Welcome to “Sunday Snippets” a weekly feature from birkenhead.news. It is a round-up of important local news stories from the last seven days. Click or tap on each story to read the full article.
Twinning of Birkenhead Park with New York’s Central Park moves a step closer

The campaign launched by birkenhead.news to twin Birkenhead Park with Central Park in New York has moved a step closer.
The 140-acre Birkenhead Park was designed by Joseph Paxton and opened on 5 April 1847 by Lord Morpeth and thousands of people attended the ceremony. It is generally acknowledged as the first publicly funded civic park in the world.
New York’s Central Park is an urban park in New York City. It is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated 42 million visitors annually, and is the most filmed location in the world.
Wirral mum says twins born nine weeks early being looked after by ‘amazing’ staff at Arrowe Park Neonatal Unit

Oxton mum, Hayley Burgess, went into Arrowe Park Hospital not knowing she was in labour, as she wasn’t due for another nine weeks.
Hayley told birkenhead.news, “The staff were amazing and have continued to be so. I had the twins nine weeks early. Charlie was born on Friday 30 September at 11:30pm and Layla followed at three minutes past 12 on Saturday morning, 1 October.”
The Neonatal Unit at Arrowe Park is a designated Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – one of only two in Cheshire and Merseyside. This means that care for some of the most poorly babies is available.
Nine libraries to shut their doors this month

Wirral Council is looking to move forward with proposals to introduce 20mph speed limits in more areas of the borough.
A period of consultation with residents has now begun on the first 15 ‘zones’ where the council wants to reduce speed limits in an effort to improve air quality and make roads on which people live, shop or study safer for everyone.
Over the next four years, a total of 54 zones will be consulted upon, covering all residential areas across Wirral.
You shall go to the ball! Cinderella comes to the Floral this Christmas

Pantomime is back at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, with everyone’s favourite fairy tale, Cinderella.
Starring Steps singing sensation Lee Latchford-Evans as the handsome Prince, the show will be lighting up the stage from Saturday 3 December to Monday 2 January.
Also starring CBeebies presenter Katrina Bryan (Molly & Mac, Emmerdale) as The Fairy Godmother, Blood Brothers West End star, Sean Jones, as Buttons, Gwynfryn West, as Baron Hardup and Bethan Jacks, as Cinderella
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Man arrested following arson incidents in Tranmere

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and attempted arson offences following incidents in Wirral last weekend.
At around 11.30pm on Sunday 9 October, emergency services were called to Mossley Road in Tranmere to reports of a car on fire, causing significant damage.
A further call was received on Elderwood Road a short time later of a car on fire, again causing damage. No injuries were reported.
Further appeal for boat owners to claim their boats from Heswall Shore

Owners of boats in the area at Heswall shore are encouraged to come forward and identify their property to help with making safety improvements to the area.
More than 100 mostly unused boats, dinghies, trailers and other marine-related items have been at Banks Road slipway and foreshore in Heswall for a number of years and owners are encouraged to contact Wirral Council. Some of the boats are in serious disrepair and have the potential to cause safety and environmental hazards.
The Dee Estuary is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its important habitat and bird populations.
Wallasey man pleads guilty on crack cocaine and heroin supply charge

Detectives working on Project Medusa, the dedicated Merseyside Police County Lines team, have arrested and charged a man following a warrant earlier this week in Wallasey.
On Monday 10 October, officers carried out a warrant at an address in Wright Street in connection with a suspected County Line between Merseyside and Cheshire. A man was arrested at the scene and a large quantity of cash recovered.
24-year-old Jordan Edge of Wallasey has now been charged with the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.
Wirral MP voices concerns in Parliament over government ministers’ green belt comments

Margaret Greenwood MP has taken part in an important debate in Parliament on the impact of new development on green belt land.
She said that “local people are angry and upset” over recent proposals by developers Leverhulme Estates and Richborough Estates to build houses on the green belt in Pensby, Greasby and Irby in her constituency.
She added that she supports local people and stands with them in opposition to the plans to build houses on precious green belt land.
More green space and better maintenance, say Bebington residents

The By Ours Bebington community project is organising a series of pop-up events this month to display the results of the By Ours Neighbourhood Street Survey. There will be free giveaways of spring bulbs, refreshments and bike repairs.
The street survey is the first stage of the community project, led by the charity Sustrans, with Wirral Council.
By Ours works with residents, businesses and schools to design safer, healthier streets for everyone. In total 825 people responded to the survey via a leaflet, online or at face to face-to-face events. The top issues highlighted were litter and street cleanliness, traffic safety for walking and cycling, and that Bebington is not a pleasant place to cycle in.
Next phase of West Kirby flood wall construction underway

The noisiest and most disruptive parts of the construction of the West Kirby flood wall have now been completed.
The last few remaining piles – metal tubes that provide the foundations of a base slab structure before construction can begin above ground level – have now been installed and are being cut down to their finished length. ‘Break out’ works, which is the removal of the old concrete elements of that side of the promenade, has also now concluded.
Work on the next phase of the project is already underway at the Riversdale Road end of the promenade with new concrete works taking place there before the pre-cast wall units can begin to be installed later this month.
New pedestrian and cycle route to encourage active, greener travel

Work is set to begin on a new route for cyclists and pedestrians near Wirral Waters.
This latest pedestrian/cycleway will provide improved facilities from the existing pedestrian and cycle paths at Bidston Moss, along the southern section of Wallasey Bridge Road and the full length of Beaufort Road in Birkenhead, improving access to the West Float area of the Wirral Waters development.
The Greenway will be separated from the road via an attractive landscaped corridor, incorporating sustainable drainage, trees and a wildflower meadow.
Nine arrests as drugs and weapons seized in Wirral

Merseyside Police has arrested nine people and seized drugs and weapons during a day of action on the Woodchurch estate on Thursday 13 October.
The community policing team and officers from across the force carried out the proactive policing operation, Operation Presley, to disrupt criminality and protect those living in the area.
Throughout the day and evening police patrolled the area, focussing on proactively targeting serious and organised crime in their relentless pursuit to bring them to justice.
Birkenhead students have say in major report into changing behaviours to meet climate goals

Evidence given by students from Birkenhead Sixth Form College has been used in a major report warning that the UK will not meet the 2050 Net Zero target without the Government encouraging people to adopt new technologies or change our behaviours.
The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee’s report is calling on the government to learn from examples of where it enabled behaviour change, including during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide clarity and lead by example on how we travel, what we eat and buy and how we use energy at home.
Birkenhead Sixth Form College was one of six education establishments selected from across the UK that gave evidence to the committee as part of its inquiry into mobilising action for behaviour change. The students provided their insights on approaches to tackling the climate crisis through behaviour change from the perspective of young people.
Health report shines a light on community groups ‘at the heart’ of Wirral

Wirral people have shown us that when times are tough, they are there for each other.
This was never more true than throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, when communities and residents rallied, working together to ensure that even our most vulnerable were looked after.
Many local groups and organisations were instrumental in these efforts from delivering food hampers, supporting families to isolate, to walking their dogs and more.
Tranmere make it five-in-a-row with win over Crewe

Tranmere notched up their fifth consecutive league win with a 3-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra at Prenton Park.
Two goals from Elliott Nevitt and a single from Southampton loanee defender Dynel Simeu were plenty enough to ensure that Rovers took the three points in front of an electric home crowd.
Whilst possession was equally shared, Crewe didn’t get a single shot on target for the entire game, as Tranmere managed seven shots on target, making three of them count.
Wirral Police weekly news round-up

This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
What’s On? Guide

Visit our “What’s On?” guide for Wirral and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks.
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