A government taskforce has been set up to spearhead a generation of new towns:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expert-taskforce-to-spearhead-a-new-generation-of-new-towns

This will “create largescale communities of at least 10,000 new homes each, with many significantly larger.

The new towns will help ……regenerate areas that have been held back for far too long.

a large number will be regeneration schemes that will work with the grain of development in any given area.”

Birkenhead and the wider Left Bank has the potential to accommodate over 20,000 new homes on brownfield land over the next twenty years. A new Waterside Garden Town or City is the vision set out in the 2040 Regeneration Strategy and the new Local Plan.  

If the government means what it says, then Wirral’s Left Bank should be at the top of the list when the new task force publishes its recommendations next year.

We have already set out the vision to achieve exactly what the government says it wants.

The government must now recognise that potential and provide the support that places like Birkenhead need.

Some of that support is of course financial. But much of it relies on providing the skills, efficient delivery models and long-term resources that are fundamental for transformative regeneration.

A key failing of the last government was expecting local authorities, ravaged by years of austerity, to deliver rapid, large-scale regeneration when clearly, they are ill-equipped to do so. 

We -Wirral Council, elected representatives, local business, community groups and individuals – are now in a nationally unique position to say to government, 

• not just that our greenbelt is precious, 
• not just that regeneration is essential to address inequalities 
• and not just that their draft proposals are deeply flawed and potentially ruinous to Wirral as a place
• but that we already have the vision and the potential to give the government what it wants, and the experience gained over recent years about what does and doesn’t work.

Our task now is not just to challenge the deeply flawed methodology that has generated silly, never to be achieved, housing targets for Wirral. It is also to grasp the opportunity to make our 2040 vision a reality – breathing life into the Left Bank, protecting the Borough’s greenbelt and, crucially, to lobby early and effectively to make that happen.

Accordingly, Green Group co-leaders have today written to our Chief Executive to understand how and when Wirral Council will be engaging with the New Towns task force. Early and effective engagement will be crucial to help secure a brighter future for those residents most in need as well as protecting our precious greenbelt.

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The Green Party is clear:

      * We stand with every community that’s attacked or threatened by organised political violence 

        * We support police and emergency workers protecting people in these communities

        * We support community leaders and individual citizens who are working to bring communities together in the face of attempts to inflame divisions

 The huge crowds of anti-racism protestors who thronged the streets of cities and towns the length and breadth of England to protect asylum centres was a brilliant demonstration of the true sentiments of the country: welcoming to refugees and celebrating diversity. 

 The political violence of recent days has not arisen in a vacuum. The hostile environment created by the Tory government and stoked by politicians and sections of the media has encouraged Islamophobia and racism generally. Divisions in society are fostered to distract from the obscene inequality which is at the root of very many of the problems the world faces. 

 The Green Party is a party of social and environmental justice which campaigns for a radical transformation of society for the benefit of all, for a real democracy free from discrimination of any kind and where people of all races and all religions or none are equally valued and empowered.

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Wirral Green Party enthusiastically supports Wirral Council’s ‘Core Active Travel Network’ consultation which starts today (July 29th) and urges all residents to participate. Everyone’s input is vital in shaping a future where active travel is safe, convenient, and accessible for all. Together, we can build a healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable Wirral.

An active travel network allows residents to walk, wheel, and cycle with ease and confidence. It bolsters our local economy by giving people confidence to walk or cycle, which in turn supports local businesses. As more people walk or cycle, we have less traffic which reduces congestion. Essential traffic for transport businesses and emergency traffic will be more efficient, and we will cut down air pollutants, creating a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone in Wirral.

A well-designed active travel network can help reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. By providing wider pavements with more benches and better lighting, dedicated lanes and better crossings, we can ensure that people of all ages feel safe on our roads. 

These initiatives not only improve the overall aesthetics and safety of neighbourhoods but also support a more active lifestyle.

The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges of our time. By makinging walking and cycling easier, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Active travel is a crucial component of our strategy to combat climate change and transition to a more sustainable future.

Cllr Gail Jenkinson, Green Party spokesperson for Environment Committee says 

“We welcome the opportunity for residents to have their say on an walking, cycling and wheeling across Wirral. People know where they want to go and where they want to feel safer, so we really want them to tell us. If it’s nice to walk to local shops,cafes and so on, we help develop a more integrated community as well as a healthier one.”  

Cllr Ed Lamb, Green Party spokesperson for Economy and Regeneration Committee says

“Getting safely and easily to the local shops, school, work, sport and leisure activities and to see friends without having to use the car is what our residents want. We want to give them that choice. We want to give them that freedom. In doing so we also help those that need to drive to get around. Improving walking, wheeling and cycling options is a win for everyone.”

ACCESS THE CONSULTATION HERE

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Green councillors will call for the following:

We recognise that successful place making and regeneration is fundamental to the protection of our precious green belt. Green Councillors acknowledge the achievements by officers in securing large sums of public finance for regeneration and the work to date on delivery. We reaffirm our commitment to the Birkenhead 2040 Framework and its vision for the transformation of Birkenhead and the wider left bank of the Mersey and restates its desire to deliver on the promise and potential contained in the 2040 Framework.

