We asked, you said, we did

We Asked

The vision for Scott’s Quay was to redevelop vacant and/or under-utilised plots for a mixture of new residential and compatible commercial uses, changing the balance from industry to residential and more generally to improve the visual appearance and condition of buildings within the area

You Said

Several of the existing businesses in the area objected to the proposals for significant residential development as they felt it could adversely impact on their current operations. A number of constraints were identified including poor air quality near the dock edge, noise issues relating to some existing employment uses and an odour issue associated with the storage tanks in the docks. Feedback on the proposal also included that the framework must meet the needs of current local residents, it must incorporate public transport and be financially viable.

We Did

At the Economy regeneration and Housing Committee 16 July 2024, the proposed Scott’s Quay Neighbourhood Framework was withdrawn as the council’s regeneration strategy for the area. There is a proposed modification to the Local Plan withdrawing the Regeneration Area and associated site allocations. Further work will be undertaken to explore the constraints and work with stakeholders to determine a sustainable regeneration strategy for the area.

Link to consultation page.

We Asked

We asked for feedback about the draft masterplan which is based on our approach is to introduce new homes to create a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood. The aspiration is to establish a place where families want to live, embracing the concept of a neighbourhood where residents can walk or cycle to a range of local facilities. New public realm and green streets will significantly improve the appearance of the area and support wellbeing. Some businesses will remain, but new developments will provide opportunities for new businesses to locate in the area in order that the place continues to support a high number of jobs.

You Said

More people agreed than disagreed that the proposed masterplan would deliver a family focused development and that it would benefit the neighbourhood and Wirral through transformation. Benefits were seen as the offer of a mix of housing of different types, an improved neighbourhood and to attract new people to move into the area. Residents also noted that they would like to see the needs of locals incorporated and that the masterplan should ensure connected public transport.

We Did

All feedback was evaluated, and the masterplan was reviewed with no major amends made to the document. At the Economy regeneration and Housing Committee 16 July 2024 the Cleveland Street Neighbourhood Masterplan was adopted as the council’s approved planning strategy for the area.

Link to consultation page.

In the Spring Budget 2023 the Chancellor announced major changes to childcare, increasing the financial support available to working parents to help with the cost of childcare where families meet the government set criteria.

By September 2025, working parents with children from 9 months of age up to statutory school age will be eligible for 30 hours of childcare where they meet qualifying criteria.

The expansion to childcare will be rolled out in phases, with the first phase offering 15 hours childcare to working parents of 2-year-olds from April 2024. The second phase will offer 15 hours childcare to working parents of children from 9 months of age up to statutory school age. The final phase will offer 30 hours of childcare to children from 9 months of age up to statutory school age where families meet the qualifying criteria.

Phase 1 Consultation

This consultation focused on delivery phase 1: offering 15 hours childcare to working parents of 2-year-olds from April 2024.

We Asked

If parents were aware of the new funding entitlement, details of their current childcare usage and if the funding entitlement will enable non-working parents to work more.

You Said

• 78 people responded to the survey.
• 14.1% of parents were unsure or not aware of the new funding entitlements.
• 75.6% of parents who were asked currently pay for childcare.
• 37.3% said that they will use more childcare as a result of the 15 hours of free childcare once their child turns 2

We Did

• This information was used to allocate the funding to increase capacity where it was needed most.

Phase 2 Consultation

This consultation focused on delivering the new funding of 15 hours of childcare for parents of children aged under the age of 2.

We Asked

If parents were aware of the new funding entitlement, details of their current childcare usage and if the funding entitlement will enable non-working parents to work more.

You Said

• 26 people responded to the survey.
• 100% of parents were aware of the new funding entitlements.
• 53.8% of parents who were asked currently pay for childcare.
• 35.7% said that they will use more childcare as a result of the 15 hours of free childcare once their child turns 2

We Did

• This information was used to allocate the funding to increase capacity where it was needed most.

We Asked

Wirral Council asked for feedback on proposals to introduce a package of highway measures and environmental improvements along Birkenhead Road, Seacombe Ward via Have Your Say (found here).

You Said

169 people responded to this consultation. 50.9% of respondents to the Have Your Say survey supported the proposals and 49.1% objected to the proposals. Two petitions in objection to the proposals were also received with a combined number of 379 signatures.

We Did

This project was discussed at a meeting of the Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee in March 2023 (link). The committee did not support the proposal for delivery, and as a result the project is now on hold while the council seeks funding to consider other design options.

We Asked

Wirral Council asked for feedback on proposals to improve walking and cycling facilities on and around Price Street, Bidston and St. James Ward via Have Your Say (found here).

You Said

91 people responded to this consultation. 78.0% of respondents support the proposals and 22.0% object to the proposals.

We Did

This project was approved for delivery but is on hold as the funding is no longer available. Alternative funding options are currently being explored.

We Asked

Wirral Council has received £7.2 million from the Government's Future High Streets Fund, Active Travel Fund and private funding, to make improvements on Conway Street and Europa Boulevard. The funding cannot be used for any other purpose. The proposed improvements were designed to provide walking, cycling and public realm improvements, increasing connectivity and road safety within the town centre.

Phase 1 consultation (found here) sought reasons for supporting and objecting to the proposals, with feedback considered in the design process. Following this feedback, a second phase (found here) of consultation was designed to give notice and detail of the Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s) required to make the proposals effective and collected feedback on these TRO's.

