Crime authors are holding talks at Wirral libraries Four events will take place across the borough as part of National Crime Reading Month whose debut novels feature Detective Sheridan Holler will be speaking on Wednesday 18 June at 2.30pm Tina was born in Hampshire but now lives in New Brighton and once worked as a police case investigator within the domestic violence unit and uses her policing background knowledge to add edge to her books Monday 2 June at 7pm: Police officer turned author Gina Kirkham Wirral resident and crime writer David Jackson and Luca Veste Tuesday 17 June at 2.30pm: Thriller writer His novels have sold more than two million copies in the UK and are translated into 22 other languages Five of his novels have been Sunday Times bestsellers and two of them – The Holiday and The Catch – have been adapted for television Monday 23 June at 2:30pm: Liverpool writer Kate Ellis Kate has written 28 novels featuring archaeology graduate DI Wesley Peterson and five supernatural crime novels featuring DI Joe Plantagenet She also wrote a trilogy set in the aftermath of the First World War featuring Scotland Yard detective DI Albert Lincoln Tickets for all the events are £5, which includes light refreshments, and can be booked at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/national-crime-reading-month-at-wirral-libraries-4065913 National Crime Reading Month is an annual event led by the Crime Writers’ Association in collaboration with the Reading Agency It aims to promote crime writing right across the genre The Wirral events are sponsored by the Friends groups of the hosting libraries Part of the Today News network © 2020 Hyperlocal Today - Registration no: 9710547 The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response West Kirby is a hot-spot for watersports on Wirral canoeing and more taking place in the Marine Lake while the more adventurous can walk into the Wirral Estuary to Hilbre Island So why has it been slapped with a Public Spaces Protection Order When I was growing up on the Wirral, if you wanted a night out in a seaside town, the choice was between West Kirby and New Brighton. The former was swanky, with a mix of up-market wine bars and divey pubs, sports bars, and rock clubs, while the latter was someone’s run-down memory of a Victorian resort But that’s started to change. New Brighton is the up-and-coming nighttime hotspot, with a Bohemian vibe, arty credentials, and serious private and public investment Compared to its counterpart on the Mersey-end of the peninsula’s tip It’s still well-to-do — if you consult a heat-map of Merseyside house prices West Kirby and nearby Caldy and Hoylake shine out across the river like a nuclear-irradiated zone Its residents also trend older than the Wirral average; according to the ONS compared to 22% for the peninsula as a whole And those demographics haven’t changed much in the last 15 years.  perhaps it’s gotten a bit more posh — at least in terms of boozy establishments the chaotic Mojo on the corner of Grange Road and Dee Lane and the un-mourned sports bar I’ve long since forgotten the name of Replacing them are the far more urbane LEAF (as in the Bold Street and Smithdown Road establishments known to Liverpool’s hipoisie) the Tap with its diverse array of artisan ales and designer pizzas Since West Kirby has historically been considered one of the nicer it came as a surprise when news broke this week that a three-year Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been announced to tackle incidents of crime and antisocial behaviour there The PSPO establishes a Restricted Area stretching from the King’s Gap roundabout in Hoylake to Cubbins Green in West Kirby disperse gatherings of four or more people and bar them from entering the area for 24 hours (The officer must only “reasonably believe” that a group intends to cause distress or alarm to others in the future in order to warrant their dispersal.) It’s also an effective prohibition on face-coverings Anyone breaching the terms of the PSPO may face an on-the-spot fine of £100 or be liable for up to £1,000 if the case reaches the Magistrates’ Court having been widely ridiculed); the same year Gravesham Borough Council used the ordinance to prevent people from lying down in public Wirral Council consulted residents about their own PSPO proposal A whopping 78% of respondents said they’d experienced anti-social behaviour in the last 12 months An even larger 90.8% said “yes” to supporting the PSPO’s implementation only 284 people out of a population of just over 13,000 ultimately shared their feelings on the measure Has the sleepy coastal village really become more like Gotham or Mega-City One Or is this all just an overreaction by denizens of a town skittish about kids from elsewhere “Mizzy”) Night – that delightful holiday celebrated by Northern youth with pranks that’s when I decided to pull on my PRESS-marked blue Kevlar and ballistic helmet and poke about the benighted seaside town-turned-crime-riddled warzone.  you caught me — I was actually wearing my favourite John Carpenter’s The Thing-themed T-shirt and jeans West Kirby is quiet by the time I arrive around 6:30pm though perhaps this is just the calm before the storm I speak with two elderly women out for a walk They both say they were not part of the 78% who report having witnessed antisocial behaviour in their neighbourhoods — in fact they’d never witnessed antisocial behaviour in West Kirby at all A local shop attendant says she’s never seen anything untoward either “It’s mainly in the side streets,” she said Her colleague did once see young people hijack a double-decker while the driver was out vaping was turn the lights on and off — “Nothing violent.” In search of disorderly conduct or locals willing to talk about it the main commercial street in West Kirby.  A 21-year-old barista who “There aren’t many places for young people around here so they hang around in the parks and on Cubbins Green,” she says I appreciate it is scary for older people sometimes when kids have balaclavas or hoods pulled tight she tells me I should speak to the staff at the Wetherspoons as they’d probably have some stories to spill the Wetherspoons staff tell me they’re barred from speaking to journalists I come across two parked cars filled with young people by the marine lake and I hear lots of shouting back and forth between the passengers It’s the kind of scene that could be interpreted as intimidating especially by middle-class or elderly residents it was possible to get served if you were underage in some of these places — not that I’m advocating under-18s drinking at least a pub is a structured environment where norms are socially enforced teenagers are going to figure out ways to get drunk; it’s just a question of where they do it covered in sick outside the Morrisons,” says local resident Jess she’s just drank too much – we’ve rang her parents.’ That wasn’t the only time either.” Jess initially echoes the barista’s sentiments that the PSPO was an overreaction “The people who are likely to respond [to the consultation] – they’re likely to respond that way aren’t they?” The old logic that you’re more likely to take to TripAdvisor if you’ve had a terrible meal than if you’ve had a good one.   Even though she doesn’t think the PSPO was warranted Jess remembers her elderly next-door neighbour’s porch being vandalised “We saw it through our Ring doorbell – first day we’d had it installed!” Another episode Jess remembers (but didn’t witness) was a yob running in front of a woman’s car on Banks Road before another jumped on top of the windshield a teenage boy was stabbed on Cubbins Green a gentle outcrop of grass above the beach favoured by dogwalkers (He survived.) 15-year-old boy from Moreton and a 16-year-old boy from Liscard were arrested on suspicion but Merseyside Police stated that "up to 100 youths" could have witnessed the attack While an assault of that severity probably falls outside the bounds of mere “antisocial” behaviour incidents like that linger in the local memory “Someone was [also] attacked next to the bus stop [on the same day],” says Rich Rich has only seen one fight which he had to break up – not unusual for bar staff dealing with drunken patrons “But [those incidents] seem much more shocking in a place like West Kirby than it would be maybe in Birkenhead or other places,” he says “The more draconian measures you put on people you’re less likely to tackle the problem,” he says ”Stopping people because they’re in a group of four or more is not necessarily going to tackle the issue which I think is more grounded in the fact [young] people don’t have a lot of an outlet.” I put his point about youth-friendly areas to Jeff Green leader of the Conservatives on Wirral Council “I think there are some great spaces for young people in West Kirby,” he says “There’s the youth club” — the West Kirby Youth Space a provision offering a range of activities for young people aged 11 to 19 — “which is thriving; there’s a sports centre; there are parks; there is the prom; there’s the beach; there are coffee shops – all sorts of places where young people can mingle with each other and have a nice time.” Despite this a group of people who think their desire to cause mayhem and enjoy themselves is more important than everyone else’s needs.” Green points out that a PSPO was previously in place during COVID to tackle antisocial behaviour on Cubbins Green and in Ashton Park He says there was “a very strong evidence base” mentioning the windscreen-smashing incident “I’m personally delighted that it’s been extended My strong belief is that these requirements [of the PSPO] will support the police and help them deal with antisocial behaviour.” What is it about West Kirby – an affluent area – that attracts this kind of behaviour “They probably come here because it’s the end of the line on the railway,” Jeff says about potential troublemakers “Despite our constant pressuring of Merseyrail there are still no barriers at the station So it’s quite possible for people who want to cause trouble to jump the train and then spill into the town centre.”  My Mizzy Night excursion into West Kirby has yielded neither Clockwork Orange-style hijinks nor Perhaps the threat of the extended PSPO has already done its job without the need for patrol cars or street bobbies that are now rarer than hen’s teeth after 14 years of austerity.  Thinking about Lisa Simpson’s rock that keeps tigers away where the Youth Space that Jeff cites as a place for young people to enjoy themselves closed hours ago So did the sports centre and the coffee shops he mentioned And if the mischief-makers are indeed coming in by train the problem may require a solution wider (and deeper) than a localised ordinance Wayward youths — sometimes scores at a time — used to congregate at the Concourse in my day police riot vans regularly being dispatched to break up the gatherings Perhaps the problems West Kirby is facing — and the potential (over) reactions to them — are not as new as they appear.  Wirral's independent local news website West Kirby RNLI volunteer crew were tasked following reports of two individuals wading in deep water near Middle Eye launched in under 10 minutes and began a sweep of the islands Two individuals were located on Little Eye five individuals and a dog on Middle Eye and six individuals well and happy to remain on the islands until the tide was back out Several also reported they hadn’t seen anyone in the water in the last 30-60 minutes While circling the north end of Hilbre Island the crew encountered two paddleboarders and provided safety advice they spotted two individuals on an inflatable crocodile further round the island The pair were initially reluctant to return to shore but after receiving safety advice from the crew including the dangers of using inflatables without lifejackets They were transported safely back to shore where they were met by Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team (WCRT) WCRT confirmed they had a visual on two individuals wading towards Little Eye A group of kayakers had also checked on them to offer assistance By the time the lifeboat crew made contact the pair were nearing Little Eye and confirmed they were content to remain there until the tide was back out With all individuals accounted for and confirmed safe and well the lifeboat was stood down by HM Coastguard The crew returned to Sandy Lane slipway for recovery before returning to the station “We know people want to make the most of the good weather and enjoy the water Inflatables like crocodiles or lilos can be risky at the coast especially around the islands where rocks can puncture the inflatable coupled with strong ebbing tides that can quickly pull you out to sea ‘We always recommend wearing a lifejacket when out on the water and taking your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch “If you do find yourself in difficulty always call 999 and ask for the Coastguard straight away and help will be on the way.’ Image credit: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team Email us at news@birkenhead.news This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. with advice on how to keep safe on the coast The RNLI has released dramatic footage showing the rescue of two people from rising tides off the Wirral as it launches a new campaign to raise awareness among coastal visitors this Easter The pair had become trapped off Hilbre island by the incoming tide between Middle Eye and Little Eye surrounded by deep gullies and slippery rocks Watch the rescue of two people cut off by tides near West Kirby West Kirby lifeboat was launched within 10 minutes and plucked them from the precarious spot before returning them to shore where they were checked by Coastguard staff and found to be uninjured It was the crew's fifth shout in a week and the charity is warning that lack of knowledge of the tides and how they behave is putting lives at risk among coastal visitors Last summer Yvonne Butterworth took her family for a walk on the sands at Fleetwood to enjoy the good weather Visiting the beach for the first time with a large group including her daughter her daughter’s boyfriend and his little brother and their dogs though they had checked the tide times before they set off they weren’t aware that high tide times were different to low tide times As they tried to head back to the shore they discovered the rockpools they had walked past on the way out were now knee-deep and they had been cut off by the tide with the water now too deep to return to shore the water was getting towards waist height got separated from us and was stood on a sand embankment ‘My phone got wet and I couldn’t make any calls for help but I knew a lifeguard had seen us The water got deep so suddenly we were almost swimming in it ‘We started getting separated and further away from each other which was making my daughter panic I told everyone to stay calm and tread water whilst the crew came to rescue us ‘I’ve since been back to thank the crew with some cakes I don’t think it would have been the outcome we ended up with It comes as the RNLI launch a new campaign to highlight the dangers of the tides as the Easter holidays get underway Research carried out by the charity and Bangor University shows that there is a large gap in the public's knowledge concerning the tides around our coastline The findings of the nationwide research revealed that around 15 percent of respondents report being cut off by the tide in their lifetime which equates to 10 million people in the UK and Ireland with many reporting that they didn’t even intend to be in or near the water The RNLI say that this gap in coastal safety knowledge is especially worrying as high spring tides will occur across the country during the Easter break when beaches are busy Another key finding of the survey was the level of surprise about the speed of the incoming tide with around 60 percent of those who had experienced tidal cut off were shocked at the speed they had become stranded The research also showed that four in ten people have no basic understanding of the tides and only half claim to check tide times before visiting a beach with only 24 percent of the public having sufficient ability to read and interpret a tide timetable in order to take the appropriate action to prevent being cut off by the tide With the RNLI responding to almost 8 thousand incidents involving people cut off by the tide over the last decade its stressing the importance of improved tidal knowledge Water Safety Lead at the RNLI said: ‘The results of the survey are eye opening and show that a large proportion of the public have gaps in tidal knowledge ‘We know there is a lot more work to be done We will be using the findings to help shape our safety messaging in public campaigns and education going forward ‘We expect this weekend to be busy on the coast areas affected by tidal cut off may be cut off faster than normal and areas not normally known for tidal cut off may see incidents in the coming days ‘Anyone heading to the coast is reminded of the importance of staying safe and checking the weather and tide times ‘It’s hard to imagine how walking can turn out to be such a dangerous activity this is why it’s important to always check the tide times at the start of your day keep an eye out for the incoming tide and leave enough time to return safely.’ Honorary Research Fellow at Bangor University said: ‘As a marine researcher with 25 years of experience along the British coast I have seen many instances of people being caught out by the tide from the public to experienced marine professionals As so many people enjoy the benefits our coast has to offer it is maybe not surprising that 15% of the population has at some point been cut off by the tide ‘The first-hand experiences of those who have been cut off have provided important lessons on gaps in tidal knowledge that can quickly turn a family walk or beach visit into to life-threatening situation I am very grateful to all those who have spoken to us about their traumatic experiences Their participation is paving the way for improving safety messaging and driving a conversation about how to safely visit our beautiful The RNLI is urging people visiting our coastline to use a trusted online source such as the Met Office before setting off on a trip and also be aware that the water may change quickly and very differently to what may be expected It adds that the tide comes in and out twice in each 24-hour period and while tide times can be accurately predicted they vary at each location and change each day This is as important for coastal walkers to be aware of as it is for beach goers The RNLI says that we should always remember: Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags Float to Live; tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. West Kirby RNLI rescued two people who were using an inflatable crocodile off the coast of Hilbre Island They were discovered on Thursday afternoon while the lifeboat was searching for two individuals reported to be wading in deep water near Middle Eye the crew spotted two individuals on an inflatable crocodile further round the island They were initially reluctant to return to shore including the dangers of using inflatables without lifejackets in changing tides and winds They were transported safely back to shore where they were met by Wirral Coastguard staff who offered further safety advice The people reported as wading through water were found near Little Eye and confirmed they were happy to remain there until the tide was back out said: “We know people want to make the most of the good weather and enjoy the water “Inflatables like crocodiles or lilos can be risky at the coast “We always recommend wearing a lifejacket when out on the water and taking your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch