Fillable Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028 Liverpool City (Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council)

Fill Online, Printable, Fillable, Blank Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028 Liverpool City (Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council) Form

Use Fill to complete blank online SEFTON METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL pdf forms for free. Once completed you can sign your fillable form or send for signing. All forms are printable and downloadable.

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028 Liverpool City (Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council)

On average this form takes 4 minutes to complete

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028 Liverpool City (Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council) form is 49 pages long and contains:

0 signatures
0 check-boxes
14 other fields

Country of origin: UK
File type: PDF

Use our library of forms to quickly fill and sign your Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council forms online.

BROWSE SEFTON METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL FORMS

Related forms

Fill has a huge library of thousands of forms all set up to be filled in easily and signed.

Fill in your chosen form

Sign the form using our drawing tool

Send to someone else to fill in and sign.

find another form

Liverpool City Region

Combined Authority

Rights of Way Improvement Plan

2018-2028

Contents

Foreword 1

Introduction 2

District Actions 6

Liverpool City Region Context 12

Delivering Rights of Way 19

Monitoring and Evaluation 38

Appendix 1: Liverpool City Region Public Rights of Way Network 39

Appendix 2: Other Liverpool City Region Public Access Networks 42

Appendix 3: District Rights of Way Maps 44

Appendix 4: Stakeholders 49

Appendix 5: References 51

Contacts 52

Foreword

Steve Rotheram

Mayor of the Liverpool

City Region

Public rights of way are both a signiﬁcant

part of our heritage and a major recreational

resource. They enable people to get away

from roads used mainly by motor vehicles

and enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the

countryside within a large area of the City

Region, to which they would not otherwise

have access.

In many areas, public rights of way help to boost

tourism and contribute to rural economies. Public

rights of way can also provide a convenient means

of travelling, particularly for short journeys, in both rural

and urban areas. They are important in the daily lives

of many people who use them for fresh air and exercise

on bicycle, foot or horse, to walk their dog, to improve

their ﬁtness, or to visit local shops and other facilities.

I am therefore proud to present the ﬁrst Liverpool City

Region Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which

sets out a vision of how the Rights of Way Network can

make a positive contribution to supporting the economic,

social and cultural resurgence and ambition of the City

Region by improving transport links and opening up

a choice of travel to Liverpool City Region visitors

and residents.

It is therefore crucial to make sure that public rights

of way continue to contribute to an environment

that is accessible, ecient, safe and reliable and

will provide a step change towards further sustainable

growth. They will also make a valuable contribution

towards the resurgence and economic ambition of

the Liverpool City Region, its distinctive quality of

place, the quality of life of its local people, and help

make it an attractive place to live, work and play.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

1.1 Background

Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIP) are the prime

means by which local highway authorities will identify

the changes to be made, in respect of management

and improvements, to their local rights of way network

in order to meet the government’s aim of better

provision for walkers, cyclists, equestrians and

people with mobility problems.

Public rights of way are routes over which the public

have a “right of passage”. They exist as public highways,

providing the public with a right to use a deﬁned route

to travel from one place to another.

Public rights of way contribute positively to the quality

of people’s lives providing a valuable facility to assist

in making people feel better about themselves and

improving their health and wellbeing through

exercise and recreation.

Besides their recreational value, they can also provide

a more sustainable means of travel to work, school

and local amenities, thus reducing congestion,

increasing accessibility, supporting the visitor economy

and enhancing the environment. They form part of

the wider access and transport networks, providing

opportunities that have the potential to contribute to key

objectives in a number of existing plans and strategies.

There are 671km of rights of way in the Liverpool City

Region, and within this network there are three

categories of public rights of way. See table below.

Table 1 Types of Deﬁnitive Public Rights of Way in Liverpool City Region

Introduction

Public Right of Way Waymark Deﬁnition

Footpath

Provide a right of access for pedestrians: walkers,

wheelchair users, dog walkers, and people pushing

prams or pushchairs.

Bridleway

Provide a right of access for pedestrians, horse riders

and cyclists (cyclists must give way to other users).

Byway open to all trac

(BOAT)

Provide a right of access for pedestrians, horse riders,

cyclists and vehicles (including horse-drawn carriages

and motor vehicles).

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

In the provision of public rights of way, highway

authorities have three speciﬁc elements to their work:

ɥ Legal deﬁnition of the public rights

of way network;

ɥ Maintenance of the network, and

ɥ Promotion of the network.

Highway authorities are responsible for managing,

maintaining and promoting public rights of way

and for keeping a record of their location and status.

These records are known as the deﬁnitive map and

statement, which is legal proof that a route exists and

that the public have a right of access. Each highway

authority has a statutory duty to keep these records

up-to-date and under continuous review.

Each of the six Liverpool City Region councils is the

highway authority for its area and has its own deﬁnitive

map and statement. These documents are available in

various formats for the public to view via the council

oces on request.

1.2 Legislative Background

Section 60 of the Countryside and Rights of Way

(CROW) Act 2000 placed a duty on highway authorities

to prepare and publish a ROWIP. The ﬁrst Merseyside

and Halton ROWIPs were published in 2008 and there

is a statutory duty to review these plans every 10 years.

Merseytravel is the executive body that provides

professional, strategic and operational transport

advice to the Liverpool City Region Mayoral Combined

Authority to enable it to make informed decisions.

In Liverpool City Region, the six respective highway

authorities (Liverpool City Council, Halton Borough

Council, Knowsley Council, Sefton Council, St Helens

Council and Wirral Council) and Merseytravel have

joined forces to produce the second 10-year ROWIP

for the period 2018-2028.

The ROWIP covers the entire geographic area of the

Liverpool City Region Mayoral Combined Authority.

Each highway authority will, however, remain responsible

for the delivery of the plan in its area.

Figure 1 below shows the extent of the existing rights

of way network across the Liverpool City Region. More

detailed maps for each local authority area are shown

in appendix 3.

Figure 1: Liverpool City Region Rights of Way Network

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

1.3 Demonstrating Our Success

For the ﬁrst ROWIPs, both Halton and Merseyside

developed a series of proposed actions in their

respective plans to set the foundation for subsequent

years’ improvements.

The proposals within the 10-year plans were a mixture

of small, medium and large-scale schemes designed

to bring a range of improvements across the public

rights of way network for a wide range of users. It was

anticipated that in this way, delivery would have a much

more positive impact for users who would see ROWIP

improvements throughout the Liverpool City Region.

The focus for delivery was:

ɥ Education;

ɥ Promotion;

ɥ Making the network more appealing

and accessible to users;

ɥ Filling in the gaps, creating greater links

and increasing provision;

ɥ Increased multi-user access;

ɥ Protecting routes;

ɥ Cross-boundary partnership working;

ɥ Further integration of ROWIPs with external partners

and other areas of local authority activity to develop

a co-ordinated approach to implementation;

ɥ Utilise the training of rights of way ocers received

from Year 1; and

ɥ Network audits to ensure user safety

and accessibility.

The ﬁrst ROWIPs were ‘Access for All’ plans, which

intended to improve access to the network for all

types of users, including:

ɥ Walkers;

ɥ Cyclists;

ɥ Horse riders;

ɥ Carriage drivers;

ɥ Landowners;

ɥ Under-represented groups (young people, those

people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds,

and people living in areas of social exclusion);

ɥ Infrequent or non-users (people who cite no time,

not knowing the location of routes, insucient

information and/or no current interest as reasons

for not using the network); and

ɥ Other recreational users (people undertaking

additional recreational activities outside the scope

of the plan but who may beneﬁt from access

improvements, such as anglers and canoeists).

The joint plan of the ﬁrst ROWIPs aimed to create

partnership working and a consistency of improvements

across the region. Each highway authority was responsible

for the delivery of the plan within its area and developed

its own business plan based on the ROWIP’s ﬁndings

and the individual characteristics of the access network

in that area. Some generic actions required partnership

working between the highway authorities to provide a

consistency of countywide improvements.

During the lifetime of the ﬁrst ROWIPs for

Merseyside and Halton, £5m was invested by

the partner authorities and from capital grants

in improving the rights of way network.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Improvement Progress Further Information

Undertake a full public right of way (PROW)

network condition survey to establish the

functionality of access features and path furniture

to drive improvements (INSP7).

Completed

This is now part of a network inspection regime for

all local authorities and will continue for future years

of the ROWIP.

