Over £7m of new funding to move walking and cycling plans for the Region forward

MORE than £7.4m of funding has been secured for new bike lanes, footpaths and other active travel infrastructure in the Region, subject to acceptance at next week's Combined Authority meeting.

The new money has been unlocked from the government's Active Travel Fund and takes total money committed to building active travel infrastructure in the Region to over £110m.

The funding will be used to create improved connections between:- existing and planned routes across all 6 boroughs of the Liverpool City Region:- Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

The investment is aimed at making it safer and easier for people to walk, cycle or wheel, offering a real alternative to the car, especially for shorter journeys.

Funding is also to be made available for projects to encourage more people to travel actively. These include:- trialling new secure bike parking facilities and funding social prescribing schemes; where medical professionals support patients to take up walking and cycling for health and wellbeing.

The money could also be used to increase the number cycle safety training places for residents of all ages, to help people use bikes safely and with confidence.

The improvements funded by this new cash boost are part of wider plans to create a 600km network of walking and cycling routes across the Region; with more than 260km set to be built by the end of 2026.

Major schemes already delivered as part of the plans include:- the cycle lane on Runcorn's Silver Jubilee Bridge in Halton, the major redevelopment of Catherine Street and Princes Avenue in Liverpool and the Region's 1st CYCLOPS junction at Lea Green in St Helens.

Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Transport Committee at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:- "Mayor Rotheram and the Combined Authority are setting out to make the Liverpool City Region the best place in the country for walking and cycling; and investing in safe, accessible active travel infrastructure is key to making that a reality. Today's announcement brings our total investment in the Region's active travel network to over £110m. That's a huge commitment to transforming how people get around. By making it easier for people to walk, cycle or wheel; especially for shorter trips; we're connecting communities, supporting economic growth, cutting carbon emissions, and boosting quality of life for everyone in our Region. When taken together with investment in new trains, zero emission buses and the 1st brand new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years, this is another stride forward in building a world-class transport network that's healthier, greener, and better connected for all."

Simon O'Brien, Liverpool City Region Cycling and Walking Commissioner, said:- "It's great to see yet more funding being committed to walking, cycling and wheeling in our Region. The job we have now is to work with local authorities, not only to build new bike lanes and footpaths, but also to make sure we're connecting up some of the fantastic infrastructure we already have. Linking communities, reducing carbon emissions, helping people to be healthier; investment in active travel has the potential to be truly transformational for our City Region."

Development of new active travel infrastructure is a key element of Mayor Rotheram's plan for an integrated London style transport system that is quick, simple, affordable, and accessible to all.

Other major investments include:- the purchase of more than 100 zero emission double-decker electric buses, a £32m transport interchange for St Helens town centre, £26m for the 1st new Mersey Ferry in over 60 years and £100m for the new Liverpool Baltic Rail Station.

8 more Stations on the Northern network become:- 'mobility scooter friendly'

PEOPLE who use mobility scooters can now travel to and from another 8 Stations on the Northern network. The mobility aids can be used by customers with a permit at:- Chesterfield, Deansgate, Headbolt Lane, Prescott, Rainhill, Salford Central, Salford Crescent and Kent's Bank, following the expansion of Northern's mobility scooter programme.

It means 179 Stations across 28 routes on the train operator's network are now mobility scooter friendly.

Maxine Myers, Accessibility Improvement Manager at Northern, said:- "We are constantly evolving this scheme and have listened to feedback from customers and members of our accessibility user group to open up more opportunities for people who use a mobility scooter to travel. I'm delighted that we have been able to expand this programme and hope we can continue to do so in the future."

Alex Hornby, Customer and Commercial Director at Northern, said:- "This is an important step towards making Stations and services across our vast network more accessible. We are determined to give everyone the confidence to travel by train. Despite the progress we are making, we are not complacent and will continue to deliver more improvements in our efforts to build a better railway for all. We always welcome feedback from customers so we can make improvements and provide the best possible service."

Anyone travelling on a mobility scooter must obtain a permit from Northern, to ensure the model can be used to safely board services and it will not tip over or become stuck on the train.

The scheme is free and registered passengers are given a personalised sticker that must be placed on the pre-assessed vehicle. Users are also provided with a card in case their scooter does not have a suitable place to display the sticker.

Customers can find more information on Northern's Mobility Scooter Permit Scheme and submit an application here.

Mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs and other aids used by people with reduced mobility are exempt from Northern's ban on certain battery-powered devices.

The operator and many other public transport companies in the UK do not allow passengers to bring e-scooters, hoverboards and e-skateboards on their services, as they can overheat and cause fires.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 Stations across the Nor England.