always call 999 and ask for the Coastguard straight away and help will be on the way.” West Kirby RNLI’s volunteer crew was tasked by HM Coastguard at 1.03pm following reports of a person who had fallen on the rocks at Hilbre Island and potentially suffered a dislocated shoulder The volunteer crew launched the D class lifeboat within 10 minutes and carefully assessed the best route to reach the casualty due to the ebbing tide Once the crew had located the casualty on the south-east side of Hilbre Island before transferring him safely onto the lifeboat The casualty was then brought back to the north end of the Marine Lake where the lifeboat was re-launched into the water to allow for a smoother and more comfortable transfer With support from the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team the casualty was helped out of the lifeboat and taken to Arrowe Park Hospital for treatment the individual did exactly the right thing in dialling 999 and asking for the Coastguard as soon as the accident had happened which allowed our volunteer crew to respond quickly and get the casualty to hospital for treatment “It was a real team effort between the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team and our volunteer lifeboat crew when transferring the casualty out of the lifeboat and safely to shore Working together meant we could make the process as safe and comfortable as possible for the casualty “Please remember to always carry a means of communication and if you ever find yourself in difficulty don’t hesitate to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard Image: Lifeboat crew with the casualty on Hilbre Island The swimming pool at West Kirby Concourse is closed after ceiling tiles fell to the floor It’s understood the incident happened on Monday A subsequent inspection identified issues that needed further investigation requiring the pool to be emptied and scaffolding to be erected the Council’s leisure services team said: “The swimming pool at West Kirby Concourse has been closed for unforeseen essential maintenance “We are in the process of contacting customers who are booked onto swimming sessions “We’re sorry about the inconvenience and will share updates as soon as we can “Swimming sessions are available at our other pools The rest of the Concourse is open as normal An investigation into flooding on West Kirby promenade during Storm Pierrick last April has concluded it was an “extreme event” which was more than the new defence wall was designed to cope with However it says that the structure prevented more damage than would have been the case had it not been in place Wirral Council faced criticism when gale force winds forced waves over the top of the £20 million wall on 9 April leading to three residential properties and a business becoming flooded Wirral Council has published what is known as a Section 19 report which looks at the circumstances surrounding what happened and also makes recommendations for the future a flood warning specific to West Kirby was not issued by the Environment Agency as the criteria “was not met in their forecasting model.” The report states: “At West Kirby gale force winds blowing from a west north-westerly direction combined with high tides and a high storm surge drove waves at speed across the promenade on South Parade “The new flood alleviation wall intercepted the waves reflecting them upwards where they were influenced by the Force 9 west north west winds with the result that significant quantities of water were blown onto the landward side of the wall which then became trapped by both the wall and tide-locked highway drainage “Once tide levels had dropped sufficiently however debris carried in flood waters appears to have impeded the functionality of the highway drains.” The investigation also found that South Parade was not immediately closed to traffic which contributed to the flooding of properties as vehicles drove down the road and formed “bow waves” It concluded that “public expectations that the wall would prevent all flooding may have been a factor in not utilising property level protection” and that three residential properties which experienced internal flooding would benefit from protection to mitigate the risk posed by future storms that breach the wall The report can be read here: https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/documents/s50124417/S19%20Investigation%20Report%20West%20Kirby%20Flood%20Event%2009-04-2024.pdf West Kirby Arts Centre is to close for good at the end of April with it set to be converted into a home for its owners The centre is housed in the former West Kirby Unitarian Chapel on Brookfield Gardens The chapel and an adjacent hall were put up for sale by trustees in 2010 and were later bought by Tony Woof and his wife who converted the hall into their home and opened the centre in the chapel but have been unable to find anyone to take on the management of the centre To preserve the building for future posterity they have now submitted a planning application to convert the chapel into a three bedroom property which they will live in themselves Tony told West Kirby Today: “We have had 13 great years running the Arts Centre presenting Approaching retirement we have decided that the best way to preserve the building retaining its beautiful architectural features “We know many will be disappointed that we cannot keep the centre open for longer but the financial reality is that it is not a viable going concern We would like to thank all the people that have supported us and the centre over the years and brought so much joy to the place “I am very pleased to announce that all the various groups who regularly used the centre have now found new homes around the town so their great work supporting and promoting the arts in West Kirby will continue.” A heritage statement submitted with the plans reveals that it will have a mezzanine floor and each bedroom will have an en-suite It states: “The design approach for the conversion to residential use is to be sympathetic to the original building maintaining as much of the architectural quality and features as possible internally and externally “Converting to just one residential unit allows sufficient space to incorporate all new spaces and services without damaging any of the existing structure and where possible the structure that has been altered previously to enable the Art Centre to operate in the building will be reverted back to it’s original state “In particular the internal wall will be re-instated in the entrance hall and the door opening created to access the ‘ancillary areas’ at that side of the