Councillor Pat Cleary moved and Councillor Chris Cooke seconded a motion submitted in accordance with standing order 13:

‘Council notes: the negative effects of air pollution on public health and the widespread problems associated with ‘rat-running’ on minor roads.

The benefits of active travel both in reducing carbon emissions and improving health.

The effectiveness of modal filters, chicanes and other traffic calming measures in creating low traffic neighbourhoods by removing through traffic from residential areas and from outside schools. This enables local people to take more and safer journeys on foot, bike or by other active modes.

That there are successful modal filters already installed in Wirral (e.g. Highcroft Avenue, Bebington and Lansdowne Road, Birkenhead).

The greater affordability and versatility of wooden planters compared with other modal filter and chicane designs and the benefits that more plants can bring to a street scene. These can be upgraded with more permanent structures when funding allows.

Best practice case studies that have created high-quality public spaces that prioritise people over cars using design features such as modal filters, school streets, footway improvements, seating, tree planting, pocket parks, cycle parking and signage and waymarking.

Low traffic neighbourhoods deter traffic from cutting through residential side streets to avoid main roads whilst still allowing vehicle access for residents. Scheme outcomes can be a reduction in travel speeds and the creation of safer environments for those walking, cycling or using mobility scooters.

The council’s commitment to addressing the climate emergency and safer streets and support by all parties for a residential 20mph speed limit.

That 20mph limits are often ignored without physical traffic calming measures being in place.

That speed enforcement is dependent on police resource and can’t be present on all streets, all the time.

Council instructs: The Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee as part of its work programme:

· To undertake an assessment of the suitability of streets for planter-based traffic calming solutions to help quickly create low traffic neighbourhoods throughout Wirral.

· To work with stakeholders to identify issues and co-develop effective solutions in order to assess the feasibility of delivering a low traffic neighbourhood.

· To seek to ensure traffic calming measures are always considered whenever a road is up for resurfacing’

Councillor Alan Brame moved and Councillor Stuart Kelly seconded an amendment in accordance with standing order 13.3,

‘Insert after third bullet point:

 · To consider the wider use of environmental weight restrictions where appropriate to deter Heavy Goods Vehicles from using residential roads as short cuts’

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 9.1, the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment was put and carried (39:21)

The substantive motion was then put, and it was –

Resolved 39:21 (no abstentions) – That

‘Council notes: the negative effects of air pollution on public health and the widespread problems associated with ‘rat-running’ on minor roads.

The benefits of active travel both in reducing carbon emissions and improving health.

The effectiveness of modal filters, chicanes and other traffic calming measures in creating low traffic neighbourhoods by removing through traffic from residential areas and from outside schools. This enables local people to take more and safer journeys on foot, bike or by other active modes.

That there are successful modal filters already installed in Wirral (e.g. Highcroft Avenue, Bebington and Lansdowne Road, Birkenhead).

The greater affordability and versatility of wooden planters compared with other modal filter and chicane designs and the benefits that more plants can bring to a street scene. These can be upgraded with more permanent structures when funding allows.

Best practice case studies that have created high-quality public spaces that prioritise people over cars using design features such as modal filters, school streets, footway improvements, seating, tree planting, pocket parks, cycle parking and signage and waymarking.

Low traffic neighbourhoods deter traffic from cutting through residential side streets to avoid main roads whilst still allowing vehicle access for residents. Scheme outcomes can be a reduction in travel speeds and the creation of safer environments for those walking, cycling or using mobility scooters.

The council’s commitment to addressing the climate emergency and safer streets and support by all parties for a residential 20mph speed limit.