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Meeting held at the Wheatsheaf, Raby, CH63 4JH first Thursday of the month from 8pm |
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Fred Hill Memorial Ride
Wirral MAG organised the Fred Hill memorial ride and North West region AGM this year.
We had a successful day, around 20 people attended the ride to the cenotaph and then the AGM at the Newton Arms. Bill Green was re-elected NW Regional Rep. He will do one more year in post. David Craik proposed asking the AGC to publish a strategy for MAG to take forward. This was agreed unanimously. Blackpool MAG are looking to organise the national AGC later in the year.
Bill has carried out an audit of branches in the North West and found there are currently three active branches; Blackpool, Red Rose and Wirral.
We are taking it in turns to organise the Fred Hill run so next year Red Rose will be doing it. Thanks to all who helped with this year’s run.
Locally, we have met a couple of councillors, Ann Ainsworth and Mark Skillicorn. They are looking into allowing motorbikes in bus lanes, secure parking and getting rid of the dangerous Orcas segregating cycle lanes.
20mph
The consultation results are in Appendix B which starts on page 65 of the report. In total, there were 1790 objections to phase 3 & 4, with only 192 in favour (page 85). As usual the council ignored their constituents and voted through the 20mph limits to be introduced next summer, even though no review of the efiicacy of the previous schemes has taken place so there is no evidence that they work.
Item 3.7 on page 42 of the report refers to evaluation of the various phases and says a review of phase 1 is currently underway, with reviews of the other phases to follow. It will be interesting to see the results.
ICE ban
In the general election campaign, Labour pledged to re-impose the 2030 ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles. The policy doesn’t seem to have survived contact with reality and they are now consulting the UK motor industry on how to get back on track.
Orcas, Bikes in Bus Lanes, Secure Motorcycle Parking.
We await the results of the council’s consultation on the Orca cycle lane segregators. I am awaiting replies to enquiries my councillor has made re. Bus lanes and secure parking.
Fred Hill Memorial Run
Please put Sunday 16th February 2025 in your diaries as Wirral MAG are organising the Fred Hill run and MAG North West region AGM. We will need marshalls for the ride, which leaves at 11am from the Green Hut cafe in Moreton to the Cenotaph in Hamilton Square, then on to the Newton Arms in West Kirby for the AGM. The MAG groups in the North west will summarise their past year and discuss future plans.
Secure Parking
I have arranged a meeting with Cllr Ann Ainsworth at Kylemore Community Centre 23rd November to discuss secure motorcycle parking.
Colin Irlam, the council’s Strategic Transport Project Manager, has advised that the council has recently approved the Parking Strategy Appendix 1 – Wirral Council Draft Parking Strategy.pdf which MAG was involved with. Page 22 states “In terms of motorcycle parking, feedback from the Motorcycle Action Group suggests that there needs to be better direction signage for motorcyclists with spaces provided in prominent locations. In addition, they preferred parking where the lock and chain was part of the provision with ideally a locker to store helmets, etc”.
We need to decide where we want secure parking with lockers and in what order of priority.
20 mph limits
Consultation has now finished and we have all completed the questionnaire. Does anyone want to attend the next Transport committee meeting to ask questions? E. g. what reduction in KSI has there been since the 20mph limits were introduced? If they don’t have any figures, why are they extending the speed limits without any evidence of their effectiveness? The last meeting was dismissive of a constituent who complained about the 20mph limits (9 minutes into the meeting).
Orcas
Please complete the consultation on the New Ferry and Fender Lane orcas on the council website at the moment. Is anyone aware of any accidents due to these orcas?
NW AGM and Fred Hill run hosted by Wirral MAG.
Sunday 16th February 2025
Meet at the Green Hut cafe, Moreton CH46 4TH (on the A551) at 1030am
Fred Hill run departs 1100 to the Cenotaph at Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.
Speeches at 1115 then ride to the Newton Arms, China Farm Lane, West Kirby CH48 9XW (on the B5139) for the NW region AGM.
Speeches at 1115 then ride to the Newton Arms, China Farm Lane, West Kirby CH48 9XW (on the B5139) for the NW region AGM.