building will be reinstated with a window to match the original Art Centre structures to the side and rear of the building will be carefully removed and the exterior wall cleaned and repaired as required.” A method statement adds: “The conversion work will be informed by the work already successfully carried out in the adjacent Church Hall by Mr and Mrs Woof “The intention is to preserve as much of the existing structure and character of the building as possible paying particular attention to preserving the unique architectural features and fittings “In particular we will preserve the existing wood panelling original brickwork and Westmorland slate roof.” The Woof’s have previously turned down three developers who wanted to demolish the current buildings and replace them with either town houses or apartments A list of the remaining events at West Kirby Arts Centre can be found at https://hallbookingonline.com/westkirby/. Work to improve the look of West Kirby Concourse and develop an additional leisure facility on an adjacent site could be in the pipeline A report being considered by councillors recommends that within two years the local authority explores securing funding “for aesthetic improvement to the Leisure Centre and its immediate surround” it proposes that the former medical centre adjacent to the building is demolished within three years with the site becoming “a new income generating leisure offer” The aim is to “create opportunities to think differently about how leisure and other Council services can be more ‘joined-up’ spatially and physically” The work would form part of the consultation which is set to take place on the West Kirby masterplan which is looking at how to regenerate the town centre The recommendation follows a review by consultants of Wirral Council’s leisure facilities which has concluded that a local authority trading company should be set up to run the centres while the service “has done an excellent job with the available resources” the current model “is not providing residents with an effective or attractive service” with “dated” facilities It adds: “The creation of a Local Authority Trading Company and/or outsourcing of the service would provide the Council with a significantly more efficient and effective means of delivering the service.” The report recommends a detailed business plan be developed for a “transformational” programme of investment in leisure facilities It will be considered by councillors at a meeting on Thursday 23 January West Kirby Arts Centre is to close for good later this month with three sold-out gigs headlined by The Coral guitarist Paul Molloy West Kirby Today revealed last month that the centre is to be converted into a home for owner Tony Woof and his wife they have submitted a planning application to convert the chapel into a three bedroom property which they will live in themselves The final gigs will take place from Thursday 24 – Saturday 26 April with Paul Molloy joined by Ian and Fiona Skelly Jo Pue-Richards and supported by Marvin Powell and Niamh Rowe Tony told West Kirby Today in March: “We have had 13 great years running the Arts Centre presenting “We know many will be disappointed that we cannot keep the centre open for longer but the financial reality is that it is not a viable going concern “I am very pleased to announce that all the various groups who regularly used the centre have now found new homes around the town so their great work supporting and promoting the arts in West Kirby will continue.” ​Music festival West Kirby Live is to return this summer Taking place on Saturday 7 June at multiple venues across the town it will raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Centre Wirral Organiser Tom Longman said there will be indoor and outdoor stages at pubs and bars and more details of venues and acts will be announced in the coming months The event was first launched in 2016 but has taken a break over the last couple of years it has raised thousands of pounds for good causes Artists wanting to play at the festival can express their interest here: https://forms.gle/jrSnnnnL4fpySkgu8 photograph and catalogue nature and wildlife across Wirral No previous experience is needed to take part everyone is welcome – all that is needed is a working charged smartphone with the iNaturalist app installed community organisations and partners from across Wirral took part in training with Merseyside Biobank to learn how to run the sessions and collect valuable nature data To book a free spot click here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wirralcouncil This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page It’s been another busy year in our part of the world We’ve written close to 200 stories over the last 12 months and our website has been visited by an incredible 115,000 people These are the five stories that captured your interest the most in 2024 Cash-strapped Wirral Council’s recent decision to introduce parking charges on the fronts in West Kirby Our coverage of a highly-charged meeting at Wallasey Town Hall earlier this month attracted thousands of views Read it again here The closure of Est Italian is our fourth most read article of the year The restaurant shut down in February after being hit by a repairs and decoration bill by the landlord The site has recently been marketed for rental again Read our original story here The closure of Iberian restaurant BoBo in September ranks at number three The restaurant claimed it would only be shut for a short period and that staff were on a late summer break Their extended ‘holiday’ looks set to finish in early 2025 as the venue recently announced it would be reopening in the spring Read our story again here West Kirby’s controversial sea wall continues to hit the headlines A political storm erupted after the promenade Wirral Council pointed out that the wall had done its job by breaking the power of the waves Read the story here This is one of our favourite stories of the year – and it seems we are not alone were opening a dog-friendly bistro in the Old Bank building in West Kirby It has proved to be our most popular read of the year Read all about it here Parts of West Kirby are without water this morning United Utilities are investigating the problem which is affecting some of the CH48 postcode United Utilities said: “We’re investigating a problem in your area “We’re sorry for the inconvenience we’re working as quickly as we can to get your taps flowing again.” The West Kirby branch of Leaf has closed down Staff at the Black Horse Hill tea bar and restaurant which opened in 2020 and employed around 20 staff told