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Readers of the blog and the wider community will be aware of my 12 year campaign to get the eyesore, that is the derelict shops and maisonettes on Town Meadow Lane redeveloped.       

 Today it was confirmed to me that Wirral Partnership Homes who I have been working with over the last 12 months on the proposal to demolish the flats and maisonettes and build three new shops and 24 new homes  have signed contracts with Wates Construction who will be doing the work and it is expected that they will start on site on the 20th February.  This  really is a great start to 2012!

Before the work starts I want to invite all the local residents to a community celebration event on the 14th February (Valentines Day).   The event will take place at the front of the shops starting at 11:30am and running until 1:30pm, there will be hot snacks, cakes and soft drinks and hopefully a real party atmosphere, so please come along and join with me celebratring this long-overdue development that will bring three new shops and 24 homes to the site, a massive £3 million pound investment in our town.

a bit of background:   In the early 2000′s the Council always favoured Birkenhead for investment, ignoring Moreton, the only scheme they tried to hoodwink us was the one for troubled youngsters, that was roundy defeated by the people of Moreton.   Then of course in 2005 the Council transferred the stock to Wirral Partnership Homes and of course their priority weas to bring the housing stock up to decent home standard and they had no money for building new homes.   We continued to bid for funds from all the Housing agencies, sadly the Council continued to ignore Moreton and favour, Birkenhead and Tranmere, even now the latest £2.7 million given by the Government is being spent in Birkenhead.      Without the investment of £3 million by WPH this eyesore would remain.

Mersey Tunnel Tolls

Earlier today I attended a Merseytravel Committee which had a report about Mersey tunnel tolls.   The report was for information and it appeared that the Chairman of the committee was reluctant to allow any discussion as it will be the budget meeting of the Authority on 9th February that will determine what the payable tolls will be.   However I used the opportunity to move an amendment asking the Directors to investigate the possibility of reducing tolls further, sadly all the Labour Members on the Authority including the Wirral Labour Councillors voted against my amendment!  An opportunity losT

While I was at the meeting Merseytravel tweeted that tolls would not rise.    I thought Councillors made the decisions, not Media Officers?

 

It was not my intention to blog until the New Year, BUT!     I was alerted to a newly validated application on the Councils Planning Website.      Its the application to extend the amount of time to extract clay from the old Barker Briscoe Brickwork site in Carr Lane, Moreton.

Although the application was only dated the 19th December, no one can comment as its closed, it is dated to go to committee on 3rd Jan, although the consultation period is still open (or is it) and no case officer is identified, and the first date for decision is 19 days before it appeared on the website!!    This is clearly incorrect and in my opinion indicative of the continuing errors that just keep on happening.    

I have received an apology from the Council, however if they can’t get an application right at submission, what confidence can I or members of the public have in them to get it right at all?      I have asked the Councils Chief Executive Jim Wilkie to ‘Get a grip’ and stop these errors……

I have appended the website entry below:

Application registered Consultation period Awaiting decision Decided Appeal Appeal decided
Application Type: Full Planning Permission
Date Received: 27 / 10 / 2011
Registration Date: 19 / 12 / 2011
Consultation Start Date: 19 / 12 / 2011
Earliest Decision Date: 30 / 11 / 2011
Location: Moreton Brickworks, CARR LANE, MORETON, CH46 5NB
Ward Name: Hoylake and Meols
Conservation Area: Not available
Listed Building Grade: Not available
Environmental Assessment: Not available
Expected Decision Level: Planning Committee
Easting/Northing: 324600 / 389845
Statutory Class: Other Large Scale developments
Proposal: Variation of condition 28 of planning determination APP/2001/6405/D (for the extraction of clay), to allow an additional 2 years for the submission of restoration and aftercare schemes (extended from 03 January 2012 to 03 January 2014).
Case Officer: Not available
Status: Registered
Agent: Not available
Case Type: Full Planning Permission
Applicant: Mr D Youngs
  New Hey
  Chester Road
  Great Sutton
  Wirral
  CH66 2LS
Neighbours Responses Received: 0
and Representatives: In Favour: 0
Representation Details Against: 0
Comments: 0
Petitions Against: 0
Petitions For: 0
Officer Site Visit Date: No date
Committee Meeting Date: 03 / 01 / 2012
Decision: This case has not yet been decided
Appeal Received Date: This case has no appeals against it
Planning Obligation Status: Not available
Unfortunately, the consultation period for this application is not open. Please contact the case officer directly if you have any questions.

With all my best wishes to everyone who reads the blog and of course the wider community.   Like many people I am looking forward to a family Christmas and hopefully a peaceful and healthy New Year.   

I am signing off now until January, however if anyone needs my assistance over the Christmas break please contact me using the details on this site.

NO NO Mono!

Readers of the blog and the wider community will be aware of the latest planning application for a mobile telephone mast on Saughall Massie Road close to the junction with Kingfisher Way.   Read more on that HERE.

Many local residents wrote letters and emails of objection and with our help collected a petition of over 100 signatures.   I was delighted to learn this evening that Planning Officers have recommended refusal and as such I have put the application back into delegation to allow them to send out the refusal notice immediately.      You can read the refusal notice by clicking HERE.

Sadly i believe the applicant will appeal the decision.  If they do I am sure local residents will fight that appeal just as hard as they fought the application.

As readers of the blog and the wider community will be aware the  Mersey Tunnels Act 2004, pushed through by New Labour allows ’Authorised Tolls’ to rise based on RPI figures each year.    The Authorised Toll is the amount that Merseytravel are allowed to charge, unless of course they discount them.     Currently discounts apply on each class and I sincerely hope will not be removed or increased in April 2012.

