Mockbeggar Wharf is the feeding ground for the internationally important numbers of Oystercatcher and Knot, both of which have been declared threatened species. The Dee estuary hosts around 5% of the global population of Oystercatcher. The cause of their decline is known to the over-fishing of shellfish.

It beggars belief that this level of plunder has been allowed in what it is an Internationally protected Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site. Aside from removal of cockles on an industrial scale, the level of disturbance is intolerable.

Green councillors are looking into how this licence can be challenged. We renew our calls for vehicles including quad bikes to be banned from the foreshore.

In this BBC article, Pat Cleary, from Wirral Council’s Green Party, said he was opposed to such “industrial” levels of activity on the beach. 

He said: “These are really important feeding grounds for migratory birds.

“We are talking about internationally threatened species like the oystercatcher and the knot. 

“The Dee estuary is home to 5% of the global population of oystercatchers. This is a threatened species, and we know that fishing of shellfish directly contributes to the decline of these species.

“So if we are serious about protecting nature, this kind of activity we cannot allow on an industrial scale.”

The post Wirral Green Party responds to commercial cockling appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Gail Jenkinson, along with other Green Party councillors, spoke out in favour of regeneration on Wirral, and against building on our precious green spaces.

The post Cllr Gail Jenkinson explains why the greenbelt is so important for Wirral appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

introducing jane turner

Wallasey MP candidate for the 2024 General Election, Jane Turner, is a scientist and researcher, anti- poverty activist, champion of biodiversity and Co-Chair of Wirral Green Party.

Q: If you are elected as MP for Wallasey, which legislation would you prioritise that will most benefit residents? The party would bring in a Universal Basic Income to replace our over-complicated, inefficient benefit system with guaranteed income. This would be funded by fair taxes on wealth and large corporations. It frees people from the trap of low wages and insecure work, empowering them to pursue education, caregiving, or creative pursuits. UBI isn’t a handout, it’s a launchpad for innovation, resilience and a productive green future in which we all thrive.

Q: What are your pet peeves and favourite things? Pet peeves – Politicians and media suggesting that it’s too expensive to deal with climate change, when renewable energy is already cheaper than using fossil fuels. £80 billion in public money is funnelled into tax breaks and subsidies in coal, oil and gas rather than into insulating houses, setting up district heating or installing climate-friendly heat pumps. The public money given to the fossil fuel industry could provide a year’s heating to 40 million people. Favourite things – live music, my kids and birdwatching (not necessarily in that order!).

The post Interview With Wallasey MP Candidate, Dr. Jane Turner appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Watch seven clips from the broadcast here –

– or tune in to BBC iPlayer to watch the full episode of Jo Bird going toe-to-toe with some of the other candidates from the North West. The show was broadcast on Sunday 16th June at 10am. 

The post Jo Bird on BBC Politics North West appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Gail Jenkinson and Jane Turner at Hoylake Beach

Labour and Conservative councillors have voted to clear a large part of Hoylake Beach in the full knowledge that the regulator Natural England will never grant approval for their proposals. In so doing they are misleading the public as well as ignoring the damage their plans would inflict on the local environment, the development of natural flood defences and the costly impacts of wind-blown sand for the council and the local community.

Green Party campaigner for Hoylake, Jane Turner, said, “Before the Environment Committee vote on April 15^th Natural England made it crystal clear that they could not support the clearance of three hectares of the beach. Nevertheless, councillors voted by majority to do just that. What we needed was a clear proposal based on the needs of the local RNLI with assent from Natural England. Instead, some councillors have engaged in wishful thinking and are raising expectations amongst the public that cannot be met.”

Cllr Jason Walsh voted against the proposals and said, “Natural England and others have found “some of the rarest species on earth on these shores,” adding, “Our landscape evolves over time and what is happening at Hoylake is simply part of that evolution. I believe trying to recover an amenity beach at the site of the current green beach is picking a fight with nature and I believe it is a costly fight that we are likely to lose. “

Green councillors on the committee tabled alternative proposals that would:

• Provide an amenity beach accessible to all.
• Protect the emerging sand dunes that provide vital, natural flood defences and will greatly reduce the cost of dealing with wind-blown sand on Hoylake promenade.
• Provide safe and secure routes for RNLI operations.