West Kirby Today it had been a “really tough decision” but that she “can’t see a way back” for the branch particularly with the forthcoming increase in the national minimum wage She said: “It is incredibly heartbreaking and feels like a failure” adding that where possible they are trying to redeploy staff to their other branches in Liverpool She said that since they had opened in 2020 their wage bill had risen by up to 55 per cent and that the current economic climate is the toughest she has known since the company was formed in 2007 Although they have been paid their wages and tips staff will have to apply to creditors for notice period pay Leaf said: “We have taken the incredibly difficult and heartbreaking decision to close our doors In West Kirby with immediate effect “It’s been one hell of a ride opening 10 days before the country went into lockdown emerging from the pandemic with unexpected debts and then crashing through the waves of the changing economic landscape these last few years We’ve fought hard since we opened our doors but the time has come to say goodbye as the outlook for our fragile industry looks bleaker than ever profit margins and reserves have all been eroded after years of relentless cost pressures including huge energy increases 40-55% wage increases (from 2020 to April 2025) more government red tape and in turn more administrative costs There is only so much of these costs that can be passed on to the consumer or swallowed by ourselves “We are extremely grateful for all the support and friendships we have made and will be sad to say goodbye to our team We’ve had some of the best times of our careers here and a particular highlight was meeting so many supportive customers at the lockdown food markets “Thank you for being part of our story it hosted a range of events including a pudding club and quizzes The company says that people with an event booked will be contacted in due course The Grange in West Kirby is up for sale after planning permission was secured to demolish a Victorian detached house and replace it with a dozen apartments Councillors gave the go-ahead for the scheme earlier this year, after being recommended to approve the application by Prospect Capital UK to create two and three bedroom apartments was built in 1897 by a shipowner who lived in the home with his family It had several owners and became ‘Combermere School’ in the late 1950’s It then became a private residence again from the late 1960’s onwards Now, property agent CBRE is marketing the two acre site for sale with the price only available on application The literature states: “This strategically located residential development opportunity occupies an elevated position on Grange Road and Gerard Road in West Kirby on the outskirts of the Grange Hill Park area “The site affords views across the skyline of West Kirby and West Kirby beach spanning across the Welsh coastline across to Hoylake Welsh hills and Snowdonia beyond from each floor.” Councillors have agreed to a survey of West Kirby marine lake to determine how best to tackle a build up of silt which is reducing its depth and is starting to impact on water activities A sonar survey in 2020 estimated that there had been an accumulation of 28,000m³ of material with drops in water levels again being reported There is also concern that parts of the stone wall surrounding the lake have become exposed and that draining the lake to remove the silt would make it worse An alternative would be to carry out the work with the lake filled as with the recent dredging at Ashton Park lake It is estimated it could cost more than £10 million as the material would have to be transported to a landfill site told a meeting of the environment committee: “If we drain the lake that would compromise the wall So the wall is basically pressurised by the water the wall would basically collapse and we would be faced with…an open-ended repair bill for the lake He added that approval for the work would have to be granted by Natural England telling members: “I am sure everyone is aware of what a great facility it is The number of people you see walking around the lake getting their exercise is enormous He added: “I hope we’ll also look into what might be required to ensure that that path is as usable as possible for everyone because at the moment I think there are parts of it where actually if you are dealing with a wheelchair or something like that you actually start to struggle because the edges are cracked.” consultation will take place with lake users and West Kirby Sailing Club before any decision is made on how to proceed West Kirby Santa Dash has been re-routed this Sunday due to the bad weather forecast from Storm Bert usually follows a route along the Wirral Way participants will leave the Concourse at 10am and run around the Marine Lake or along South Parade to cover the distance they wish to complete Organiser Fiona Hanik said: “We know that the weather forecast isn’t great so please bear with us and we hope the rain stays off and we have a lovely morning and we raise lots of cash for West Kirby lifeboat crew “Home Instead and all our marshals have put a lot of time into organising this event “Unless the weather really turns bad we’ll see you on Sunday for a 10 o’clock start.” West Kirby tip has moved to its summer opening hours The household waste recycling centre on Greenbank Road is now open from 8am – 8pm until 30 September Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority said: “The Recycling Centres accept a range of household materials for recycling “They also accept lesser-known items such as food and drink cartons “The lighter spring and summer nights mean we can stay open for longer.” Wirral’s other recycling centres are located at: People can check www.recycleright.org.uk for details of what can be accepted at their local site which manages the access to the West Kirby Marine Lake in Wirral Both the lake and the centre are currently council managed and owned and is considered the best place in north west England for sailing and windsurfing a post by the centre announced big changes could be coming down the line “The council is seeking to ascertain whether there is sufficient interest from appropriate providers to establish a procurement and delivery strategy for the Wirral Water Sports Centre “The council will retain a keen interest in the site and as such any future operator must maintain a good relationship with the Council and will be an important consideration for the Council with regards to legacy implications.” The council is asking any potential operators to come forward by 14 April the estimated