3/02/10

Groundbreaking scheme announced for Wirral to give low income families computers and internet access.

Wirral has announced the local roll out of a ground-breaking scheme to give low income families a free computer and free internet access.
The scheme is part of a national drive to close the digital and educational divide between householders and help keep parents in touch with their child's progress. Woodchurch High are going to pass over details of how it will be rolled out here. Read more........

1/02/10

S.N.A.P Update

We have been really busy with over 100 young people attending the club every Saturday
 We have supported several new families from outside the area and 2 young people who are currently in children’s homes as relationships for one reason or another have broken down with their parents
We have had several positive behaviour rewards trips
We took a group of older lads paint balling in Hoylake
Recently Jess and Laurie Cain were successful in gaining funding from the youth area funding and youth opportunities  
Snap club have bought new table top games and I pods the funds also help to pay costs each week
We are very excited to be rewarding a positive behavior reward trip to the dancers in Snap we are going to London to watch a west end show and stay in a hotel
Hopefully also do a lot of sightseeing during the weekend
Before we go to London the dancers will be visiting all the schools in Woodchurch to dance in schools assemblies
Where ever we can we promote Snap club to young people
All young people are more than welcome to pop in to the club to make new friends and "hang out" in a safe environment and it’s a chance to try something new
Snap club thanks the Trust for its continued interest in the club and its support with promoting Snap club.

SNAP YOUTH CLUB
Woodchurch
07940 271 029

21/12/09

Issue 3 of our online magazine is now available.

We have changed the operating system which has meant delays in publishing Issue 3.There are still a lot of issues and questions that are being dealt with, and some difficulty in getting answers. We are working to get some form of written confirmation to verify what we have been told as things have a habit of going in a different direction from what we were led to believe. Here's to a great 2010 for the future of Woodchurch, we appreciate your trust and support. Happy Christmas Issue 3......

12/12/09

Christmas Services for Woodchurch click here to view...........

10/12/09

New Ferry Butterfly Park, a Valuable Nature Reserve, threatened with Closure.

Please read more about this and sign our petition

1/12/09

Read the long awaited library report from Sue Charteris to the Secretary of State click here to read full report......

30/11/09

BREAKING NEWS - WIRRAL GLOBE BY JUSTIN DUNN:

Wirral Council would have broken law if libraries had closed read more.......

Council's View point concerning the findings of the report read more........

22/11/09

Winter Wonderland

Thursday 3rd Dec at the Pemberton Centre 2pm - 5pm

Skill Sharing for people over 19, flower arrangements, greetings over the internet, making cards and decorations. love food hate waste, wrap the perfect present and more........

The learning revolution, passing on skills through the transformation fund from the Cascade project

Come along and learn something new 0151 678 7844

Christmas Lights Switch on Friday 4th December 09

5.30pm onwards at Hoole Rd shops

5/11/09

In answer to the question of where has the money been spent on this estate.

We have received spreadsheets detailing how funding has been allocated. We have been waiting for someone to compile and send it over to us from the information released click here to view the details.....

4/11/09

Woodchurch T.R.U.S.T won a merit award for the Houghton Rd, Roundabout from the "Woodchurch In Bloom Competition"

Other projects carried out by groups throughout the estate also received recognition for their work.

3/11/09

PANTOMAGIC!

Are presenting "RED RIDING HOOD", which will also feature local dancers with the StarMaker Dance School.

Wed 2nd Dec at 7:00 pm
Thu  3rd Dec at 7:00 pm
Fri  4th Dec at 7:30 pm
Sat 5th Dec at 2:30 pm (Matinee)
Sat 5th Dec at 7:30 pm

Tickets prices are (Adults) £6-00,  (Children under 14 & concessions) £4.

Tickets are available at the Leisure Centre, Carr Bridge Road, Woodchurch, or from "Julie" 0151 670 9595

Please note that group bookings (10+), for some performances, are available at £3-00 per ticket contact "Julie" for details.

1/11/09

Warning to residents over Holiday Phone Scam

Thanks for letting us know so we can warn others.... click here for further details

Woodchurch Fireworks Display Thursady 5th November

Firework Display
Community Centre,
Carr Bridge Road, Woodchurch,

Wheelie Bin Collection Changes

WIRRAL residents are being urged to keep their eyes on their letterboxes over the next two weeks as important details about their bin collections are being delivered.
For many households, the latest calendars will show changes in the days that their green and grey wheelie bins are collected.
This is because Wirral Council and its contractor Biffa have restructured collection rounds to make the service more efficient.
The new collection dates are effective from Monday, November 16, with delivery of the new calendars set to begin from this weekend.
The calendars will set out collection days for both green and grey bins for the next two years.
If people haven’t received their new calendars by November 15, they should contact Streetscene on 606 2004.
From November 14, residents will also be able to find out details of their collection dates on the Waste and Recycling page of the Wirral Council website by typing in their street name.

