We the signatories of this petition urge members of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee to proceed with the planned highway improvements to Birkenhead Road.

Background

Birkenhead Road is a vital Wirral gateway, connecting thousands of residents between the north and south of Wirral, and providing a vital linkage for commuters travelling to/from Liverpool. The proposed infrastructure upgrades would provide high-quality cycling and pedestrian space, ensuring safe, convenient, and sustainable travel for people of all ages for generations to come.

The scheme lies between key sites including the Seacombe Ferry Terminal, the Eureka! Science + Discovery centre, and New Brighton (to the north); and Wirral Waters, Wirral Met College, and Birkenhead (to the south). There are also a number of lifestyle and activity focused businesses who are natural target markets for those who chose to cycle and walk over driving.

Council commitments

The planned scheme is consistent with the Council’s prior commitments. In July 2019, Wirral Council declared an Environment and Climate Emergency, and ‘…committed to action to address the ecological and climate crisis we face’. This resolution specifically included the cutting of ‘climate damaging pollution’.

The Cool2 climate strategy, also formally endorsed by Wirral Council, recommends ‘a complete shift to fossil-fuel-free local travel by around 2030’, while the Department for Transport suggests ‘50% of all journeys in towns and cities should be walked or cycled by 2030’.

The planned scheme is also clearly aligned with the Wirral Plan (voted for by councillors in September 2021), advancing progress towards all five of its major goals:

• A Sustainable Environment
• Brighter Futures
• An Inclusive Economy
• Safe and Vibrant Communities
• Active and Healthy Lives

Rejecting the plans would run counter to those commitments, and undermine trust in the Council's commitment to its own plan.

Improvements

At present, the layout of Birkenhead Road discourages both walking and cycling, with priority overwhelmingly granted to cars.

This is demonstrated in the current set up of junctions where pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, and mobility scooter users must give way to traffic waiting to enter Birkenhead Road, or turning off it. This is in direct contravention of the rules introduced in the recent update to the Highway Code that says traffic entering and exiting junctions must give way to users that waiting at, or crossing the junction – issues the plans resolve.

Beyond that, it is worth noting that the current infrastructure wouldn't be approved for funding under the current LTN1/20 standards. That alone underlines how poor the current provision.

Furthermore, pedestrians, cyclists, and those waiting for buses are forced to share restricted space, deterring less confident adults and children from cycling, while inviting dangerous and illegal parking at certain points.

The existing scheme delivered a flawed cycle lane largely because it delivered it by removing space for pedestrians, rather than removing space from cars. It has resulted in a space that works for neither pedestrians (including the visually impaired), or for cyclists.

We can not repeat – or ignore – the flaws in the current scheme. The proposed development resolves all of the above; a reprioritisation of road space, improved facilities for cyclists, and restoring provisions for pedestrians.

Half of people aged 5+ in England own or have access to a bicycle, yet only 2 per cent of us will cycle in a typical day (vs. 40 per cent in the Netherlands).

While active travel schemes necessarily see a reduction in on street parking spaces, the provision of safe and convenient pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure leads to fewer car journeys thereby reducing demand for parking. With half of all car journeys in the UK currently under two miles, the case for improving cycling infrastructure is overwhelming.

In addition, high-quality cycle infrastructure enables freedom for young children and teenagers to be able to travel independently to many of the leisure facilities in the local area.

Furthermore, it is also important that this scheme is not viewed as cyclists/pedestrians vs driver. 87 per cent of cyclists in the UK also regularly drive.

Economically sound

Walking and cycling schemes represent astoundingly good value for money. Beyond the advantages to health, pollution and the environment, they increase the vibrancy of local businesses who enjoy increased footfall. Ambitious plans already underway make Birkenhead one of the most exciting places in the UK and it is vital that streets are accessible and welcoming, and we have the infrastructure in place to allow residents to travel sustainably. To cancel these plans risks jeopardising future funding for highways and public realm improvements and could deter investment.

In addition, during a cost of living crisis, we should be seeking to support a reduction in car dependency. Already, more than 4 out of 10 households in Seacombe don't have access to a car or van according to the latest census. In neighbouring Birkenhead Central, that figure increases to 6 out of 10 households.

Cars are one of the largest monthly overheads many families have, second only to housing. Car ownership – and the financial burden it brings – shouldn't be viewed as a progress metric. Rather, we should should be looking at what we can do to increase alternative methods of transport that helps households to keep more money in their pockets, and to spend in the local economy.

Health benefits

Human-made air pollution causes a staggering 30,000 deaths per year in the UK, and this number is rising. In 2020, a coroner ruled that this pollution made a material contribution to the death of a 9-year old girl in the UK.

Yet beyond this, physical activity like cycling and walking has been shown to prevent and manage a wide range of chronic conditions and diseases, including cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. The UK has among the highest rates of childhood obesity in Europe, and while 90 per cent of our 5-to-10-year-olds have access to a bicycle, strikingly only 2 per cent cycle to school!

Summary

This is about so much more than cycling or walking. This scheme represents a brighter vision for the future of Wirral and would ensure we continue our trajectory towards being a healthier, safer, and more prosperous place to live, and an exciting and welcoming place to visit.

Delaying or cancelling this project would not only see Wirral Council betraying our climate change commitments but would represent a profound failure of the Council in serving the long term interests of its residents.

We urge your committee to appreciate why it is so important for this development to proceed and ask that your members take pride in enthusiastically backing the plans to help ensure the prosperity of Wirral, its residents, and all future visitors.

Links

1. https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/active-travel-improvements-birkenhead-road
2. https://www.wirralintelligenceservice.org/media/3634/wirral_plan_refresh-2022.pdf
3. https://www.wirral.gov.uk/about-council/climate-change-and-sustainability/consultation-new-cool-2-climate-change-strategy
4. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904146/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf
5. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-second-cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy/the-second-cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy-cwis2
6. https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/regenerating-birkenhead-2
7. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/536497/cw0107.ods
8. https://issuu.com/ctc_cyclists/docs/cycling_uk_statistcs_-_january_2021
9. https://www.hubbub.org.uk/drive-less-active-travel-more-make-our-move#:~:text=How%20often%20do%20you%20jump,keep%20you%20fit%20and%20healthy