Undertake a full network safety inspection,

resolving identiﬁed problems (INSP10). Completed

Full network inspections being undertaken on

an annual basis, and to continue throughout the

lifespan of the ROWIP.

Work in partnership with neighbouring authorities

to ensure a consistency of maintenance, signage

and promotion of cross-boundary routes (Prov12).

Completed

Full network inspections being undertaken on

an annual basis, and to continue throughout the

lifespan of the ROWIP.

Rights of way ocer user safety training (INSP8).

Completed

Training skills can now be implemented.

Produce a leaﬂet to advise the public of their role

in the claims process (MAP6).

Completed

A leaﬂet has now been produced and will be

made widely available to make sure the public

are aware of the claims process and how they can

assist in improving and enlarging the local rights

of way network.

Rights of way ocers to undertake disability

equality action training (Acc7).

Completed

Training skills can now be implemented.

Produce a code of conduct leaﬂet for users and

landowners (INFO3).

Completed

The production of a code of conduct leaﬂet for using

the rights of way network will help educate users

about their responsibilities when using the network

to assist in preventing any potential conﬂict.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

District Actions

During ROWIP1 (2008-2017), each district made a number of rights of way

improvements, including:

Knowsley

Mineral Greenway

This trac-free route, linking the Whiston and Huyton

communities, overcomes the barriers created by the

M57 motorway and the Liverpool to Manchester railway

link, giving people everyday access to walking and

cycling route choices for local journeys, thus encouraging

alternatives to the car, improving access to education,

employment, health and recreation facilities, and

connecting these urban areas to the local countryside.

Kirkby Valley Greenway

This scheme provided a solution to the diculties faced

by pedestrians and cyclists travelling around Kirkby.

The town centre is connected to rural countryside, giving

people the chance to enjoy the relaxing green spaces

and enjoy walking and cycling for leisure, as well as

providing an essential link for others who want to travel

sustainably to work and school. This route links into

the trac-free Gellings Greenway and Little Wood

Greenway, National Cycle Network Route 862,

continuing on to Liverpool.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Halton

St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway Line

The former St Helens and Runcorn Gap railway line.

This was converted to a multi-user route that connects

Widnes to the Dream at Sutton Manor in St Helens.

Dungeon Lane, Hale

Dungeon Lane lies on the edge of both Hale Village and

Speke and is an historic route to the river. This area had

been suering with antisocial behaviour and misuse for

many years. The route was in a poor state of repair and

blighted by o-road vehicles. Investment into this area

repaired the scarred and torn-up pathways, as well as

building in measures to prevent access by 4x4 vehicles.

Since its completion, the area has beneﬁted from an

increase in local tourism and a safer and more attractive

environment for the local community.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Liverpool

Dutch Farm

A public footpath diversion order for public right of

way No. 39 in order to make it more direct and secure

within the space known as Dutch Farm. The upgrade

works included environmental and access improvements

such as vegetation thinning and clearance, removal

of redundant fencing, and the realignment of part of

the footpath.

Little Wood to Croxteth Greenway

A new link route for the Kirkby to Liverpool cycle route

(National Cycle Network Route 862) was identiﬁed by

Sustrans as one of the preferred schemes for funding.

Ocers from Liverpool and Knowsley identiﬁed a

possible link to upgrade the existing path through

Little Wood.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Sefton

Ince Blundell Footpath No. 1 Improvements

The Ince Blundell Footpath No. 1 improvement scheme

was a £500,000 upgrade of an existing footpath to a

footpath with permissive cycle use. By agreement with

the landowners, the scheme was delivered by Sefton

Council in partnership with Sustrans and Local Sustainable

Transport Fund funding. The route now makes up part of

the National Cycle Network Route 810.

The scheme included upgrading the surfacing and

increasing the width of almost 2.2km of path, the

creation of a new section of path and the replacement

of two footbridges, one being a major bridge across

the River Alt.

Creation of Formby No. 56

A new footpath was installed to improve community links

to the local primary school, church and the Formby coast.

The footpath ran through Archdiocese-owned land that

was dedicated through agreement with Sefton Council.

The majority of the funding for the approximately

£30,000 scheme was provided by the Archdiocese.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

St Helens

Public Footpath No. 333 Bold Moss

A 325-metre section of footpath linking Moss Nook Lane

in Sutton and the former Bold Moss Colliery had been

unavailable for many years.

The route had the potential to be used by schoolchildren

wishing to take a safe o-road shortcut route to school

between Parr and Sutton, and by those wishing to

access St Helens Junction rail station further to the

south avoiding roads.

Public Bridleway No. 401 Carmel College

Improvements to the bridleway to improve usage

to a path on the edge of an urban area.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Wirral

Stiles to Gates project

One of the major projects across Wirral over the last few

years has been the replacement of about 90 ‘climb-over’

stiles on public footpaths with kissing gates and space-

saving lift-up/drop-down concertina gates. It can now be

said that, with the exception of a few historic sandstone

step-over stiles, Wirral is mainly stile free.

Wirral Circular Trail

Wirral Circular Trail is a 35-mile voyage of discovery

taking in the coastline, the history, the heritage and the

rural countryside of this glorious peninsula. From an

original idea to create a walking and cycling route

around Wirral, funding was secured through the ROWIP

from the European Regional Development Fund and the

Local Transport Plan.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

2.1 The Liverpool City Region

Situated in the northwest of England, the Liverpool City Region covers an area of 724

square kilometres and has a population of around 1.5 million people. The City Region

also has a much bigger economic hinterland extending into northeast Wales, Cheshire

and Lancashire. It shares its boundaries geographically with neighbouring areas

including Cheshire West and Chester, Lancashire, Warrington, and Wigan.

2. Liverpool City Region Context

Figure 2: Map of the Liverpool City Region

Key

1. Sefton

2. Wirral

3. Liverpool

4. Knowsley

5. St Helens

6. Halton

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Our unique history, cultural and environmental assets

and architectural distinctiveness have already made

Liverpool City Region a globally renowned destination.

Liverpool City Region is built on a rich history of

international maritime trade and world-leading innovation

and achievement in science, culture and civic life.

Our City Region is internationally renowned, with an

outstanding physical environment, more listed buildings

of architectural distinction than any other UK city outside

London, and an iconic waterfront recognised by

UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. With a beach-lined

coastline and easy access to national parks including

Snowdonia, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and

the Lake District, it is arguably one of Britain’s most

liveable places and has a distinctive quality of place.

The visitor economy in Liverpool City Region is a

success story not just for Liverpool and the wider City

Region, but for the entire UK. The growth experienced

over recent years has helped create a sector that,

according to the latest STEAM 2015, contributes over

£4bn in gross value added to the local economy and

supports 51,000 jobs. Liverpool City Region attracts

over 61 million visitors per year. As a result, the visitor

economy is one of the most signiﬁcant and successful

industry sectors in the City Region.

Liverpool City Region also plays a key role in the

government’s Northern Powerhouse initiative that

covers northern England.

The portfolio of City Region strategies aim to protect

and enhance that distinctive quality of place, to improve

quality of life for our residents, and attract and retain the

investors, skilled workers and visitors who will contribute

to future economic growth.

2.2 City Region Governance

The Liverpool City Region

Mayoral Combined Authority

In April 2014, Merseyside and Halton came together

to formally establish the Liverpool City Region. The

Combined Authority was established to strategically

lead work on transport, economic development,

housing, employment and skills in the City Region

to, in turn, support sustainable economic growth.

It enables the City Region to speak with one voice

in a democratically accountable structure that can

attract funding and devolved powers from government.

Transport is a key focus of the Combined Authority,

in recognition of the central role it plays in helping

to grow the economy and in enabling and

encouraging regeneration.

The Combined Authority is responsible for transport

policy and strategy, and agreeing the City Region’s

transport agenda. It now has statutory responsibility for

local transport plans (LTPs), and as such has ‘adopted’

the Merseyside and Halton LTPs as the policy position.

In November 2015/March 2016, Liverpool City Region

agreed a devolution deal with central government that

devolved wider powers to the Combined Authority in

respect of planning, the creation of a key route network,

and funding.

