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.
£50k raised for new West Kirby RNLI lifeboat
West Kirby RNLI has raised £50,000 for their new D class inshore lifeboat with support from the local community, ensuring they can continue to save lives off the Wirral peninsula coast.
Within six months of launching the lifeboat appeal 
, West Kirby RNLI reached their goal thanks to the support of Hoylake and West Kirby Fundraising Branch, fellow Wirral lifeboat stations and other RNLI fundraising branches based in the north west.
From planning and organising a range of fundraising activities and events, the local community have rallied around in support of the appeal. Back in May, the lifeboat station organised their first ever duck race at the marine lake raising £3,500.
Wirral school wins big at Chester Zoo’s Conservation School Awards
A school in Wirral has won big at the 2023 Chester Zoo Conservation School Awards.
The ceremony celebrates conservation projects created during the academic year and the innovation that schools have displayed when educating students about the subject.
St John Plessington Catholic College, based in Bebington, was awarded the prestigious 2023 Outstanding Conservation School – Secondary School.
Transformative vision for Cleveland Street Neighbourhood progresses to next phase
An ambitious vision to turn the Cleveland Street area into a family-friendly neighbourhood is moving to the next phase.
This second phase of engagement seeks opinions on the masterplan which has been developed for the area based on initial feedback from the public.
Residents and people who work in and visit the area are now being asked for their views on the ideas and designs being put forward based on that first stage of consultation.
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Wirral roads undergo first stage of surface dressing
All 18 roads chosen for surface dressing as part of Wirral’s 2023 roads maintenance programme have now undergone the first stage of treatment.
Surface dressing restores the road surface with layers of chippings and bitumen, and after some bedding in by traffic a seal will be applied to finish the treatment.
Roads are selected for maintenance following independent condition surveys in addition to reports from highways inspectors, councillors, and members of the public.
Families seek answers over decades-long lost baby burial sites
Merseyside families who had to wait decades to find where their lost babies are buried are hoping to finally get answers about what happened to them.
Before the 1980s, it was common practice that when a woman had a miscarriage or a stillborn child, hospital staff would quickly take the baby away. It was believed at the time that if the mother did not see the baby, she would forget about it.
In Wirral, stillborn babies were taken to cemeteries such as Landican or Frankby and buried in graves containing up to 60 or more children or at the foot of someone being buried that day.
Williamson Art Gallery first stop on New Light Prize tour
Birkenhead’s Williamson Art Gallery & Museum is to host the launch of the New Light Prize exhibition 23/24.
Established in 2010, the New Light charity celebrates and promotes Northern art, supporting both well-known and emerging artists by offering some of the region’s best awards and opportunities with the biennial New Light Prize Exhibition.
It provides Northern artists with an unparalleled platform to showcase their work and reach new audiences.
Work begins on improved West Kirby entrance to Wirral Way
Work is under way to improve the entrance to the Wirral Way in West Kirby.
The entrance, due to be completed early October, is the latest project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the official opening of Wirral Country Park.
It will include a gateway featuring a steam train design, to recognise the railway line that once ran between Hooton and West Kirby.
Merseyrail named as leading train company for family-friendly journeys
Merseyrail has been named the best train operator in the UK for families travelling with young children according to new research by the Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains.
The research heralded the progress of the rail company, claiming they demonstrate “the potential for all train operating companies”.
The lobby group assessed factors such as the availability of dedicated space for unfolded pushchairs, step-free access, baby-changing facilities and information for families.
Birkenhead International Film Festival returns this autumn
This October Convenience Gallery will bring the world to Birkenhead at the Williamson Art Gallery for the Birkenhead International Film Festival (BIFF).
The festival takes place on Saturday 21st October 2023, hot on the heels of Convenience Gallery’s sold out 2022 festival.
A spokesperson for the gallery said, “We are delighted to bring you our fourth festival, this year. This is a free festival, however we do also offer a BIFF BFF ticket, for those who can donate or pay a contribution which helps us to keep this festival free for everyone.”
Over 80 Wirral bus services cut since 2010
Eighty-seven bus services have been cut in Wirral since 2010.
The routes that connected places like New Brighton, Neston, and Saughall Massie to Liverpool and other areas are one of 8,613 bus routes across England that have been cut over the last 13 years.
As of September 2023, there are currently 104 services operating on the Wirral with 36 running through the week as well as 68 school services.
Eight pubs to celebrate return of The Wirral Ale Trail
Mark your calendars for a day of camaraderie and especially made ales as the bus-based Wirral Real Ale Trail returns on Saturday, 16 September 2023 travelling to some of the best boozers in the Peninsula.
The Wirral Ale Trail in its 8th year is celebrated for its idea of visiting off-the-beaten-track pubs that serve great ales, without having to organise transport.
The year also marks a new transport partnership with Selwyns Travel from Runcorn who said, “We are really pleased to partner with the Real Ale Trail Company.
Wirral Heritage Open Days promise fascinating experiences
This year’s theme for the national Heritage Open Days (HODs) is ‘creativity unwrapped’ and Wirral’s biggest heritage event will celebrate Wirral writers, musicians, painters, poets, potters, story tellers, landscape gardeners, stained glass artists and many more creative individuals.
Paul Smith of the Wirral History and Heritage Association (WH&HA) said, “There’s an abundance of art, music and architectural gems to explore free of charge over 10 days this September.
“We have exceptional examples of talent and creativity throughout the Wirral peninsula to surprise, entertain and inspire you. Don’t miss this free festival of historical creativity. I guarantee you will discover something special at any of the fascinating venues taking part.”
Ten senior members of Wirral West Labour Party resign
Ten senior people in Wirral West’s Labour Party have resigned from their roles over the selection process for its next general election candidate.
The party had begun the process to select a candidate for the next general election with a number of candidates putting themselves forward.
The process started after current Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood announced she will be standing down at the next general election meaning the Labour Party needed to find a new candidate to keep hold of the seat.
Wirral girl becomes boxing National Champion of England and number two in Europe
A Wirral schoolgirl who was selected to represent England to box in the European Schools Boxing Championships in Maribor, Slovenia has become National Champion of England and number two in Europe.
Letitia McKee, a year 8 pupil at St John Pleasington High School, Bebington. came through a tough selection process to get the nod.
Letitia, who boxes for The Birkenhead Venture Boxing Club, won the England Boxing National Schools Title for the second year running, one of three National Champions from the club last season, joining Leon Burns Jnr and Jess Bethel.
Tranmere’s poor run continues with loss to Wrexham
Tranmere Rovers succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Wrexham at Prenton Park, following a second-half header by Aaron Hayden.
Luke McGee shone in the opening period, delivering crucial saves to deny players such as Sam Dalby and James McClean.
Nevertheless, Hayden scored with a header from a corner just ten minutes into the second half, granting the visitors the advantage.
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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