Q  I live in Sunnybank Close, a small cul-de-sac off Doncaster Drive, and there are many parking issues, particularly at the junction with the main road.  I have reported the problems to the Police and to the Technical Services Department.  The Police and the Council have sent letters to people and a few people had received parking tickets.

There are problems with parking on pavements and access difficulties for bin lorries.  The area needs some parking restrictions so that people can get in and out of the cul-de-sac safely. 

Inspector Griffiths outlined the measures taken to date to deal with the problem, and gave an undertaking to reaffirm the message with his staff.

David Green offered to personally visit the area on Friday afternoon to consider what measures can be taken to alleviate the problems.

Mark Stevenson referred to parking problems in New Hey Road and Houghton Road on the Woodchurch Estate.  Motorists avoid using the Arrowe Park roundabout, and instead use Houghton Road as a ‘rat-run’ to access the Asda superstore.  Cars stream along the road, sometimes at 100 mph.  Houghton Road is blocked constantly from early morning until night, and prevents local residents getting their cars out.

David Green stated that it is not possible to tell people which roads to use.  The Arrowe Park roundabout has been an impressive success.  Accidents have reduced since the traffic lights have been installed, and traffic movement has also improved.  Discussion continued on rat-running in general, speeding, and yellow lines.

David Green promised to visit Houghton Road on Friday afternoon to assess the situation.

Q  David Hall, Irby, reported on the Council meeting to consider recommendations arising from the Asset Management Review.  Mr Hall made certain references to individual Councillors that were not recorded for the purpose of the minutes.  David Hall read out a prepared statement.

A  The Chair responded to the statement, adding that there were many people in the room who would disagree with some of the views expressed by Mr Hall.  No one could fail to recognise the strength of feeling that people in this area have about Irby library, and people in Woodchurch and the Woodchurch Management Board have about the facilities in Woodchurch - everyone is upset about what has happened.  Councillors had taken the decisions they had after much soul-searching and many meetings over a long period of time.  The library building in Irby can be part of a community asset transfer, and have access to other sources of funding – funding that is not available to the Council -l and to have professional support with that. 

The Chair of Woodchurch Residents Forum stated that a more significant point is that elected councillors represent the residents and tenants of the borough.  The public owns the particular buildings that are being closed and not once has any member of the public had a say on what is going on.  An enormous amount of money has been invested in a library in Ridgeway, and it is to be closed.  Noctorum has fewer facilities any other area in the Borough and Ridgeway library is the only Council-run facility that the community has.  The Council’s decisions are illegal because the Council is taking control of public assets and dealing with them as Councillors see fit, and not as the owners, ie the public, want them to be.

Councillor Gardner stated that she agreed elected councillors are answerable to the public.  The buildings that house the facilities had been inherited from five district councils at the time of local government reorganisation in 1974.  Many of the buildings were run-down at the time and the escalating costs of maintaining these assets across Wirral are beyond the Council’s means.  The Council will be capped if the Council Tax is increased by more than 5%.  . 

Councillor Gardner continued that first of all the Council will offer local communities the opportunity to run the libraries when they close, and help will be given to the community in terms of management skills.  Irby could be used as a community library, and perhaps for youth outreach work.  The Council wants to see the community running buildings and meeting the needs of the community.

Councillor Tony Smith pointed out that the residents of Wirral had been listened to during the consultation and that in fact as a result both Upton Library and the Woodchurch Leisure Centre were being kept open

Jim Lester, Principal Officer, Leisure Services, stated that following the Council’s decision on Monday night, his Department is now working with local Councillors to see what possible solutions can be put forward, but no guarantees can be given.  In discussion with local groups, ways will be looked at of providing alternative Internet access to local people as well as other services.

Members of the reacted angrily and loudly interrupted speakers at various stages of the subsequent discussion.

A complaint was made that an area forum is non-political and local politics should not be discussed. 

The Chair intervened stating that an area forum meeting was not an appropriate place for a political debate.

After further discussion, the Chair brought the debate to an end and invited members of the public to put forward questions on other topics. 

Q.  Montgomery Hill.  Hazards for cyclists.  The new ‘give way’ sign at the bottom of Montgomery Hill is obscured by the old one.  Can an illuminated sign be provided?

A  [David Green].  Consideration is given to cyclists, as well as pedestrians, in every new highway scheme.  Photographs of the issued raised would be useful. The Council works with the Cyclists’ Forum in determining priorities for local schemes.  Manweb will disconnect the old sign on Montgomery Hill when they connect the new one, but there is likely to be a six-month delay.

Q.  Greasby is one of the first areas in Wirral to have the new Arriva cross-river bus service to Liverpool, and it hoped that the service will be well-used.

Q  Have any traffic surveys been done on Greasby Road to access the amount of traffic?

A  [David Green]  We do traffic counts on a regular, ongoing basis.  I will check tomorrow on the situation on traffic counts on Greasby Road.

Q  Residents have been told that traffic calming measures will be introduced as part of the planning permission for building new homes on St Benedict’s site 

A.  [David Green]:  The ownership of the land has changed.  The latest information is that the new owners will continue with the planning permission granted on that land.  If the development goes ahead as planned, traffic lights will be a part of that.

Q.  What is the situation on social housing on that site?

A  [David Green]:  The Council has an Affordable Housing Policy.  Each development has to have an element of social housing.  There is an issue around that within the planning permission for the St Benedict’s site.  All future planning applications must have 40% affordable housing, That is the starting point.

Q  The Arrowe Park roundabout.  Due to its design, motorists can drive round and round.

A  [David Green]  Since the new design there has been a reduction of around 100+ accidents in three years.  Previously, there were no facilities for people and school children to cross the roads safely.  The traffic lights provide those facilities.  The roundabout has been a notable success.

Minute decision – Resolved that: 

(i)  David Green to personally visit the Sunnybank Close and Houghton Road areas on Friday afternoon to consider what measures can be taken to alleviate the problems.

(ii)  David Green to look into the issue of asbestos at the St Benedict site and liaise with the member of public who raised the issue.

(iii)  David Green to provide an update on the situation on traffic counts on Greasby Road.