In May 2017, the City Region underwent further

governance changes as it became a Mayoral

Combined Authority headed by a directly elected

City Region Mayor. Steve Rotheram was elected

to this role.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Transport Committee

The Transport Committee of the Combined Authority

undertakes transport and travel policy functions on

behalf of the Combined Authority, together with certain

delegated functions in relation to transport and travel,

the development of funding proposals, and oversight of

Merseytravel as the passenger transport executive and

executive body for the Combined Authority.

The Local Access Forum

The CROW Act 2000 placed a duty on highway

authorities to establish a local access forum for

their area.

The local access forum covers the whole of the

Liverpool City Region and Warrington. It has historically

been named the Merseyside Local Access Forum, and

this name has been retained.

Its function is to provide advice to the constituent local

authorities and to Natural England on how to make the

countryside more accessible and enjoyable for open-air

recreation in ways that address social, economic and

environmental interests. The forum’s role is to encourage

and assist access provision and give advice on issues of

particular relevance to the Liverpool City Region area.

Forum members have contributed their shared

knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to the

development of the ROWIP and ultimately endorsed

this document. At present, membership of the forum

is made up of volunteers from a wide variety of

backgrounds appointed to represent the widest

possible range of interests and key stakeholders.

It is supported by local authority ocers.

2.3 City Region Governance

Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy

Under the Infrastructure Act 2015, the government

is required to set a Cycling and Walking Investment

Strategy (CWIS) for England.

The CWIS sets out a long-term vision for walking and

cycling to 2040. At the heart of the development of the

CWIS is a desire for walking and cycling to become the

norm for short journeys or as part of a longer journey.

This vision will be progressed through a series of

shorter-term, ﬁve-year strategies. There are a number

of objectives that will support the long-term ambition,

with speciﬁcally funded actions to be set out on

achieving these objectives.

Transport for the North Strategic

Transport Plan

Transport for the North (TfN) is currently developing an

integrated, multi-modal strategic transport plan to make

it easier for passengers and freight to move throughout

the region across all transport modes.

This plan will build on the March 2015 Northern

Transport Strategy to make a prioritised case for

investment in the north of England to 2050. An initial

draft of the strategic transport plan will be published

for public engagement in January 2018. Once comments

have been analysed and any amendments made, a ﬁnal

version will then be published.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

2.4 City Region Policy Framework

Local Transport Plans

Under Section 108 of the Transport Act 2000, all

transport authorities have a statutory duty to produce a

local transport plan in which they set out their objectives

and plans for transport development. Typically, they

contain policies, strategy and implementation plans

that can be reviewed independently of each other.

The Merseyside and Halton LTPs were published in 2011

and run to 2024 and 2026 respectively. They provide

the statutory framework under which policies and plans

are taken forward in each local authority area to guide

the future provision of transport. Their publication

marked the end of a sustained period of evidence

gathering and consultation that determined where

and how transport investment could best be targeted

to enable the Liverpool City Region to meet its goals

and aspirations.

Both LTPs set out a vision for a City Region committed to

a low-carbon future, which has a transport network and

mobility culture that positively contributes to a thriving

economy and the health and wellbeing of its citizens,

and where sustainable travel is the option of choice.

The LTPs set the strategic direction for transport that

supports growth, regeneration and carbon reduction.

Transport Plan for Growth

Recognising that policy direction is set by our LTPs,

the Transport Plan for Growth guides a single strategic

investment framework for the Liverpool City Region

to support the long-term LTPs.

Our approach is to articulate the City Region’s strategic

direction for transport to both those within the transport

sector and wider partners in health, education, business

and industry, and how this direction has shaped our

priorities for transport. Much has changed since the

LTPs were written, so the Transport Plan for Growth

more closely aligns our LTPs with the current

government’s high-level economic policy drivers of

localism, devolution of power and, above all, growth.

It supports a platform from which joint working on shared

priorities and delivery arrangements can be built. Moving

forward, this will help to achieve greater impact and

aggregate beneﬁts from overall investment in the City

Region, but will mean a new approach to delivering a

globally connected transport network.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Local Journeys Strategy

The Combined Authority’s Local Journeys Strategy,

published in 2018, provides a framework for guiding

the development of services and infrastructure that

supports sustainable short trips across the City Region.

It is underpinned by a vision for action and a delivery

framework based on a strong evidence base. This

strategy will assist the City Region in delivering against

its aspirations for economic growth set out in the

Liverpool City Region’s new Growth Strategy, including

supporting the use of low-carbon modes and improving

access to jobs and services.

The Local Journeys Strategy is not about one

particular transport mode, but instead cuts across

multiple transport modes and geographies. It covers

all forms of local accessibility and connectivity into

local centres, and movement in and around local

communities. These can be standalone local journeys

or the ﬁrst or last part of a longer-distance journey (the

‘last-mile’ connection). As a broad guide for practical

purposes, we deﬁne local journeys as all journeys with

an origin or destination within the Liverpool City Region

that are less than 5km in length.

The unfulﬁlled potential for sustainable local journeys in

the Liverpool City Region is evident. The vast majority of

journeys undertaken are short journeys; 66% of all trips

in Merseyside are less than 5km in length and 83% are

less than 10km, yet of the trips that are less than 5km

long, 50% are still undertaken by car. There is clearly

an opportunity to encourage more people to use

sustainable modes for local journeys if we can

provide them with the right conditions to do so.

Local Cycling and Walking Investment

Plan (LCWIP)

The CWIS commits the government to helping local

bodies that are serious about increasing cycling and

walking in their local areas to take a more strategic

approach to improving conditions for cycling and

walking. Guidance has been issued on the preparation

of LCWIPs and supporting the production of LCWIPs in

areas with signiﬁcant potential for high levels of cycling

and walking.

Liverpool City Region is developing a LCWIP that will

set out a long-term plan for improving cycling and

walking, recognising the importance of public rights

of way contributing to this, and a cycling and walking

design guide to ensure consistency in the approach

to the development of new infrastructure.

2.5 Relationship between ROWIPs

and other plans and strategies

The greatest opportunities for ROWIPs can be explored

through their integration with existing plans, strategies

and policies within areas of local authority activity, as

this will develop a co-ordinated, joined-up approach to

implementation. ROWIPs link to areas of work such as

health, leisure, recreation, sport, tourism, transport,

community, congestion, accessibility, environment and

economic regeneration. Paths and tracks can be seen

as tools to achieve the aims and objectives within these

areas of work.

Many key plans and strategies have inﬂuenced the

development of the ROWIP, which can assist in the

delivery of their aims and objectives and in turn facilitate

in the ROWIPs own delivery of improvements. Figures 3

and 4 overleaf demonstrate this. Figure 3 shows the

relationship between the ROWIP and other City Region

strategies, while Figure 4 shows links to other sectors

and themes.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Figure 3: City Region Policy Context

Northern

Powerhouse

Strategy

LCR Devolution

Deal with Central

Government

TfN Strategic

Transport Plan

LCR Mayoral

Combined Authority

Long Term

Rail Strategy

Bus Strategy

Mersey Ferries

Strategy

Local Journeys

Strategy

Key Route

Network

Merseyside Road

Safety Strategy

Rights of Way

Improvement Plan

Key Stakeholders

Local Cycling

and Walking

Infrastructure Plan

Local Authority

Priorities

Visitor Economy

Strategy and

Destination

Management Plan

Housing

Delivery Plan

LCR Skills

Strategy

Single Growth

Strategy

Merseyside and Halton

Local Transport Plans

A Transport Plan

for Growth

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Figure 4: Relevance of Rights of Way to Other Sectors

Rights of Way

Improvement Plan

Transport

ɥ Local Transport Plan

ɥ Transport Plan for Growth

ɥ Local Journeys Strategy

ɥ Local Cycling and Walking

Infrastructure Plan

ɥ Merseyside Road Safety

Strategy

Spatial/Land Use Planning

ɥ LCR Spatial Planning

Framework

ɥ Local Plans

Equestrian Industry

ɥ British Horse Society

Equine Sector Investment

Strategy for the LCR

Economic Development

ɥ LCR Growth Strategy

Visitor Economy

ɥ LCR Visitor Economy

Strategy

Health and Wellbeing

ɥ Cheshire and Merseyside

NHS Sustainability and

Transformation Plan

ɥ Liverpool Active City

Strategy

Green Infrastructure/

Public Open Spaces

ɥ LCR Green Infrastructure

Framework

ɥ Mersey Forest Plan

ɥ South Liverpool Waterspace

Strategy

ɥ Atlantic Gateway Parklands

Prospectus

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

3. Delivering Rights of Way

In delivering rights of way, the City Region will make use

of funds from several sources, all of which are essential

to deliver the aims and objectives of the ROWIP.

