The council said it has ‘paused plans’ and will look to get more feedback from local residents
21:42, 01 Feb 2026
Installation of wide cycle lanes around Higher Road in Halewood. Pictured resident Paul Whiteside(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
After almost a year of campaigning against the construction of a cycle lane system, residents in one part of Merseyside are celebrating some ‘great news’, and they put it down to the ‘power of the people’.
In January, the Liverpool ECHO reported on people living in and around Higher Road in Halewood concerned about the problems with an ongoing bike lane installation. One person told us at the time: “It doesn’t work; emergency vehicles can’t get through, and people are having to park on pavements.”
The issue relates to a Knowsley Council-led Active Travel Corridor (ATC) project on Higher Road, which is part of a £30m investment, according to the local authority, and designed to create sustainable transport connections in Halewood. Active Travel improvements along Higher Road started in October 2025, including the construction of a new segregated cycleway immediately next to the roadway on the southern side of the A562.
When the ECHO visited the site, there was clearly a congestion issue, with cars lined up, bumper to bumper, stretching back more than 100 metres. It was clear that HGVs had started to use residential roads to avoid the traffic, causing safety concerns for families living in the area.
HGV truck driving through Blackburne Drive, Halewood (Image: LDRS)
Additionally, the part of the road sectioned off for the cycle lanes took up approximately 33% of the existing road and about 80% of one of the lanes. This appeared to severely limit the flow of traffic, narrowing the route to such an extent, vehicles were struggling to pass each other, according to local reports.
We spoke to Paul Whiteside, 50, who has lived off Higher Road for the last 20 years and said the cycle lane will also veer off into other residential streets, including his own. As we speak to Paul, we see three HGVs drive down the street, seemingly to avoid the build-up of traffic.
Standing outside his home, Paul said: “Why have [Knowsley Council] chosen to do this here, and how did this get approved? Because there are so many unanswered questions about impacts on traffic, safety and the environment.”
Joanne Harvey, 47, is a Halewood town councillor and a vocal critic of the council’s plans. She said: “The issue is that they have been poorly planned, and they’re too wide for the roads they’re being built on. We also want it to be safe for cyclists and drivers and pedestrians.
Installation of wide cycle lanes around Higher Road in Halewood. Pictured Cllr Joanne Harvey(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“Simply put, the lanes need to be reduced because they’re too big.”
Last week, Cllr Harvey said she attended an onsite meeting with a Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (KMBC) officer responsible for the planned road works around Halewood and published an update on social media: “I raised my concerns and those of the local residents who had petitioned KMBC over this roadblock.
“Hearing the concerns of the residents, town councillors Vicky and Lili Berry and I brought these to the officer, and he has advised that he will look at this again and try and find new alternatives.”
Cllr Harvey added: “[The KMBC officer] advised that they will monitor Higher Road and the traffic and that all work on there should be finished by April.
“The officer then advised me that phases 4 and 5 of the planned extension to the cycle lane to continue past Wood Road junction have now been put on hold for the foreseeable future, which is great news, as my concern and the residents’ was that this part of Higher Road by St Andrews was too narrow, which was agreed by the officer.
Installation of wide cycle lanes around Higher Road in Halewood(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
She continued: “I’m taking this as a positive interaction with KMBC, that they have listened to myself and the community on our concerns and are addressing the matter and putting things on hold.”
The news was met with delight from campaigners and local residents like Paul Whiteside, who contacted us to express gratitude to the ECHO for raising the profile of the community’s concerns and affording them an opportunity to share their story.
Paul and his neighbours have been campaigning about the cycle lane construction for almost a year but now believe they’re edging closer to a satisfactory conclusion. After receiving the update from Cllr Jo Harvey, Paul posted an update to the hundreds of people who have engaged with the group’s campaign; he said: “Day 301 – We’ve Only Gone & Done It!
“I’m absolutely buzzing. Massive thanks to everyone who helped, supported, showed up, emailed, shared, and made noise. Proof that when people come together, voices actually get heard.”
This was accompanied by a video message in which he added: “We were told we wouldn’t stop the bike lane, and we’ve only gone and stopped the bike lane. I am buzzing.
Concerned residents in Halewood with the installation of wide cycle lanes around Higher Road(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“Phases 4 and 5 have been postponed indefinitely due to poor design, so we’re absolutely made up. Is it poor design, or is it just pressure from the people? I believe it’s the pressure from the people. So well done, everyone.”
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “Phase 3 of the installation of an Active Travel Corridor along Higher Road will be completed this spring. This is delivering active travel improvements up to the junction with Torrington Drive.
“The delivery of the Active Travel Corridor beyond Torrington Drive has not been cancelled. A decision was made on 25 November 2025 to pause plans for future phases to allow us an opportunity to take on board feedback from local residents.
“This will enable us to ensure this next phase provides the best possible solution with the maximum benefit for residents and road users.
“We will continue to provide updates to residents on the progress of the scheme.”