A new river walk will be created along the River Mersey between Stockport and Manchester – the first of nine such paths promised by the government for locations nationwide.
The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the 13-mile (21km) Mersey Valley Way would increase access to nature, with improvements to the existing river path and boosting local businesses by increasing visitors.
The walk is part of the government’s manifesto pledge to create nine river walks, one for each region of England, officials said.
But campaigners called for much greater access to riversides, urging ministers to pass laws providing “responsible” public access to waterways and the countryside.
The Mersey Valley Way will have national river walk status, with plans for community engagement such as guided walks and opportunities to volunteer to plant trees, remove invasive species, restore ponds and install bird, bat and insect boxes along the route, Defra said.
Stretches of the existing river path will also be upgraded for access by wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams, cyclists and horse riders.
The walk will be marked with new signage, with a competition to design the new logo launched for more than 50 local schools and youth groups along the Mersey – the winner of which will be announced in February.
The government said the next tranche of national river walks would be selected from competitive bids in a process going live in 2026.
‘Inadequate’ claim
Access minister Baroness Hayman said: “Nature is a huge source of pride and enjoyment for people across the country but too many people struggle to find ways to access the outdoors.
“We are changing that today, delivering on our manifesto pledge by launching the first of nine new national river walks, boosting opportunities to be in nature and supporting local businesses that line the routes.
“The Mersey Valley Way offers 21km (13 miles) of new paths for people in Manchester and Stockport to explore, be outdoors and enjoy the nature on their doorstep.”
John Sanders, strategy and development director at Mersey Rivers Trust, which will lead on delivering the national river walk, said: “Over three million people live within a one-hour journey of the Mersey Valley Way, which is accessible by the Greater Manchester public transport Bee Network as well as walk, wheel and cycle routes.
“Designating the Mersey Valley Way will encourage more people to access nature as well as enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time by the river.”
But Guy Shrubsole from the Right to Roam campaign said: “A promise to create just nine new river walks – when there are around 1,500 rivers in the UK – is totally inadequate and won’t help the vast majority of people in this country access nature.
“What’s more, ministers will discover it’s a logistical nightmare to negotiate access with the hundreds of owners of river banks.
“It would be much easier for the government to pass a new law giving the public a right of responsible access to rivers, river banks and the wider countryside,” he said.