Folowing publication of the November RPI figures I have just received the figures from Merseytravels Director of Resources on the impact on the Tolls, his note to me (below) and the table say it all.     The determination of payable tolls will be decided at the Merseytravel budget meeting in February 2012.  We all know that last time payable tolls increased it was forced through by the casting vote of the Labour Chairman of the Authority!

Email from Jim Barclay:

Chris, Further to recent emails, I can now advise you on the impact of  the latest RPI figures which  were released earlier this week. From  the inflation rates for November 2011 we  can understand the impact that this year’s inflation will have on the Authorised Toll Levels at the Mersey Tunnels. The table below details the Authorised Toll Levels and Actual Toll Levels currently in place, along with the Authorised Toll Levels that will come into effect on 1st April 2012. Obviously, the Authority will need to make a decision as to the Actual Tolls for 2012 when they meet on 9 February 2012. I hope this information helps: -

Class

Toll

Apr ‘11

Apr ‘12

1

Authorised

£1.60

£1.70

Actual Toll Cash

£1.50

 

Actual Toll Fast Tag

£1.30

 

2

Authorised

£3.30

£3.40

Actual Toll Cash

£3.00

 

Actual Toll Fast Tag

£2.60

 

3

Authorised

£4.90

£5.20

Actual Toll Cash

£4.50

 

Actual Toll Fast Tag

£3.90

 

4

Authorised

£6.50

£6.90

Actual Toll Cash

£6.00

 

Actual Toll Fast Tag

£5.20

 

 Kind Regards, Jim

 Jim Barclay, Director of Resources, Merseytravel, 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool L3 2AN

I was gutted to hear today that Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel has decided to leave and take up a new position with Translink in Brisbane, Australia.     I have known Neil for a number of years, and worked with him closely over the last five as member of Merseytravel, he was inspirational, what he does not know about transport you could write on the back of a stamp.   

I suppose Neil leaving the Authority was only a matter of time, and I personally think has been  brought about by the actions of the controlling Labour group at the AGM in June when they did a massive U turn on Vertigral Integration, which, created a huge split between the Authority and the Executive putting Neil and the controlling group at odds with each other.   That, by any stretch of the imagination makes it difficult for a CX to function.     Of course, this has all been compounded by the fact that Labour now seem to want to control and micro manage the organisation, questioning the very role of the Executive! 

Neils going is truly a massive loss for the people of Merseyside and a real catch for the Aussies.   I wish him and his family every success in their new life ‘Down Under’.

The text of Neils announcement is below

Colleagues,

I am writing to let you know personally that today I tendered my resignation as Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel.     It was a hard decision to make and one I spent some considerable time agonising over, but I have received an offer which was too difficult to refuse. 

From Spring next year, I shall be the Chief Executive of TransLink, the public transport authority in Brisbane, Australia.     For me, this is a challenge to make a real difference on the other side of the world and it is the opportunity of a once-in-a lifetime experience “down under”.

I know I leave Merseytravel in good shape to face the future and I am proud of what we have achieved together.   There is much I will miss, in particular the tremendous support I have received from you all during my time here (almost 15 years!).      

I truly thank you for your loyalty and hard work and wish you all every success in the future. 

Regards

Neil Scales OBE,

C.Eng, FI.MechE, FICE, FIET

Chief Executive & Director General

Merseytravel

24 Hatton Garden

Liverpool L3 2AN

Great Community Spirit

Earlier this evening along with my colleague, Cllr Steve Williams and a large crowd of local residents I went along to Amberley Close in Moreton to witness the switch on of the (second) Moreton Lights by Claire Bear who had come down from Claire House Childrens Hospice to perform the switch on.

This is the eighth successive year that the George family and the Williams family have put together such a tremendous display on the fronts of their homes, raising thousands of pounds for Claire House, it has grown so much that many other neighbours are now decorating their homes.    It makes me proud to live in Moreton and be part of such a wonderful community.   You can read more HERE.

Called into Review!

I have been notified that Merseyside Police has called into review the premise licence for the Lifestyle and Convenience Store, 82-84 Town Meadow Lane, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 7TB.  (known locally as Bhullars General Store).

I have not seen the report, however I have been informed by a licensing officer that the review has been asked for because the store has been caught seeling alcohol to under aged people and the sale of counterfeit alcohol 

The Notice is below:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Merseyside Police have applied to Wirral Borough Council to review a Premises Licence in respect of the premises known as Lifestyle and Convenience Store, 82-84 Town Meadow Lane, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 7TB. 

LICENSING ACT 2003 

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE REVIEW OF A PREMISES LICENCE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Merseyside Police have applied to Wirral Borough Council to review a Premises Licence in respect of the premises known as Lifestyle and Convenience Store, 82-84 Town Meadow Lane, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 7TB. 

The grounds for review are in relation to the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.  

Any person wishing to make representation in respect of the above may do so by writing to the Licensing Authority, Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey CH44 8ED. 

The closing date for representations is 27 December 2011 

A copy of the application for the review of the above licence is kept by the Licensing Authority, Town Hall,Brighton Street,Wallasey CH44 8ED.  The application can be viewed Monday and Tuesday 9.00am to 5.00pm, Wednesday 10.00am to 5.00pm and Thursday and Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm, except bank holidays. 

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application.  The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for making a false statement is a Level 5 fine on the standard scale.    Date this 29 day of November 2011

The above is the nicely entitled Notice of Motion that I will be moving at Council on the 12th December.  (Thanks to whoever entitled it)

Last year when the Council was Conservative led we made it very clear that the Council should be open and transparent and part of that included the recording of all Council meetings, along with the use of social media, micro blogging etc.      It seems that recently some people dont want that and I am aware of one Council Officer saying they thought it was forbidden.    Clearly the message needs reiterating.   It will be interesting to see how the other party’s react……..    Watch this space!

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