Heswall Focus Team

News councillors have received earlier-

“The application for a Statutory Review by Leverhulme of the Planning Inspectors decision to refuse their 7 greenfield site planning applications has been considered by a Judge and the application has been refused in respect of all 3 grounds as set out by Leverhulme.

Leverhulme now have a period of 7 days in which to file a Notice of Renewal under which they can set out grounds for seeking a reconsideration of the refusal to grant permission.

The Judge has ordered that we may seek our costs in responding to their application.”

Cllr Stuart Kelly, chair of WIrral planning committee welcomed the news and described it as an early Christmas present for defenders of Wirrals green belt.

Rishi Sunak: Stop Backdoor Deals in NHS Contracts If you agree that NHS contracts shouldn't go to people with financial or personal connections to the government, add your name now:

Lib Dem conference adopts policy on modern slavery

Combating human trafficking & modern slavery Slavery, in all its forms, is an affront to the fundamental British principle of individual liberty. No human being should ever be enslaved.

Great news!

Seven Leverhulme Estates' planning appeals dismissed by Planning Inspectorate The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed seven appeals by Leverhulme Estates who wanted to build around 800 homes on the green belt across Wirral. In her decision, the Planning Inspector Katie

The Government has just announced that it will NOT step in to pause the planning inspectorate hearing into the Leverhulme planning applications.

Cllr Stuart Kelly, Liberal Democrat chair of Wirral Planning committee, said;
“Michael Gove had the opportunity to end the uncertainty inherent in a planning inspectorate enquiry.
The Tory government could have acted to cut through the red tape and stand up for the green belt and our regeneration ambitions but has refused.
The case has very clearly been made at enquiry, we need to protect agricultural land in the west and build new homes to renew the east of Wirral.
The Leverhulme side-show offers none of this; but we must now wait longer for the final decision.”

Have you seen that the Council has just launched a survey about a new parking strategy?

It asks for our views on a range of issues:

• Options for making changes to car parking charges
• Controlled Parking Zones to allow residents’ parking
• Provision of Electric Vehicle charge points
• Increased parking provision for bikes and motorbikes
• Enforcement powers to tackle nuisance parking
• Creation of smart mobility hubs
• A workplace parking levy
• Variable parking charges to reflect demand

Debates over parking are always a hot topic! This is a good opportunity to make sure your views are included:

Wirral Parking Strategy Phase 2 Wirral Council are continuing to progress work to look at car, cycle and other vehicle parking facilities across the borough to see what is working, what isn’t and what needs to be changed to provide better facilities now and for the future. The aim of this work will be

Enough Tory greenwash

‘Get rid of all the green crap’: Tory PMs’ strange attitude to the environment As both Labour and Conservatives ponder their green policies, we look back at the Tories’ propensity to promise much – and deliver little

A few roadworks to look out for in the coming week:

Oldfield Way: Monday 8 to 4. Road closed between Quarry Road West and Oldfield Close. Welsh Water removing roots causing repeated blockage in the sewer

Pipers Lane: Monday to Thursday. Road closed between bottom of Oldfield Drive and Redstone Lane. Cadent laying a new gas service

Delavor Road: Monday to Thursday. 9:30 to 3:30. Temporary traffic lights while M J Quinn are carrying out work

https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/speeding-catches-up-with-you?utm_source=espn&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=speed2023&utm_content=lookatthedamage

The data might be American, but the message is universal

Speeding Catches Up With You | NHTSA Speeding Catches Up With You campaign educates drivers on the dangers and deadly consequences of speeding, one of the most risky driving behaviors.

Did you know hidden batteries in electricals can start fires in recycling and bin lorries? There are batteries hidden in more items than you think!

Visit www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find your local battery and electrical drop off point.

Proposals to close two of Heswall’s car parks have come under fire from Lib Dem campaigner Elizabeth Brame.
A report on parking policy, produced for the Council by Royal Haskoning, includes a recommendation that car parks in Rocky Lane and Mount Avenue could be closed. Motorists would be expected to use the Pye Road site instead.
Elizabeth described the proposal as ridiculous. “It has clearly been dreamt up by people who don’t really know Heswall,” she said.
“Everyone knows that parking is at a premium in Heswall,” Elizabeth Brame said. “It makes no sense to lose 100 parking spaces, that bring in over £50,000 a year for the Council.
“The details in this report show that Rocky Lane is often full to capacity. As for Mount Avenue, it is an essential asset for events at Heswall Hall. It is often most heavily used in the evening, when usage is not recorded. Without these one hundred parking spaces, there will be even greater pressure on the surrounding residential roads.”
Wirral’s new Local Plan identifies the importance of Heswall. It says the town will be ‘the main focus for development and investment in shops, services, leisure and community facilities outside Birkenhead.’
“The loss of the proposed places would clearly be harmful to the continued growth and prosperity of Heswall’s town centre,” Elizabeth Brame said.