Potential funding sources may include:

ɥ The Mayoral Combined Authority’s transport levy;

ɥ The Single Investment Fund;

ɥ Local highway authority revenue funding;

ɥ S106 developer contributions;

ɥ EU funds that the City Region will receive in the

2014-2020 programme; and

ɥ Other funding sources.

The timing and overall delivery period of funding

initiatives needs to be pragmatic, achievable and

realistic; it is vital that the identiﬁcation of new funding

is done at an early stage so that proposals can be

formulated in advance together with more accurate

costs and spending proﬁles as part of any bid process.

The development of the programme for rights of way

depends upon robust business cases for proposed

schemes and projects that address the ﬁt of the scheme

against the local policy context and demonstrate their

eectiveness and eciency in terms of their state of

readiness, their deliverability within deﬁned timescales

and their aordability.

These aspects will then be evaluated in line with

our methodology for the prioritisation of major

schemes and minor works. It is the ambition of

the Liverpool City Region to make sure that ROWIP

enhancements are linked into the mainstream

delivery of a range of schemes.

The rights of way programme is not static and will evolve

to reﬂect the changing local priorities and the delivery of

transport across the City Region. Joint working and

shared priorities are supported, and with this there is the

requirement for the Mayoral Combined Authority to look

at new ecient and eective ways to deliver transport

services and highway improvements.

The following sets out the Liverpool City Region’s actions

to improve public rights of way and the wider public

access network from 2018 onwards.

Our vision is to continue to develop a more attractive, more accessible and more inclusive

network of public rights of way, contributing to the economic, social and cultural resurgence

and ambition of the Liverpool City Region.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Wider Strategic

Priorities

Action

Delivery

Inputs

OutcomesContext

The Rights of Way

Improvement Plan will

support the City Region’s

resurgence and economic

ambition by protecting and

enhancing its distinctive

quality of place, improving

quality of life for our residents,

and helping to attract and

retain the investors, skilled

workers and visitors who

will contribute to future

economic growth.

Low Carbon

Access to

Opportunity

Growth

Health and

Wellbeing

Carbon Reduction

and Air Quality

Connecting

Communities

Harness the

Strengths of the

Visitor Economy

Improved Rights

of Way network

Improved health

and wellbeing

Improved

sustainable travel

opportunities

More shorter

journeys made by

walking and cycling

Improved

tourism and

visitor economy

Better-connected

communities

Increased awareness

of the Rights

of Way Network

User and

stakeholder

feedback

Stang resources

Funding resources

Links with

other initiatives

and strategies

Programme of

potential future

ROW schemes

Monitoring and

evaluation

1. Manage the

deﬁnitive map and

statement

2. Manage

and maintain

the network

3. Education,

marketing and

promotion

5. Improve health

and wellbeing

6. Increasing

sustainable travel

7. Support tourism

and the visitor

economy

8. Eective spatial

planning and

development

4. Improve the

network by

working with

health, transport,

spatial planning

and tourism sector

partners

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

2120

Improvement Progress

1. Manage the deﬁnitive map

and statement

ɥ Ensure that the deﬁnitive map and statement is accurately maintained

and kept under continuous review for public reference

ɥ Maintain and improve the condition of the network, including keeping

a record of potential improvements and other works

ɥ Identify any routes that may be aected by 2026 cut-o date and feed

information into any future review of deﬁnitive map where necessary

2. Manage and maintain the network ɥ Investigate, record and respond to claims from the public for public rights

of way along a particular route, either recent or historic

ɥ Endeavour to maintain a record of structures on the rights of way network

and their condition and ownership

ɥ Where appropriate, undertake vegetation cutting to maintain the network

ɥ Maintain the rights of way network, including improved signage and way

marking in the appropriate locations

3. Education, marketing and promotion ɥ Marketing and promotion to raise awareness about the rights of way network

as part of the sustainable transport oer in the Liverpool City Region,

including web presence and relevant leaﬂets or other materials

ɥ Highlight relevant codes of practice such as the Countryside Code to users

ɥ Maximise the role of the rights of way and other access networks to access

the natural environment, tourism assets and the visitor economy

4. Improve the network by working with

health, transport, spatial planning and

tourism sector partners

ɥ Be aware of funding opportunities that may be relevant for the rights of way

network and work with partners where necessary to access these

ɥ Work in partnership with user groups and others to improve the network

and road safety awareness

ɥ Work with partners to identify and implement new routes that improve

connectivity and expand and enhance the network, including the use of

permissive routes where necessary, and to improve accessibility for all users

ɥ Work with partners to develop long-distance and cross-boundary routes both

within the Liverpool City Region and beyond

ɥ Work with the police and other partners to make the network more secure for

all and seek to resolve incidents of crime and antisocial behaviour such as the

illegal use of o-road motor vehicles

5. Improve health and wellbeing ɥ Work with health partners and others to promote the health and wellbeing

beneﬁts associated with using the rights of way network and other forms of

access route

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Improvement Progress

6. Increase sustainable travel ɥ Make sure that the rights of way network plays an active part in the City

Region’s Local Journeys Strategy, the Local Cycling and Walking Investment

Plan and other relevant strategies

ɥ Work with partners to maximise opportunities for rights of way within travel

plans to encourage sustainable transport options

7. Support tourism and the

visitor economy

ɥ Work with partners to improve and enhance access to the coast, waterfronts

and waterway corridors

ɥ Work with Natural England to develop and deliver the England Coast

Path National Trail

ɥ Where possible, develop additional multi-user access along the coast

and estuaries

8. Eective spatial planning

and development

ɥ Work with planning departments in regard to local plans, new developments

and developer contributions to improve the rights of way network and its

connectivity

ɥ Develop a programme of potential rights of way schemes to expand the

network, and prioritise these according to deliverability, timescale and linkage

with other initiatives

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Silver Jubilee Bridge Business Hubs Silver Jubilee Bridge business hubs Halton 4, 5, 6, 8 £550,000

Astmoor Business Hub Corridor Astmoor business hub corridor Halton 4, 5, 6, 8 £1,133,000

Sustainable ‘Sci-Tech Daresbury’ Links Bridgewater Canal pedestrian and cycle improvements Halton 4, 5, 6, 8 £484,000

Runcorn East Rail Station Access Improvements Runcorn East rail station access improvements Halton 4, 5, 6 £605,000

Jaguar Land Rover JLR-3MG Cycle Corridor Jaguar Land Rover JLR-3MG cycle corridor Halton 4, 5, 6 £363,000

Sci-Tech Daresbury Sustainable Connectivity A56 sustainable links Halton 4, 5, 6, 8 £230,000

Silver Jubilee Bridge deck reconﬁguration Silver Jubilee Bridge deck reconﬁguration Halton 4, 5, 6 £600,000

Connect Kirkby Improved pedestrian and cycle links to Kirkby town centre Knowsley 4, 5, 6 £1,330,000

Huyton to Prescot Gateway Improved walking and cycling links Knowsley 4, 5, 6 £1,313,400

Connect Whiston Improved access to the South Whiston development area Knowsley 4, 5, 6, 8 £480,000

Stonebridge Cross Connectivity A new route between Kirkby and Croxteth Knowsley/Liverpool 4, 5, 6 £1,806,500

Baltic Triangle Connectivity Improved walking and cycling routes Liverpool 4, 5, 6 £1,653,520

Knowledge Quarter Portal Improvements to the green space network Liverpool 4, 5, 6 £1,650,000

Access Maghull Improved cycling access between Maghull and Kirkby Sefton 4, 5, 6 £992,000

Visitor Economy Coastal Towns Sustainable access improvements to the Southport coast Sefton 4, 5, 6, 7 £414,000

Haydock Connectivity

Pedestrian and cycle improvements to Haydock Industrial

Estate

St Helens 4, 5, 6 £3,094,000

Connecting Haydock Pedestrian and cycling improvements in the Haydock area St Helens 4, 5, 6 £300,000

St Helens Town Centre Connectivity

A package of walking and cycling measures in the Haydock

and Newton-le-Willows areas

St Helens 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 £1,328,092

Croft Retail Corridor A41 Campbeltown Road Wirral 4, 5, 6, 8 £440,000

Wirral Waters Connectivity – North Bank East Gateways to Wirral Waters – North Bank East Wirral 4, 5, 6, 8 £550,000

Port Sunlight Connections

A41 cycle and pedestrian connectivity – north of Bolton Road

roundabout to St Paul’s Road

Wirral 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 £550,000

Wirral Waters Connectivity – Duke Street Wirral Waters Connectivity – Duke Street Phase 2 Wirral 4, 5, 6, 8 £440,000

Wirral International Business Park Connections A41 Carlett Park cycle route Wirral 4, 5, 6, 8 £1,045,000

Rights of Way Improvement Projects

This section details the projects that are being delivered

and those that may be taken forward as part of this

Rights of Way Improvement Plan. Apart from those

currently committed, all projects are dependent upon

suitable and adequate funding.