26/10/09

Congratulations to SNAP's Laurie

4/10/09

Wirral Partnership Homes

WPH have reviewed their accessible Homes policy to make it easier for residents to stay in their homes. We will be putting information up about their pilot scheme for Woodchurch as soon as we have further details. click blue link to read details of the revised policy click here.......

1/10/09

Libaries Closures

Wirral Borough Council will not push through plans to close the local libraries in favour of 13 neighbourhood centres, it has been confirmed.

The T.R.U.S.T is proud to have spoken when representing the library campaigners of Woodchurch at the Floral. We appeared alongside other key speakers who added weight to all the reports collated for the inquiry chaired by Sue Charteris. Many,many thanks to everyone for all their hard work. To those who didn't have faith or keep promises of support on the day, it didn't matter. We believed in the incredible people who put their convictions out there in public and stood up for what was right regardless of what they thought the outcome would be.

30/09/09

Woodchurch High Training Courses for the community

Please click on the blue link to see all the courses that are on offer. Woodchurch High is also asking us what type of courses or training we would like to see available. This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with helping to influencing training provision within our community.

Further information about courses...

Merseyside Police

There has been a lot of feedback and some very negative comments over our local police. Hoole Rd shops have featured in a lot of issues that have been raised over the past few months. Police records are only showing a small minority of reports in comparision to the actual incidents that have occured. If you need to call them please use the following telephone number which is 0151 709 6010 if you see something of concern and it will be treated with complete confidentially and anonymity. Inspector Griffiths said "We will respond to reports of drugs and drug dealing and I would ask anyone with information to contact their local officer or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

In emergencies ring 999 and ask for the relevant service you need.

At the last resident's forum Inspector Brian Griffiths gave us the following link so you can see exactly what Merseyside Police have been doing and what convictions or ASBOS have been secured. Click on the blue link below

Merseyside Police have secured the following......

5/09 09

Land beside the Woodchurch Hotel

The facts to stop some of the rumours that are going around.

It is the Liveability Taskgroup that has been dealing with this issue for a long while in an attempt to get something done as it has been an eyesore for too long and the developers fell through.The land took some time to get back and is now owned by the council since May of this year. It is going to be cleared sometime during the week starting 7th September 09. There is no money available to do anything other than clear it at the moment, we have asked the residents who live within that area what they would like to see happen with the land over this weekend. There will be a public meeting announced in the near future and all will be welcome to attend, but our foremost concern is for the residents who live in that area.

5/08/09

Sue Charteris has now passed over her draft report to Wirral Borough Council and the DCMS ( Department for Culture, Media & Sport) for checking. Both parties have until the 26th of August to reply so that Sue Charteris can finish her report and submit it to the Secretary of State. It will be sometime in early September after full consideration of all the evidence that the Secretary of State will then announce his decision.

Big Yellow Bus Consultation survey responses for what residents want click here to read

Woodchurch Sports Complex Summer 09 Activities and general information click here for information

If you have serious issues with your Neighbours Click here for more information

Pictures from the Bury Coach trip on the 10th July click here for information

Recyling

Recycling facts and information as well as contact telephone numbers for Streetsceneclick here for more information

What to do if you find syringes click for more advice and information

Come and say hello on Facebook

Facebook

Thanks to Conservative Councillor Tom Anderson of Upton Matters for sending over the Library Report he compiled.This report was presented to Sue Charteris at the Floral Pavillion and Tom also helped the Library user group to collate the evidence for their reportClick here to read Library Report

Click on image below to view Magazine or the Magazine tab at the top for our latest issue

Dave Sadler former Chairman of the Residents Forum sent this story over to do with rebates for pre payment meters.This is worth keeping an eye on click here to read more.......

Hanging baskets fundraiser

Click here for information and pictures

Guess who we bumped into when doing the roundabout unexpected guests........

See our last 12 months and what we have been up to click for more info.......

Our Online Survey Form

Please take a few minutes to complete our survey Form to help us get real feedback about what you honestly think Click here to go to Survey Form

Wirral Play Council Free Play schemes - Woodchurch

PlayPoint will be at the Community Centre Carrbridge Rd every Thursday from 3.30 to 6pm providing an indoor play session. Community Play Rangers will be on the hill at Meadow Crescent every Friday from 5.30 to 7.15pm providing an outdoor play session. Under 5s must be supervised by a parent or adult over 18 at all times. All play workers are trained and CRB checked, telephone Gemma Birchall, Senior Community Play Ranger. 0151 201 7628. Click the blue link for more information about all the schemes including a special needs project and website information for timetables and new events. more information........

Housing issues info from the meeting held on 14th April

click for details.....

