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.
Seven sailors rescued during ‘unexpected squall’ on River Dee
West Kirby Lifeboat was called out to assist in bringing in 7 sailors who were all capsized by an unexpected squall while out race training on the River Dee.
The ILB Seahorse launched in heavy seas and strong winds and was on the scene in minutes commencing a search for casualties.
The wind was gusting up to 38 knots and Hoylake’s Shannon class lifeboat ‘Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood’ was made ready to launch by her volunteer crew.
‘Help to buy’ scheme available on Wirral Waters homes
The modern housebuilder House by Urban Splash is attempting to brighten up gloomy January days with a first look at its new Row House homes at East Float – a new neighbourhood at Wirral Waters in Merseyside. The company has also announced that Help to Buy will also be available on selected Row House homes – making them even more accessible for local buyers.
The brightly coloured new homes are a striking red addition to the local landscape – a hue that’s been inspired by the cranes and bascule bridges of the Birkenhead Dock system.
Liverpool-based architectural studio shedkm designed the homes and director Ian Killick explained, “We’ve been inspired by local aesthetics here – hence why they are clad in bright red profiled metal.
Hopes to bring back sunken minesweeper to former glory
HMS Bronington was a minesweeper of the Royal Navy, launched on 19 March 1953. This mahogany-hulled minesweeper was one of the last of the so-called “wooden walls” – wooden-hulled naval vessels.
In March 2016, HMS Bronington sank at her moorings at Gilbrook Basin in the West Float in Birkenhead Docks. She was never raised and is still partially submerged.
Originally commissioned as HMS Humber on 4 June 1954, the vessel was renamed Bronington in 1959. The vessel was converted into a minehunter at Rosyth Dockyard between 1963 and 1965.
Tribute to Frank Robinson, champion of grassroots football in Wirral
Frank Robinson, champion of grassroots football in Wirral, has passed away on 22 December 2021 at Arrowe Park Hospital.
Frank devoted many years to football and was a Life Member of both Cheshire FA and Wirral District FA, President of Wirral District FA and Life Vice President of the Birkenhead Sunday League having served several years as League Secretary.
Frank Robinson attended a School that was renowned for football, none other than St Hugh’s – more commonly known as The Yozzers. Like most lads from Birkenhead Frank was no different with a love of football. He was one of those lucky people to attend Wembley Stadium amongst the 96,924 to witness England’s one and only World Cup triumph on 30 July 1966.
Wirral pub could be yours for £100 as owners become first in England to raffle off freehouse
Owners of The Park View pub in Birkenhead are offering the public a chance to take ownership of their freehouse through a special one-off raffle.
The pub is an integral part of the community and has been under the stewardship of current owners Linda McNamara and husband Paul for two decades.
However, the couple are now looking to retire from the industry and want to pass on the keys to one lucky winner.
Work continues on widening Wirral Way
Work has started at Wirral Country Park on the latest phase of the Wirral Way Widening Scheme, that aims to improve the safety of all users on the shared pedestrian and cycle path.
The latest phase will see the path widened by up to a metre along three of the narrowest sections. These are:-
- Sandy Lane bridge to York Avenue footpath (West Kirby)
- Simons Bridge to Dawpool Nature Reserve access (Caldy/Thurstaston)
- Delavor Road bridge to Davenport Road (Lower Heswall)
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Tap or click to follow birkenhead.news on Twitter Environmental Science students get involved in tree-planting project
Environmental Science A-Level students at Birkenhead Sixth Form College have been getting their hands dirty in an important local tree-planting project.
Despite the elements being against them, six first-year students who began the new A Level course at the College in September, plus some family members and dog helpers, turned up to the area on Boundary Road in Bidston on Saturday to take part in the volunteering event hosted by Wirral Borough Council.
The Community Planting project has a goal of planting over 10,000 saplings (baby trees) over the winter to help hit the target of doubling Wirral’s tree canopy by 2030. Leading the way in terms of commitment to planting new trees and reducing carbon emissions, Wirral is one of just three councils across the country that have got involved in the Community Planting project, relying on the help of passionate volunteers like our Environmental Science students.
birkenhead.news launches free newsletter
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Birkenhead among the top 30 towns in the UK for businesses to set up shop
There has been a massive growth in small businesses across the UK over the past five years. More than 800,000 new business registrations have been made since 2018/19 – but this impressive 3.5% increase in growth, unfortunately, slowed down due to the pandemic and lockdowns began at the start of 2020.
However, as 2022 begins and we work our way towards a new normal, business experts at Bionic, wanted to help local UK businesses get a running start to the new year. Bionic 
has created an index using nine different business metrics to reveal; which UK city has the strongest independent economy, where small businesses can thrive – and Birkenhead takes 29th place.
Out of all UK cities analysed, Birkenhead ranks in 29th place with a score of 48 out of 100 in the index of the best towns for independents – proving this town is a great place to be for hopeful entrepreneurs. The data showed that Birkenhead had 308 active businesses per 10,000 population.
CQC find examples of ‘Outstanding’ work at Arrowe Park as ratings improve
A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection at Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust found some outstanding practice in Medical Care at Arrowe Park Hospital.
The unannounced visit by inspectors was carried out on 19 and 20 October last year, focusing purely on Medical Care and Urgent and Emergency Care Services at the Trust’s Arrowe Park Hospital and a report following the inspection has been released.
In this recent visit, Inspectors found that in regards to Medical Care, there was also some “outstanding” practise. This included an ambulatory heart failure service for day case patients and community referrals to try to prevent admissions, as well as a virtual COVID-19 ward to support patients at home.
Birkenhead MP voices concerns over school ban on Trans Girls
Mick Whitley, Member of Parliament for Birkenhead, has voiced his concerns at the announcement by the Girls Day School Trust (GDST) that they will not be accepting applications from Trans girls from now on.
Justifying this exclusionary policy, the GDST Chief Executive, Cheryl Giovannoni, cited the 2010 Equality Act stating, “Under current laws and guidance, the GDST believes that an admissions policy based on gender identity rather than the legal sex recorded on a student’s birth certificate could jeopardise the status of GDST schools as single-sex schools under the act.”
The Birkenhead High School Academy is one of the schools where this ban will come into force, prompting Mick Whitley to comment, “Let me be frank: this is a deeply discriminatory policy that risks causing real and significant harm to the young trans and non-binary people who I represent, as well as to their loved ones.
Energy use ‘must be halved’ in under 20 years in Liverpool City Region
Energy use must be halved in less than 20 years for the Liverpool City Region (LCR) to reach its target to be net-zero carbon by 2040 or sooner.
Two months after the COP26 climate summit, a report to January’s Combined Authority meeting sets out how a net-zero carbon city region will look, the massive work already underway and the rapid changes needed to achieve the target.
The Liverpool City Region Pathway to Net Zero document also reveals the cost of becoming net-zero, the economic and individual benefits and the effect climate change will have on the city region.
Tranmere win over Rochdale extends unbeaten run to eight games
Two early goals from Charlie Jolley secured three points for Tranmere in their win over visitors Rochdale at Prenton Park this afternoon.
Fans didn’t have to wait long for Jolley’s first, with not even three minutes on the clock. A poor pass from Rochdale keeper Joel Coleman was intercepted by Jolley, who fired an unstoppable ball into the top corner of the net much to the delight of the home fans.
Jolley’s second came in at 16 minutes, when he found a wide-open space in the box and turned a curling ball into the visitors’ net.
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