The list of projects will be reviewed on a periodic basis;

it is not an exhaustive list and can be amended on a

local basis. For further details on individual projects,

please contact the relevant local authority.

If you have a suggestion for a new project, please send

the details to rowip@merseytravel.gov.uk.

Committed Schemes

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

24 25

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Review right of way signing across Liverpool City Region

and create supporting promotional materials

Review right of way signing across Liverpool City Region to

form a coherently branded network and create supporting

promotional materials

Liverpool City Region 2, 3, 7 £35,000

Deﬁnitive map review Deﬁnitive map review Liverpool City Region 1 £6,000

Update rights of way user guides

Review, and update where necessary, the user guides for

the rights of way network

Liverpool City Region 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 £1,500

The Mersey Circular Bridleway

Development of a joined-up network of bridleways across

the city region

Liverpool City Region 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 £5,000,000

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Cronton Greenway

A sustainable transport link from the site of the former

Cronton Colliery to Stadt Moers existing greenway

infrastructure, and wider expansion of the network of

walking and cycling paths in the borough to connect

communities and provide alternative sustainable access

links, increasing safety and wellbeing

Knowsley 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 £1,456,800

Access to Stockbridge Village and Knowsley Lane

This scheme proposes a package of walking and cycling

improvements on key routes from Stockbridge Village and

North Huyton to these areas

Knowsley 4, 5, 6, 8 £3,432,000

Tower Hill to Knowsley Business Park Walking and Cycling

There would be new walking and cycling infrastructure on

Pingwood Lane and Headbolt Lane, connecting them both to

Dale Lane. The new link would then run along Dale Lane and

North Perimeter Road to connect with existing infrastructure at

the Moss End Way junction. The scheme would upgrade the

footbridge between Headbolt Lane and Roughwood Drive to

allow for cycle use

Knowsley 4, 5, 6, 8 £3,120,000

East of Halewood Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE)

Access Arrangements

The scheme will seek to provide sustainable access links

from the new development to Halewood Railway Station,

retail areas, places of employment and skills, leisure facilities

and schools

Knowsley 4, 5, 6, 8 £1,920,000

Renew Stile at PROW 45 Renew Stile at PROW 45 Liverpool 2 £3,000

Natural England – England Coast Path National Trail England Coast Path – Seaforth to Southport in Sefton Sefton 4, 5, 6, 7 £70,000

Proposed Schemes

Liverpool City Region Projects

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

26 27

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Formby 10 – bitmac resurfacing works Formby 10 – bitmac resurfacing works Sefton 2 £50,000

Formby 11 – bitmac resurfacing works Formby 11 – bitmac resurfacing works Sefton 2 £35,000

Formby 30 – bitmac resurfacing works Formby 30 – bitmac resurfacing works Sefton 2 £20,000

Formby 49 – bitmac resurfacing works Formby 49 – bitmac resurfacing works Sefton 2 £20,000

Access to new employment sites

Upgraded multi-use access to new large employment areas

in Haydock (Footpath 654)

St Helens 4, 5, 6, 8 £80,000

Access around new housing sites

New multi-use access provision around large urban villages

in the south of the borough, linking in with existing PROW

network (Footpath 307)

St Helens 4, 5, 6, 8 £50,000

Access around existing employment areas

Widen and improve with new tarmac surfacing, lighting,

drainage and access control

St Helens 4, 5, 6 , 8 £235,000

Natural England - England Coast Path National Trail England Coast Path – Birkenhead to Parkgate in the Wirral Wirral 4, 5, 6, 7 £30,000

Cycle improvements to coincide with Daresbury

Expressway widening

Cycle improvements to coincide with Daresbury

Expressway widening

Halton 4, 5, 6 £700,000

J11 to J11a improvements

J11 to J11a (through Preston Brook) to connect up to A56

cycleway scheme for cycling and walking improvements

Halton 4, 5, 6 £700,000

Widnes town centre connectivity (Albert Square?)

for pedestrian access

Widnes town centre connectivity (Albert Square?)

for pedestrian access

Halton 4, 5, 6 £800,000

Liverpool/Manchester rail line footbridge

A footbridge across the Liverpool/Manchester rail line to

connect Upton Rocks residential area to land currently

occupied by Widnes Golf Club

Halton 4, 5, 6 N/A

A footbridge crossing the River Weaver

A footbridge crossing the River Weaver, potentially at the

bottom of Cholmondeley Road, Runcorn

Halton 4, 5, 6 N/A

Cronton Colliery: a new greenway to link Cronton Colliery and

Stadt Moers Park, including widening of footbridge over M62

Cronton Colliery: a new greenway to link Cronton Colliery and

Stadt Moers Park, including widening of footbridge over M62

Knowsley 4, 5, 6, 7 £400,000

Huyton Station and Huyton Village Gateway

Scheme to upgrade the public realm in the core

of Huyton Village

Knowsley 4, 5, 6 £3,828,000

Valley Road Corridor, west of Junction 6 M57 Valley Road Corridor, west of Junction 6 M57 Knowsley 4, 5, 6 £1,200,000

Headbolt Lane Footbridge

Headbolt Lane Footbridge replacement to retain connection

between communities over the Kirkby-Wigan rail line

Knowsley 4 £1,200,000

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

28 29

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Okell Drive subway closure and diversion to an

informal crossing

Okell Drive subway closure and diversion to an

informal crossing

Knowsley 4, 5, 6 £2,000,000

Kirkby Station access improvements, including footbridge

upgrade to shared use (cycle) capabilities

Kirkby Station access improvements, including footbridge

upgrade to shared use (cycle) capabilities

Knowsley 4, 5, 6 £500,000

HA/18/1 from grid reference 346940-385384 to 346973-

385468 near Ditton Brook – footpath widening and

overcoming levels dierences with installation of steps

HA/18/1 from grid reference 346940-385384 to 346973-

385468 near Ditton Brook – footpath widening and

overcoming levels dierences with installation of steps

Knowsley 2 £20,000

HA1/1 from grid reference 343443-387449 to 343594-387452

renovation and re-levelling of path

HA1/1 from grid reference 343443-387449 to 343594-387452

renovation and re-levelling of path

Knowsley 2 £20,000

HU/2/3 from grid reference 343438-389435 to 343594-

387452 resurfacing of path and ASB prevention measures

(ﬂy tipping)

HU/2/3 from grid reference 343438-389435 to 343594-

387452 resurfacing of path and ASB prevention measures

(ﬂy tipping)

Knowsley 2 £20,000

HU/4/1 Yew Tree Footbridge remedial repair to footpath and

embankments and ASB prevention measures

HU/4/1 Yew Tree Footbridge remedial repair to footpath

and embankments and ASB prevention measures

Knowsley 2 £20,000

Replacement of timber footbridges across rights

of way network

Replacement of timber footbridges across rights of

way network

Knowsley 2 £75,000

PROW 15 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Breckside Park to Townsend Lane

PROW 15 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Breckside Park to Townsend Lane

Liverpool 2 £45,000

PROW 40 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Banks Road to Speke Road

PROW 40 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Banks Road to Speke Road

Liverpool 2 £55,000

PROW 63 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Blackburne Street to Garston

Coastal Park

PROW 63 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Blackburne Street to Garston

Coastal Park

Liverpool 2 £45,000

PROW 35 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Riversdale Road to Mersey Road