Social Tariffs for Fuel

Get help with heating

This scheme is worth looking at if you have struggled during the recent cold weather. Check for your eligibility as this is a Government-funded initiative and the scheme is managed by eaga read more.........

Wirral Council cash for local transport schemes

LOCAL communities across Wirral are to be given a share of £200,000 to spend on key road improvements in their areas read more......

Major Concern over Eltham Green

Yet again the resident of Eltham Green and the Woodchurch face a general store at the Eltham Green shops applying for a drink's licence, as though the past problems weren't enough. This store is open from 6am - 11pm and even with the problems previously they are still applying for this licence. Please support the Eltham Green residents when this goes before the Drink's Licensing.

Pest Control Charges more details

We landscaped the roundabout at Houghton Rd Woodchurch entrance of the estate with Carol Seery from LA21. Click here for more details.....

Community Repaint

Local Development Framework

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is a collection of "new-style" statutory Local Development Documents that together set out the vision and spatial strategy for the future development of the Borough. They will gradually replace the "old-style" Unitary Development Plan that was adopted in February 2000.This is a core strategy for the next 15-20 years, you can read this at the following link:

Local Development Framework

T.R.U.S.T's Newsletters

Click on the blue links below to view our newsletters in PDF format.You can also view our online magazine for features and articles click to view our magazine......

We have some interesting plans but we really want to hear YOUR ideas for the area that WE all live in. Your input is extremely important and can really make a difference when talking to the agencies and providers that decide what is going to happen here. The T.R.U.S.T are all residents who are proud of where we live, and we hope that like us, you want to see our community thrive & grow in the right way !

Now that we have managed to secure the Leisure and the Community Centre it remains to be seen how much this will cost us in the long term. Woodchurch Library is now targeted for closure and moved into Upton Library which saves their building. The latest report from all the consultation and reviews about the strategic review is in the Local Development Framework which you can read following the link further down this page or on the council website.

It is really important that we now concentrate on how to develop the estate for the future, this is not the end of these issues it is just the start. Woodchurch needs to make sure we get what we need and we can only do that if we stay involved in what is happening here. Cick on our on line magazine for the full article and photos as well as other items that may be of interest.

The Local Development Framework is the next stage the council are planning to bring in as the blueprint for the next 15 -20 years and are looking to adopt this by 2011 read more about this on the following link:

Local Development Framework

WIRRAL Partnership Homes

WPH is working with partners LHT and Bardsley Construction to construct 20 two, three and four bedroom houses and bungalows for rent at Home Farm Road, Woodchurch and Juliet Gardens in Bebington.It says the flagship projects will be energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The design will include means they will have solar panels, extra insulation and a ‘greener’ specification to minimize their carbon footprint. Brian Simpson, chief executive of Wirral Partnership Homes, said: “WPH is especially proud that its flagship development schemes will build such exceptional homes. Our residents deserve the best and we aim to work with our partners to fulfil our mission and provide them with homes of first choice.”

Wirral Council cash for local transport schemes

LOCAL communities across Wirral are to be given a share of £200,000 to spend on key road improvements in their areas. Eleven Area Forums across the borough will be given £18,200 each which can be spent on small-scale road safety measures, traffic calming and other works.

One of the areas which has piloted the scheme is the Bromborough/Eastham forum which has used some of the cash to carry out works in historic Port Sunlight to help boost tourism, along with parts of Eastham, Bromborough and New Ferry. ward, and says it has allowed works to be carried out quickly. A report to last Thursday’s meeting of Wirral Council’s ruling cabinet recommended the scheme be rolled out to all Area Forums across the borough.

Welcome to Warm Front

Warm Front makes homes warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient. The Warm Front Grant provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is recommended). It is a Government-funded initiative and the scheme is managed by eaga.

If you own your own home or rent it from a private landlord, you may be eligible for a grant under the Warm Front Scheme.

If you have a query about the Warm Front Scheme, please contact enquiry@eaga.com or call freephone 0800 316 2805 http://www.warmfront.co.uk

Social Tariffs

According to new Ofgem rules, all social tariffs must equal the supplier’s cheapest deals. Most families on low income or benefits as well as the elderly are really struggling to cope with the price increases especially those with payment meters. It is worth researching the different suppliers.Check this website to see which supplier is offering these Tariffs that could help you. www.energychoices.co.uk/social-tariffs

Is this the end for nasty neighbours?

New powers to tackle anti social behaviour across Wirral have come into force this week as part of a government scheme. Under the closure order a property where there is persistent disorder reported can be closed temporarily in a similar way to current crack house closure orders. The powers available to police and local authorities are tenure neutral and apply to any home including owner occupied properties. Other premises included are residential properties, common areas next to properties, factories, shops, pubs, clubs, public buildings, community centre's or halls and car parks.