However, Green Councillors have a number of concerns including;

• The recent departure of the interim Director of Regeneration, the fourth such exit in the past two years
• The breakdown in trust with the local community following the broken promises around a new, flagship Birkenhead Market building
• The failure to date of the council to bring forward a housing scheme at the former House of Fraser site in central Birkenhead and the accompanying risk to related grant funding
• The lack of progress in delivering public transport improvements to Wirral Waters including the failure to bring forward a business case for any proposed solution
• The lack of reporting around the progress of the regeneration programme; in particular the absence of regular and clear, RAG-rated progress reports on regeneration projects to the Economy and Regeneration committee.

We therefore agrees that an independent review of the council’s Regeneration directorate is urgently required.

• Request that the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Leaders, writes to the LGA to ask for their assistance in conducting a review of Wirral Council’s Regeneration directorate.

Read the recent article that spells out the issues relating to regeneration across Wirral. ‘Concerns raised about council over regeneration projects.’

Why has progress stalled on delivering much needed, well funded regeneration projects – such a flagship Birkenhead market, affordable homes, more public transport and urban green spaces? How can projects be un-blocked?

From New Ferry to Birkenhead and Wallasey, we need to clean… https://t.co/YfR2MlT1fY

— Jo Bird (@JoBirdJoBird) July 24, 2024

When green cllŕs tried to raise senior staff departures at Regeneration Committee last night the Labour chair blocked any discussion. What message does this send to potential investors in Wirral? https://t.co/d2UURcfEpW

— Cllr Pat Cleary (@PatCleary2) July 17, 2024

https://twitter.com/edwardlamb/status/1816379334552084796

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Greens are the clear challengers to Labour in Birkenhead. Last year in Council elections, more people voted Green than Labour. 38% voted Green and 36% voted Labour, across Birkenhead constituency including Bebington. The Greens hold 10 out of 21 councillor seats in Birkenhead.

Jo said, “At this election, Greens are offering a simple choice; real hope and real change with me or business as usual with Labour. People know that the Tories can’t win here. A Green MP would send a clear message to those who have taken your support for granted for decades, that Birkenhead deserves better.

“Because people in Birkenhead deserve an MP that works tirelessly to put Birkenhead first, to deliver for everyone in our community. An MP who will fight to rebuild our NHS, end the scandal of low pay and champion peace not war.

All of this is possible, and voters in Birkenhead can make it happen. Make history on 4 July. Vote Jo Bird for Birkenhead MP.”

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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.

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

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Key Findings:

• 1462 sewage spills: This represents a 28% increase compared to 2022, placing Wirral among the worst 5% of authorities nationally, though part of the increase can be attributed to better monitoring at previously unchecked sites.

• Alarming duration: The worst new case was Wood Lane Greasby, with 201 spills into Arrowe Brook, totaling a staggering 3469 hours nearly 40% of the year.    

• Widespread impact: Nearly 8,000 hours of sewage leaks were logged into the River Birkett  and its tributaries, impacting densely populated areas before entering the Mersey.

• Deterioration across locations: Rock Ferry (95) , Bromborough (590), Seacombe (302), and Woodside (108) all experienced higher numbers and durations of spills compared to 2022. 

• Caldy improvement: The only positive trend was a near 50% reduction in spills into the Dee

The Green Party Calls for Action:

The Green Party emphasises the need for public ownership of water companies. They point out that United Utilities, the sole provider in Wirral, paid out £646 million in dividends to shareholders in 2022 and 2023. The Green Party argues that these funds should be directed towards:

• Reducing leaks

• Repairing aging infrastructure

• Lowering household water bills

The post Wirral Residents Exposed to Excessive Sewage Spills – Green Party Calls for Action 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.

Wirral Green Party has slammed Wirral Borough Council’s (WBC) public consultation on the management of Hoylake beach. Incredibly, both options presented lack approval from Natural England. The consultation therefore represents a waste of public money whilst also undermining community goodwill.

In November 2022 the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee (ECET) agreed to prepare two options for the beach with input from Natural England. One option focused on improving access to the existing sandy beach while prioritising safety for the RNLI. The other aimed for maximum legal vegetation removal for an amenity beach near the promenade.

Both options were to receive Natural England’s approval before public consultation. This has not been secured.

“The decision to consult at this stage is extremely poor” said Jane Turner, Co-Chair of Wirral Green Party. “Consulting on options unlikely to gain Natural England’s approval erodes community trust. Previous consultations reported to the November 2022 ECET meeting have already explored similar approaches.”

Greens highlight the raising of false expectations among residents who might participate in a consultation only to have their preferred option ruled out on legal grounds.

“We urge WBC to reconsider this approach,” adds Green councillor Jason Walsh who sits on the ECET Committee. “Engaging meaningfully with Natural England and ensuring options reflect their legally binding view is crucial for any responsible consultation process. To fail to do so prior to consultation is inept, unacceptable and a waste of public money.”

Contact Jane Turner 07855 426 694 turnershbo@aol.com

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