PROW 35 upgrade of footpath surface quality to improve

accessibility leading from Riversdale Road to Mersey Road

Liverpool 2 £45,000

PROW 3 upgrade of footpath to shared-use cycle path

leading from Back Gilmoss Lane to Knowsley Brook

PROW 3 upgrade of footpath to shared-use cycle path

leading from Back Gilmoss Lane to Knowsley Brook

Liverpool 2 £120,000

NCN62 to Stonebridge Business Park, creating new cycling

and walking links

NCN62 to Stonebridge Business Park, creating new cycling

and walking links

Liverpool 4, 5, 6, 8 £280,000

PROW 55/56 upgrade of bridleway surface to improve

accessibility for walkers, cyclists and equine users from

Allerton Road to Menlove Avenue and Woolton Road

PROW 55/56 upgrade of bridleway surface to improve

accessibility for walkers, cyclists and equine users from

Allerton Road to Menlove Avenue and Woolton Road

Liverpool 2 £225,000

Croxteth bridleways

Croxteth bridleways upgrade surface to improve accessibility

for walkers, cyclists and equine users around perimeter

of Croxteth Country Park estates

Liverpool 2, 8 £350,000

Surface improvements to Long Lane (Formby 24) Surface improvements to Long Lane (Formby 24) Sefton 2 £200,000

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

30 31

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Doorstep guides Doorstep guides Sefton 3, 8 £2,500 per guide

Surface improvements Altcar 5 Surface improvements Altcar 5 Sefton 2 £150,000

Formby 2 – Surface improvements Formby 2 – Surface improvements Sefton 2 £150,000

Rakes Lane – Surface improvements Rakes Lane – Surface improvements Sefton 2 £150,000

Formby 12a – surfacing repairs/improvements – advanced

detailed design

Formby 12a – surfacing repairs/improvements – advanced

detailed design

Sefton 2 £40,000

Formby 26 & 26a – surfacing improvements –

preliminary design

Formby 26 & 26a – surfacing improvements –

preliminary design

Sefton 2 £32,000

Fazakerley Sidings surface improvements and dedication

of new and upgraded route to create a multi-user route

Fazakerley Sidings surface improvements and dedication

of new and upgraded route to create a multi-user route

Sefton 2, 4, 5, 6 £175,000

Rights of way and Trans Pennine Trail access control review Rights of way and Trans Pennine Trail access control review Sefton 2, 7 £1,000

Dedication of Netherton Lane as a bridleway Dedication of Netherton Lane as a bridleway Sefton 2, 4, 6 £10,000

Surface improvements Southport 7 Surface improvements Southport 7 Sefton 2 £50,000

Southport 15/Trans Pennine Trail – surfacing improvements

– feasibility study, trial section and preliminary design

Southport 15/Trans Pennine Trail – surfacing improvements

– feasibility study, trial section and preliminary design

Sefton 2, 7 £250,000

Leeds – Liverpool Canal towpath resurfacing and

access improvements

Leeds – Liverpool Canal towpath resurfacing and

access improvements

Sefton 2, 7 £250,000

Aintree Curve – Trans Pennine Trail bridge Aintree Curve – Trans Pennine Trail bridge Sefton 4 £750,000

Formby Byway No. 45 surface improvements Formby Byway No. 45 surface improvements Sefton 2 £15,000

Jubilee Wood Trans Pennine Trail diversion route Jubilee Wood Trans Pennine Trail diversion route Sefton 4, 7 £150,000

Crosby Coastal Park shared-use path Crosby Coastal Park shared-use path Sefton 4 £1,100,000

Formby Bypass multi-modal access improvements Formby Bypass multi-modal access improvements Sefton 4 £600,000

East – west cycle improvements, Southport East – west cycle improvements, Southport Sefton 4, 5, 6, 7 £425,000

A565 Improvements, Crosby A565 Improvements, Crosby Sefton 4 £1,700,000

Maghull/Kirkby cycle route Maghull/Kirkby cycle route Sefton 4, 5, 6, 7 £900,000

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

32 33

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Ince Blundell 6 – resurfacing works Ince Blundell 6 – resurfacing works Sefton 2 £50,000

Lydiate 8 – resurfacing works Lydiate 8 – resurfacing works Sefton 2 £10,000

Crosby 8 – street lighting renewal scheme Crosby 8 – street lighting renewal scheme Sefton 2 £10,000

Access linking sites within Bold Forest Park area

Surface improvements to Footpath 308 and new bridleway

access linkages between various park/former colliery sites

Sefton 2, 4, 5, 6 £50,000

Access linking large new employment sites

Improvements to Footpath 309 and 349 near Omega

development £50,000. Improvements to Footpath 606

and 658 plus new routes to Parkside development £50,000.

St Helens 4, 5, 6, 8 £100,000

Access linking Schools

Improvements to Footpath 646 near Lyme Primary

School, Haydock

St Helens 4, 5, 6, 8 £80,000

Wirral Circular Trail

Birket cycle route from Reeds Lane – Leasowe Road: surface

improvements

Wirral 2 £100,000

Wirral Circular Trail

Historic wish list idea for a link bridge via Bidston Golf Club

to Bidston Moss, Wirral Waters and Route 56

Wirral 4, 5, 6 £200,000

Wirral Circular Trail Shoreﬁelds resurfacing Wirral 2 £50,000

Wirral Circular Trail Eastham Rake roadside cycle path Wirral 4, 5, 6 £150,000

Wirral Circular Trail

Willaston to Bridleway 43 and roadside horse route

to Bridleway 50

Wirral 4, 5, 6, 7 £50,000

East Coast Route

East coast routes, e.g. for the old FP 56 claimed

clitop Mersey Shore route and other connections

to the Riverside Park

Wirral 4, 5, 6, 7 £100,000

Arrowe Park bridleway surface improvements Arrowe Park bridleway surface improvements Wirral 2 £100,000

Royden Park bridleway surface improvements Royden Park bridleway surface improvements Wirral 2 £100,000

Footpath 2 to Park Lane and Bridleway 3 to the north shore

surface improvements

Footpath 2 to Park Lane and Bridleway 3 to the north shore

surface improvements

Wirral 2 £30,000

Lever Causeway horse route to have a full equestrian horse

track alongside current surfaced path

Lever Causeway horse route to have a full equestrian horse

track alongside current surfaced path

Wirral 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 £200,000

New footpath from Durley Estate, Prenton to Landican Lane

and then on through to Pensby

New footpath from Durley Estate, Prenton to Landican Lane

and then on through to Pensby. About three miles of some

new surfacing, and at least three river crossings

Wirral 4, 5, 6, 7 £300,000

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

34 35

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Project Name Project Summary District Link with Actions Estimated Cost

Heswall Station – Clatterbridge via Brimstage

Heswall Station – Clatterbridge via Brimstage: an all-new

three-mile walk, cycle and horse riding route connecting

current public rights of way

Wirral 4, 5, 6, 7 £500,000

Barnston to Brimstage footpath

An all-new footpath from Barnston to Brimstage footpath

with some surface and ditch ‘bridge’ requirements

Wirral 4, 5, 6 £100,000

Footpath 72, Dundeon Wood path: safety revetment work,

improvements to surface and accessibility and helping to

prevent erosion

Footpath 72, Dundeon Wood path: safety revetment work,

improvements to surface and accessibility and helping to

prevent erosion

Wirral 2 £100,000

Dibbinsdale woodland footpaths: overdue

surface improvements

Dibbinsdale woodland footpaths: overdue surface

improvements

Wirral 2 £100,000

Woodchurch – Prenton – Upton surface improvements and

new bridges, plus an upgrade for walking, cycling and horse

riding including M53 subway lighting

Woodchurch – Prenton – Upton surface improvements and

new bridges, plus an upgrade for walking, cycling and horse

riding including M53 subway lighting

Wirral 2, 4, 6, 7 £300,000

Large-scale use of counters for all routes Large-scale use of counters for all routes Wirral 2 £30,000

Purchase and installation of numerous

anti-motorcycle barriers

Purchase and installation of numerous

anti-motorcycle barriers

Wirral 2 £20,000

Surface improvements for footpath 49, Raby to Neston via

West Cheshire border

Surface improvements for footpath 49, Raby to Neston via

Cheshire West and Chester border

Wirral 2 £50,000

Thurstaston Common: all-accessible route improvements Thurstaston Common: all-accessible route improvements Wirral 2 £50,000

Bridleway 8 Noctorum Lane, Prenton surface improvements Bridleway 8 Noctorum Lane, Prenton surface improvements Wirral 2 £30,000

Other public byway surface improvements Other public byway surface improvements Wirral 2 £70,000

Other public bridleway improvements Other public bridleway improvements Wirral 2 £70,000

Other public footpath improvements Other public footpath improvements Wirral 2 £70,000

Bridleway improvements to Noctorum Lane, Prenton Bridleway improvements to Noctorum Lane, Prenton Wirral 2 £20,000

Landican Lane, Bridleway 16 & 45, surface improvements Landican Lane, Bridleway 16 & 45, surface improvements Wirral 2 £55,000

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

36 37

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

4. Monitoring and Evaluation

While there is a statutory duty to produce

a Rights of Way Improvement Plan and

maintain the existing network, implementation

is dependent on resources. Speciﬁc funding

for the ROWIP has not been allocated to

deliver improvements, so the local authorities

within the Liverpool City Region have to bid

for funding from the City Region, central

government or other agencies to deliver

the proposed improvements.

