• Merseyside Police/Community Safety
• Fire Service
• Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• NHS Wirral
• Older Peoples Parliament

Streetscene.  Phil Miner reported that funding has been made available to the Local Authority by the Government, and the decision has been made to spend it on a Pedestrian  Refuge at Telegraph Road/Lightfoot Lane also the provision of dropped kerbs as Old Wood Road and other roads in Pensby.

NHS Wirral.  Russell Favager reported that there has been a national recommendation in Lord Darzi’s review that, as the public did not always know what the PCT did or where the boundaries were between organisations, they are now to be called Wirral NHS.  He reported that there has been an unprecedented 12.5% increase in the call-out for ambulances, and there was very high levels of usage of A&E. Up to  50% of the patients in A&E could have been treated by more appropriate NHS services such Walk-In Centres, GP’s  Pharmacist and NHS Direct.

A comment was made that the Walk-In Centre was closed, what should people do? Russell Favager commented that he was not aware the WIC was closed, there had been some  re-furbishment going on but he didn’t think it had closed.

Sandy Cameron asked if the change of title will be a further cost, and is it the end of the need for Town Planning for the Health Centre, as he understood it had been withdrawn.  Kathy Doran had said that the cost of the Health Centre so far was in the region of £75,000., but a month later a letter had been received asking for a breakdown of the cost and it had jumped to £117,000.  How much more has it gone up since November?  A letter had been received from the Architects including their fees for planning, drawings for buildings etc. with the figure of £117,000.Russell Favager said that he did not have a detailed breakdown of the costs but he doubted if the increase had occurred just in the last few months. It was more likely the original figure quoted by Kathy Doran was direct costs on the scheme and the written figure now included all associated costs such as legal fees.  A comment was made that they are applying for the glasshouse site, and that the area has been drawn with an access road from Woodchurch Road.  This is felt by some people to be an extremely dangerous junction, and there will be a serious accident (or many) if this does go ahead.  Many people were very unhappy about the proposal for The Warrens, particularly with the entrance at the road junction.

Mrs. Ite Rafferty had a letter stating that the purchase has gone ahead, the Cabinet have taken all into account, and have agreed, but she understands that there is a second letter out.  David Armstrong replied that the position is that the Council will enter into the sale of the land, subject to the Planning Permission being granted. Russell Favager commented that it was actually a lease of the land.

Sandy Cameron asked, in view of the proposed changes of the Local Development framework, are these relevant.  Andrew Fraser said that the document will not come into force until 2011, and until then, nothing will change.  A remark was made that it is to be hoped that the Councillors will take this on board, and there was a great deal of opposition to the proposal, particularly because of the entrance to the site.

Frank Kinlan stated that he has said for the last four years that there has been land in Heswall for the proposed larger surgeries.  Russell Favager said that they had looked at many sites over the last 8 years some of which had been mentioned, but none of them were suitable, and that 85% of the patients and 78% of local residents were in favour of the change of sites.  Further uproar, with many suggestion various sites, but none had met the criteria required. A site at the corner of Pensby Road and Irby Road was mentioned, but it was pointed out that this was, again, a very busy junction, and it had been a garage, so there might be pollution, even though petrol had not been sold there.  Townsend Avenue was a larger site than was required, and they would not consider this site because it is Council property.

Clare, who is a patient of the Practice in Heswall, is in favour of it.  She had a DVT and could not get treatment needed because there was, literally, nowhere to go, and these new Practice Surgeries are needed.  The work has to be done fairly soon, because they cannot go upstairs at Thingwall.  The new scheme should also provide for the Citizen Advice Bureau to go into surgeries so that people can see them more easily, and avoid having to go to Heswall Library.  (Another nail in the libraries?)

Sandy Cameron asked Stephen Hesford whether he still supports the need for the new Health Centre.  He replied that this has been going on for ten years, and he still supports it.  Sandra Tripp said there is 100% need for the Green Belt, but there is 100% need for the new Health Centre.  She had met a Doctor and asked him “have you had any luck?”  He replied “We are going for the Warrens, and we are not looking anywhere else”.

Someone else pointed out that the Doctor’s surgery at Thingwall had a house for sale next door, which could have been demolished, and this could have been purchased, and might have been suitable for the Health Centre.

Mrs. Sutton asked “have Mr. Hesford and the other members of the Council any comments to make on the Irby Road site, because there is adequate room and car parking space?”