contract dates are from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028 The centre is open 9am to 5pm between April to September and between 10am and 4pm in the winter months The watersports centre also includes the former Sail Loft restaurant which closed in October 2023. The restaurant had suffered huge losses and a drop in business due to the pandemic and the construction of the West Kirby flood defence the restaurant was still £120,000 short of making a profit when the council shut it down. In September 2023 councillors agreed the local authority should look for someone to take it over and look to bring in a new tenant there appeared to be no sign of the restaurant reopening which was criticised by a councillor for the area “It increasingly looks like it’s back to the drawing board for what is to become of this very expensive facility.” As part of its budget for the current financial year which runs between April 2025 and March 2026 Wirral councillors agreed to save £1m from its leisure services budget for this year as well as £2m from March 2026 A council report said the local authority would “review the options for modernising the Council’s existing leisure offer opportunities for greater partner and service integration and an associated investment programme in new or retained facilities to ensure the future provision effectively delivers better outcomes.” “The Council is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement to consult with potential operators on a delivery model for the Wirral Water Sports Centre Complex “This is one element of a package of measures contributing to the agreed budget savings against Leisure Services over the next two financial years.” Image: https://depositphotos.com/ Plans have been submitted to demolish a run-down house in West Kirby and replace it with two new properties located at the junction of Village Road and Abbey Road one of which would be a self-build with five bedrooms The other would be a custom-build constructed to a design code with the applicants saying the exact layout and number of bedrooms would be decided by the owner However it has illustrated that it could also have five bedrooms A statement submitted with the application argues that the existing property “is in a state of disrepair is awkwardly positioned on the site and struggles to respond effectively to the context of Village and Abbey Road” It says that although consideration was given to retaining the existing structure and significant renovation requirements made this option impractical” the focus is on creating two high-quality homes that respect the area’s suburban identity and respond to contemporary housing demands “This approach ensures the site’s full potential is realised in a way that benefits both the immediate neighbourhood and the wider housing needs of the community.” It adds: “Splitting the land into two distinct plots maximises the site’s potential while enabling a more efficient and contextually sensitive use of the space This approach facilitates the delivery of much-needed housing that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding environment “The proposed subdivision aligns the site more closely with the surrounding streetscape reflecting the scale and massing of neighbouring properties and optimising the use of the available land.” Each house will be accessed from Abbey Road and there will be space for two vehicles on each plot The application concludes: “The proposed development is making a positive contribution to meeting the need for additional housing and in particular custom and self-build plots “It is in a sustainable location where future occupants can meet their day-to-day needs “The proposed development is of a high-quality contemporary design whilst being influenced by traditional architectural features present on properties in the surrounding area “It retains and intensifies the existing residential use within in a primarily residential area whilst maintaining the existing urban grain and respecting the character of the local area.” The application can be read at https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=230774 The former West Kirby Social Club is set to become a mix of apartments and an extended home for a neighbouring restaurant The club closed its doors in February for financial reasons One member told us its numbers had been dwindling and that the club building was sold and leased back several years ago in order to generate money to keep it open the club said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of West Kirby Social Club on Friday We sincerely appreciate the support and camaraderie of all our members and patrons throughout the years we reflect on the memories and connections made within these walls Thank you for being a valued part of the West Kirby Social Club community “We hope you cherish the memories and continue to create new ones and thank you for being a part of our journey.” a planning application has been submitted for a change of use to turn the upper floors into six flats with one and two bedrooms a new shop front would be installed to create extended seating for the Shuhel Balti Indian restaurant The restaurant has confirmed that it will occupy the ground floor The application can be viewed at https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=230302 Will Jones were conducting routine checks on the D class lifeboat reporting that they had been cut off by the incoming tide and were surrounded by water Will was on hand at the station to raise the alarm immediately notify HM Coastguard and launch the lifeboat Will stayed on the phone with the casualty to find their location advising them on how to find a safe spot while keeping them calm who remained on the call to reassure the casualties while the lifeboat made its way to their location The boat was launched within 10 minutes and headed towards the islands who were stranded between Middle Eye and Little Eye in a challenging position amid deep gullies and slippery rocks After several attempts to reach them from the west side the crew made the swift decision to navigate around the north end of Hilbre Island to approach from the east where they were met by the Coastguard Response Team they thankfully required no medical attention due to the quick response of the lifeboat when the casualties called an unmanned lifeboat station our crew happened to be conducting maintenance checks This fortunate timing meant we could quickly raise the alarm and keep them on the phone for reassurance until the lifeboat reached them “It’s been a busy week for West Kirby lifeboat crew with this being our