Rights of Way Improvement Plans are meant to be

aspirational and ambitious in identifying potential

improvements to the network. We have therefore cast

our net wide when considering ways to improve the

network while recognising that it would not be possible

to implement them all immediately. Delivery of the

improvement measures in the plan is dependent

on resources becoming available.

The Liverpool City Region Mayoral Combined Authority,

the six local authorities and Merseytravel will need to

work in partnership with a range of organisations and

sectors in order to deliver many of the proposed actions.

Additional funding and resources will be required and

will be sought from a variety of sources. It is intended

to use the Liverpool City Region Devolution Deal

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the ROWIP.

4.1 Monitoring

It is intended that progress on the Rights of Way

Improvement Plan will be reported regularly to the

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, as well

as to the Local Access Forum and stakeholders.

4.2 Evaluation

Progress will be evaluated periodically to inform

and update the programme of potential schemes.

Lessons learnt will also inform the next Rights of Way

Improvement Plan. We will have regard to best practice

on rights of way elsewhere in the UK and learn from this.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

5.1 Current provision

The network that exists today is part of our local heritage

and has evolved over the centuries, based on usage

when these routes were the only transport links

between communities.

Section 60(5) of the Countryside and Rights of

Way (CROW) Act 2000 has placed a statutory

duty on all highway authorities to produce a Rights

of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). Under this act,

all unrecorded rights of way will be extinguished

after 1 January 2026. The highway authorities

use a number of mechanisms to designate and

manage the network, including:

(a) Deﬁnitive maps and statements

The deﬁnitive map is a record of public

rights of way. In law, it is the deﬁnitive record

of where a right of way exists and is located.

The accompanying statement provides a written

description detailing any special conditions or

limitations that may exist relating to an individual

route. There is a statutory duty upon highway

authorities to keep deﬁnitive maps and

statements up to date and under continuous

review. These are available to view at council

oces on request.

(b) Network condition

Liverpool City Region highway authorities have

a statutory duty to protect and assert the rights

of way network. This means having a network

that is easy to follow and free from obstruction.

In addition to their ocers, each authority relies

on public comments, information and feedback.

User groups and volunteers can provide

additional support and information.

Path coverage across the City Region is

good. The landscape of Liverpool City Region

is relatively ﬂat, making most routes easy to

use. In some areas, such as Birkenhead, north

Liverpool, Kirkby, Bootle, Widnes and central

St Helens, the public rights of way are

fragmented and disjointed. Much of this is

due to the industrial and urban development

associated with such a large metropolitan area.

There also are a limited number of routes

open to horse riders so there may be scope

to increase coverage to better support the

growing equestrian industry and tourism in

the Liverpool City Region.

Regeneration at Liverpool Waters, Wirral Waters,

Birkenhead Woodside, Ten Streets Liverpool,

Festival Gardens Liverpool, Cronton Colliery,

Parkside, Halsnead Garden Village and Runcorn

Waterfront may also oer opportunities to

create green corridors and cycle/walking

routes to the wider network.

Appendix 1

Liverpool City Region Public Rights of Way Network

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

(d) Enforcement and the legal duty

to assert and protect

Highway authorities have a legal duty to assert

and protect the public rights of way network. To

do so, the relevant ocers responsible for the

network use legal means through enforcement

procedures to resolve disputes. However,

enforcement procedures can be both time

consuming and expensive, and while some

problems require enforcement action, the vast

majority can be resolved through community

engagement and partnership working with

developers, planners, landowners and the

general public. Establishing links and developing

relationships with stakeholders plays a vital role

in making improvements to the network.

(e) Deﬁnitive Map Modiﬁcation Orders

Evidence from the general public is the prime

means by which claims to have routes added

to the deﬁnitive map are made. It is therefore

important that the claims process is promoted

in the future so the public can assist in recording

and safeguarding the public rights of way network.

(f) Public path orders

Path networks are always undergoing

change. New routes are added, some routes

are diverted, and others are temporarily

or permanently closed. Legal orders can

be processed by highway authorities to

facilitate this.

(g) Dedications and permissive

agreements

Opportunities to enhance the network

are always explored and encouraged.

Through the ROWIP, closer partnership

working with landowners and developers

will seek to increase dedications and

permissive path agreements.

(h) Cross-boundary issues from Liverpool

City Region with surrounding

authorities

Cross-boundary paths should not aect

people’s enjoyment of a route. These routes

provide access for residents and visitors to

and from districts within Liverpool City Region

and provide linkages that can create a wider

network of access within and beyond, including

with neighbouring areas such as Cheshire

West and Chester, Lancashire, Warrington,

and Wigan.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

5.2 Equestrian sector

The rights of way network in the Liverpool City Region

also supports the equestrian-related tourism sector,

including Aintree and Haydock racecourses as well

as various riding schools, stables and livery yards.

The main bridleway routes in the Liverpool City

Region suitable for equestrians include the following:

The Mersey Circular – including the Liverpool

Loop Line from Halewood to West Derby, Croxteth

Country Park, Gellings and Little Wood Greenways,

the A580 south side cycleway, the Rainford Bypass,

sections of the Rainford Loop, Garswood Old Road,

Carr Mill Dam, Stanley Bank, Bold Forest Country Park,

the Dream and its associated Mineral Line, Cranshaw

Hall, Pex Hill, Cronton Colliery, Knowsley ExpressWay,

Garnetts Lane, and Halewood.

Sankey Valley Park – including from Stanley Bank

via the viaduct onwards towards Warrington and beyond

to join the Trans Pennine Trail at Sankey Bridges.

The Rainford Loop – including the Rainford Linear

Park, Maggots Nook, Holiday Moss/Langwood Lane,

Fir Tree Farm, Billinge Hill, Carr Mill, Moss Bank Estate,

Sandy Lane, Berringtons Lane and Sandwash to the

Linear Park at the southern end.

The Mersey Bank/St Helens Canal section

of the Trans Pennine Trail –

including from

Sankey Bridges via Fiddlers Ferry and Johnson’s

Lane to Spike Island.

The Sefton Coastal Path – including sections

of the Trans Pennine Trail route between Southport

to Crosby and southwards to Melling and Aintree.

The Wirral Circular Trail – including the Wirral

Country Park.

Higher Runcorn Greenways – including

from Palaceﬁelds, circular route around Town Park

to Bennets Rough and Windmill Hill. Routes through

Moore, Sandymoor and Murdishaw.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Appendix 2

Other Liverpool City Region Public Access Networks

5.3

The public rights of way network does not exist in

isolation, many other routes can be found that make

up the wider access network.

5.4

It is important to identify and map known routes,

locations and other opportunities for outdoor access to

assist in the connectivity, development and management

of the public rights of way network.

(a) Green infrastructure

and open-access land

Providing the right of access on foot in

mapped areas of open countryside, mountain,

moor, downland and registered common land.

Additionally, green infrastructure includes

public parks, gardens, playing ﬁelds, nature

reserves, etc.

The Liverpool City Region and Warrington

Green Infrastructure Framework has been

developed by the Liverpool City Region,

supported by the Mersey Forest with funding

from Natural England. It covers Liverpool,

Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Halton, Wirral

and Warrington.

(b) Permissive routes

These are routes developed at the discretion

of the landowner, who has permitted public use

of a route as either a footpath or a bridleway.

