TRAIL TRIUMPH

GREAT news for wheelchair users and cyclists who enjoy being in the big outdoors

Liverpool’s historic Loop Line – an 11-mile trafficfree trail – is undergoing a major upgrade

A £500,000 scheme will make access easier for people using wheelchairs, handbikes, mobility scooters, prams – and horse riders

Upgrades to the route, that winds from Halewood to Aintree, have been funded by the city council and cycling charity Sustrans They include: l Improving 30 access points l Relocating barriers, such as street lighting columns and litter bins l New bollards l Improving access for maintenance vehicles l Restoring dropped kerbs l Resurfacing paths and footways l Fencing improvements l Widening access paths

Some trees have also been removed along the route as part of the pre-works programme as roots were eroding the geologically important sandstone along the path, and causing a hazard

The work is due to be completed by June and forms part of Liverpool’s ambitious active travel programme

This includes seven safer cycle routes across the city, as well as a new learn to ride facility for children in Everton Park Councillor Dan Barrington, cabinet member for climate change and highways, said: “The Liverpool Loop Line is like a magical corridor It’s in the city, but it makes you feel like you’re in the country

“Unfortunately, it is not currently accessible to everyone but I’m delighted we’re going to be able to change that through this investment

“Once it’s complete in the summer, it will be a much-improved resource for our residents and visitors giving them a free and healthy experience full of wonder and discovery that few other cities can match ”

Tim Hollins, Sustrans’ north west network manager, added: “These changes will make it much easier for people with mobility aids, families with buggies, and those with larger bikes to enjoy the health and transport benefits of a traffic-free path ”