A new draft street design for Bebington led by local people is the subject of two discussion workshops taking place in the area next week.

The design features a walking and cycling network, including upgrades on footpaths and pavements throughout the one-mile square area, as well as new cycleways, new and improved green spaces, safer streets around schools, more bins and better lighting.

It was created by the charity Sustrans as part of By Ours Bebington, a community project in partnership with Wirral Council, where the whole neighbourhood works together to design safer, healthier streets for everyone.

Urban designers used local peoples' comments in a survey and workshops about what they liked and what they wanted to improve on their streets to form the basis of the new plans.

The draft design will be refined, based on feedback from the workshops, and shared with Wirral council. They will then seek funding to implement some of the ideas.

The By Ours Workshops will take place on:

Wednesday, February 8 at Cornerstone Church, 216 Bebington Road, CH63 7NY from 1pm - 3.30pm Register here to take part

Wednesday, February 8 at Bebington Royal British Legion, 289 Teehey Lane 5.30pm - 8.30pm. To take part register here 

Thursday, February 9: Online from 7pm - 8.30pm. To take part, register here 

Lou Henderson, By Ours Bebington project officer says: "We are very excited to show local people these street designs and to hear your feedback.

"They were created in response to what people said in our survey earlier this year and via our online map, as well as through a series of face-to-face workshops.

"We want to hear from you if the designs reflect what you asked for, whether they will work on the ground and how we can improve them further.

"Local people are the experts on their own streets, so it’s really important that everyone gets a chance to give their views. Please do come along to one of the workshops if you can.”

Suggested design improvements include nearly 2km of traffic free paths, as well as dropped kerbs or continuous footways, narrowing junctions and restricting pavement parking on existing roads.

There are also improvements for safety on school streets, in the areas around Heath Road, St John’s Schools and Townfield lane.

Designers highlight four proposed areas to reduce through traffic in the area, 14 new or upgraded crossing points as well as junction improvements in two local centres. There would also be new cycle lanes separate from traffic on Old Chester Road and Teehay Lane/King’s Road.

The design features improvements to the Higher Bebington Recreation Ground, as well as five other green spaces in the area. In addition, four ‘local centres’ are highlighted for improvements such as planting, seating and litter bins.

By Ours was set up to work with residents, businesses and schools to improve local streets. The whole community comes together to design a vibrant neighbourhood with cleaner air, where more people walk to shops and services, stop and chat to each other, and children can play out.

Councillor Liz Grey, chair of the local authority's environment, climate emergency and transport committee said: "Lots of local people have been taking this chance to get involved in the By Ours Bebington community project in partnership with Wirral Council.

"This is a real chance to make their streets safer and more pleasant, and now it will be great to see the response to the proposals being brought forward.

"The people who live and work in this area know better than anyone what will work for them and it’s been incredibly pleasing to see their input being used to develop the designs.”