In focus: Redesigning Liscard Road and Liscard Way
Wirral Council is running a consultation on a significant regeneration project aiming to connect Birkenhead and Liscard with better travel facilities.
The scheme is the first part of the Liverpool City Region Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure project (LCWIP) proposed to be delivered in Wirral, and aims to encourage more people to walk, cycle or wheel for short journeys along a redesigned route.
So what are the proposals? Here, we take a look at the fifth and final sections sections of the route.
In focus: Liscard Road (south)
Liscard Road - south, central and north - will be narrowed to allow creation of a two-way cycle track, separate from the road.
Footway improvements are also proposed, including raising crossings over side roads. Vehicle travel will be possible in both directions along the road and parking space will be provided in laybys along the road.
Some street improvements are also proposed near the local shops, including benches, cycle parking and planting.
Bus routes are unaffected with only minor changes to bus stop locations.
In focus: Liscard Road (central)
Two new pedestrian crossings will be provided and some other street improvements are proposed, including seating for resting and meeting. Footway crossings over side roads will be raised to improve access for pedestrians. Existing bus stops and bus routes will be unchanged.
Two-way traffic movements will be possible along Liscard Road and parking will be provided on the park side in laybys.
In focus: Liscard Road (north)
At the start of the town centre, the proposals include street improvements in the Martins Lane area, with side roads improved to make pedestrian crossing easier.
The existing pedestrian crossing and bus stops on Liscard Road will be retained and improved, helping to create a ‘gateway’ area to Liscard. Some shared space is required to allow access to the crossing and bus stop where space doesn’t allow a cycle track.
Parking on the north side of Liscard Road will be retained but a small number of short stay spaces will be removed on the south side. Other parking is provided in laybys on the south side of Liscard Road, next to Central Park.
Existing bus stops and bus routes will be unchanged.
Two-way traffic movements will be possible along Liscard Road and parking will be provided on the park side in laybys.
In focus: Liscard Way
In order to attract pedestrians and cyclists to Liscard Town centre and enable safe and convenient access, the route proposes to use Liscard Way.
There are several key features proposed. Firstly, the junctions at either end of Liscard Way will be improved to make pedestrian and cycle access simpler (pedestrians and cyclists will be able to use the west side of the junctions, pedestrians only the other crossings).
Secondly, Liscard Way will be redesigned with new surface materials, street furniture and planting to make it a more attractive space.
A two-way cycle route will be identified through Liscard Way using a change in surface materials only. The cycle route will not be segregated. This design feature will enable cycle access but, at busy pedestrian times, pedestrians can use the same space.
At the crossings and access to the Cherry Tree Centre, planting or street furniture will be used to guide cyclists to crossing points and away from the shopping centre access.
The proposals for this section are indicative and detailed design will provide more clarity on how Liscard Way will look and work. Servicing and emergency access along Liscard Way will be retained as usual.
What do you think? Have your say
Have your say on these proposals or any part of the Birkenhead to Liscard route by visiting our consultation website by 4 December.
You can also see larger versions of the maps from this article under the Documents section of the consultation page.