The affected properties can remain sealed for 3 months, up to a maximum of 6 months, but other interventions will be used alongside the power to resolve the problem in the longer term .Caroline Laing, manager of Wirral’s anti-social behaviour team said The Home Office has responded to requests from practitioners and enacted this significant piece of legislation.

While use of this power will not be Wirral’s first response to a situation, it is a robust tool and hopefully will provide a significant deterrent to individuals who are either responsible for or fail to adequately control anti social behaviour and their premises.

Residents wishing to report anti-social behaviour are encouraged to contact 'It's Your Call', a borough-wide reporting service, on 606 2020

WIRRAL PLAY COUNCIL

Wirral Play Council is a charitable organization, formed in 1974, that provides an all-year round service to resource groups and organisations that work with children and operates from the Wirral Play Development Centre in Berner Street, Birkenhead.
Every summer, the W.P.C. organise's over 20 free open-access play schemes across the Wirral for children aged 5-14 years of age, as well as holding a national Playday event, in Birkenhead Park, for up to 600 children, some with special needs.
Based at the Wirral Play Development Centre is the Wirral Play Council Special Needs Group, who run evening sessions and a Saturday morning session, each week, for children with various specific needs as well as operating daily throughout most school holidays.
Wirral Play Council has a wide variety of member groups who make use of the many services that we provide. These services include; a low-cost arts & crafts shop, scrap store, play equipment hire, as well as room hire for play training, etc.
Membership is open to all groups, child minders, and Statutory bodies (including Wirral Borough Council Departments) interested in the development of children's play on the Wirral.

PlayPoint is the new Play Practitioners Project operated by Wirral Play Council and funded for three years by the Big Lottery Fund.Our aim is to provide varied and challenging play opportunities for children aged 5 - 13 years and to encourage them to become involved in the planning and design of the project and also engage parents/carers to get involved, through volunteering and planning play activities.
We have identified five key areas on the Wirral that will benefit from our Open Access play opportunities.  These venues were chosen after consultation with local community members, voluntary groups, parents and children.
PlayPoint operating times are; 3.30pm - 6.00pm, Monday to Friday (see TIMETABLE page on our website for more information).
All our sessions are FREE of charge and Open Access - children can come and go as they please.
All children are welcome - under fives MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Registration details must be given prior to child's first session.
All our staff are fully trained and C.R.B. cleared.  

For more information about the project contact Ros Barrie, on: (0151) 201 7628, or email: playpoint@live.co.uk

The Community Play Rangers Project aims to increase and develop more opportunities for children and young people to engage in local outdoor play activities, and enable children and young people to feel safe as well as reduce the fear of playing beyond the confines of their home environment.
The project provides FREE outdoor play sessions, for children aged 5 - 13, throughout Wirral. These Open Access play sessions run both after school and during holiday times (see TIMETABLE page for more information.)
Please Note; -
Play Rangers have no authority to keep children on site and cannot take responsibility for children's belongings.
Under fives must be supervised at all times by an adult. Open Access means children are free to come and go as they please.
All Play Ranger staff are fully trained and C.R.B. cleared.
For more information about the project, contact Gemma Birchall, on: (0151) 201 7628, or email: playprojects@live.com plapro

Wirral Play Council Special Needs is a charitable organization formed in 1975 to provide after school activities and holiday respite for children with special needs. We provide care for all disabilities including children with Severe Learning Disabilities and Autism. The building is specially adapted to cater for all the children's needs. Areas include large play area, art room, library and quiet room.

All play areas are fully staffed with supervision ratios at 1/3 to 1/1.

All staff are fully trained and we have a welfare officer in attendance. The group is Ofsted inspected and funded by Local Authority Social Services and by the group raising and finding its own funds.

