“We’ve earned a reputation for getting stuff done, that’s much harder and takes more effort than what Reform do, but it’s a sustainable model.”

Cllr Cleary is also fearful about what welfare cuts would do to people in Birkenhead.

“Like many places, particularly in the North, Birkenhead has suffered from post-industrialisation, the decline in shipyards has been a long issue,” he said.

“We would be deeply concerned about cuts to welfare, we would want to see a much better strategy of support for places like this, to rebuilding communities and supporting them.

“Not just cutting their welfare which will make life much more difficult for people who are struggling.

“People will be frightened [by cuts], they will be scared.”

Read the full article in the i Paper

The post Inside Birkenhead, the town set to bear brunt of Labour’s benefits cuts appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Last night, Cllr Ruth Molyneux spoke at the Wirral Council Budget meeting. Watch her impassioned speech. Greens asked to save nature by protecting Hoylake beach and reinvesting money in our under-threat library services.

There’s no real need for me to tell everyone here about the value of libraries in our communities….but I will anyway.

Libraries provide free access to a treasure trove of books for people of all ages. But libraries aren’t just about books, they are a warm safe space with a friendly face, they’re Lego club, story time, mums and tots, craft club, knit and natter, film night and they are also a place of work, employing people that are dedicated to the library service and the communities they serve. It’s worth noting that the positive impact that libraries have on the health and well-being of Wirral residents is immeasurable.
Wirral library services have changed since 2022
•⁠ ⁠Wallasey Central
•⁠ ⁠Birkenhead Central
•⁠ ⁠West Kirby
•⁠ ⁠Bebington Central
•⁠ ⁠Beechwood
•⁠ ⁠Heswall
•⁠ ⁠Eastham
•⁠ ⁠Greasby
•⁠ ⁠Moreton
•⁠ ⁠Rock Ferry
•⁠ ⁠Upton
Remain unchanged
Four were co-located
•⁠ ⁠Leasowe -in leisure centre
•⁠ ⁠New Ferry-with local school
•⁠ ⁠Seacombe-in children’s centre
•⁠ ⁠St James–in community centre
Three were transferred
•⁠ ⁠Higher Bebington-to local school as an extra provision base
•⁠ ⁠Pensby-successful CAT
•⁠ ⁠Wallasey Village-successful Cat
And the remaining six were closed
•⁠ ⁠Hoylake
•⁠ ⁠Irby
•⁠ ⁠Prenton
•⁠ ⁠Ridgeway
•⁠ ⁠Woodchurch
And finally, Bromborough-closed and sold. There were 2 credible , high scoring business plans on the table for Bromborough but incredulously Labour and Conservative councillors voted to sell this building at the final hurdle, betraying not just the community groups that had worked so hard to put their business plans together but a whole community of passionate people who were looking forward to having there much loved community hub brought back into use.
That’s just two successful CATs for libraries, we must do better
There needs be a thorough review of asset transfer policy to set the context for any future community asset transfers
A forward thinking library strategy should include the option for community managed libraries and options for a hybrid model as well as a fully managed service.
There should also a monitoring of success including the social value
Its right that more time is given to formulate a library strategy that is fit for purpose and leaves no community behind with full and ongoing support for community groups that show interest in a community managed library model.

The post Protect Nature to Save Our Libraries appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

While Conservatives continue to advocate for raking our beaches despite clear guidance from national regulators only Greens have consistently argued for a nature-friendly, financially prudent and legal approach to beach management.

Cllr Pat Cleary set the record straight at the Policy and Resources Committee on 19 February.

The post Setting things straight on West Kirby and Hoylake beaches appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

The post top ten tory votes of shame appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Wirral desperately needs a new style of leadership, one that delivers value for money for council taxpayers, job security for workers and a clear focus on protecting Wirral’s most vulnerable residents and environment while fulfilling our regeneration potential.

The post BUDGET CONFIRMS URGENT NEED FOR NEW STYlE OF LEADERSHIP AT WIRRAL COUNCIL appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

The project to create a seasonal wetland by slowing the flow of the upper Birket and returning it to its historic flood plain has received the go-ahead. The project will be managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and fully funded by the Environment Agency’s flood management scheme. A majority of councillors supported the plan with only Conservative councillors voting against.

