Wirral’s Cycling Future: A White Paper for Real Change

Why I Wrote This White Paper

Wirral is at a crossroads. The borough's cycling infrastructure is a mess—poorly planned, politically divisive, and failing to deliver the benefits that active travel should bring. The so-called Core Active Travel Network (CATN) has sparked public frustration, but the deeper issue goes beyond cycle lanes: Wirral’s leadership is failing at long-term strategic planning.

Our council, dysfunctional and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, is consumed by petty political squabbles and short-term thinking. Instead of visionary leadership, we get reactive decision-making, fragmented planning, and a culture of tribal politics that blocks progress at every turn. Wirral deserves better—not just for cyclists but for everyone who cares about sustainable transport, economic growth, and a borough that actually works for its people.

That’s why I’ve written The Future of Cycling on Wirral—a comprehensive white paper that offers a way forward. This isn’t a rant or an idealistic wishlist. This is a serious, well-researched strategy that outlines how Wirral can transform itself into a UK leader in cycling infrastructure, tourism, and economic growth.

Read the full Wirral Cycling White Paper

What’s in the White Paper?

This document isn’t just about fixing cycle lanes—it’s about fixing Wirral’s approach to transport and planning as a whole. The report:

• Exposes the failures of the CATN and why it’s set up to fail.

• Shows how cycling can be an economic powerhouse—bringing tourism, business investment, and jobs.

• Outlines a practical, long-term strategy for a connected, safe, and economically beneficial cycling network.

• Proposes bold, forward-thinking policies—like a Wirral Cycling Superlink connecting Liverpool, Cheshire, and North Wales, and a cycling tourism push that could generate millions for local businesses.

• Calls for a radical shift in council culture—where planning is data-driven, community-led, and long-term, rather than dictated by knee-jerk political battles.

Why This Matters for Everyone

The debate over cycling in Wirral is bigger than bikes—it’s about how we make decisions, how we invest in the future, and whether we want to be a borough that thrives or one that stagnates. Right now, we are on the wrong path. Political dysfunction is suffocating progress. We have councillors more concerned with scoring points than solving problems.

Wirral needs to start acting like a borough that plans for the next 20 years, not just the next election cycle. That means:

✅ Prioritising strategy over short-termism

✅ Putting community engagement at the heart of decision-making

✅ Committing to investment in infrastructure that delivers real returns

✅ Treating cycling not as a nuisance, but as a massive economic and public health opportunity

Time to Change the Conversation

This white paper is a civic gift—the kind of work that councils usually pay consultants tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds to produce. I’m giving it away because Wirral desperately needs a better way forward.

Now, the challenge is for councillors, businesses, and residents to demand better—to move beyond the finger-pointing and inertia that has held Wirral back for too long.

Read the full Wirral Cycling White Paper here.

And if you care about the future of this borough, share it, challenge your councillors, and demand leadership that actually delivers.

Wirral can be better. But we need to fight for it.