The Chair informed the meeting that before opening the floor to questions, Susan Brown, Chair of the Wirral Society of Arts would address the Committee on the Wirral Libraries Troll Trail.

The objective of the ‘Troll Trail’ was to increase usage of the Borough’s libraries. The need for an increase in income was acknowledged, and an increase in usage of and footfall at libraries was needed. The Society had undertaken a survey into library usage and it had found that many people did not know their library opening times and that, in some areas where many people did not have computers, many did not know that they could access IT at libraries.

With the ‘Troll Trail’ young people would be encouraged to make their own troll with salt dough and take it to their local library up to 1 June, 2018; the trolls would be judged and small prizes awarded. The ‘Troll Trail’ was supported by leaflets providing links to library opening times and details of facilities available, and samples of leaflets and the salt dough were circulated at the meeting. The approach had been supported by and would be promoted through the Wirral Festival of Firsts.

The Chair then thanked Susan Brown for her presentation.

The Chair then asked for questions from Rev. Father Leon Ostaszewski, and he asked about the proposed artwork for the Liscard ‘gateways’. He also raised the matter of bus stop markings at the Belvidere Road / Wallasey Road junction and the road surface at Leander Road.

In response, Caroline Laing, Constituency Manager, stated that the artwork would be funded by the Wirral Chamber of Commerce and would be replaced very shortly.

Caroline Laing then informed the meeting that a number of questions had been received in advance of the meeting and each of these together with the responses were read out to the meeting; the questions and responses were also appended to the minutes. Those people who had submitted questions in advance and had indicated that they would be present at the meeting were asked if they would like to personally ask their question, Mr Simpson of Greasby asked his question in respect of affordable housing.

A number of questions had also been received in respect of the proposed Golf Resort in Hoylake and she read out each of these in turn.

The Chair informed the meeting that a list of frequently asked questions and responses in respect of the proposed Hoylake Golf Resort were provided and copies were available at the meeting. They could also be viewed here. She also informed the meeting that there were no officers present at the meeting to answer any of these questions but that the proposed resort had not yet been agreed and feasibility studies were still to be considered.

The Chair then invited any further questions from members of the audience.

Questions were raised regarding the condition of the highway and pavements at the junction of Atherton Street and St George’s Mount, New Brighton and also the pavement and a redundant vehicle crossing near to the corner of Dudley Road and Albion Street.

Another questioner raised the issue of parking charges to be introduced at New Brighton asking when they would be implemented, how much money would be raised and what would it be spent on.

Councillor Pat Hackett stated that he would respond to both questioners.

A further question was asked regarding the correlation between air pollution and Alzheimer’s and the proposed Hoylake Golf Resort.