Welcome to Sunday Snippets, a weekly feature from Birkenhead News. It is a round-up of the important local news stories you may have missed over the last seven days. Click or tap on each story to read the full article.
New council leader orders urgent investigation into Birkenhead town centre works delays
Wirral’s new council leader has ordered an urgent investigation into what the local authority is doing in Birkenhead town centre.
Rock Ferry councillor Paula Basnett was elected as Wirral Council’s leader at the end of May after securing the support of a majority of Labour councillors earlier that month.
When elected, she promised there would be “no more delays and no more excuses” when it comes to delivering major change.
New Brighton’s wildflower meadow begins to bloom
Residents spending their evenings strolling along the banks of the Mersey near New Brighton are being treated to a ‘blooming’ beautiful sight on Magazine Promenade.
As these photos show, it has been transformed in recent works from bare soil to what it is now – a buzzing wildflower meadow.
Thanks to support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, this site is now one of 81 pollinator-friendly spaces now in place in Wirral, helping to support wildlife and connect people with nature.
‘Thriving’ high street in Heswall facing ‘inevitable decline’
People feel Heswall’s high street is going downhill because too many shops have closed, according to a local MP.
Heswall in west Wirral currently has a population of around 29,000 and is one of the more affluent areas in Merseyside. Average house prices in the area are around £430,000 and in March, it had the highest prices for a terraced house in the whole of Wirral.
Matthew Patrick, the MP for Wirral West, recently raised concerns about the town’s high street following a number of businesses closing and the loss of Halifax, NatWest, Skipton, Barclays, and HSBC.
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Click Me Record turnout for Claire House’s Claire Bear 3K run
Birkenhead Park was filled with laughter and love as 700 people joined the Claire Bear 3K, raising a record-breaking £22,000 for Claire House Children’s Hospice.
The event, which returned for a third year on Sunday, 22 June, saw families come together to remember loved ones, support children in hospice care, and celebrate the lifeline that Claire House provides.
Children and families ran, some hand in hand, while others scooted or strolled side by side, proudly wearing Claire Bear ears and T-shirts. They received bear-shaped medals as they stepped, toddled or rolled across the finish line, ready to show them off in school this week.
Council looking to award £7.2m maintenance contract
Wirral Council is preparing to award a contract worth up to £7.2m for a firm to carry out emergency repairs and maintenance to its buildings.
At a policy and resources committee meeting later this week, councillors are being asked to approve the search for a contractor to carry out building construction services for the council such as planned preventive maintenance, reactive repairs and emergency repairs.
This contract will be for an initial two years with the option to extend it for another two with an estimated value of £7.2m
Wirral welcomes the Independents Biennial 2025
Some of Wirral’s most beautiful locations and recognisable landmarks are set to host a major festival of contemporary art this summer.
The artist-led Independents Biennial – which runs concurrently with the Liverpool Biennial – will showcase the work of almost 300 artists in 120 locations across the Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral).
Brand new works will be popping up in all sorts of places, including Fort Perch Rock, Hilbre Island, Bidston Observatory, Victoria Road in New Brighton, Mersey Ferries, Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve, and Hamilton Square.
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£2.50 £5 £10 £20 Indian restaurant sees turnaround with new four star rating
An Indian restaurant has seen a remarkable turnaround, going from a zero food hygiene rating to a four in just two months.
The Indian Hive on Poulton Road in Wallasey was given the worst possible rating following two visits by Wirral Council food hygiene inspectors on 24 and 25 April. A Freedom of Information request revealed this was due to a mouse infestation with lots of droppings found by the local authority.
Wirral Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the restaurant had requested a revisit and a rescore following its rating in April.
Final piece of new Mersey Ferry fitted as funnel lowered into place
The construction of the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years has reached a significant landmark with the lowering of its funnel.
The 14m high Royal Daffodil’s steel structure has now reached completion with officials on target to get the vessel on the River Mersey by next summer.
Standing 3.6 metres tall and weighing around 2.5 tonnes, the funnel will eventually be painted red in line with the world-famous Mersey Ferries’ traditional red, white, and black colour scheme.
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Hoylake RNLI Coxswain awarded for partnership launch event
The Coxswain of Hoylake RNLI lifeboat station has been commended as the first ever ‘Employee of the Month’ in the charity’s Wales, West, & Isle of Man Region.
The accolade recognises Howard ‘Howie’ Owen’s crucial support in helping to launch a new charitable partnership between the RNLI and a nationwide water delivery and liquid waste disposal business.
In April, the RNLI officially partnered with Universal Tanker Solutions Ltd. at an event at Hoylake Lifeboat Station, where the company unveiled a brand new RNLI-branded drinking water tanker.
MP supports government intervention at Wallasey school with ‘rude’ pupils
A Wirral MP said she fully supports government intervention at a school after it was slammed for its swearing and “rude” pupils in an Ofsted report.
The Oldershaw School in Wallasey was rated inadequate in four areas and told it required improvement in another in a scathing indictment by school inspectors at the beginning of April this year. Ofsted said “pupils’ behaviour on the corridors is often boisterous and chaotic”.
Inspectors said this poor behaviour went unchallenged and “when it is challenged, pupils are often confrontational, defiant and, at times, rude,” adding, “This unacceptable behaviour regularly transfers into classrooms.
Port Sunlight searching for businesses to reawaken ‘hidden gem’ building
The Stables building in historic Port Sunlight is one of the few surviving traces of the worker village’s industrial infrastructure and has sat empty for several years, but now Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) are searching for commercial tenants who can reawaken the ‘hidden gem’.
Located behind the Gladstone Theatre, the Stables was built in 1894 and originally housed the horses used by Lever Brothers’ soap company that built the famous village.
It was used as stables for many years before becoming Unilever’s company shop, which then closed in 2021.
Open-air production of Pride & Prejudice at Claremont Farm to raise vital funds for Shelter
On Thursday 31 July, award-winning touring theatre company Illyria will perform Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in the outdoor setting of Claremont Farm in Bebington to help raise essential funds for the housing and homelessness charity Shelter.
The performance kicks off at 7pm and funds raised from this enchanting sunset performance will help Shelter’s frontline services to continue providing free and expert help to thousands of people facing homelessness, as well as helping the charity to campaign for lasting change.
Pauline Cox, Regional Community Fundraiser for Shelter Merseyside, said, “This special outdoor performance of Pride and Prejudice is set to be a spectacular evening. By coming along the community can enjoy a night of theatre in the open air, while helping Shelter to continue to be there for people who don’t have anywhere safe to call home.”
Overlooked Scooby is still searching for a home after 14 months
Could Scooby’s luck change after being overlooked and left awaiting his forever home for an unbelievable 14 months?
Scooby arrived at the RSPCA Wirral & Chester Branch back in February 2024. At the time, he was severely emaciated, weak and weighed only 20kg (44lb). His RSPCA rescuer said he was one of the thinnest dogs that she had seen.
Thankfully, following some veterinary care and TLC at Wirral & Chester Branch Animal Centre in Wallasey he completely transformed and put on weight to become a healthy 38kg (84lb).
Magenta Living extends specialist extra care service with dedicated accommodation in Wirral 
Wirral’s largest affordable housing provider, Magenta Living, has announced the extension of its existing supported housing service with the opening of a fully refurbished block of apartments for specialist extra care scheme on Kingsland Road.
This initiative is designed to meet the growing local demand for high-quality, personalised living service for customers who have a variety of care and support needs, who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health conditions.
The accommodation will provide safe, accessible homes for local people. There is a communal garden and patio area, giving the occupants an opportunity to enjoy this outside space, which is essential to create a sense of wellbeing and improve quality of life for Magenta Living’s newest customers.
Lady Gaga tribute with full band coming to Molly’s Chambers
A Lady Gaga tribute show with a full band is coming to Birkenhead’s iconic Molly’s Chambers on Friday, 11 July.
Born Gaga is the UK’s best full band tribute to Lady Gaga and will be bringing all the big hits in emphatic style at one of Wirral’s most vibrant live music venues. Born Gaga is the brainchild of Nicky W who possesses an amazing voice to reproduce the songs of Lady Gaga with uncanny accuracy.
Her dedication to detail in every aspect of her performance has led to her becoming the definitive tribute to Lady Gaga.
Wake Up Wallasey welcomes funding boost
Wirral-based organisation, Wake Up Wallasey, is celebrating after receiving a £3,000 donation from Persimmon Homes North West.
Local councillors Paul Stuart, Kaitlin Stuart, and Tom Laing were on hand recently to formally present the cheque to members of the organisation alongside Persimmon North West Managing Director, Ian Hilliker.
Based out of St. Paul’s church, Wake up Wallasey is a not-for-profit Christian organisation working to improve the lives of people in Wallasey.
Award-winning Wirral site manager makes it eight in a row
A site manager has scooped an eighth consecutive “Quality Award” from the National Home Building Council (NHBC).
Ian Palmer, 37, from Birkenhead, won the prestigious Pride in the Job accolade for leading Anwyl Homes’ construction team at The Oaks at Rossbank in Ellesmere Port.
One of just 450 winners from around 8,200 entrants across the UK, the award puts Ian in the top 5% of site managers nationally.
New Merseyrail fraud team could be introduced to catch train fare dodgers
A new “fraud team” could be created to catch people who are finding new ways to dodge fares as Merseyrail looks to further roll out ticketless travel on its network.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed after a lengthy wait, 50 people across the Liverpool City Region became the first to get the chance to test a tap-and-go system to travel.
The system uses the smartcard to effectively track journeys across the Merseyrail network across a 24-hour period.
Man surprised after unexpected parking fine
A Wirral man said he was surprised after he was slapped with a fine for parking in a spot he has used for years.
Mark Fleming parked up in the historical model village of Port Sunlight on his way to church in what he thought “was a safe and perfectly legal spot”.
His usual spot had been taken, so he decided to park in a disused bus stop on Greendale Road, which hadn’t been used for several years.
Adventure Ahoy! Off the Ground Theatre returns with Treasure Island
Off the Ground Theatre returns to venues across the north west, Wales, and Ireland this summer, for their 30th year of touring theatre, with the quintessential pirate tale, Treasure Island.
Young Jim Hawkins is obsessed with pirates. He idolises them and yearns for adventure at sea. His mother, a former Navy doctor who has dealt with pirates before, is less enamoured with them.
When hard times befall the family, they are forced on the adventure of a lifetime in search of Captain Flint’s long-lost treasure, in the company of the enigmatic, charming, villainous, and influential Long John Silver and his crew.
Street Angels impacts volunteers and the community in Birkenhead
An independent study from the University of Chester has revealed that the Street Angels Birkenhead project brings strong community impact to the public and to those volunteering.
Street Angels Birkenhead was launched in December 2024 by Hitched Communities. It involves local volunteers walking the streets of Birkenhead on weekend nights to offer emotional and practical support to anyone who needs and wants it.
Whether it’s offering water and first-aid assistance or signposting vulnerable individuals to specialist services. The priority is creating a safer environment at night.
Investment ‘a real show of confidence’ in Wirral’s maritime industry
Wirral’s maritime industry is seeing an upsurge with recent investment and a new Mersey ferry built on the banks of the river.
The recent positive news about the multimillion-pound investment into the 12 Quays Terminal has capped a series of improvements locally, including new terminals at Seacombe (completed 2022) and Woodside – currently ongoing.
And the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years is being designed and constructed by Birkenhead shipbuilder Cammell Laird – named the Royal Daffodil it is due to arrive on the water in 2026.
Wallasey takeaway hygiene case adjourned until August
The business behind a Wirral pizza takeaway has been charged with 15 food hygiene offences, with a further 15 charges brought against a former director.
Pizza Plus Shake on 90 Seaview Road in Liscard, Wallasey, has been taken to court by Wirral Council and charged with a number of offences under food hygiene rules.
15 charges have been brought against Pizza Plus Shake Ltd as well as Muhammad Tayyab Ramy, who was a director of the company until 1 May this year.
New Brighton RNLI hold garden of reflection opening ceremony
On Sunday, 22 June, New Brighton RNLI celebrated the opening of their garden of reflection, a new project outside the New Brighton boathouse, created in association with local group New Brighton in Bloom.
A small patch of land outside New Brighton boathouse, previously overgrown and disused, behind the stone and plaque commemorating New Brighton RNLI’s lifesaving record since the station’s inception in 1863, has now been transformed into a tranquil, public space, as a garden of reflection.
The work was carried out by volunteers from New Brighton RNLI, New Brighton in Bloom, and their friends and families.
Wirral Council recognised with Ministry of Defence Award
Wirral Council’s support to the Armed Forces community – including reservists, veterans, and military families – has been recognised as exceptional by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which has granted the authority a Silver Award under its Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Brian Kenny, said, “As we look forward to Armed Forces Day on Saturday, it is fantastic to know that the Council’s efforts to embed supportive employment policies, promote defence values, and advocate for service personnel in the civilian workforce has been recognised by the MOD.
“This is a huge achievement, and I congratulate all those who are helping to make sure that our reservists, and the wider Armed Forces community, get the support and recognition they deserve. I’m proud to say that work is already underway to build on this success, with our ambition to achieve a next-level Gold Award in the coming years.”
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