Wirral Council embarks on an £8m public highways programme with 450 locations earmarked for improvement. Tony McDonough reports
Wirral Council says it will spend £8m this year on improving the borough’s public highways.
Each year the authority secures funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, to carry out maintenance on our roads. This funding includes dedicated money for works on the Key Routes Network and for highway bridges.
Total allocated for the 2024/25 financial year totals more than £8m which means the programme is more extensive than usual, with around 450 locations earmarked for improvement.
Those roads selected for maintenance works are prioritised based on an asset management approach, which includes feedback from residents and elected members.
Much of this work takes place over the summer as the days are longer and the weather usually kinder, which helps get more work done with improved quality in the results. However, this essential work can mean some disruption and delayed journeys.
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Cllr Paul Stuart, Leader of Wirral Council, said: “After listening to our residents, we are now investing more this year than ever before in our roads and pavements.
“While this work is undertaken, unfortunately there will be some disruption. We will try to keep it to a minimum where possible but I’d ask our residents to bear with us because we will end up with safer streets for our local people and their journeys.”
This programme is in addition to two major highways improvement schemes that began in Birkenhead in May, costing a total of £11.8m.
Wirral Council said both projects – around Conway Park station and Charing Cross – are designed to make the areas more attractive and improve accessibility and safety for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.
Funded from a combination of sources, including the UK government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF) and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Active Travel fund, the programmes will complement the wider Birkenhead regeneration plans.