertaking the development of the Birkenhead to New Brighton LCWIP in 2 separate phases will enable each phase to be subject to its own timeline for consultation and decision-making processes.

 

The scheme length is significant, approximately 6 miles, and therefore undertaking the development of the project, and the consultation and engagement in 2 phases will ensure this is undertaken in an effective, informative, and targeted way.

 

The Government has recently established Active Travel England (ATE) who are the overseeing executive agency for active travel and will be responsible for funding and providing advice and guidance regarding walking and cycling schemes. ATE will be reviewing the Birkenhead to New Brighton LCWIP project design and therefore undertaking this project in 2 phases will be a more manageable approach to this process.

Alternative options considered:

The Council could decide not to progress with the development of the Birkenhead to New Brighton LCWIP. This is not considered to be appropriate as delivery of active travel projects is part of the wider transport strategy to support sustainable regeneration, and successful delivery of the Birkenhead 2040 Framework and the emerging Local Plan.

 

The Council could decide not to progress with the development of the Birkenhead to New Brighton LCWIP. This is not considered an appropriate option as failure to deliver improved walking and cycling infrastructure could result in reputational issues for the Council in terms of its commitment to active travel and achieving net zero which could result in future funding allocations being reduced against wider transport, regeneration and environment programmes.

 

The Council could decide to progress a different route connecting different areas of the Borough. This is not considered an option as the route has been identified using criteria and tools provided by the DfT (‘Propensity to Cycle’, ‘Route Selection Tool’ and ‘Cycle Level of Service’) to assess existing provision and potential improvements for a cycling route and has been designed in accordance with DfT’s policy and guidance including the principles in Gear Change which set out that cycle routes should be “coherent, direct, safe, comfortable and attractive”. The LCWIP route is to encourage modal shift and improve roads, footways and cycleways so that people can walk and cycle from where they live to where they want to go.

 

The Council could continue to progress the Birkenhead to New Brighton LCWIP as one scheme and not split into phases. This is not considered appropriate as progressing as 2 phases will enable the project to be managed more effectively with each having its own timeline for consultation and decision-making processes.

Publication date: 21/10/2022

Date of decision: 19/10/2022

Decided at meeting: 19/10/2022 - Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee

Effective from: 27/10/2022

Accompanying Documents: