We asked, you said, we did

We asked

We asked for your comments on our proposed changes to the Council’s Local Validation Checklist.

You said

We received comments from 3 individuals during the course of the 6 week consultation period. The issues raised can be summarised as follows:

• The importance of Best and Most Versatile agricultural land.
• The Local Validation Checklist has increased significantly in terms of the volume of information required to be submitted with certain planning applications, which could have an adverse impact on the time taken to validate and determine planning applications.
• Queries were raised over whether the checklist should explicitly exclude certain application types where that particular piece of information may not be required.

We did

A direct response was sent to each individual addressing the separate issues raised and seeking to provide further explanation as to the why certain information is required when submitting a planning application.

Each response was considered carefully to assess whether any further changes should be made to the checklist, however the team is satisfied that the requirements of the checklist are proportionate, reasonable, and necessary in the determination of planning applications. Therefore no further amends have been made to the checklist.

The Checklist has been approved by the Director of Regeneration and Place and is published on the website here: https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning/planning-application-forms-and-checklists

We Asked

Wirral Council agreed an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Strategy in 2024 which amongst other things, set a target to provide 1,580 new, either standard or fast EV charge points across the borough by 2030. We want to make sure that we install charging points in the right areas for people to use, such as where residents do not have their own driveway or access to off street car parking. Wirral Council invited residents to suggest on street locations where they think Electric Vehicle Charging is needed the most. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) have been awarded £9.6m of Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) grant funding to deliver charging infrastructure across the city region.

You Said

You provided a list of specific locations where you believe EV on street charging points would be required.

We Did

We have analysed the information and shared with the LCRCA for funding. The sites suggested have been prioritised using a criteria including the location and material of the local street lighting column. The current aim is to start delivery of charge points in Autumn 2025.

We Asked

Throughout 2024, every two months residents could join in with four climate challenges that were focused on the themes of food, waste, nature, travel, energy and shopping. Many of the challenges were about inspiring long-lasting, environmentally positive habits. We asked Wirral residents to pledge to join these climate challenges and then share their experiences with us.

You Said

145 people got involved in the challenges, with a total of 196 pledges, 10 ideas and 42 completed challenges.

We Did

The outcomes of these consultations were used in an expression of interest for a National Lottery Bid which was submitted on the 30th December. The bid been progressed by the National Lottery to the next stage for a final submission in September 2025. If successful, this will consist of £1.5m in funding for community climate action projects which will involve the Cool Communities Partnership.

The results from this engagement will also be analysed to help steer engagement activities by the Climate Champions into the 2025 calendar year.

Link to the Climate Action hub page, where you can find the full results.

More information about the challenges can be found here: Climate Challenge Feedback.

We Asked

We asked for feedback on the St Werburgh's Draft Masterplan which proposed improved pedestrian, cycling and wheeling routes and wholesale changes including the creation of a new market adjacent to the existing bus station.

You Said

29 people responded to the consultation; most were wider Wirral residents. Most respondents felt the project would offer a new mix of housing to the town providing more opportunity for people to choose to live in the town centre (including family and affordable homes). Most repsondents said they would like to see improved public green spaces, squares and footpaths but some were concerned that there is a lack of capacity / resources to deliver the project. A majority of respondents agreed that delivery of the aspirations set out in the masterplan will benefit Birkenhead and the wider area and agreed with the idea of creating several new north / south pedestrian routes to open up the area and create more active frontages. The three most popular words to describe how respondents would want Birkenhead to be in 2024 were safe, clean and green. When asked for any other comments or suggestions to the Draft Masterplan, the most popular theme was the preservation of local amenities and heritage. Organisations in the area also provided feedback and comments.

We Did

All the feedback was evaluated and at the Economy, Regeneration & Housing Committee on 12 March 2025 the St Werburgh's Masterplan was adopted as the Council’s approved planning strategy for the area.

Link to consultation page.

We Asked

We asked for feedback on the Birkenhead Central Draft Masterplan which proposed improved pedestrian, cycling and wheeling routes and wholesale changes including the creation of a new market adjacent to the existing bus station and a new health and wellbeing facility that will sit opposite, housing a modern swimming offer.

You Said

69 people responded to the consultation; most were wider Wirral residents. When asked about the opportunities or benefits to the area this project may bring, the most popular option was “Make the town centre more welcoming and encouraging more visitors”. Most of the responses said they would like to see improved public green spaces, squares and footpaths in the re-visioned town centre. Respondents were concerned that there is a lack of capacity / resources to deliver the masterplan. Most respondents felt the masterplan would benefit Birkenhead and the wider area and supported the ideas of creating of several new north / south pedestrian routes to open up the area and more active frontages (ground floor uses), and building new homes on undeveloped sites and redeveloping underutilised carparks within the Charing Cross area. When asked about the 3 words they would want Birkenhead to be in 2040, the main words were safe, clean and busy. Organisations in the area also provided feedback and comments.

We Did

All the feedback was evaluated and at the Economy, Regeneration & Housing Committee on 12 March 2025 the Birkenhead Central Masterplan was adopted as the Council’s approved planning strategy for the area.

Link to consultation page.

We Asked

Wirral Council has a Places for People Strategy. To deliver on this strategy we need to provide a collection of routes known as an active travel network to make walking, wheeling and cycling more available to people living and working in Wirral. A good active travel network includes a core network of main routes with supporting local area networks A core network is made up of a main set of safe and direct routes that provide high quality walking, cycling and wheeling routes for local day-to-day travel to and from key destinations. Using data, information and Department for Transport guidance a core network including new routes, existing routes and routes we are already working on has been developed. We wanted to know your thoughts on this core network – and if you agree these are the right routes to support active travel in Wirral

Link to consultation page.

