Wirral Council is proposing to repeal a 90-year-old byelaw from 1935 that bans activities such as beating carpets, making loud noises, and using anything other than feet on a 3.7-mile stretch of coastline from Meols to New Brighton. The outdated restrictions, which also prohibit cyclists, horse riders, and mobility scooter users from using the path, are no longer enforced but remain legally in place, preventing the council from installing safety or informational signage for these users. The council argues that many of the banned acts are now covered by other laws, and some rules, like carpet beating, are obsolete.

The repeal aims to modernize the regulations to reflect current usage, as the route has become popular with cyclists and horse riders. While the byelaw’s removal will legalize these activities, other behaviors such as hawking, begging, or inciting dogs to bark will still be regulated under national laws. The council is consulting the public on the repeal until 22 September, emphasizing that some prohibitions, like banning men and women from using each other’s conveniences, are irrelevant since no public toilets remain along the route.