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.
New Brighton residents share their visions for Council’s development plans
People in New Brighton have said what they want to see as Wirral Council continues developing its plans for the coastal town.
New Brighton sits on the northeastern tip of Wirral and was at one point one of the largest seaside resorts in the UK with a giant outdoor swimming baths, a pier, and a promenade. Since its heyday, it suffered years of decline losing a number of buildings, its pier and later the baths in a storm.
But in recent years local people have seen a bit of a turnaround with new businesses on the seafront and a revival of Victoria Road. Recently it was announced a new Greggs was coming to the town.
Birkenhead playwright’s triumphant homecoming to Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre
Birkenhead-born Olivier and BAFTA award-winning playwright Michael Wynne makes a triumphant return to Merseyside with his latest play Cuckoo.
An all-Scouse cast of Sue Jenkins, Michelle Butterly, Jodie McNee, and Emma Harrison capture the intense relationships between three generations of women and the bonds of a modern family.
After a successful run at the Royal Court, London, Cuckoo flies home to the Liverpool Everyman from Wednesday 6 to Saturday 23 September 2023.
Extra £3m Environment Agency grant to cover rising costs of West Kirby sea wall
The budget for the West Kirby sea wall has risen to over £19m.
The West Kirby flood alleviation scheme, a huge 1.1km project, aims to protect 70 properties along the coastal town’s seafront in Wirral as well as save lives. However, it has come under fire for its rising costs and impact on businesses in the area.
Work is still continuing but the final section of the wall itself was installed in April and it was officially opened in May. The works will continue into early August as the final sections such as flood gates are installed.
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Future Yard announces exciting August events lineup
Birkenhead’s industry-leading community music venue, Future Yard, is set to play host to a trio of exciting summer events in August.
Kicking things off with the free entry Festival Days on Saturday 5 August, CRATE Market also returns on Saturday 19 August alongside an exclusive headline performance from Dur-Dur Band International, before the bank holiday arrives to wrap up proceedings on Friday 25 August with the Future Now Weekender and the Pat Nevin World Cup 5-a-side Tournament.
Alongside the usual programme of exciting national and international artists set to perform at Future Yard, the venue is preparing for the busiest period of the summer that culminates with the annual Future Now Weekender.
Wirral Council to join ‘levelling up’ trial
Wirral Council will be part of a trial giving it more control over how it spends millions on town developments.
The Simplification Pathfinder Pilot is a new pilot brought in by the government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
The project intends to streamline government funding for local councils to help them “maximise their return on spending” and speed up urban regeneration and levelling up programmes.
HYPE’s Youth Hub in Liscard’s Central Park gets colourful new mural
A colourful new mural has been painted on the outside of the HYPE Youth Hub in Central Park in Liscard thanks to Graham Boyd from Chester’s Absolutely Design mural company.
The eye-catching mural was designed and painted free of charge by Graham Boyd and his team with the aim of capturing the fun and positivity of some of the wide range of free year-round activities offered by HYPE.
Matthew Houghton, Chief Executive and Founder of HYPE, said, “We are grateful to Graham and Nikki Pinder (pictured) for donating their design and painting talents to create this fun, colourful artwork. The mural is a vibrant snapshot of some of our activities and I hope will encourage young people to walk through our doors and find out more. We have lots to offer from football and fitness clubs to ‘rap and beatboxing’, music, ‘Footy Tots’ and Messy Art clubs.”
Pride event returns to New Brighton
‘Pride on the Wirral’ is set to take place in New Brighton on Saturday 12 August, returning following its successful inaugural event last year.
Last year, the organisers brought Pride to Wirral for the first time and they had great success, exceeding expectations and receiving great feedback from the local community.
This year, the Pride Market area has more than doubled in size, and the organisers have secured a road closure and will have a small stage.
Council leader says critics in other parties have been ‘disingenuous’ over sale of Bromborough Civic Centre
Wirral’s council leader has suggested critics in other parties have been “disingenuous” over the controversial sale of Bromborough Civic Centre.
The civic centre including its library was one of many assets sold off by the council to pay back the £12m in emergency funding it has received from the government. It had previously been moving through a process called community asset transfer after it closed in 2022.
The sale was voted through by Labour and the Conservatives but slammed by the Greens and the Liberal Democrats as divisive and “a backward step that will sour relations with the council for a long time ahead.”
New Principal and CEO takes up post at Wirral Met College
Gill Banks officially took up her new position as Principal and CEO of Wirral Met College on Tuesday, following the announcement of her appointment in March.
The former Deputy Principal at City of Liverpool College succeeds Sue Higginson OBE, who is retiring after 11 years as Principal and CEO at Wirral Met College.
Gill brings a wealth of experience gained within the further education sector over a 28-year period and joins Wirral Met College at an exciting time of growth and skills development.
Wirral’s first Family Hub opens in Seacombe
The first of several Family Hubs planned across the borough has opened its doors in Wirral.
Families will be able to access a variety of different support services under one roof thanks to the launch of Seacombe Family Hub.
Families, community partners and professionals gathered to attend the official launch on Wednesday 2 August. The Hub brings together maternity services, health visitors, library and foodbank services and children’s centre activities.
New West Kirby restaurant to showcase the flavours of Portugal and Spain
The owners of one of Liverpool’s most loved bars are to open their first restaurant in Wirral.
Steven Burgess and Josh Moore of BoBo Group who own and run the award-winning wine bar, tasca, and charcuteria, BoBo on Castle Street, the city’s only authentic Iberian bar, have announced that their new BoBo restaurant will open in West Kirby on Thursday 17 August.
Like its big city sister, the restaurant on the corner of Banks Road and Salisbury Avenue will concentrate on the flavours of Portugal and Spain bringing the taste and the secrets of the Algarve where its famous charcoal grills – churasqueiras – are a way of life, alongside sides and sharing plates inspired by other traditional Portuguese and Spanish cuisine.
Wallasey Town Hall closes temporarily to save costs and undergo renovations
Wirral Council has closed down a historic town hall for a year to save money and undergo renovations.
Wallasey Town Hall in Seacombe which overlooks the Mersey was closed as part of massive budget cuts passed earlier this year to save an expected £400,000 in energy and heating costs. Two annexes that face onto Brighton Street are also set to be demolished for housing.
A Wirral Council spokesperson said the decision was temporary and the closure was “an opportunity to undertake essential and disruptive works” to the building which have already begun.
Wirral swimmers come together to support calls for funding of UK deaf athletes
Swimmers from across Wirral came together support a sponsored swim in aid of local Deaflympian, Nathan Young.
The sponsored swim took place at Calday Grange Pool, and was hosted by Helen Diamond Swim School, to raise vital funds to support Nathan’s bid for gold at the World Deaf Swimming Championships in August.
Wirral Metro swimmer, Nathan, will be competing against the best athletes from across the world, in Argentina, from 14 to 19 August.
Tranmere defeated at home in first game of season
Tranmere Rovers kicked off their season with a loss at Prenton Park against Barrow.
Rovers took the initiative from the start and came close to creating an early opportunity. Paul Lewis skillfully cushioned a header for Harvey Saunders inside the box, but the Barrow defenders swiftly intervened and cleared the danger.
In the opening moments of the game, Barrow had the first chance as George Ray headed a cross towards the goal, but Luke McGee handled it skillfully to thwart the attempt.
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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