Notice of representations to be given in writing or by email by 12 noon, Wednesday 10 November to the Council’s Monitoring Officer (committeeservices@wirral.gov.uk) and to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 11.1.

Petitions may be presented to the Committee. The person presenting the petition will be allowed to address the meeting briefly (not exceeding one minute) to outline the aims of the petition. The Chair will refer the matter to another appropriate body of the Council within whose terms of reference it falls without discussion, unless a relevant item appears elsewhere on the Agenda. Please give notice of petitions to committeeservices@wirral.gov.uk in advance of the meeting.

Petition: Save West Kirby Promenade - Pursue Other Flood Alleviation options [Presented by Anthony Clark]

Thank you for the opportunity to present this petition to ask councillors and Committee to save West Kirby Promenade and pursue other flood alleviation options. The full petition can be read at www.change.org/savewestkirbypromenade.  

West Kirby Promenade is an iconic location and one of the jewels in the crown of the Wirral enjoyed by thousands of people every year. Many local residents believe proposals to create a 1.2 metre high concrete wall along the Promenade will be hugely detrimental. The 1.2 metre footway to the rear of the promenade is well below national standards and should be reconsidered against the Equalities Act. Users cannot pass and will be forced into the road, causing a very significant safety issue, perhaps that greater than the flood risk itself.

On item 7 of tonight’s agenda, you are asked to agree and delegate the decision to an officer to appoint a contractor to undertake £6 million worth of work to deliver this scheme, starting as early as February next year. You are asked not to agree this.

Due to the high level of concerns locally and the sensitivities of this proposal, the final decision should be taken democratically and not delegated. The petition asks for the Council to pause and allow a much wider democratic debate. Do not be rushed by a ‘buy it now or lose it’ threat of funding from the Environment Agency. This is not the way to make decisions. There is a very real risk that costs will escalate, and is the £2.4 million of Wirral Borough Council allocation funding best spent on this right now? Does the investment of £2.4 million warrant the needs and risks today?

As Committee members, are you assured that this is the best option? Are you satisfied that you have seen other options to tackle flood alleviation on West Kirby Promenade and that they have been exhausted? Are you assured that over 5,000 tons of concrete is the best option for West Kirby Promenade? Is £6 million best value? And is this design solution really worth the sacrifice right now? Thank you Chair.