The proposals for extended parking restrictions near St Peter's School will be advertised tomorrow.
The map shows where new double yellow lines are proposed - mainly on one side of Delavor Road and at the entrance to Farr Hall Drive.

Consultation has started on the next phase of the introduction of 20 mph zones.
One of the new areas, number 44, covers a fairly small part of Heswall (bounded by Telegraph Road. Pensby Road, Irby Road and Mere Lane).
The remaining parts of Heswall are due to be included in the final part of the project in 2026.

You can find out more about the proposals and take part in the consultation on this link:

20mph Speed Limit scheme - Phase 2 In 2022, the council undertook consultation for 20mph speed limits in 15 areas around Wirral. The results of this were reported to the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport committee on 30 January 2023, where committee approved the roll out of 20mph speed limits

Lib Dems ask committee to consider ‘potential withdrawal’ of Johnson honours It comes as the Government attempts to draw a line under the honours row.

David Warburton: Conservative MP suspended over drugs allegations to resign seat Tories suspended MP in April last year amid claims over sexual harassment and drug use

https://www.deeside.com/service-on-wrexham-bidston-railway-line-has-been-awful-admits-deputy-minister/?fbclid=IwAR2-pY8IL0yBMIuwc9Td4UiLHWWXfIEiMTiBwrtiLjyOVSALwWcTGROcl9w

Service on Wrexham Bidston railway line has been “awful” admits Deputy Minister Service on Wrexham Bidston railway line has been “awful” admits Deputy Minister A Deputy Minister has said it is “important” the Welsh government “faces the music” over criticism around the Wrexham to Bidston railway line as the situation for passengers in recent months has been “awful...

Right to unpaid care leave set to become law to help millions of people The Carer’s Leave Bill, which received cross-party and Government backing, is hailed as a step forward for those looking after someone.

Myth busters: 20mph speed limits | ETA Some drivers are very cross about 20mph speed limits. The idea that towns and cities are cleaner, safer for walking and cycling, and generally nicer

Elizabeth Brame, Phil Waterfield and David Jones thank all the Heswall voters who gave us their support in the local elections.
Although we did not quite make it this time, the contest pushed the turnout up to 47% and Elizabeth fell just 21 votes short of being elected.
This is a link to the full results:

Election results for Heswall, 4 May 2023 | Wirral Council Election results for Heswall Local election - Thursday, 4th May 2023 Status: Published Local election - results by party Previous results for Heswall Summary of comparison with previous results for Heswall Heswall - results Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome Andrew Chapman Hodson Conservative....

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsliverpool/tight-local-election-battle-nears-finish-line-in-one-of-uks-richest-neighbourhoods/ar-AA1aGxXc

Tight local election battle nears finish line in one of UK's richest neighbourhoods Voters will go to the polls tomorrow to elect three councillors for the next four years

🔶 Tomorrow on Thursday 4 May, use your vote to back hard working Liberal Democrats who will fight for a fair deal for you and your community.

Gove and Hunt, beware: true-blue Surrey is ready to turf out the Tories – and you’re next | Polly Toynbee An avalanche is coming. The voters I met are abandoning the Conservatives over lying, cheating and Brexit, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

🏅Lib Dem run councils top the tables for recycling.

🔶🗳Vote Liberal Democrat on 4 May for councillors who will fight for our environment.

People are choosing between medication they need and food for their children "A constituent of mine is choosing between going to the pharmacy to get her medication, and going to the shop to get food for her children. "She can no longe...

https://stopthetories.vote/local/wirral

Stop The Tories .Vote There are more of us, let's show up, set the agenda, and own the future

The Conservatives simply don't care about the sewage crisis. ❌

Liberal Democrats have a plan to clean up our waterways and end the sewage scandal. 🔶🦦

Our children deserve to be able to see a dentist The staggering rise in dental deserts has left far too many people struggling to get an NHS dental appointment when they need to.“It is heartbreaking that pe...

Lib Dems demand food summit in Downing Street to tackle "tsunami" of rising food prices The Liberal Democrats have demanded that Rishi Sunak hold an emergency food summit in Downing Street with supermarkets, farmers and food manufacturers, to discuss measures to tackle soaring food prices.