Investment in Wirral’s roads and infrastructure network in 2020-21 now totals more than £3.5 million after news of a further grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for improving key routes was confirmed.

In a report published this week, Wirral Council’s Cabinet member for Community Services, Cllr Julie McManus, has accepted an allocation of £1,069,425 from the Combined Authority’s Key Route Network to be spent on major roads in Wirral.

In the same report, Cllr McManus also approved a recommendation to accept £500,000 from the Department of Transport’s Local Highway Maintenance Challenge Fund, which is earmarked to be spent on a specific maintenance project at A5088 - Poulton Bridge Road – for carriageway and surface water drainage improvements.

These grants are in addition to funding of £2,149,000 already approved for the annual Highways Structural Maintenance Programme, which covers improvements to both classified and unclassified roads and footways, bridges and street lights in Wirral.

Cllr McManus, said: "Residents expect to be able to travel around Wirral on a transport network which is fit for purpose and meets their needs. The quality of our roads is a priority for the people of Wirral - and therefore this council.

“As highlighted across a number of reports, we are again investing in a range of important programmes to ensure we continue to have a high-quality transport network which will support our economy.

“We take our duty to maintain the highway network very seriously. In deciding which schemes need to be given priority, officers look at a range of considerations, not least the feedback and reports we receive from people – councillors, residents and our own inspectors; we do listen.

“By investing in long-term programmes of improvements and maintenance we will extend the life of many of our routes and help keep Wirral on the move.”

The Key Route Network is an agreed set of strategic roads across the City Region, routes that support links to economic growth and regeneration sites. The funding is separate from other highways grants and cannot be used for any purpose other than on key routes.

A list of the key routes identified for works under the programme in 2020-21 is included as an appendix to the published decision on the Wirral Council website - http://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4707