Merseyrail Fleet Wi-Fi Plan Passed

WiFi plan for new Merseyrail fleet have gone through.

13:44 05 October 2020

Following a three-month wait, proposals to the delivery of WiFi on the new Merseyrail fleet were approved by councillors by 12 votes to one. 

 

Wirral Council's planning committee has delayed the decision in June saying that the proposals from five masts on railway land between Bidston and New Brighton should not be decided on unless residents were consulted. 

 

Cllr Ian Lewis, the only councillor to vote no, said that some of the masts were in "unacceptable location" and was not convinced why two masts have to be built in Wallasay. He said that residents of Regent Road were expecting that the equipment will be relocated on Grove Road station car park, but this was not properly considered by Merseytravel. 

 

The consultation was carried out despite planning officer Matthew Perry-Davies' point that Network Rail has permitted development rights in these areas and could carry out the work itself without going through the planning process. 

 

Meanwhile, Labour councillor Stuart Whittingham said that proposals to use alternative sites to allay the fears of local people may mean a temporary closure of the railway line and huge expense added to the project.