Mr. Hesford responded that there must be an end to this.  “Arrowe Park has been built on since 1930, it is not part of the Park, it is a secluded site and it does not interfere with anyone’s enjoyment. In terms of finance, it is on a main bus route, but if it is such a dangerous corner, there will have to be traffic lights and crossings.  Mr. Hesford said that those who oppose are a small minority, but they are entitled to their view, but he does think that they are wrong.

Townsend is in Green Belt, it is a private site.  The petrol station site – any re-development of a petrol site has to be a de-contamination site, which is very costly.  A member of the public stated that it has never been a petrol station.

Merseyside Police have admitted that Thingwall Road is one of the most dangerous places on Wirral.

Sandy Cameron said that the original application was not in the Green Belt, and the buildings now are shown on the area that has buildings on it.  The previous support was wrong.  Mr. Hesford “I was right then and still am.  The reason that the Council turned it down was because the site was Green Belt”.

It was pointed out that 85% of people are in favour – could we see a show of hands from the people here.  Russell Favager said that the straw poll in the community centre was not representative of the general view

Cllr. Rowlands said that he was a member of the Planning Committee, and resented the remarks from Mr. Hesford that the Committee behaved disgracefully.  He said “your Government had given guide lines for the Green Belt.  It was an ‘all party’ decision (with the exception of a couple of councillors), and it was decided that it was not appropriate.  The Council was not disgraceful in its duty”.  Mr. Hesford responded “it is not helpful to try and obscure the issue by bringing in a policy which has been there for many years, possibly brought in by the Attlee Government after the Second World War.  I think the Planning decision was very wrong, and I still remain of that view.  It was looked at very carefully, and the PCT looked at many sites, and everything was checked many times, and the Planning Officers applied the law, and they said it should go ahead.  It is very rare that the Council Officers were right and the Planning Committee was wrong”.

Mr. Hesford was asked whether he had ever stood on Thingwall Road at 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.  The lady asking said that her daughter cannot park outside her house when leaving her daughter with her on her way to work.

Another lady wished to ask the Police whether they are happy with the traffic arrangements, and how are they going to resolve the situation.  “Mrs. Tripp raises a very important point, and the reason it was turned down last time was on the sole criteria of Green Belt.  You are right to demand that if there is a Planning application, the local people should be asked about the problems they have, and that is a proper consideration for the Planning Committee to take.  When this becomes a Planning application (it already has – it is a

foregone conclusion) there is no point in telling this meeting if you do not want this.  There is a problem now, what will it be like when the Centre is built?  The Arrowe Park roundabout was the worst thing that the Traffic Department installed.

Russell Favager repeated there has been a consultation of all patients of these surgeries, and 85% were in favour.  When the Planning application goes in, all the information will be in there including road access to the surgery and everyone is entitled to put in an objection if they disagree with the proposal and due process will take place.

Lady asked Mr. Hesford “why do you need such a huge area of land for this Centre?”

Mr. Hesford replied “I understand the point you are making.  At the moment there was an application which was refused and the Appeal that was due withdrawn, so at the moment there is no application”.

Mr. Garrett asked about the dental practice  at 44 Ridgeway Drive.  A letter came out stating that they were going private, but the PCT stopped that.  Many people in this area have no dentist to go to now.  Mr. Garrett had approached the PCT, and was informed that they were writing to all the dentists in the area to see how many were still NHS dentists.  Russell Favager replied that when the practice went private which they are entitled to do, they commissioned work immediately for the NHS but it takes time to set up a new dentists but in the meantime the PCT had commissioned additional work from local dentists.

Mr. Hesford said that Dr. Chan put out some mis-information about the change to private practice.  He is pleased to say that there is another Practice setting up opposite the Post Office – the intention is that at the end of this month they will be writing to everybody asking if they wish to join.

Mrs. Sutton, 336 Pensby Road asked whether the parking problem had been looked into for the new dental surgery proposed near Belmont Drive.  Mr.Hesford said it will be dealt with.

Mrs. Sutton replied that there is a bus stop at the end of the Road, and there are only two parking spaces for the dentists’ cars.  David Armstrong replied that Highways  Engineer will be asked to comment on it, and to check that the site will be in order.  He said that he regretted he did not know the details, but he was told that the plans show two rooms for two surgeries.