Cllr Gail Jenkinson is the Green Party candidate for Wirral West MP. She says, “With sea levels rising and weather patterns changing, it makes absolutely no sense to undermine the natural flood protection that has proved its worth in recent storms. Instead of being honest with people and supporting access with paths to the new amenity beach, Labour and the Tories are fighting nature, which is going to keep costing money every year, and this is on top of the £250,000 of Council tax-payers money they have already wasted. Green Party proposals would be much cheaper and better for people and the planet.“

The post Deceiving the public appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Liverpool mayoral candidate: Tom Crone

Originally from Norfolk, 43-year-old Mr Crone leads the Green Party group on Liverpool City Council.

People living in the Liverpool City Region (the five Merseyside metropolitan boroughs of Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral, plus Halton in Cheshire) will elect their next mayor on 2 May. Here’s what our Green candidate says:

Public investment is crucial

He says this is “critical” to deliver the warm homes, renewable energy and transport changes to help create a jobs-rich, green economy in Liverpool City Region.

Sustainable housing investment will bear many dividends

He wants to expand home insulation programmes across the city region to deliver warmer homes for those that need them while lifting people out of fuel poverty, improve their health, and reduce carbon emissions.

Mr Crone wants a ‘joined-up public transport system that works for the whole region’

He says buses should be given more priority on the roads to speed up journey times. Mr Crone would also encourage walking and cycling, with more segregated cycle routes, and clamp down on problem pavement parking.

He believes in ‘democratic renewal’ in the city region

Mr Crone says he is committed to “stamping out the cronyism and incompetence that has held the region back – I will work closely with communities, campaign groups and trade unions to give everyone a voice. I will also establish a citizens assembly to help drive a fairer, greener future.”

More trees are needed to cool our town centres

He wants to accelerate urban tree planting to cool urban areas as the climate heats up. To further improve the environment and public health, Mr Crone also wants to reduce traffic and noise.

References: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crgy0glk9rko

https://www.saverimrosevalley.org/post/metro-mayoral-elections-candidates-statements

The post Metro Mayoral Elections: Green Candidate statement appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Policing vulnerable people and increasing resources for specialist training

Cllr Amanda Onwuemene MSc

Amanda was born and grew up in Toxteth before moving to the Wirral as a child. She worked in Toxteth for many years and currently works in the Sefton Park area as a Psychotherapist.

Amanda is also the current, twice elected Green Party Councillor for Birkenhead and Tranmere and the Green Party National Spokesperson for Policing and Domestic Violence.

Merseyside Police Review

Merseyside police undertook a review last year which showed that it was “Good” at listening to communities and reducing crime which is exactly what we want. 

There were two areas for improvement identified that Amanda would focus on they are:

*Policing of vulnerable people.  

*Increasing trained staff and resources to tackle domestic violence and sexual violence against women and girls.

What Amanda will do

Success in the PCC election would give Amanda the opportunity to tackle anti- social behaviour, especially amongst our youth. Her background in lecturing in Further and Higher Education, Child Development and Adult Mental Health, provide her with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of how and why youths can move into offending. As the PCC, Amanda would have responsibility for the police budget and deciding what resources need to be available to support the police service in providing a safe and secure environment for everyone on Merseyside to live, work and thrive.

Amanda would also  be responsible for how your area is policed. As a councillor she is very aware of the major issues residents face regarding safety and security.

If voted in to represent you, she will ensure that she regularly meets with you to discuss your perspective on policing.

This address has been prepared by Electoral Agent Alix Cockcroft on behalf of Amanda Okwuememe, Wirral Green Party

The post Amanda Onwuemene for Green Party Police and Crime Commissioner appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

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Elections for the next Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor take place on 2nd May this year. The Green Party are pleased to announce their candidate is Tom Crone, Leader of Liverpool Greens and Green Councillor for St. Michaels. Tom says:

“I am standing for Metro-Mayor because I want to see a fairer, greener, better Liverpool City region.

As a Green, I know that you can’t fix the environment without also fixing our communities, and I know that only the Green Party has the policies to tackle both these challenges head on.

