Approximately 1 hour will be allocated for community questions – these can be raised in advance of the meeting by emailing janemorgan@wirral.gov.uk.

The Chair invited questions from members of the public upon matters that were relevant to the Wirral West Constituency. A number of written questions had been submitted in advance of the meeting from, as follows:

Mr Sills by email:

I and my fellow neighbours have written many times over the last thirty years in our attempts to have the trees in the top 18 properties in Burlingham Avenue, West Kirby, pollarded. These attempts have met with no response and we are left with ever larger falling branches, broken drains and sewers from growing roots, damaged kerbs, paving slabs and Tarmac, blocked drains from excessive leaves and unsafe pavements. Only this week we have had days of repair work to pavements, which are now becoming an annual event, due to root damage. What a waste with nothing being done to tackle the main tree issue.

There will eventually be a serious accident due to falling branches, downed telephone wires etc. unless these trees are pollarded. Visits by Streetscene officials, local council members and United Utilities specialists have all come to nothing, so we simply wait for the inevitable accident or material damage to property. Every winter our drains have to be cleared several times and the sewers specially cleaned or repaired. United Utilities tell us that they cannot afford to replace the broken pipes due to ever growing roots. What grows ever bigger above ground is replicated below.

Instead of paying every year for patch up repairs why not solve the problem with a short exercise to deal with the issue once and for all, saving money and preventing the inevitable accident and/or expensive damage?

Response:

This has been raised previously at the Constituency Committee meeting. The Highways Asset Manager met with contractors in July to inspect the trees in Burlingham Avenue.  The Highways Asset Manager has now reported that emergency tree work is taking place across Wirral to first tackle sick, dead and dying trees.  He has confirmed that work should take place in Burlingham Avenue between January - March 2018.

Mr Geoffrey Davies by email:

The wooded area at the end of Thorns Drive, opposite Lombardy Avenue, is in a poor and dangerous state, and needs immediate attention. Many residents walk in this area, but with great caution. There are a number of trees which are in danger of falling, and a small pond which is contaminated with dead branches. Is this the responsibility of the Council, or is the land owned by a private party? I would appreciate your comments.

Response:

The Highways Asset Manager has advised that he is meeting the Council’s tree contractor on Friday 6th October and will request that works are undertaken at this location by the end of October.

Mr Phil Simpson by email:

What due diligence has been carried out on the proposed bidder/company NJVG (Nicklaus Joint Venture Group), as well as any other company involved with construction of the Hoylake Golf Resort? Giving that, it has to be passed by the planning committee, what assurances will council give, that every person/company involved, will be subject to the highest due diligence to protect the Wirral Taxpayer?

Response:

David Ball has advised that the next stage of the project is the submission by the developer, of the Funding and Phasing Plan. This will contain information on the parties involved in taking this project forward and due diligence will be done on each of them at this next stage of the project.

Ms Keren O’Rourke by email:

In 2015 a significant number of properties in Meols and Moreton flooded, having a devastating effect on families. Investigations found that the flooding was caused when surface water drains could not discharge into the River Birkett and Arrowe Brook, because the river system was ALREADY full. This was described as a 1 in 86 year storm event, (i.e. a statistical chance of occurring once in 86 years based on historic records).

The large concrete areas of the Hoylake Golf Resort, housing estate and new by-pass will dramatically increase surface water run off - which will increase flood flows in the River Birkett System.

Planning policy will only require the developer to protect for flood risk up to a 1 in 100 year storm – based on historic statistics. However, with Climate Change, we are seeing more and more frequent extreme weather events.  If (and when) the Wirral experiences a flood event greater than a 1 in 100 year flood, the Golf Resort WILL increase flood risk in the Birkett Valley. Do the Councillors agree that is just too risky to build such a massive development on the River Birkett Flood plain and do you agree that any profits from the Golf resort could be swallowed up by having to deal with the clean-up of properties flooding more often?

Response:

David Ball has advised that the Council is aware of the environmental issues in this area.  At this stage of the project there is no detailed layout for the proposal so the Council cannot comment on the detail. All of these matters will need to be addressed through detailed studies done as part of the planning process. These documents will be publicly available and representations on them can be made at that time. All those matters will then be considered by the Planning Committee when they make a decision on the planning application.

The Council’s Lead Local Flood and Coastal Risk Manager has also provided clarification as to causes of the flooding in September 2015 referenced by Ms O’Rourke as well as information about National Planning Policy and flood risk.

In September 2015 four properties in Meols experienced flooding (3 external, 1 internal). The flooding in Meols was caused by operational problems with drainage assets, not by high levels in the River Birket.  In Moreton the flooding around the Millhouse Lane area was caused by high levels in the Arrowe Brook preventing discharge of surface water drainage systems. It is thought that the railway and road bridge at Bermuda Road caused a localised backwater effect.

The water levels within the River Birket were not a factor in any property flooding.

National Planning Policy requires any new development to ensure flood risk is not increased within the site or elsewhere as a result of the development, for example by giving priority use to sustainable drainage systems to help manage the risk of surface water flooding.

Sustainable drainage systems are designed to mimic natural drainage such that the existing undeveloped discharge rates from the site are replicated for rainfall events up to 1:100 year, with an allowance for climate change of up to 40%. Sustainable drainage systems do not manage the risk of flooding from other sources, such as from rivers and the sea. These risks are managed by the Environment Agency.

All sources of flood risk are considered as part of any planning application early in the planning process, for example through a site specific flood risk assessment and/or the submission of a sustainable drainage strategy, as required.

Mr Tim Watson by email:

The Nicklaus Joint Venture Group is the Council's chosen and only potential partner for the Hoylake Golf Resort.  It is based in a house in South Wales and Jack Nicklaus is not a director or part owner.  The Nicklaus Joint Venture Group has a dubious track record, including a bankruptcy and failing to deliver the promised Hilton Hotel at their previous development in Llanelli.  They did manage to build 175 executive homes on that site but then put their housing construction company into voluntary liquidation owing over £1million to local businesses.  This action served only to enhance the profits of their other company, which sold the houses, and given that to date, the promised hotel in Llanelli, and the associated jobs and tourism, have failed to materialise, do Councillors believe this is a suitable partner for Wirral Council?

Response:

David Ball has advised that the Council is aware of the NJVG and the details in the question. The next stage of the project is the Funding and Phasing Plan where the whole project and all the partners in the project will be subject to further due diligence.

The Chair advised that a number of questions had been emailed in advance of the meeting re: the golf resort.  He informed that it was his understanding that Cllr Patrick and David Ball, the Council’s Assistant Director for Environmental Services had met with a number of community members recently to discuss issues regarding the project and that the Council’s Assistant Director for Environmental Services had offered to keep attendees informed of progress and meet with them once again when the Council has received the detail of the proposals from the developer.

Mr Neil Parry by email:

Hoylake Bypass - there is talk of a new road into Hoylake, where will this run from and to? How much will it cost and who will pay for it?

Response:

This road will be part of the proposed Hoylake Golf Resort project and will go from the level crossing at Hoylake railway station through to Saughall Massie Road. The cost of the road is still being worked on, as is the funding source(s). I am happy to provide further information when the detail is known.

A number of additional public questions were then taken by the Chair. Committee Members and Officers responded accordingly.

At the close of the public question session Ms Susan Brown addressed the Constituency Committee and offered councillors a guided tour of the Wirral Society of Arts Open Exhibition at the Williamson Art Gallery, the opening of which was scheduled for Friday 6 October, between 6pm and 8pm.  The Constituency Manager agreed to facilitate this.