You Said

1130 responses to the CATN consultation were received. Respondents were given the option to respond on individual routes or the network as a whole. Feedback received on the overall network generally reflected the sentiment that the network would cause parking issues, congestion, would not provide value for money and expressed the belief that there was a lack of demand for an active travel network. However, there was also support for the network due to with the belief it would be beneficial for health, safety, and the environment. Respondents were also asked if they agreed with the proposed timings for delivery of individual routes. You told us that some routes should be more of a priority, some less of a priority, and the proposed timing for some routes seemed correct. Feedback on individual routes can be found in the full report which is available for download on the consultation page (link).

We Did

Using your feedback a number of changes were made to the proposed network. A list of the changes can be found here (link). Each comment that you provided was considered and responded to, a list of responses can be found here (link). The amended network was agreed at the January meeting of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee (link). As this consultation was regarding the development of a network plan, there will be opportunity to provide feedback on the specifics of individual routes and how they are implemented in future.

We Asked

We asked for feedback on the Wallasey Town Hall Quarter Masterplan. The masterplan proposed a remodelled Town Hall Quarter with a centralised plaza as a focal open space around the Town Hall, potential to deliver 496 new homes, improved transport and connectivity, a New Riverside School on the existing school site, and a new 21st century leisure facility to replace the existing Guinea Gap leisure centre.

You Said

104 people responded to the consultation; most were local residents. 61.2% of the responses said they supported this masterplan whilst 14.6% said they did not support it. 73.3% of the responses said that the main benefit / opportunity this masterplan could deliver was to improve the image of the town. The next most popular options were ‘Create new / improved facilities for local people’, ‘Provide a neighbourhood where local people may choose to stay and live’ and ‘Make the town a better place for children’. The objective that respondents agreed with the most was ‘Providing a new Riverside Primary School and Guinea Gap Leisure Centre would make a positive contribution to Seacombe’. Residents also agreed overall that the proposed masterplan would benefit local people and businesses in Seacombe. 37.2% of residents felt that the masterplan was too ambitious / unrealistic. People commented on the facilities and services they would like in the area, saying that leisure services should be maintained and that there needs to be facilities for children. Some said that more housing will require more services such as doctor’s surgeries.

We Did

At the Economy, 04/12/2024 - Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee(External link) the Wallasey Town Hall Quarter was adopted as the Council’s approved planning strategy for the area. The latest version of the masterplan can be found here.

Link to consultation page.

We Asked

Wirral Council (Active Wirral) is seeking the views of residents to understand the community need and requirements for PlayZones in Wirral, to support a bid to expand Wirral's PlayZone offer.

You Said

426 people responded to the consultation.

86.6% of people indicated that they would like a PlayZone in Wirral.

Click to view the consultation page

We Did

A bid was submitted to the Football Foundation for a new PlayZone in Wirral. Although the bid was well received, and it was accepted that there is a community need and requirement for a PlayZone offer in Wirral, however the bid has not been approved due to unmet funding requirements. Active Wirral will continue to seek opportunities to bid for funding for PlayZone facilities.

We Asked

A public consultation was conducted from 4 September to September 2023 to help understand people’s attitudes and behaviours about burning at home, with the aim to create a campaign to improve air quality in Wirral.

You Said

1,537 people responded to the consultation.

The survey concluded that finances and necessity were strong drivers for burning indoors, over and above aesthetic, comfort, or waste disposal needs. The results also note that there is high intention to burn in the future, with more people intending to burn than currently do, with the majority of this having the intention of burning to heat their homes.

Most participants knew what a Smoke Control Area was, however most did not know whether or not they lived in one. Nor did most people attribute indoor and outdoor burning to health conditions such as asthma, coronary heart disease and lung disease.

Click to view the consultation page and report.

We Did

A campaign was developed, with the support of DEFRA, and the outcome of the public consultation informed the tone, visuals and messaging of the campaign. Campaign channels included, Social media – Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Local media – Wirral Globe, Liverpool Echo and Partnerships with local supermarkets, discount stores and small businesses.

Best practice for home burning can be viewed here.

We Asked

A public consultation was conducted from 24 July to 25 September regarding phases 3 and 4 of the 20mph speed limit programme.

Participants of the consultation were asked whether they supported or objected to the programme of roads for 20mph speed limits and the reasons for their sentiments.

You Said

1,782 people responded to the consultation. 87.4% of participants objected to the Programme, with 12.8% in support.

Of those who supported the scheme the top reasons were that it will make the roads safer (94.0%), that it would change driver behaviour and attitudes for the better (73.7%) and would become an accepted aspect of road safety (67.7%).

Of those who objected to the scheme, the top reasons for objection were that it would increase congestion and journey times (29.0%), it will not decrease air pollution (21.4%) and that it will not make the roads safer (19.9%).

We Did

As part of the legal process for introducing a 20mph speed limit, the findings of the consultation, and the written responses, were reported back to the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee for members to make a decision on how to proceed.

At the meeting of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee on 03/12/2024 (External link) the Director of Neighbourhood Services was authorised to introduce Phases 3 and 4 of the 20mph speed limit programme on those roads or parts of roads shown on the list on the consultation page.

The Chair of the meeting advised that the overwhelming priority in rolling out 20mph had always been reduction of road danger for all road users. Road users are 5 times less likely to be killed if hit by a car traveling at 20 mph compared with 30mph. Collisions are also less likely to occur in the first place because stopping distances are reduced significantly when speed comes down. Whilst slower speeds may encourage walking, cycling and other activities as well as reducing noise pollution and other environmental impacts, reduction of road danger was the primary reason for 20mph and still is.

The council are also in the process of reviewing earlier phases of the 20mph speed limit programme to ensure they are working effectively and, if they aren’t, we can see what can be done differently.