Highlights for Sunday 28 July 2024 – Birkenhead News

Welcome to “Fragments of Sunday” a weekly feature from the Birkenhead News. It’s a roundup of important local news you may have missed over the past seven days. Click or tap each story to read the full article.

The first 150 waterfront apartments at the Millers Quay development have been completed.

Millers Quay is the largest development to date at Wirral Waters and the largest regeneration project of its kind in the UK.

The £130m cornerstone residential scheme of 500 new homes in six buildings is transforming the left bank of the River Mersey and is seen as an exemplar in brownfield regeneration.

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Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI welcomed visitors to Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday 13th July for a Meeting Day to raise funds so the volunteer lifeboat crew can continue to save lives at sea.

Volunteer crew members and fundraisers from Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI were joined by colleagues from Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) as they welcomed members of the public to view their kit and rescue equipment.

Visitors were invited to explore the station, as well as Hoylake’s all-weather lifeboat, the Shannon-class Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood, and Hovercraft Hurley Spirit.

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A contemporary art festival will be held at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum exploring the continuing legacy of the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and its unique connection to the Wirral.

From 1 August to 21 December 2024, Material Matters Collective will be in residence at Williamson in Birkenhead. In the Wyld also features work from over 20 guest artists from across the region, plus an associated five-month program of performance art, poetry readings, children’s workshops, film screenings and a symposium.

Material Matters artists will respond to key themes from Gawain’s poem through three exhibitions: ‘Nature’ curated by Patric Rogers from 1 August – 13 September, ‘Chivalry’ curated by John Elcock from 19 September to 25 October and “Spirituality” curated by Angelo Madonna from November 7 to December 21. ‘Weavers’, a parallel program of performances, discussions, workshops and readings will be curated by Silvia Battista.

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Plans for almost 3,000 homes, new schools, parks and restaurants have been given the final go-ahead in what could see big changes for Wirral.

Four major planning documents published by Wirral Council were given the final stamp of approval last week.

According to planning documents, there are wider plans for more than 9,000 homes in central Birkenhead and 6,000 new jobs could be created. More broadly, a framework previously published by the authority says more than 21,000 new homes will be delivered in Birkenhead, supporting an increase of 46,000 people to help tackle the aging population.

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Wirral Council is considering relocating two of its libraries to link up with a leisure center and theatre.

The options were revealed by councilors as the local authority prepares to work out options for its budget from 2025 onwards.

The local authority previously considered relocating both libraries in 2023 as part of major budget cuts that year, but later scrapped the plans after they proved controversial. However, it has been known since early 2024 that the council was again exploring possible relocation options which could save £250,000.

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To mark the annual International Friendship Day, Leighton Court Care Home resident George Price, 95, reflected on his 90-year friendship with his beloved friend, also named George.

International Friendship Day, which takes place on July 30 every year, is about celebrating and cherishing friendships and telling your friends how much you care about them.

George Price and George Foukes, who is also 95, met as children aged five when they lived on the same street in Seacombe.

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People have had their say on a proposed name change for Merseytravel and it’s safe to say the reaction has been mixed. It was confirmed last week that as part of its corporate plan, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will seek to rebrand the transport authority serving our six local authorities.

By 2028, as it rolls out its METRO system in the area, the historic name will be replaced by Transport for Liverpool City Region (TfLCR). This is part of the combined authority’s (CA) wide-ranging plans to connect rail, bus, ferry, tunnels and active travel options across the six local authority areas.

While the famous yellow M logo will remain, the transport authority is set to undergo a major makeover. Commuters have now had their say on the plans online and the reaction has been passionate.

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“I’ve seen people I was talking to five minutes ago, but when they find out you have a disability, they treat you differently. Just treat me like a normal person. I am not stupid. It’s just me, but some people don’t get that.”

These are the words of Liam, a volunteer at Port Sunlight River Park, a former landfill site now a nature reserve on the banks of the River Mersey.

Like almost 4,000 people in Wirral, he is one of many who have autism and one of many supported by the charity Autism Together as a volunteer at various locations in Wirral.

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Funding will soon be awarded to help launch a development which will see 1,400 new homes in Birkenhead, according to Wirral Council.

New documents published by the local authority suggest funding will be awarded this summer to help with the initial delivery of 633 homes.

The Hind Street Urban Village development hopes to bring more than £300 million of public and private investment to Birkenhead and is one of the largest planned projects brought forward by Wirral Council as part of its regeneration plans.

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Mrs Carol Pemberton of the Holistic Cancer Centre, Wirral has been awarded the Order of Mercy, a prestigious medal, for her distinguished voluntary service over many years.

The awards ceremony took place, courtesy of the Lord Mayor, at The Mansion House, in the City of London, on Friday 12 July, in the presence of HRH Princess Katerina of Yugoslavia and many distinguished guests.

The Rt Hon Lord Lingfield, President of the League of Mercy said: “Mrs. Pemberton is a wonderful example of an individual whose long-term and voluntary dedication to the service and well-being of others is noteworthy and outstanding, and we were delighted to be able to present her with this well-deserved award.”

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A new rapid transit glider bus will arrive in Wirral in the “next two weeks”.

Few details have yet been announced, but Wirral Council officers have suggested it will involve Seacombe Ferry Terminal.

In his election manifesto, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram promised to introduce a new bus rapid transit system in Liverpool, which he said would provide more options for people traveling in popular and sometimes hard-to-reach parts of the city.

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Students at St Mary’s Catholic College recently had a week of new experiences as part of its unique Inspire programme.

Located in Wallasey Village, St Mary’s Catholic College is home to over 1,200 students from a diverse range of socio-economic backgrounds.

Experience Week, now in its seventh year, was developed by the school to ensure every child can experience something they haven’t before.

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