For further information see our website http://www.wirralplaycouncil.org.uk

Pre-pay meter users 'due rebate'
Customers who use pre-payment meters have overpaid the energy companies nearly half a billion pounds over the past three years, it is being claimed.
The National Housing Federation (NHF) made the calculation using figures from Ofgem, the energy regulator.
It says higher charges paid by metered customers are in breach of EU rules and suggests clients may be entitled to claim the money back.
About 12% of energy customers use the meters, including many on low incomes.
Even though pre-pay customers pay for their fuel in advance, the big energy firms have frequently charged them more than other households, the NHF found.
Under EU directives introduced in 2004, energy firms are allowed to charge pre-pay meter users extra only if this reflects higher collection costs.
Scandal
Lawyers from the National Housing Federation claim these directives have been breached, and that the regulator Ofgem failed to stop this.
Between 2006 and 2008, they say, millions of pre-pay customers were charged well in excess of the average extra cost of installing and maintaining gas and electricity pre-pay meters, which is estimated by Ofgem as being £87 over direct debit tariffs.
“ It makes me very angry because that's my money, they should never have taken it and I want my money back ”
Hayley Cairns Customer
Some pre-pay meter customers have been charged up to £500 more than those paying by online direct debits.
Federation chief executive David Orr said: "It is an absolute scandal that Ofgem allowed energy firms to overcharge customers to the tune of £460m, and potentially breach EU rules for so many years.
"Ofgem has been asleep on the job, and it must urgently start defending the rights of ordinary people, instead of protecting the profits of big business.
"As a way of compensating pre-pay customers for the historic overcharging, Ofgem has a moral duty to go beyond the EU directives, and force the energy companies to equalize pre-pay meter prices with those for quarterly bills"
The National Housing Federation is now raising the possibility that customers might take action to get some money back.
Angry
Haley Cairns has been paying for her gas with a pre-pay meter for the past four and a half years, and on average she puts £60 on her meter every month, which amounts to about £720 a year.
Using the National Housing Federation calculation, that means she has paid an extra £550 since she moved in.
She told the BBC she is furious about it.
"It makes me very angry because that's my money, they should never have taken it and I want my money back."
Energy regulator Of gem admits customers on pre-paid meters were unjustifiably paying more, but it says it has now forced energy companies to bring prices within EU rules.
Garry Elate, of the Energy Retail Association, which represents energy companies, said companies had already brought down their prices in response to Of gem requirements.
"Those prices have come down by £300 million overall on pre-payment, so they are now at comparable prices to everyone else," he said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/far/-/1/hi/uk/8099776.stm

Published: 2009/06/15 01:59:29 GMT
© BBC MMIX

Pest control-Domestic charges

Community Repaint

The project takes paint, wallpaper and borders which would have to be
disposed of, and redistributes them to those able to use them. It is part of
a national scheme www.communityrepaint.org.uk, and is administered locally by Wirral LA21 Network. Locally, it has saved many thousands of liters of paint and redistributed it to groups in need of it.
We are now able to supply wallpaper as well! This is just £1 per roll to
everyone (individuals or group members - this is NOT included in your annual subscription). Of course, if you have unused - and unopened - rolls of wallpaper you don't need, we would be pleased to take them. (Any opened rolls should be recycled in your grey bin).

We are based at:
Sandon Centre,
Falkland Road,
Wallasey CH44 8ER

During GMT (winter!) we are open Mon/Wed/Fri 1pm - 4pm without appointment, and possibly at other times, by appointment.
In BST (summer!) we are open Mon/Wed/Fri 1pm - 5pm without appointment and can do evenings by appointment.

Further details from Wirral LA21 Network on 0151 639 2121.
Ask for Jim or email jim@la21.net
Fax number is 639 4826.

Out of hours please call 0151 632 2047.

The website for the national scheme is www.communityrepaint.org.uk

If you do find discarded needles or syringes please contact:

• between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, the Street Scene call centre on 0151 606 2004

• after 5pm or at weekends, Wirral Borough Council’s Control Room on 0151 666 5265.

Both services will make arrangements for the collection and safe disposal.

If you are injured
If you do receive an injury from a discarded needle the best course of action is to gently encourage the wound to bleed (DO NOT SUCK THE WOUND).Then wash with soap and warm running water, dry and cover with a plaster. Seek advice as soon as possible from A&E or your GP, as you may need a Hepatitis B or Tetanus vaccination. Please do not be alarmed if you are injured as the risk of infection from a needle stick injury is normally low. For further information please click on the 'hands off' leaflet.

Local Police News

Inspector Brian Griffiths gave an update of local policing policy's that have been effective and also endorsed events organised on the Woodchurch that have drastically reduced Anti Social Behaviour problems. A house in Atherton Drive had 10,000 worth of cocaine recovered and two men later charged with possession and intent to supply. He encourages anyone who has information regarding drugs to contact local officers or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you or someone you know is having problems with drug use contact the ACT helpline on 0800 028 1300. More details about what has been happening locally can be found at merseyside police

One Residents Experience of Llife after Debt

Are you in debt? This is my story and the people who helped me after I had given up more details ......

Holiday Phone Scam

This one is on the go again. Flagging it up because it's just cost a local pensioner woman £605 and she now realises she was had.
The scam artist claims that by using their credit or debit card to pay for goods, people entered into a prize draw and have won a free holiday. The caller then asks for the card details to "verify the claim". She did it because she "buys lots of stuff with her cards." Two days later the money was debited to a comapny called "Calypso Ca Resort."