A further comment was made that not only is there a bus stop there, but they will have to lower the pavement.  There is limited parking outside the shops opposite, and further up the road there are double yellow lines.  No provision has been made for the surgery, and people will park in Belmont Drive. Objections must be in very soon, and it is impossible to read the notice details, which are tied to lamp posts in plastic bags. Russell Favager commented parking was an issue for the Council through its planning department.

Mr. Kinlan also reported that the surgery further up Pensby Road, near Tower Road South, is having work done, and it is like a building site.  People cannot park there, and it is in a dangerous situation, being right opposite the British Legion.  The British Legion had been asked whether their parking space could be used sometimes by patients, but they had refused.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Pippa Roberts reported that there is literature about the new Teaching Hospital and the new services being provided, and there are many positive stories in it.

Sandy Cameron asked whether the proposed development will include disabled access at the new entrance.

Clare said that she sometimes sends them an e-mail, and always receives a reply.

A question was asked about whether there was any information about the transfer of the Oncology Department over to Liverpool.

Russell Favager replied that there have been some initial discussions about the Centres for Cancer services across Merseyside.  Sites have been discussed, both in Wirral and Merseyside.  They are looking for one large site, but this will be discussed over the next three years and if agreement reached a business case will be produced for consultation, however nothing is likely to happen for (probably) five years.

Merseyside Police/Community Safety.

Inspector Kate Cunningham was very pleased to report that they have had a really good period, and the list of January figures was the lowest since 1999 in terms of crime across the board.  They have not received any complaints about the time taken by Police to arrive at an incident, or not arriving.  This compares well with other similar areas all over the country.  Out of eleven areas, Heswall has the lowest crime rate, and is performing the best.  Whilst the crimes are going down, in the last twelve months 8% more were caught.

Inspector Cunningham introduced some of her team, and said that she wished us to meet them, and how proud she is of all her team.  They were given a great welcome, and many wished to express their thanks to the various members.  They had also brought some sheets giving the times and venues for the various surgeries for people to take away.

One lady asked what the duties of the Community Police Officers are.

Inspector Cunningham replied that they can hold someone for thirty minutes if they have been misbehaving, and they can issue Fixed Penalty Notices.

Inspector Cunningham also said that she is in the process of setting up a meeting with the Local Authority regarding the parking on grass verges.  People must actually be seen by a Policeman when they are driving up onto the verge.

Mrs. Pauline Sutton said that she has had many dealings with the Merseyside Police and Wirral MBC, and she has found the Police in Heswall are splendid and wished to thank them all.  Concern was expressed about the loss of Irby Library and the Police e Surgery held there.  Inspector Cunningham said that, if possible, an alternative venue would be found.

PCSO Sue Fowles will be giving a talk at Pensby Library about her work in the force.

A question was asked about the cars crossing from Heswall car park into Aldi.  Extra signage has been put up (it has still been ignored by some) and the PCSOs have been giving the tickets out – 20 in half an hour.  In the long term, Inspector Cunningham is hoping that the entrance will be moved so that it is more difficult to cross over.

Ken Gethin said that he was concerned about the number of signs being erected.  He felt that if he read every one, he would have, or cause, an accident.  Inspector Cunningham said the Police are doomed if they put them up, but they are doomed if they do not – they simply cannot win.  Sadly, Wirral has an excessively high level of death on the roads, and the targets must be met to try and reduce this.  Inspector Cunningham wants people to THINK about their driving, not listening to the radio etc.  They are constantly reviewing what can be done to make people concentrate on their driving.

Mr. Garrett asked out of the 47 incidents, how many were burglaries, and the answer was three, and fourteen were people driving away without playing for the petrol and eight were vehicle crime – theft from cars.

Clare said when her Mother comes through Barnston Dale, the traffic sign shows more than 30, and her Mum never does that.  Inspector Cunningham said that perhaps the signals need re-calibrating.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

John Davies was happy to report that, as in the notes of the previous Heswall, Pensby, Thingwall and Barnston Forum, this is a very safe area in which to live.  The Service has a target to visit 200 homes in the area to carry out checks for fire alarms etc. and fit them where necessary. 

Ken Gethin said that the Fire and Rescue Service form a very valuable part of our community and we would all like to thank them.

Older Peoples’ Parliament.

Sandy Cameron reported that articles in the Newsletters are a source of valuable information.  Cllr. Rowlands thanked Sandy for all the work he does on behalf of the elderly of Wirral.