Access opportunities created by the

Department for Environment, Food and Rural

Aairs (Defra) to conserve and improve the

countryside while supporting both the rural

community and economy.

(d) The highway network

The road and footway network play a signiﬁcant

part in connecting routes in both rural and

urban areas. Within this network, there are

‘quiet lanes and greenways initiatives’. These

are minor roads, country lanes and unclassiﬁed

roads. Collectively, these play a signiﬁcant role

in connecting routes in the more rural areas of

the City Region.

Quiet lanes are minor rural roads that

experience low levels of trac travelling

at low speeds. They are recognised to be

safe, attractive routes for healthy commuting,

recreation and sport, providing the opportunity

for shared use by cyclists, equestrians,

motorised users and walkers.

Greenways are networks of largely o-highway

routes for shared use by cyclists, equestrians

and walkers.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

(e) Long-distance footpath trails

There are several long-distance footpath trails

in Liverpool City Region, providing signiﬁcant

access opportunities. These include:

ɥ The Trans Pennine Trail, including Cheshire

Lines and Liverpool Loop Line paths;

ɥ The Sefton Coastal path;

ɥ The Leeds – Liverpool Canal towpath;

ɥ The Bridgewater Way along the

Bridgewater Canal;

ɥ The Wirral Circular Trail, including the

Wirral Way;

ɥ The Mersey Way; and

ɥ The Croxteth Bridleway.

(f) The National Trails Network

We work closely with Natural England to

develop the England Coast Path National Trail.

(g) The National Cycle Network

Co-ordinated by Sustrans, the UK’s

leading sustainable transport charity.

There a number of national cycle routes

in the Liverpool City Region.

(h) The Local Cycle Network

The local cycling network in Liverpool City

Region provides a comprehensive network

of access that is progressively developing.

Although these routes are often speciﬁcally

designed for cycling, o-road routes also

have pedestrian rights.

(i) The Mersey Forest

This is an initiative supported by the Liverpool,

Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Halton, Cheshire

West and Chester, and Warrington councils.

The Mersey Forest Plan is the long-term and

strategic guide to the work of the Mersey

Forest team and partners.

(j) Coastal access

The Liverpool City Region coast provides

people with the opportunity to pursue

recreational and leisure pursuits in an

environment that is rich in wildlife and

habitats. Some areas of the beaches along

the Mersey coast are accessible to horse

riders, although in some instances restrictions

exist and permits may be required. We are

working closely with Natural England to

develop the England Coast Path National

Trail, which is due for completion in 2020.

(k) Blue Ribbon Network

In addition to the coast, there are rivers and

waterways with public access. Key elements

of the Blue Ribbon Network include River

Mersey, River Dee, River Alt, Stanley Dock,

Leeds – Liverpool Canal, Albert Dock and

Liverpool South Docks, Sankey (St Helens)

Canal, Weaver Navigation, Bridgewater

Canal, and the Manchester Ship Canal.

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Appendix 3

District Rights of Way Maps

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Appendix 4

Stakeholders

The rights of way network is an asset open to everyone.

This section highlights some of the main user categories

and other stakeholders.

User Group/Stakeholder Contacts and Issues

Walkers

Relevant stakeholders include Ramblers, Living Streets

and Walk Unlimited.

www.ramblers.org.uk/

www.livingstreets.org.uk/

www.walk.co.uk/

Cyclists/o-roaders

Relevant stakeholders include Sustrans, British Cycling and

Cycling UK. For o-roaders, there is the Auto-Cycle Union.

www.sustrans.org.uk/

www.britishcycling.org.uk/

www.cyclinguk.org/

www.acu.org.uk/

Horse riders

Relevant stakeholders include the British Horse Society and

the equestrian industry including livery yards and stables

www.bhs.org.uk/

Other groups

ɥ Local Civic Societies, e.g. Gateacre Society, Merseyside

Civic Society, the Civic Trust, etc.

ɥ Other relevant users include:

- Under-represented groups

- People who are less mobile

- Non-users

Police

ɥ British Transport Police

ɥ Merseyside Police

ɥ Cheshire Police

Developers and landowners

ɥ Developers and planners

ɥ Landowners, agents for estates, land managers

and the Country Land and Business Association

ɥ National Farmers’ Union

ɥ Charities and trusts managing land and public-access

sites, e.g. the National Trust, English Heritage, etc.

ɥ Contractors undertaking works on public rights of way

ɥ The Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access

Management

ɥ The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

User Group/Stakeholder Contacts and Issues

Waterways

ɥ Canal & River Trust

ɥ Bridgewater Canal

Health and wellbeing

ɥ Health and wellbeing partners

ɥ LCR clinical commissioning groups

ɥ NHS England

ɥ Public Health England

Local government

ɥ Local authorities, including departments such as tourism,

transport, highways, planning, parks, etc.

ɥ Neighbouring local authorities

ɥ Parish councils

ɥ Merseytravel

ɥ Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership

ɥ Tourism partners

ɥ Nature Connected – Liverpool City Region Local Nature

Partnership

ɥ Mersey Forest

ɥ Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS)

ɥ Sefton Coast Partnership

Central government

ɥ Defra/the Department for Transport/the Ministry

of Housing, Communities and Local Government

ɥ Environment Agency

ɥ Homes England

ɥ Highways England

ɥ Network Rail

ɥ Forestry Commission

ɥ Natural England

ɥ Sport England

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Appendix 5

References

Northern Powerhouse Strategy (Nov 2016)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ﬁle/571562/NPH_strategy_web.pdf

Liverpool City Region Devolution Deal (Nov 2015/March 2016)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liverpool-devolution-deal

Transport

Liverpool City Region Transport Plan for Growth

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/about-us/local-transport-delivery/Pages/Transport-Plan-for-Growth.aspx

Merseyside Local Transport Plan

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/about-us/local-transport-delivery/Pages/MTP.aspx

Green infrastructure

Liverpool City Region Green Infrastructure Framework

http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/our-work/liverpool-city-region-green-infrastructure-framework/

The Mersey Forest Plan

http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/about/plan/

South Liverpool Waterspace Strategy

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/2192.pdf

Atlantic Gateway Parklands Prospectus

http://www.atlanticgateway.co.uk/_assets/downloads/AG_Prospectus.pdf

Equestrian industry

BHS Equine Sector Investment Strategy for Liverpool City Region (Oct 2014) British Horse Society

http://www.bhs.org.uk/our-charity/press-centre/news/regional/north-west/an-rdpe-investment-strategy-for-growth-in-

the-liverpool-city-regions-equine-sector

Visitor economy

Liverpool City Region Visitor Economy Strategy & Destination Management Plan

https://www.liverpoollep.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/wpid-lcr-dmp-2015-2025.pdf

Liverpool City Region Visitor Economy Investment Plan for Growth (July 2016)

https://www.liverpoollep.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Liverpool-City-Region-VE-Investment-Plan.pdf

Health and wellbeing

Cheshire & Merseyside NHS Sustainability & Transformation Plan (Nov 2016)

http://www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk/downloads/news/Cheshire%20Merseyside%20STP.pdf

Liverpool Active City Strategy

https://liverpool.gov.uk/media/1355535/liverpool-active-city-pas-strategy.pdf

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Contacts

Council: Telephone Number: Website:

Halton Borough Council 0303 333 4300 www.halton.gov.uk

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough

Council

0151 489 6000 www.knowsley.gov.uk

Liverpool City Council 0151 233 3000 www.liverpool.gov.uk

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council 0345 140 0845 www.sefton.gov.uk

St Helens Metropolitan Borough

Council

01744 676 789 www.sthelens.gov.uk

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council 0151 606 2000 www.wirral.gov.uk

Merseytravel

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028

Rights of Way Improvement Plan

Merseytravel

PO Box 1976

Liverpool

L69 3HN

Tel: 0151 330 1000

We welcome your comments and feedback,

which will help us improve our future planning.

For more information visit

www.merseytravel.gov.uk

We can provide this information in other formats.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

June 2018

Download
Save PDF to desktop

Email
Email completed PDF

Send for Signing
Email for others to sign

Print
Print document

NAME

Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028 Liverpool City (Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council)

View Audit Log
Print With Audit Log
Duplicate Document

Fillable Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028 Liverpool City (Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council)

Fill Online, Printable, Fillable, Blank Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2018-2028 Liverpool City (Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council) Form

Related forms

First 20 documents completely FREE!