WIRRAL Council would have been breaking the law if it had proceeded with its plan to close 11 of the borough's 24 libraries, a Government inspector said today.
The closures were scrapped on September 30 - just two days before the first draft of inspector Sue Charteris' report was originally due to be published.
The ruling Lib-Lab cabinet said they were scrapping the controversial closures because of budgetary needs - any planned savings from library closures this year had been lost due to the length of the inquiry into them.
But it has now emerged that had they proceeded the council would have been in breach of its stautory duties under the 1984 Museums and Libraries Act.
Some key points made in the Charteris report are:
* "The council failed to make an assessment of local needs in respect of its Library Services."
* "I am profoundly concerned at the lack of transparency of this process."
* "The council has not been able to demonstrate that it has had due regard to the general requirements of children. I consider this to be a breach of its statutory duties."
* "I recognise that Wirral MBC, like other authorities across the country, has considerable pressure on service budgets and needs to ensure it is making the best use of its resources both now and in the future. The absence of a strategic plan or a development plan for the service, based on an assessment of need and a contemporaneous review of the service, completely hinders the council being able to describe how its plans will meet the needs of and have due regard for those who live, work and study in Wirral."
* "I believe that the evidence shows that the Council took the decision to close the libraries without having first established the extent and range of library provision it was providing within the buildings, including those which were 'core' to the service and which were ancillary."
* "My assessment is that the Council’s decision to close 11 of its libraries and develop the remaining 13 into integrated Neighbourhood Centres was and remains premature, and risks being a partial response to local need that would disadvantage relatively isolated and deprived communities. I therefore believe there to be a further breach in relation to the needs of deprived communities.
* "I have found that due to the absence of an assessment of needs and a strategic Library Service review, the council has displayed a lack of logic around why some facilities were recommended for closure and not others."
Today, Culture Minister Margaret Hodge said there would be no "decision" made by Secretary of State as Wirral had abandoned the closures.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said "It is clearly no longer appropriate to rule on their [Wirral's]earlier decision.
"Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council are therefore not in breach of their statutory duty."
Miss Hodge's statement says: "Pursuant to his powers under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 (“the Act”), the Secretary of State launched a local inquiry into the library service provided by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (“Wirral MBC”) to gather evidence to test whether Wirral MBC's planned restructuring of that service was consistent with their statutory duty to provide the people of Wirral with a comprehensive and efficient public library service.
"He is satisfied that the Inquiry has been conducted fairly and in accordance with the statutory rules on procedure.
"However, after the report on the Inquiry was received by the Secretary of State, Wirral MBC revoked their plans to restructure their service.
"In these circumstances it is no longer necessary for the Secretary of State to take a view on proposals which have since been dropped.
"There is therefore no finding that Wirral MBC are in breach of their statutory duty.
"The Secretary of State welcomes Wirral MBC’s decision to reconsider plans to restructure their library service.
"We hope that they will take account of the issues raised, alongside the conclusions which emerge from the national libraries review, when considering future decisions.
"In respect of any wider implications of the Inquiry, the Secretary of State confirms that, in accordance with the clear requirements of the Act, local authorities are well placed to understand the needs of their local communities and are responsible for delivering local services relative to those needs.
"The Secretary of State will always wish, where possible, to use ways other than a formal inquiry in exercising his statutory obligations.
"It is, however, an ongoing requirement of all local authorities to fulfil their duties under the Act, and of the Secretary of State to consider intervening where an allegation or question arises that an authority may not have done so.
"The Secretary of State wishes to emphasise the importance of all local authorities, being mindful of the needs of those living, working and studying in the area and of how they are addressing such needs in fulfilling their duty to deliver a comprehensive and efficient service."
A REPORT into Wirral Council's plan to close 11 libraries has heavily criticised the local authority for a "lack of transparency" and "a lack of logic".
And it concludes that had the closure plan proceeded, the authority would have breached its statutory duties.
Government-appointed inspector Sue Charteris says the council was "in breach of its statutory duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964" to provide "comprehensive and efficient public Library Services".
In her 90-page report, Ms Charteris writes that the council "failed to make an assessment of local needs (or alternatively to evidence knowledge of verifiable local needs) in respect of its Library Services".
She adds: "In the absence of such an assessment, I conclude that the council therefore cannot have reasonably met such needs in the context of its statutory duties and available resources.
"Without any such reference point of the needs to be met, the council was unable to identify a reasonable option for meeting such needs both comprehensively and efficiently.
"I am profoundly concerned at the lack of transparency of this process."
When it announced the closures, the council said it planned to reinvest £20m on new centres around the borough.
But the closures were scrapped on September 30 - two days before this report was originally going to be published.
"I do not believe that the council adequately assessed how well this model would meet the needs of its constituent communities before taking a decision to close 11 of its 24 libraries," says Ms Charteris.
"At best the decision was premature and does not demonstrate how specific needs within communities will be adequately met.
"As such, it is impossible for me to agree that the plans are reasonable or adequate.
"It is material that, in Wirral’s case, the lack of a consultation process that focused on libraries per se (rather than all leisure facilities including community centres) did make it difficult for the council to ensure and demonstrate that it was taking the needs of service users (current and prospective) into account.
"I addition to the lack of a link between information upon which the council could have rationally and reasonably based a service decision, the plans that have been submitted are not, in my view, of sufficient detail to satisfy the Inquiry that the service proposals will lead to a comprehensive and efficient service.
"Hence the only conclusion that can be made is that there has been a breach of Wirral MBC’s statutory duty.
"This leads me to conclude that the Secretary of State will need to be continuously assured that the local authority has the capability, capacity and determination to implement its plans for the revised service, although I recognise that this level of involvement is not an ideal solution for either parties."
She adds: "This difficult situation could still be turned round.
"It is not beyond the realms of imagination that this troubled time for the Library Service in Wirral could be a significant opportunity.
"Indeed, particularly given the debate this Inquiry has provoked, there is an opportunity now to draw on support available to the Council locally from the library user and campaign groups, potential partner organisations including Age Concern, the Reader Organisation and others; and regionally and nationally from other library authorities, CILIP and the MLA.
"Wirral MBC could, and arguably without considerably more expenditure, become an exemplary library authority whilst ensuring it is making the best use of its resources both now and in the future. These are not incompatible objectives.
"It is clear to me, from the Inquiry and the pre-Inquiry meetings, that libraries in the Wirral play a significant role in the lives of many Wirral residents.
"Wirral’s libraries are clearly seen as safe, neutral spaces to read and study, and to receive the advice of trusted staff. There is therefore the potential for them to provide added value to other council services.
"The challenge for Wirral MBC now is to regain trust, and work with library users and other stakeholders to redesign the service.
"To do this, Wirral MBC would need to be prepared to invest skills and time up front to develop a genuinely community based library service that is sustainable going forward."

