Wirral Letters: September 8

Sep 8 2010 by Donna Price, Birkenhead News

We are a hidden gem

YOU asked in the Wirral News’Big Vote, could we do more to raise Wirral's profile as a tourist destination ...the answer is an emphatic YES.

I have had personal interest in the tourist industry and Wirral for around 30 years and have yet to found any profile of the peninsula that attracts tourists.

As a sole trader I found it very difficult.

I ran coach tours around the peninsula for two years in the 80s and as part of a small business training scheme undertook personal surveys around local hotels/guest houses to find out how much knowledge front-line staff had about Wirral and the answer was little to none at all.

The only places of recommendation would be the Albert Dock or Chester.

I have kept all hotel guides issued through the council for many years and a great many have vanished without trace, smaller one through lack of business.

I am very proud of my roots and never useŠMerseyside or near Liverpool when describing where I'm from and with historical knowledge of the peninsula always quote a number of Wirral ‘firsts’ which normally bringŠadverse comments.

Try telling an American that their Central Park was basedŠon Birkenhead Park and wait for their reaction!

We have a hidden gold mine that needs advertising, are you willing? I am.

Phil Hales

via email

Our Big Vote question last week was: Could we do more to raise Wirral’s profile as a tourist destination? You said ... Yes (64%) No (36%).

Litter lament

I HAVE been delighted with the new walkway (Ian Fraser Walk) since it has been opened for walkers.

However, there seems to be plenty of rubbish about.

I noticed the bin next to the new boating lake full on Tuesday morning while I was out walking my dog but I was shocked to see that at teatime on Wednesday it had still not been emptied. I took a picture for you all to see (left).

Disgusting! I am saddened by this as we all want to encourage visitors to see and spend their money in New Brighton. This should have been emptied first last Tuesday morning after a warm busy bank holiday.

Name and address supplied

Sign of insanity

IT would appear that one of the Council’s Highway Department officers has been let out from his dark office in to the world outside and as a consequence has decided to use some of the Authority’s dwindling money to replace the speed limit signs on the Bidston Bypass.

This has resulted in the reduction of the speed limit from 70mph to a bizarre 40mph.

This road is a dual carriageway with a central reservation and is predominantly straight and in a non-residential area with no adjoining roads, albeit until the final section. Why such a ridiculously low speed limit? Who employed this person?

Name and address supplied

Extra vote call

FURTHER to the letter from D.Roberts (Aug 25) I long advocated that in addition to the vote that each person has, council residents who actually pay council tax from their own income should have an extra vote for that household. Further, I would suggest that owners of business in the area should have a vote based on the numbers that they employ, say one vote for up to five employees, two votes for six-10.

Perhaps this might bring a little more sense into council affairs.

Peter Toale

Birkenhead