Purpose

This report considers a comment and objections to the proposed Wig Wag traffic signals on Saughall Massie Road, Saughall Massie as indicated on plan DC0746100.

This report aligns to two themes within the Wirral Plan 2021-2026:

-  Working for a ‘Sustainable Environment’ that leads the way in its response to the climate emergency and is environmentally friendly.

-  Working for ‘Safe and Pleasant Communities’ where our residents feel safe, and where they want to live and raise their families.

By generally making roads safer for cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, this scheme will contribute to these key priorities.

Decision

Resolved – That the Assistant Director for Highways and Infrastructure has decided to approve a proposal shown on drawing no. DC0746100 for implementation.

Reasons for the decision

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has approached Wirral Council to design a scheme to assist their vehicles exiting the Community Station onto Saughall Massie Road when required for emergency responses.  The recommended solution will achieve the objectives and potentially make the road safer for all road users at no cost to the council.

Alternative options considered

As part of the design process officers investigated a wireless wig-wag system. Two suppliers were approached for their views on a wireless system at Saughall Massie Community Fire Station. One supplier did not recommend the installation whilst the other raised concerns about a non-standard controller and the use of halogen lamps rather than LED’s.

An alternative measure considered the possibility of providing a yellow half box carriageway marking outside the Community Fire Station. This would allow emergency service vehicles to exit the fire station and head westbound unimpeded whilst allowing vehicles travelling eastbound on Saughall Massie Road to travel unimpeded and not be affected by an emergency response call from the Community Fire Station.  This option was considered by officers, but it was decided that vehicles travelling eastbound on Saughall Massie Road may still well be impeded by emergency services vehicles exiting the Community Fire Station and heading eastbound. A full box will prevent vehicles from forming a traffic jam outside the fire station prior to emergency call outs.

As a result the proposed solution is wired Wig Wag (flashing light) signals fed from a low voltage electricity powered control box and a full yellow hatch-marked box marking on the adopted highway.  The lights will be operated directly from the Community Fire Station in the event of an emergency responses.