A 59-year-old wheelchair user in Wirral says a new path's loose surface keeps trapping her wheels, making her "feel like a prisoner." Soraya Sperring has needed help from passers-by on several occasions while crossing the route, which runs between Leasowe Road and Ross Avenue over Link View playing fields. Wirral Council maintains the path is "performing as intended."
Wheelchair user's concerns
Soraya said the wheels of her chair repeatedly get stuck on the path's loose gritstone surface. The new track was initially laid alongside an existing tarmac path that she can use, but the council has confirmed it plans to remove the tarmac, leaving only the gritstone route. Soraya said that once the tarmac is gone, she will have no way to reach her local shop or GP.
After the Liverpool Echo reported her story, hundreds of people commented on the outlet's Facebook post, with many expressing concern for Soraya and questioning the decision. Commenter Jennifer Nicholson said: "It is rather strange as to why a council would think that installing a rough path and removing a flat path is the way forward."
Public reaction
Soraya told the Echo she believes the council has "made a really bad mistake" and "has not taken into account all members of the public." Commenter Mimmi Berntler wrote: "I truly think it would help everyone to spend a week using a wheelchair to understand how many things can mess up your day if you need it to get around."
Arianna Waśkowiak noted the difficulty could be even greater for manual wheelchair users, commenting: "Bear in mind that this lady doesn't even use a manual chair, it's electric and if she is getting stuck, imagine what someone in a manual chair would feel of it, especially with an upper limb impairment too." Ian Walker added: "The path should have been restored properly, with a hard, durable surface, that is good for wheelchair users." Several commenters suggested council staff should try crossing the path in a wheelchair themselves.
Council response
When the Echo put Soraya's concerns to Wirral Council, a spokesperson defended the new path while acknowledging accessibility worries. The spokesperson said: "The original path at Links View was narrow and in poor condition, so the improvements were made to provide a wider shared-use route for pedestrians and cyclists."
"The new gritstone surface was initially soft, with the long periods of hot and dry weather over the summer delaying it settling properly. We kept part of the old tarmac path open during this time to allow people to continue using it."
"We've since inspected the path and we're satisfied that the surface has now firmed up and meets the required specification. We're now looking at removing the remaining section of old tarmac as originally planned."
"We have met with users of the path on site and listened to the concerns they raised about the surface and how it was performing. Their comments were considered alongside our inspections of the route."
"We appreciate the concerns raised and understand that some material may still be picked up on wheelchair wheels. Having monitored the path and inspected it since installation, we're satisfied that the surface has now settled and is performing as intended."
