WORK is set to start on the creation of a new route for cyclists and pedestrians near Wirral Waters.

The Greenway: West Float public realm project aims to provide "improved" facilities from the existing pedestrian and cycle paths at Bidston Moss, along the southern section of Wallasey Bridge Road and full length of Beaufort Road improving access to the West Float area of the Wirral Waters development.

This latest pedestrian/cycleway will provide improved facilities from the existing pedestrian and cycle paths at Bidston Moss, along the southern section of Wallasey Bridge Road and the full length of Beaufort Road improving access to the West Float area of the Wirral Waters development.

It is hoped the work will create an environment that is safe for both walking and cycling and make them part of the public's regular commuting habits.

The scheme is the fifth phase of works funded via the Sustainable Urban Development Fund with the first four phases of works resulting in improvements for pedestrians and cyclists along the River Birket path across Bidston Moss.

The new route will also include a 'Tiger' crossing which is designed for both pedestrians and cyclists.

The crossing works in a similar way to Zebra crossings, in that traffic should give way to those using the crossing, but also allows cyclists to cross without the need to dismount by following the specially marked cycle route alongside.

Wirral Council has awarded the contract for the construction of the project to local contractors Cambrianway Ltd.

Cllr Tony Jones, chair of Wirral's economy, regeneration and housing committee, said: "This is why we work hard at Wirral council to secure funding such as this to deliver important improvements.

"This will create safe and useful new routes to encourage people to walk and cycle more. And funding for it is money that has been given to the council specifically for this purpose and is not coming from the council’s resources which are delivering frontline services.

Richard Mawdsley, director of development at Wirral Waters, said: "The creation of a strategic east-west greenway across Wirral Waters, linking the development to the surrounding areas, will help transform the area.

"In addition to encouraging active travel, this project is about job creation and making the area ‘investment ready’, capable of attracting priority industries for the city-region, including renewable energy, maritime, construction innovation and general manufacturing organisations."

Wirral Council was awarded £1.22 million of Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Funding with £611,434 being provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a further £611,434 from the LCR Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).