Council's Response

WIRRAL Council leader Steve Foulkes today criticised a Government report that claims the authority would have been in breach of its statutory duties had it continued with its controversial plan to close 11 libraries.
In a statement headed "Wirral not in breach of their Stautory Duty", Cllr Foulkes writes: "I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State recognises that we are not in breach of our statutory duty and I welcome too the fact that the statement recognises the autonomy of local authorities and the fact that they are well placed to decide on local needs.
"I also welcome the ongoing work on a national library review and we will certainly be looking to take account of any recommendations that emerge from it in making any future improvements to Wirral’s library services.
"However, I want to do some very straight talking here. I know a lot of people won’t want to hear what I have to say, but I believe it needs to be said.
"In many ways the report published with the statement is no longer relevant because we have withdrawn the original decision on the Libraries. But I am very disappointed at its contents.
"I am disappointed not because it is critical of the decision, but because it is fundamentally flawed in its logic, and in many places it is just plain wrong.
"If Wirral were to be in breach of its statutory duty when the plans were implemented, then so would any number of other local authorities who would have had the same level of provision as us.
"The report illustrates totally the difference between theory and reality and I had really hoped and expected that the inspector would not fall into that trap.
"In theory, we could keep all our libraries open, improve our services and repair our buildings for no additional cost, just by introducing some minor changes like self service systems.
"In reality, the decision not to close some libraries and invest in Neighbourhood Centres will cost £2.3m next year, which is the equivalent of a 2% increase in Council Tax.
"Over the next three years we will also need to find another £2.4 million from revenue budgets for major repairs which will mean either increased council tax levels or cuts in services elsewhere.
"If we had attempted to invest in new neighbourhood centres and keep the remaining stand alone libraries open, or to maintain a physical presence of some kind in all the current locations, which is where the logic of the report seemed to be going, then on top of £4.7m we would have needed to find another £500,000 for additional staffing costs as well as another £300,000 to boost the book fund to meet the enhanced facilities, as well as the £2m a year needed to pay for the capital investment of £20m.
"Theory is a luxury we cannot afford.
"There are winners and losers in this situation. Those who lobbied to keep their local library open have what they wanted. But the silent majority who do not use their library, who do not want to see their council tax increase, and who might have used one of the new neighbourhood centres because they were more attractive, more conveniently located and open longer hours are definitely the losers.
"Nothing changes the fact that we are still facing a future where books will be downloaded from the net, where second hand books are easily available to buy, where the first call for information is the computer, not the library, and where the main call on libraries today is to use computers, not borrow books. Nor does it change the fact that installing and continually updating new technology in a large number of individual buildings is very expensive.
"In an ideal world, we would give everyone what they want, and build neighbourhood centres, and make sure every library or centre was still within walking distance, or within reach of a mobility scooter battery, or near enough to be used by local schools for a single lesson period.
"But this is not an ideal world, and just because that is what people say they want, does not make it affordable for the local authority, or for all those people who would see their Council Tax go up to meet those demands.
"Yes, we can always do things better. Yes, maybe there are some things in hindsight we could have changed or improved.
"But that doesn’t alter the fact that we have to get real. We can’t just look at one service in isolation from every other service we provide.
"There is a limited amount of money that has to be shared out to meet a whole host of demands, some of which are literally matters of life or death.
"The people of Wirral need to understand very clearly what are coming. Between 2011 and 2014, this Council is going to need to save over £67 million, and that is a minimum estimate. We will have to change or go under.
"If we continue to hang on to what we know, and reject that change, and if the silent majority continues to remain silent, Wirral will become an impoverished backwater with failing services, crumbling buildings and a mass exit of any investors who could help us weather the storm and allow us to become the attractive and prosperous region we deserve to be.
"That’s the choice we have. We can go with the politics of hope, which welcomes change and drives forward to better things. Or we can go with the politics of fear which digs in and resists any change.
"Fear is a very strong emotion which it is easy for politicians to exploit for their own ends. And to those politicians who play on that fear, who advocate a do nothing approach, who claim all our services can continue to operate just as they do now, I say “ Come clean, be honest, tell the voters just how you intend to balance the books in the difficult times ahead.”
"In the end, the people of Wirral have their own destiny in their hands.
"It’s going to be up to them what they and their children inherit from the next few years.

