Rail users can now benefit from increased car parking at Spital station, Wirral, with the opening of an extension to the existing Park and Ride facility.
The expansions works have seen 71 additional spaces added to the car park, providing 141 spaces in total, including seven disabled spaces and two motorcycle bays.
Customers of the station, which is located on the Chester/Ellesmere Port branch of the Wirral Line on the Merseyrail network, will also benefit from enhanced lighting, CCTV and improved drainage across the entire site.
The project, costing over £400K, was funded through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Sustainable Transport Enhancement Package (STEP) Programme, which is part of the Local Growth Fund (LGF).
LGF funding is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.
Further schemes to increase car parking provision at other stations in the city region, funded through the same programme, are currently being evaluated.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, who attended the opening, said:
“To tackle the climate emergency, we need to give people a genuine alternative to using the car. That’s why we’re investing in expanding park and ride schemes like this, alongside my plans to deliver a London-style transport system for our area. I want to make it as quick, easy and affordable as possible for people to travel around our region.”
Jane English, People Director at Merseyrail, said:
“The expansion of Spital station’s Park and Ride facility is another positive step towards reducing pollution and carbon emissions across the Liverpool City Region.
“We are committed to encouraging more people to use the train and reduce their carbon footprint, as well as improving their door-to-door journey, making it as easy as possible to travel on Merseyrail.”
Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Pat Hackett, said:
“The council is committed to working with partners to ensure Wirral has a fantastic transport infrastructure, helping ensure members of our community are connected to the wider region and have a low carbon option to make their journeys.
“We welcome this new investment in the local transport infrastructure which will provide essential extra parking spaces and help us meet our pledge to provide well maintained and efficient transport networks for residents.”
Diane Bourne, Managing Director for Eric Wright Civil Engineering commented:
“We are delighted to attend the opening event which marks another successful project for us with Merseytravel. The work to enhance the existing park and ride at Spital station has significantly helped to deliver commitments to improve sustainable transport within the Liverpool City Region, whilst also improving commuter facilities for years to come.”
Pictured: L-R – Neil Jones, Merseytravel – Dianne Bourne, Eric Wright Group – Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor LCR – Michelle Sharp, Merseyrail – Jane English, Merseyrail – Dave Jones, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Phil Hodgson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Steve Carter, Eric Wright Group.