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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.
Nineteen beautiful gardens will open to the public on Sunday, May 14, 2023 as part of the annual Secret Gardens of Oxton.
The popular event, which attracted 5,000 visitors last year, offers a well-signposted trail where people can see what lies behind some of the conservation area’s sandstone walls.
Open between 10am and 5pm, there will also be an array of entertainment in the village including local musicians and singers, craft and food stalls, plant sales, homemade cakes, children’s activities, and a treasure hunt.
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Since it was created in 1973, the council has switched between being controlled by the Labour Party and the Conservatives, as well as being under no overall control.
The LDRS reported that Cllr Janette Williamson, the local authority’s Labour leader, said, “I am really pleased with our performance today, I have to say and we came so close in so many Conservative seats. It’s been a great night for us.”
The LDRS further reported that Cllr Cleary, leader of the Green group said, “We’ve gained new councillors in Bromborough, Bebington, and Rock Ferry so we are disappointed about Seacombe but on balance, it’s a massive positive result for us to win in three new wards.”
This month, Wirral Council is supporting Plantlife’s Annual No Mow May campaign for the third year running.
Instead of cutting the grass, council teams are cutting down on their mowing time until June to help our parks and open spaces (including some verges) grow and encourage wildflowers to flourish.
Supporting this campaign helps to reduce pollution and support insects such as bees, butterflies, and other wildlife, known as pollinators.
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Plans to regenerate a Wirral town after it was destroyed in an explosion have been called a “missed opportunity.”
Last week, planning permission was granted by Wirral Council to The Regenda Group to build 34 flats on the site of the explosion in New Ferry six years ago.
This is the first stage of the town’s regeneration which will bring more than 70 new properties to the area as well as improving the street scene with new planters and benches.
Wirral Walking Festival is back this May, highlighting the range of organised walks that take place across the peninsula, from short strolls to energetic rambles, history and culture to nature and wildlife.
The annual event, co-ordinated by Wirral Sports Development and Active Wirral, offers free walks that are suitable for all ages and abilities, with many accessible to people with limited mobility too.
Fiona Hanik, Wirral Walking Festival Co-ordinator said: “Walking isn’t just great for your health and fitness, it boosts your mental health and is a great way to meet people and explore beautiful parts of Wirral.”
The first phase of a “London-style” ticketing system could be in place across the Merseyrail network within the next year.
As part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to upgrade the Liverpool City Region’s public transport offer, millions of pounds has been spent already to develop the smart ticketing and technology programme.
Almost £3m has been made available through the government’s transforming cities fund since 2019 and has led to the introduction of a tap and go scheme on the region’s buses as well as the installation of electronic ticket machines.
New Brighton RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked on consecutive evenings to vessels in difficulty over the busy bank holiday weekend.
The Early May bank holiday weekend proved to be a busy one for the lifeboat crew at New Brighton, as their inshore, Atlantic-85, lifeboat was tasked twice in two days to assist vessels in difficulty in different parts of the River Mersey.
On Sunday 30 April, the pagers sounded at 5:11pm in response to a tasking from HM Coastguard to a fishing vessel in difficulty out near the Burbo Bank offshore wind farm, just off Hightown.
Tomorrow’s Women (TW) is a Birkenhead based charity led by women for women. They offer all adult women aged 18+ a safe, female only environment where they can be provided with a range of tools and support to make positive lifestyle changes.
TW aim to do this by reducing the personal, social, health and economic disadvantages experienced by women through working in partnership to improve access to all relevant services and community resources.
TW offer support and guidance to women who have suffered domestic abuse, helping them recognise red flag for the future, set healthy boundaries and allow them to build confidence. They also have solicitors within centre who specialise in this particular area should the woman need that kind of support.
Major plans for a new Lidl supermarket as well as new houses and apartments to regenerate a Wirral town centre have been approved.
The new Lidl, which is currently expected to open in 2024, is part of a new regeneration scheme off Pasture Road in Moreton.
The development will be delivered by the supermarket chain along with the Wirral Growth Company, Wirral Council’s joint venture with Muse, who is leading the project.
Leaders in Wirral have clashed over controversial plans to house 1800 asylum seekers on a boat in Birkenhead after ‘serious concerns’ were raised with the Home Secretary.
Janette Williamson, who leads the Labour group and currently leads the council has written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman to voice “serious concerns” regarding plans to house 1,800 asylum seekers in Birkenhead.
She has exchanged criticism with Tory leader over the respective group’s responses to the government’s plans.
On 1 May, the UK Coastguard instructed the Hoylake RNLI hovercraft, the ‘Hurley Spirit’, to launch in response to a report of a vehicle stranded in the sand at Leasowe Bay, with the tide rapidly approaching.
Upon arrival, the hovercraft and its volunteer crew were stood down as the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team was already on site and had confirmed that all individuals had made it safely back to shore.
After the mission, the hovercraft returned to the station for a wash down before an exercise scheduled for 6 pm that evening.
Tranmere Rovers has confirmed that Ian Dawes has been appointed as the new manager of the club.
The Liverpool-born coach had always played football locally after being cut from Liverpool and Everton as a youth, but his first managerial job was in Malta, becoming manager of Floriana.
He then moved on to various clubs as coach until he joined Welsh side Bangor City as manager.
An outstanding 71 from Jack Dixon wasn’t enough for Birkenhead Park CC 1st XI, as they succumbed to Sefton Park by 34 runs.
The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first on an overcast lunchtime in Sefton. It took Park till the the ninth over for their first break through, as ex-Park man Chris Bellis was well caught at slip by Mark Rowland off the bowling of Alex Baker for 12. The score 22 for 1.
Sefton then laid the foundations in their innings, as Benjamin Percival and Kaash Patel combined to add 76 runs for the second wicket. Khalid Wahbi provided the much needed break through for Park, as Patel found Alex Harris at mid-off for 46. The visitors now looked to be back in the game, as five overs later Percival’s innings of 36 was bought to an end by Satyajeet Bachhav, after the left arm spinner had the Sefton opening batsman trapped in front. The score now 110 for 3.
Tranmere Rovers Women have successfully retained their title as Cheshire County Cup Champions, following a thrilling victory against Stockport County on Sunday afternoon.
In what was a rematch of the 2022 cup final, Tranmere Rovers of the fifth tier faced fourth tier Stockport County, determined to keep hold of their hard-earned title.
However, it wasn’t the start Rovers would have hoped for, as just three minutes into the match, Stockport were awarded a penalty after a debatable handball. Figueiredo confidently stepped up to take the spot-kick and hammered it home, giving Stockport an early lead.
This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
Visit our “What’s On?” guide for Wirral and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks.
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