Wirral Council is preparing to sell off ‘unneeded assets’.
Ruth Molyneux, Green councillor for Bromborough said, “Some assets that could be sold by Wirral Council are suitable for a Community Asset Transfer (CAT). The CAT is out of the bag already for Bromborough Civic Centre and the relevant committee is considering two strong proposals from community organisations to re-open the Centre for everyone to enjoy. We urge fellow councillors to allow Bromborough Library CAT to have a fair and equal chance of success, like other former libraries have had such as Irby, Prenton and Wallasey Village.”
Green Councillor Jo Bird added, “If your community group, not-for-profit organisation, school or college is interested in using a Council site for community benefit then we recommend you:
- Tell Wirral Council you’re interested in a community asset transfer (CAT)
- Tell your three local Councillors and send them the guide from Locality
- Send a photo of your group at the site to local media.”
Community Asset Transfer is a tried and tested way to strengthen the third sector and improve delivery of valued services. Dozens of former Wirral Council sites have been transferred to community not for profit organisations.
CATs in the last couple of years include:
- Bebington youth club building to New Ferry Rangers FC
- Former council building to Make Hamilton
- Building to Wirral Metropolitan College
- Prenton library lease to St Stephen’s church
- Public toilets in Moreton to Moreton in Bloom
- Higher Bebington library to Bebington Co-op Academy school
- Irby library to Friends of Irby Library
- Shillings building to New Ferry Community Land Trust
- Sports changing rooms in Thornton Hough
- Wallasey Village library to Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre
- Woodchurch library to nearby school
Previous CATs include:
- Delamere Centre, Eastham to its charity
- Former council offices in Rock Ferry to NEO
- Former school to Wirral Change
- Former council building to Tomorrow’s Women
- Heswall Hall charitable trust
- Mayer Hall, Bebington to Mayer Hall trust
- New Ferry library to Grove Street school
- New Ferry Village Hall
CATs in progress include:
- Bromborough Library and Civic Centre to NEO (charity) or Bromborough Community CIC
- Brakenwood golf course to Brackenwood Community Golf Limited
- Hoylake golf course to the Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Assets to be sold after CAT thoroughly explored include:
- Hoylake library