Consultation on the project will take place soon.  The fields already flood in extreme weather events. This scheme would make this a more controlled process, retaining water and keeping it away from properties. There will also be huge benefits for wildlife, especially birds.

Green Party campaigner Jane Turner says “I have wanted this to happen for the 40 years I have spent surveying the Carrs for wildlife. The fact that it will also hold back more than 18 Olympic swimming pools worth of flash flooding makes it a “no brainer. I’m frankly astonished that local Tories don’t want this.”

The post Hoylake Wetlands Scheme to Move Ahead appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

This ambitious initiative aims to link communities across Wirral for those who choose to walk, wheel, or cycle.

Currently at a high-level planning stage, the long-term vision of the network is to create safer, more accessible routes that improve conditions for active travel. With this approval, council officers can now begin detailed planning and focus on securing the necessary funding to turn this vision into a reality.

Improved infrastructure for walking and cycling is not just about convenience—it’s a key element in tackling some of the borough’s most pressing challenges – healthier lifestyles, reducing air pollution, addressing climate change, enhancing road safety for all and creating the ideal conditions for our local high street businesses to thrive.

Importantly, active travel is vital to our regeneration work and keeping our precious greenbelt safe from developers.

These objectives align with Wirral Council’s strategic priorities, making tonight’s decision a critical milestone.

Cllr Ed Lamb says, “This is a major step forward for Wirral. Investing in walking, cycling, and wheeling is vital if we’re serious about addressing climate change, improving public health, and creating safer streets for everyone.”

“I’m confident that this vision will benefit all Wirral residents,” said Cllr Harry Gorman who voted in favour of the plans. “We now need to get on with it and deliver the change that most people want to see so that everyone can travel safely.”

The post Active Travel Network Gets Go-Ahead appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

Natural England has rejected Wirral Council’s proposed beach management plan for Hoylake. This decision follows a public consultation started by the leader of the council, that disregarded the advice of Natural England, given in November 2022.

Labour, Tory and Lib Dem councillors voted to remove vegetation to create an amenity beach, something Natural England said was very likely to be illegal. A Green Party amendment respecting existing legislation was voted down. 

Natural England has now unequivocally stated that the proposed beach alterations are unacceptable within UK law. The only permitted beach management is to ensure the safe operation of the RNLI. This decision underscores a massive waste of time and resources for the council.

The pursuit of an unviable plan has consumed two years and enough money to run 9 public libraries.

Green Party campaigner Jane Turner says, “A clear and legal alternative to raking and spraying exists: there is a beautiful sandy beach just  50 meters from the promenade. The council must now prioritise safe access for all the public to enjoy this beautiful resource.”

The post Hoylake Beach Plan Rejected by Natural England appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

1. Ensure there is an appropriate political agreement to provide stability of decisions and direction

This confirms our view that the current leadership has chosen a partisan and divisive approach. This wastes time and resources and tells council staff and the wider public that politics is more important than effective decision making. We repeat our call for an end to factionalism and a return to effective cross party working that delivers for Wirral.

2. Progress from a shared awareness of the council’s finances to shared ownership and actions through a clear financial improvement plan

The lack of a clear financial improvement plan reflects the leadership’s lack of vision and ability to work cross party. Poor decisions on new office buildings, beach maintenance and moving between town halls have cost Wirral dear and there are no signs the current leadership understands this.

3. Develop a shared corporate vision for regeneration at a borough wide level

A few years ago Wirral was a UK leader in presenting an exciting vision for our shared future and securing grant funding for regeneration. Since then our profile has receded thanks to poor decision making – most notably the fiasco around Birkenhead Market and a failure to fully engage with the government’s New Towns Taskforce. We urgently need to reclaim the vision encapsulated in the Birkenhead 2040 framework and put Wirral back on the UK regeneration map.

The post Wirral Green Party response to LGA review appeared first on Wirral Green Party.

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.