Copyright Wirral Globe - Justin Dunn - reproduced by kind permission

New Ferry Butterfly Park, a Valuable Nature Reserve, threatened with Closure

New Ferry Butterfly Park, a community-run Cheshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve next to Bebington Station, Wirral, is threatened with closure. Cheshire Wildlife Trust have leased the site since 1993 but have now been told by Brock plc to vacate the Park by the end of January 2010.

The Butterfly Park is one of the best butterfly sites in Cheshire, and also home to many other mini-beasts such as spiders, moths, bumble bees, grasshoppers, shield bugs, woodlice, snails and hoverflies. It is used for education and training, from infant schoolchildren up to post-graduate professionals, as well as quiet recreation and enjoyment of wildlife.

Hilary Ash, one of the Butterfly Park’s management team and Hon Conservation Officer, says "There is simply no equivalent site in Wirral or Cheshire. Its ecology is unique, which is why Cheshire Wildlife Trust leased it in 1993. It is also in the urban area, with excellent public transport access, more than 2000 schoolchildren within walking distance, and in an area with little natural open space. It will be a huge loss to people and wildlife if it is destroyed."

To SIGN OUR PETITION and to find out more about the Butterfly Park and the fight to save it go to: http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk/news_new_ferry_threatened.htm

Groundbreaking scheme will provide free laptops and internet access for families in Wirral

Wirral has announced the local roll out of a ground-breaking scheme to give low income families a free computer and free internet access.
The scheme is part of a national drive to close the digital and educational divide between householders and help keep parents in touch with their child's progress.
It is hoped that the Home Access computer initiative will benefit the whole family; research has shown that pupils could improve by two grades at GCSE with a computer at home, unemployed parents can use the internet to apply for jobs and improve their skills, and each computer will also be loaded with a suite of software to support literacy and numeracy for all the family.
Families with children in years 3 – 9 (approximately age 7 – 14), who are entitled to free schools meals, will be able to apply for a grant to buy a computer and internet connection from an approved supplier, after meeting strict eligibility criteria. Looked after children up to the age of 18 will also be eligible, and the scheme will offer bespoke packages to provide more support for children with special educational needs. The general public will also be able to buy Home Access kits, so parents can be sure that the equipment  they buy is  fully security checked,  safe and has all of the software needed to support learning.
The programme is being rolled out nationally after successful pilots around the country showed a positive impact on both the pupils and their parents.
Said Cllr Phil Davies, Wirral’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning: ‘This initiative means families can come together, learn together and reap the rewards together. Helping children succeed in school and get the skills they need will set them on the right track to get good quality jobs in the future.
‘In Wirral, we are already working with our schools and computer learning centres to support families in Wirral to ensure they get the free kit, and know how to make the most of it.
‘We aim to encourage as many eligible Wirral families as possible to apply for and receive this equipment in their homes. We see this as a unique opportunity to begin bridging the digital divide, engage parents in their child’s learning and develop the whole family’s ICT skills,’ he added.
Wirral Council is taking an active role in supporting families through the process, and is delivering leaflets schools and organisations throughout Wirral next week.
The Council is also working in partnership with its computer learning centres, One Stop Shops and Children’s Centres, who will be helping parents to obtain and fill in the forms they need.
Families who are awarded the grant will also be able to get help in choosing the right equipment and accessing training sessions and support services.
All Home Access computers will come with rigorous security testing, pre-set parental controls and will be loaded with a copy of the award winning e-safety guide ‘Know IT All for Parents”. All computers will also have a pre-set homepage which includes a ‘report abuse’ button.
For information on how parents can apply for a Home Access Grant call 0333 200 1004 or visit www.homeaccess.org.uk to get more information and request an application form.

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