WORK is set to begin on a £8.3 million project to build a network of walking cycling routes across Merseyside.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved the plans for the first 55km phase of the network on Friday, December 14.

In Wirral, a 3.7km route will link Leasowe train station with the employment and housing sites planned for Wirral Waters before continuing to Seacombe Ferry Terminal.

Over the next ten years, it is hoped the proposed 600km network will 'upgrade' 31 key routes across the Liverpool City Region.

Cllr Christine Jones, Wirral cabinet member for adult care and health said: “We’re thrilled for Wirral to be a part of these major plans and support more residents to walk and cycle wherever they can.

"Leaving the car at home is beneficial to our environment, our roads (as congestion is eased) and our health as a borough.

"Empowering the local authority to make these improvements will have a long-lasting effect in Wirral for generations to come.”

The network will be planned on a whole city region basis, improving links to the public transport network and between residential areas, employment, training and retail sites.

It is hoped the network will also make places walking and cycling-friendly, while bringing the Local Journeys Strategy to life.

Mayor Rotheram said: "We are at a pivotal stage in transforming provision for cycling and walking.

"Getting the infrastructure right to make it a real choice for more people means less congestion, cleaner air and better health.

“There are also wider benefits to the economy. Safe, pleasant cycling and walking areas, linking well to public transport and key locations, help create those places where people want to live, work and invest.

"And if you are walking or cycling, you are not sitting in traffic clocking up lost working hours– something that benefits employees and employers.

“We want people across the city region to work with us to develop ideas to get more people cycling and walking more, so the network we develop is built for them.

“We can’t transform the situation overnight, but devolution gives us the powers to plan strategically to improve facilities for walking and cycling across the city region, putting our investment in the right places so we can make a difference.”

Work is already underway on bidding for funding on the next phase of the network.

The city region's Transport Partnership was awarded the £8.3 million ERDF Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) funding for phase one of the network and match-funding is being sought from the Transforming Cities Fund while other contributions come from local authorities.