You Said

88 people responded to the phase 1 consultation. 71.6% of responses supported proposals on Conway Street, 70.5% supported proposals on Europa Boulevard and 62.1% supported the proposed changes to Europa car park.

24 people responded to the phase 2 consultation. 50% supported and 50% objected to the introduction of a one-way road system on Conway Street, 54.5% objected to the proposed introduction of on-street parking restrictions on Conway Street, 58.3% of respondents supported the proposed introduction of a bus lane on Conway Street, 50% supported and 50% objected to the introduction of cycle facilities on Conway Street, 52.2% supported the proposed introduction of on-street parking restrictions on Europa Boulevard and 62.5% supported the proposed introduction of cycle facilities on Europa Boulevard.

We Did

Conway Street and Europa Boulevard Active Travel Scheme was approved for delivery with completion scheduled for Summer 2025.

We Asked

Wirral Council has received a £2.969 million funding package from the UK Governments Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) to make improvements on Grange Road, within the Charing Cross junction and on Grange Road West. The funding cannot be used for any other purpose. The proposed improvements were designed to provide better access and connection to the services in the area and improve road safety within the town centre.

Phase 1 consultation (found here) sought reasons for supporting and objecting to the proposals, with feedback considered in the design process. Following this feedback, a second phase (found here) of consultation was designed to give notice and detail of the Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s) required to make the proposals effective and collected feedback on these TRO's.

You Said

154 people responded to the phase 1 consultation. 81.0% of responses supported proposals on Grange Road, 81.2% supported proposals on Charing Cross and 73.9% supported the proposed changes to Grange Road West.

43 people responded to the phase 2 consultation. 54.8% supported the implementation of a one-way road system on Grange Road West, 54.8% supported on-street parking restrictions on Grange Road West and 58.1% supported prohibition of driving on Grange Road.

We Did

Charing Cross and Grange Road active travel scheme was approved for delivery with completion scheduled for Summer 2025.

We asked

To develop a new beach management plan for Hoylake Beach residents were consulted in Phase 2 consultation from 19 February to 21 March 2024.

For the consultation two options were developed and put forward for public consultation. Officers worked with Natural England and MEAS in developing the options as well as with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) as a key stakeholder and user of Hoylake Beach. The 2 options that were Option 1 Access for All which provides the “do minimum” option with regard to vegetation removal and Option 2 ‘Amenity Beach’ which provides a “do minimum” approach regarding vegetation removal between Red Rocks and Kings Gap.

You Said

The questionnaire was responded to by 1125 people. 1003 responses through the online portal and 122 paper copies. Most of the survey participants were Wirral residents (92.9%). 61.3% of participants were residents of Hoylake and Meols ward.

For all responses the most supported option was Option 2 – Amenity Beach with 67.2% of respondents preferring this option. 26.6% of respondents preferred Option 1 – Access for All and 6.2% did not know which they preferred. The project page and Consultation report can be viewed here.

Natural England is the Government’s statutory nature conservation adviser and regulator, the Council can only manage the beach in a way that is approved by Natural England. In their response to the consultation, they stated that they are unlikely to support Option 1 - Access for all in its current form but have offered options for modification for further discussion with the Council. They do not support Option 2 – Amenity Beach due to the extent of vegetation loss outlined. They would like to continue working with the Council to get a good outcome for nature and people at Hoylake Beach.

We Did

The Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee met on 15 April 2024. After discussion they authorised the Director of Neighbourhood Services to work with Natural England to develop a beach management plan that approximates as closely as possible the consultation preferred option – Option 2 – Amenity Beach. The Director was also instructed to put in place all requirements to progress the implementation of the beach management plan and to finalise and implement the beach management plan subject to assent being in place from Natural England.

We Asked

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

You Said

We received comments from 5 individuals during the course of the 6 week consultation period. The issues raised can be summarised as follows:

• The importance of detailed assessment of Conservation matters.
• Enforcement of tree protection measures.
• Adequacy of information provided in relation to Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Clarification over the stipulation that plans submitted with planning applications should not include a statement saying ‘Do Not Scale’.
• Concerns over the requirement to submit information relating to trees on and adjacent to a site where development is being carried out.
• Requests for more detailed traffic tracking information.
• Query with regard Design and Access Statements.

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.

We Asked

Selective Licensing is a scheme to improve private rented homes within specific designated neighbourhoods by requiring landlords to obtain a licence and comply with certain agreed conditions. This scheme aims to improve homes in the Selective Licensing areas by ensuring private landlords meet satisfactory standards of tenancy and property management.

The proposed areas for 2024-2029 are:

• Birkenhead West
• Seacombe St Pauls
• Bidston & St James West
• Egremont North

We asked for your views on:

• Your level of agreement to the implementation of the scheme.
• Your level of agreement to the level of the selective licensing fee.
• Your level of agreement to the proposed reductions to the selective licensing fee.
• For landlords, the level of agreement to some of the selective licensing conditions.

You Said

498 people responded to the Residents and Businesses survey and 46 people responded to the Landlords survey. The feedback was analysed and presented to the Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee on 6 December 2023. The report can be viewed in the documents section here.

We Did

During the Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee Meeting (external link) on 6 December 2023, the proposals to implement Selective Licensing were approved.