For example, an expanded home insulation program that will save people money on their bills lifting many out of fuel poverty. Training in the green jobs of the future so people are ready to be part of the transition to net zero. And a properly joined up public transport and active travel network making travel easier and cleaner around the city region.

With a bold green vision and a renewed democratic culture, Liverpool City Region will be among the best places to live in Europe.”

The funds we raise will be used to send out information about the campaign to the electorate of the whole LCR. We want everyone to know about our progressive vision.

Watch Tom’s video here: https://youtu.be/Hc4iFzW0OeM?si=pZkqGX1-GgFLH8uX

The post Tom Crone for Green Metro Mayor appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Cllr Pat Cleary said:

It is rare to see a budget with no proposed amendments and a broad consensus around its acceptance – we must be doing something right. This shows our committee system is working well and is delivering better outcomes for the people of Wirral.

The most reassuring figure in the budget summary table is the zero entry for “Reducing or stopping services”. I want to thank officers across the council who have worked hard to deliver a budget that preserves service delivery to the public, protects the Real Living Wage, avoids compulsory redundancies, and offers scope for investment that will help address the key priorities within the Wirral Plan.

Particularly welcome this year has been the clear and realistic budget forecasts provided by the finance team, despite the annual circus of waiting until the last moment for the government to reveal its funding offer.

Contrast this with last year when the starting position was unrealistic cuts of £49m. So well done to those officers who have adopted a more measured approach this year.

Nevertheless, we face yet another funding gap between our income and expenditure necessitating over £12m in savings, efficiencies, and increased charges for council services.

And, of course, council tax will need to rise significantly again.

The pressure on the council to do more with less is relentless.

So too is the pressure on the public who are forced to pay more and more every year for the government’s failure to reform local authority finance and to use the unfair council tax system to fund the ever-increasing costs of social care.

The figures are there for everyone to see in this budget – a shortfall of £26.6m over the next five years – largely driven by the cost of caring for our ageing population.

How will this gap be funded? This is my 10th budget council and every year we hear the same complaints from many members regarding the government’s short-term approach to financing local government.

But that has never changed. And nor is it likely to as the economic policies of the two largest parties become increasingly indistinguishable.

Without fundamental reform of our taxation system there will be no change and the cycle will continue to repeat itself.

The Green Party, along with many others including the Trades Union Congress, is clear. The time for wealth taxes is long overdue. A straightforward 1% tax on wealth in excess of £10 million would generate at least £16bn annually to address inequality and environmental collapse.

Budget and the Wirral Plan

As we prepare to be released from the oversight of the Independent Assurance Panel their most recent advice tells us that “The Wirral Plan and Medium-Term Financial Strategy need better linking and there is a need to clearly match your resources to your stated priorities”.

This is good advice.

The Wirral Plan has clear, unanimously agreed, priorities. These include:

To prioritise those with the greatest needs

At our last meeting, council acknowledged there is a significant amount of unclaimed support payments in Wirral – at least £91 million annually. One of the most significant things this council can do to address poverty is to better empower those residents who are entitled to financial support to receive it, especially in those parts of Wirral where poverty is tightening its grip and life expectancy is far too low.

Next month we are due receive further details from officers on how best to implement this. I urge all members to prioritise this in the year ahead. It will benefit not just those in need but the wider Wirral community if spending power amongst the poorest is increased.

Another priority in the Wirral Plan is:

To play our part in addressing the climate emergency and protecting our environment

A reminder that we have all signed up to Wirral Council becoming carbon neutral by 2030. I’m grateful for the work of Green cllrs in relentlessly highlighting the need for this council to reduce its energy consumption.

This year, lower energy consumption has saved some £200,000. In part this reflects investment in our leisure centres – the installation of pool covers, low-flow shower heads, changes in humidity settings and the repair and insulation of pipework- all of which have reduced gas consumption.

But we remain very vulnerable to fluctuations in energy prices as recent years have clearly demonstrated.

We must do more to increase our resilience, protect our finances and reduce our carbon emissions.

It’s therefore incredibly disappointing that our new office buildings include no renewable energy and are not fit for climate purpose. If the private sector can incorporate sustainable energy in new office buildings at Wirral Waters, why can’t Wirral Council do the same in the centre of Birkenhead? How can this possibly fit with a carbon neutral Wirral Council by 2030?

