Wirral letters: July 28

Jul 28 2010 by Donna Price, Birkenhead News

Parks’ plan heartbreak

I AM both horrified and heartbroken to read of the plans to privatise the management of parks and open spaces by Wirral Borough Council.

One of Wirral Council's Cabinet members is reported in the Wirral News (July 21) as saying that such plans will “deliver increased service quality and the

opportunity for local people to influence the management of these valuable

assets”.

Nothing could be further from the reality, which will see employees of those private companies either sitting about in fleets of vehicles or else carrying

out “work” uprooting planted beds for “replanting”, felling, strimming and pruning to little more than stumps the trees and shrubs of those “valuable assets”.

Private control of parks and open spaces means that there will be no socially

guided responsibility for looking after the parks, and no influence in their

management whatsoever by the taxpayer.What then will become of the much-needed Enforcement Officer posts that the Council has just created?

Miss. L. Scott

Address supplied

Will tax reduce?

So, Cllr Elderton thinks that handing over the management, administration and operation of parks, golf courses, cemeteries, rangers, lifeguards, allotments, etc. to a ’single provider’ is a “tremendous opportunity” (Private park scheme in bid to save council £10m’ Wirral News, July 21)

Don’t we already have a single provider, called the local authority?

Will we see a reduction in our council tax?

Or will the £10m “savings” pay for additional office staff in what must be an ever-expanding Department of Council Outsourcing?

It didn’t take long for the Tories, at national and local level, to sell off services to the private sector.

Cutting bureaucracy?

I don’t think so.

Council taxes continue to rise – Council services continue to be cut.

Coin Hawksworth

Frankby Road, Meols (via web)

We thank you

ON BEHALF of the residents of Eastham Village I thank the Wirral News for its article on confidential reports that MWDA are interested in the Biossence site, Hooton Park Eastham for a 400,000 tonne incinerator development to burn rubbish, depositing £100,000 for first refusal.

Thanks go to Wirral Councillor, Jill Gardiner for supporting us in opposing this proposed development due to environmental impact on the area.

Biossence have misled Eastham from the outset by stating a different development site nearer to Ellesmere Port showing no stack or smells from an unproved combined autoclave and gasification plant process.

The site was then changed to an area between two COMAH sites, namely Eastham Refinery and chemical storage site Nustar nearer to Eastham Village which we bitterly opposed.

The land in question is owned by Peel Holdings who appear to be willing to lease land however undesirable to the detriment of the residents of Eastham Conservation Village and Country Park, widely visited due to their ancient history and beauty.

Marjorie H. Hall (Hon. Chair)

Eastham Village Preservation Association

Special thanks

PLEASE print this letter, it’s just a small way to show my appreciation of two of the most dedicated members of staff the NHS has.

As a mother of a 15-year old who has autism, I’m often fighting a losing battle, however these “wonder women” have campaigned tirelessly on my behalf to try and improve my son’s and my life so much,.

I feel they need to know how greatly I appreciate them, they have re-arranged their daily duties as health visitors in Mill Lane Wallasey, to attend appointments and meetings.

For the endless dedication they have given to me, Angela Price and Anne Longster from the bottom of my heart, a “big thank you”.

D.J. Morgan

Wallasey.

Heritage counts

I AM writing in response to the letter written by Phil Hales in last week’s issue of the Wirral News.

I echo his sentiments exactly.

As a teaching assistant working in Birkenhead, one of our classes’ annual school outings was to spend a day visiting The Wirral Museum, Transport Museum and a ride on a tram, then on to Birkenhead Park.

Our tour guide was Mr Ernie Ruffler who made the day full of fun with interesting facts about local history.

The children thoroughly enjoyed both museums, especially checking out the old buses and trams.

I think it is important that the children learn about their heritage but unfortunately we are losing all our historic buildings one by one.

Maybe the powers that be will take note.

Teaching assistant,

Name and Address supplied

Halt displays

WE all know that young people are influenced by what they see around them.

It is ridiculous that cigarettes are openly on sale in newsagents and supermarkets, often next to the sweets and crisps by the counter. The brightly lit, colourful displays show off rows of cigarette brands like huge adverts for tobacco.

The new Government has the power to get shops to cover up their displays.

It would not cost them very much and would take away one of the ways that tobacco companies market their deadly products to children.

I hope the Government takes this opportunity to stop today’s children becoming tomorrow’s smokers.

Melody Holt

Willmer Road, Birkenhead

Smell explained

Re: your anonymous correspondent's complaint about an excremental smell emanating from Bebington Road allotments.

A brief enquiry at the allotments revealed that a plotholder had been storing a non-excremental smelly substance close to a Bebington Road back garden.

The matter hasŠalready been independently resolved.

However, as a number oftelephone numbers are posted on the allotment gates it begs the question why did your correspondent impune 200 plotholders, tarring them all with the same brush,Š when a simple call to the site secretary, a committee member, or Wirral Council would have done the trick?

Name and address supplied