| Skip navigation | Home Page | Complaints procedure | Feedback form
Do it On-Line | A to Z | About Us | Contact Us | Jobs |

Welcome To Wirral

Traffic pollution

The way we travel is having greater impact on the environment than ever before. Using a car contributes to poor air quality, and adds to the problems of global warming. Traffic congestion adds to the risks to our health. Traffic accidents also injure 1,700 of our citizens every year. The Council aims to give everyone access to an efficient transport network which encourages us to leave the car at home, and gives us lots of opportunity to walk, cycle or use public transport safely.

  • These initiatives include our 'Safe Routes to School' campaign, which aims to make it easier and safer for kids to cycle or walk to school, thereby cutting the traffic congestion of the 'school run.'
  • We also hold an annual 'Walk To School' week which encourages parents to leave their cars at home and walk to school.
  • We support Mersey-wide initiatives such as the Travelwise campaign, which aims to get people to consider alternatives to the car. We've also made bus travel quicker, with dedicated bus lanes and priority at traffic lights.
  • We're working closely with many organisations to promote the benefits of walking, cycling and using public transport, and creating a network of cycleways all over Wirral so that people can cycle safely.
  • The Council plays a major part in Merseyside Integrated Transport Study which aims to improve all areas of public transport.
  • When we're looking at new planning applications, we make sure they can be reached by public transport, bicycle or on foot.
  • Council vehicles are as environmentally friendly as possible, and we encourage staff to share cars to work. The Mayor's car will be adapted to run on cleaner fuel! (See page 10 for details of our 'green' bus).
  • We're improving transport for people with disabilities by backing initiatives which make bus travel accessible to all. We're also promoting the extension of the Shopmobility scheme, which gives people with disabilities greater access to the shops. Wirral taxis will be fully wheelchair-accessible by January 2000 - two years ahead of the national deadline - and we have provided drivers with disability awareness training.

 

Key actions for the future:

In conjunction with Unilever Research, we're drawing up a green commuter scheme for Bebington which will help reduce traffic congestion in the village at peak times. Similar green commuter schemes are being developed with the Health Authority and Health Trusts. When planning applications are submitted, we check the impact of traffic which could be generated by the proposal, and whether public transport, footpaths and cyclepaths are provided as an alternative to the car.