fifth shout in just seven days our volunteer team are also preparing for an exercise and crew meeting next week which is a testament to their dedication to always being ready to respond “I’d like to say a huge thank you to all our helms the Coastguard Team and a special shout-out to the families at home who keep everything going while our crew are out saving lives “Please remember, if you’re planning a visit to the islands, always check the tide times using the Wirral Council website and make sure you allow enough time to return safely we recommend leaving the islands at least three hours before high tide call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.” Image: West Kirby RNLI and the Coastguard Rescue Team with casualties West Kirby Christmas Lights have announced details of their switch on this year It will take place at the plaza outside the Concourse on Grange Road on Saturday 23 November The fun starts at 4pm with mini fairground rides live music plus a choir and young singers from West Kirby Primary School Rachel Kehoe from West Kirby Christmas Lights told us: “Volunteers are hard at work to raise the funds to light the 2024 Christmas lights in West Kirby “Each year we must raise the funds to install We also need to replace broken and worn out lights “This year we need to replace some of our coloured fairy lights and some of our lamppost frames that light the Banks Road area “The Christmas lights group are always looking for new volunteers to help us We have lots of small tasks that need to be completed “If you can help please email westkirbylights@gmail.com.” Donations can be made in the following ways: Photos used with the kind permission of jonathancooperphotography.uk West Kirby Christmas Lights and Hoylake and Meols Christmas Lights have both cancelled their planned switch-on events this Saturday The annual events are hugely popular with the local community with hundreds of people turning out for the entertainment But due to an incoming severe storm this weekend Rachel Kehoe from West Kirby Christmas Lights said: “Unfortunately a severe storm is forecast this weekend so we have taken the very difficult decision to cancel the Switch On event planned for this Saturday 23 Nov 4-6pm A lot of planning goes into the event and we have to make a decision in plenty of time to inform all parties and allow everyone to plan accordingly “We are really disappointed but we cannot take the risk of having to cancel it on the day We are hoping to get the lights on at the weekend “We cannot organise another event before Christmas but are planning to organise a community event early next year.” Hoylake and Meols Christmas Lights said: “The planning involved means people supporting us need to know well in advance and although we know weather forecasts can be unreliable at times we have to make informed decisions based on the current information available for everybody’s safety perhaps especially so for this year’s good cause Positivity Club CIC Watch this space for alternative ways in which you can support them no matter what – just not with the usual fanfare they deserve.” Plans have been submitted to breathe new life into an historic listed cottage in West Kirby Sea View on Darmonds Green was built in 1840 but is in a poor state of repair having not been updated for decades which forms one half of a semi-detached development was listed by English Heritage in 2013 for being “virtually unaltered” with an interior that “shares a good level of survival” The attached property was not listed due to changes made when it was refurbished in 2012 A heritage statement submitted with the application states: “It has been vacant for three years and was not actively maintained prior to the current owner purchasing the cottage which has led to it deteriorating to an unlivable standard “There is evidence of past leaking from the upstairs bathroom to the kitchen below which has caused unrepairable damage to the lathe and plaster ceilings to this room the timber floor to the left-hand front living room is in poor condition with evidence of mould “Ceilings throughout the cottage are in poor condition and have been subject to modern intervention including artex “The cottage does retain a number of historic features including some doors flagstone floors and the staircase.” A design and access statement says the applicant wants to “sensitively restore the existing fabric to bring the building back into habitable use” and to carefully restore this neglected heritage asset whilst enhancing the street scene and the neighbouring context” As well as restoring the property and reinstating the original fireplaces removing a former outbuilding and adding a ‘work from home shed’ in the rear garden the sash windows replaced with exact replicas and a heat pump and solar panels will be installed The heritage statement concludes: “The Proposed Works will ensure that any new alterations are sympathetic to the design of the existing buildings and reflect an understanding of the significance of the building “While some aspects of the Proposed Works will constitute ‘less than substantial harm’ to the building it is considered that this harm should be balanced against the wider benefit of bringing this building back into an active sustainable long term use that includes the incorporation of sensitive adaptations to increase the energy efficiency of the building.” More than 1,000 people have taken part in cold water dips at West Kirby beach in the two years since a peer support group was formed Mental Health Swims (MHS) West Kirby was created in October 2022 as part of the national Mental Health Swims initiative – an award-winning safe and inclusive swim meet ups nationwide at over 140 locations in the UK and beyond and are supported by 350 trained volunteers MHS West Kirby has put on 100 dips and safely hosted around 1,000 sea enthusiasts who have tried out the benefits of dipping in the River Dee as a group Each swim in the River Dee is hosted by three local West Kirby volunteers and the group have been supported by Lateral cafe on Banks Road who set up the Mental Health Swims West Kirby group last year said: “It’s been another great year of swims and dips and we’ve seen more people than ever come together to share the water at West Kirby beach travelling from as far as Wales and Ireland “We’re so lucky to have such a beautiful beach to swim from and see the joy and positive connections that are made in and out of the sea Places are free but must be booked to ensure safety and all event details are published on @mhs_westkirby on Instagram Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.