But “protecting our environment” often means leaving it alone. Now more than ever we must protect our remaining natural green and blue spaces.

Green councillors are appalled that scarce resources are being wasted to publicly consult on options for Hoylake Beach which, in their current form do not and cannot have approval from regulatory authorities, ignore the expressed view of the Environment Committee and have not been appropriately sanctioned by members.

This is not ok.

Finally in terms of the Wirral Plan:

We are committed to deliver our ambitious regeneration programme.

The capital programme within this budget gives us the means to do that.

Green councillors have and will continue to bang the delivery drum. 2024 must be the year when residents see that things really are changing for the better.

Last week along with other councillors I attended the launch event for Make CICs new arts hub on Argyle Street – a great example of how the council can support genuine, people focused regeneration. Along with Future Yard and other organisations, Make is helping to transform this area and make Birkenhead a genuine destination for people within and outside of Birkenhead.

We need to continue supporting this change, not least by delivering the new public realm works for Argyle Street and across our regeneration sites.

Our streets can and must put people, not traffic, first.

Our historic Market can and must be restored to once again be a source of pride.

Our brownfield sites can and must become the thriving, sustainable communities of the future.

Conclusion

I will conclude with the following:

The Green Party stands for environmental and social justice.

2023 was the hottest year on record. Our life support systems are disintegrating in front of our eyes at an alarming rate.

Meanwhile, the life expectancy of a child born today in the streets surrounding this town hall is two years less than it was in 2010. For a male child born today it is an eye-watering 15.7 years less than a boy born today in Heswall.

These are shocking facts. They are the inevitable consequences of policies that put self-imposed, arbitrary fiscal rules ahead of addressing inequality and climate breakdown. They reflect appalling political choices.

Our remit as a council is limited but our obligations are clear. We must do all we can to reduce inequality and protect our planet. In both of these we can and must do more.

Cllr Jo Bird said:

Within this budget there is an additional £2 and ¼ million one-off funding for one year to be voted upon at Policy and Resources Committee, next month, not today.

Greens have six proposals to invest in a fairer, greener Wirral.

1.    Firstly, targeted benefits advice to thousands of families to claim millions of pounds they are entitled to.

2.    Secondly, to clear alleyways, plus free alleygates and bulky rubbish collection – for people that need it most.

3.    Thirdly, Greens would install solar panels and heat pumps into suitable Council buildings. Thus cutting carbon emissions and bills, creating good green jobs for the future.

4.    Fourth, Greens would invest more in our young people – many who were so badly affected by covid and lock down. Instead of closing libraries and swimming pools, we Councillors should be ensuring all teenagers have access to a wide variety of things to do outside of school, such as sports, dance and creative arts.

5.    Fifth. Wirral is the Borough of Culture, this year. Greens would extend the Communities Fund – to celebrate the diverse cultures of new communities on the Wirral. Because everyone benefits from welcoming people fleeing war, such as in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Palestine. Refugees should not have to flee their homes, but they and you are welcome here.

6.    Sixth. Greens would improve the air we all breathe and plant new trees on our busy streets.

All these costed, practical Green proposals are possible with just £2 and ¼ million pounds. Out of a council budget of £400 million.

Imagine what could be possible with a wealth tax on the super rich. Imagine another say, £85 million to rebuild a better Birkenhead. Well, this regeneration money is already secured – including £14 million to refurbish a flagship Birkenhead market.

Because you know what? Another Wirral is possible.

Our Wirral, that is fair to people and the environment.

We need Green budgets that create new green jobs and services, that reduce inequality, bills and pollution, and forge a better future for our children and our grandchildren.

The post Wirral Co-leaders Demand a Fairer, Greener Borough appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Cllr Jo Bird, co-leader of Wirral Green Group of councillors, said, “Green councillors welcome this Council budget for 4 reasons. Firstly, it means there are no closures of valued frontline services Secondly, the Real Living Wage uplift continues to be offered to providers of adult care Thirdly, compulsory job losses are not envisaged and fourthly, the additional £2 million of one-off funding means there could be new investment in our environment. New green jobs and services could be created by, for example, clearing fly-tipping from alleyways and installing renewable energy to reduce bills and carbon emissions.”

Taken from https://wirral.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/839628

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