Active Travel or Active Mess? How Wirral Council is Getting it Wrong

For years, I’ve been a strong supporter of cycling, walking, public transport, and cars—because good transport planning should give people real choices. I’ve cycled thousands of miles across Europe, worked on major cycling sponsorships, and even one of the team who originated and edited We Love Cycling magazine, where we explored how different cities successfully integrated cycling into their transport networks. I know firsthand what good cycling infrastructure looks like—and what a disaster bad planning can create.

That’s why I’ve decided to support Wallasey Against Cycle Chaos. The Wirral Core Active Travel Network (CATN) is not a well-planned, thoughtful approach to active travel—it’s a deeply flawed, impractical scheme that is being forced through without proper consultation or consideration for the wider impact on residents, businesses, and transport as a whole. This isn’t about being “anti-cycling” or “pro-car”—it’s about opposing bad policy and pushing for solutions that actually work for everyone.

Summary of the Wirral Core Active Travel Network (CATN) Plan

The Wirral Core Active Travel Network (CATN) is an ambitious plan by Wirral Borough Council to create a comprehensive network of cycle and walking routes across the borough. The initiative is aligned with the Places for People Strategy, which aims to promote sustainable travel, improve public health, and support regeneration efforts. The CATN plan is a long-term vision that will guide investment decisions up to 2027, 2032, and beyond.

Key Elements of the Plan

Network Development & Phasing
- The CATN proposes 28 key routes, prioritised into short-term (0-3 years), medium-term (3-10 years), and long-term (10+ years) phases.
- The focus is on linking residential areas to employment centres, transport hubs, schools, and leisure areas.
- Some routes, like Birkenhead to Liscard, Duke Street, and Exmouth Street, have been prioritised for earlier development.
Consultation and Public Engagement
- A public consultation was held between July and September 2024, with over 1,130 responses received.
- Key concerns raised:
  - Lack of demand: Many felt existing cycling routes were already underutilised.
  - Negative impact on traffic congestion and parking.
  - High costs with questionable value for money.
  - Failure to address wider transport issues, like unreliable public transport.
- Council’s response: The CATN will be regularly reviewed, and business cases will be developed for each route.
Funding & Financial Considerations
- The project is funded by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and Active Travel England grants.
- Funding is ringfenced and cannot be redirected to other services like road repairs or social care.
- However, Wirral Council is on the verge of bankruptcy, raising questions about long-term maintenance costs and financial feasibility.

Detailed Analysis of the CATN Plan: Flaws, Pitfalls, and Issues

1. Financial Sustainability: Is This Affordable?

🔴 Issue: Wirral Council is in serious financial difficulty, even considering issuing a Section 114 notice (essentially declaring bankruptcy).

🔴 Risk: While the capital funding for the project is external, ongoing maintenance and infrastructure upkeep costs will fall on the council.

🔴 Reality Check: The consultation report does not detail long-term maintenance costs or how these will be covered.

2. Lack of Demand and Public Backlash

🔴 Issue: The consultation found significant opposition to the plan, with 63.9% of respondents against the CATN.

🔴 Reality Check:

Existing cycle lanes are underused (e.g., Fender Lane, Harrison Drive).
Many respondents felt the scheme was a "solution in search of a problem".
Public transport is inadequate, meaning many rely on cars. Reducing road space could worsen congestion.

3. Traffic Congestion & Parking Issues

🔴 Issue: The CATN removes road space from cars, buses, and emergency vehicles, potentially worsening congestion.

🔴 Reality Check:

Existing cycle lanes have already caused traffic problems, e.g., Fender Lane cycle route increased congestion at Bidston.
Reduction in parking could impact residents, local businesses, and accessibility.
Floating bus stops (where cycle lanes pass through bus stops) create new safety risks.

4. Flawed Consultation & Community Engagement

🔴 Issue: The council claims to have engaged the public, but many residents felt unheard.

🔴 Reality Check:

The consultation was poorly communicated, and many people only found out after decisions were already made.
44.5% of responses came from Wallasey, indicating disproportionate concern in one area.
Many respondents felt the council had already decided and was just ticking boxes.

5. Unrealistic Timescales & Overpromising

🔴 Issue: The plan spans 15+ years, meaning many routes won’t be completed until the mid-2030s.

🔴 Reality Check:

Most immediate funding only covers a fraction of the network.
Many of the proposed routes will require major roadworks, making delivery uncertain.
Future funding is not guaranteed—some routes may never happen.

6. Ignoring Crime & Safety Concerns

🔴 Issue: Many parents don’t allow children to cycle—not because of road safety, but due to bike theft and muggings

.🔴 Reality Check:

Crime on the Wirral is a serious barrier to cycling uptake, yet the CATN does nothing to address it.
Secure bike parking is barely mentioned.
Investment in youth services and crime prevention would likely have a greater impact on cycling participation than just painting cycle lanes.

Final Verdict: A Well-Intentioned but Deeply Flawed Plan

✅ Positives:

Investing in active travel is good in principle.
Could provide safer walking and cycling routes.
Some proposed routes make sense (e.g., linking Birkenhead to employment centres).

🚨 Major Flaws:

Wirral Council’s financial crisis—no clear plan for long-term maintenance.
Public opposition is strong—many feel the scheme is being imposed without genuine consultation.
Traffic congestion and parking concerns—disruptions could outweigh benefits.
Ignoring crime and safety issues—bike theft and anti-social behaviour remain barriers to cycling.
Unrealistic implementation timeline—many routes may never actually be built.

The Bottom Line

The CATN is not fit for purpose in its current form. The council needs to:

Rethink priorities, given the financial crisis.
Genuinely engage with communities, rather than just pushing through pre-decided plans.
Address wider issues like crime, bike theft, and poor public transport.
Focus on maintaining and improving what already exists before committing to a 15+ year scheme that might never be fully realised.