Hooton section of the Wirral Way now open again after improvements
The new entrance to the Wirral Way at Hooton
The Council has now re-opened the stretch of the Wirral Way from Hooton to Heath Lane after completing improvement works there.
The works formed part of and complete the recent 50th Anniversary, celebrating the Country Park.
The project has reused and recycled materials to create the new path surface, as well as railings, edging and a new bench – retaining some of the railway heritage of the area.
A video of the improvements is now available:
It also followed specialist ecological surveys and guidance to ensure bats, badgers, newts and other wildlife were protected, along with considering the health of the trees in the area.
The scheme worked around healthy established trees, wherever possible – an oak tree has been retained despite being in the middle of the path itself, and other examples along the route have been saved rather than felled to add value and character.
The existing paths were worn, but a valuable resource, and materials were re-used as part of the base. The route was widened and then the entire length was resurfaced with recycled road materials, reducing the need for freshly quarried product, whilst providing an improved surface matching those found in Wirral Council’s well-used sections of the route.
The existing railings along the old Hooton platform have been retained, with gaps filled with salvaged panels found nearby. The original railway sign posts have also been uncovered and reused with new signage enhancing the feel of the railway history of the route.
Large areas of path edging have re-used salvaged materials found when the old platform area was excavated and stone edging has been retained and used. This has included Victorian brickwork, part of the old platform ramp that was previously buried, which has been reused to form the level for the new path surface.
Large areas of platform brickwork below ground have been re-used within the new surfacing to reduce the need for new material.
Recycled plastic material was used to build the improved ramp access down the embankment and also for new sign posts.
The level of the path itself has been raised considerably in low spots, soft spots have been firmed up, drainage has been added where feasible, and blocked drainage has been cleared, as well as moving surface water away from the path route. These works were to ensure the route remains passable – even in the wettest of periods, as this section was particularly susceptible to flooding.
The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, Councillor Karen Shore said:
The newly opened route looks fabulous. We’ve done all we can to re-use materials and retain the railway heritage of this area. The new entrance on Hooton Road now has a similar look to the West Kirby entrance – linking the two ends so the route will feel more like one route across two authorities, with similar appearance and matching signs. The improved zig zag ramp should help users enter the space safely. It’s wonderful that an old railway tower frame, previously left abandoned at the track side was found in the undergrowth and a large bench has been created from it, removing any sharp edges and using recycled plastic for the seat. We now also have a large area at the start of the route for event organisers to use for group walks or running events. A big thank you to everyone involved in this project.
A new 'Code of Conduct' has been introduced across the whole route, to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians can share the pathway safely. Plus, the pathway has been widened from 1.2 meters to up to 3 metres in some areas, giving everyone more space to enjoy their journey.