Wirral News letters: April 6

Apr 6 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

Flats mean resort split

WIRRAL’S planning committee has just approved a revised Neptune plan for the end of Victoria Road to exclude retail and tourism outlets in favour of just flats and apartments.

This was despite objections, petitions, the UDP plan for the area and one planning councillor admitting the proposed development looked like ‘Benidorm’ and had nothing in common with the flowing design of the new Floral Pavilion.

This is a missed opportunity to build a vibrant town square at New Brighton and provide affordable housing for local residents.

Instead, the committee approved more flats and apartments even though there is an abundance of them in the area plus an abandoned development on the site of the Hotel Victoria.

As a result we will have two ends to New Brighton front, the West End where the supermarket and Travelodge is, and the East End, where there are flats and apartments with the Floral in the middle.

Robin Bird

New Brighton

Stink on site

THE Neptune developers of the Victoria Parade should be aware of the appalling stink that occasionally emanates from the sewage pumping station opposite the proposed flat development.

Most days when I ride past on my bike the air is clear, but occasionally the area smells like a third world slum.

Bill Heap

Wallasey

A chance missed

I WOULD like to respond to the recent letter from Frank Lowry, concerning Rock Ferry High School.

I feel very sorry for many of the staff at both Rock Ferry and Park High Schools. They have recently been merged to form the University Academy and many of the teaching staff at both schools will be without a post in the new academy. To their credit, they are still putting lots of energy into their teaching to ensure that the children do not suffer. This is a credit to their professionalism and needs to be recognised. From what I understand, some fantastic teachers will be without employment at the end of this academic year.

How can Birkenhead have two all girls schools (Birkenhead High School and Prenton High School), without having at least one all boys school to balance things out?

This current reorganisation would have been the ideal opportunity to have a full reorganisation of secondary education provision in Birkenhead to avoid problems in the future.

Michael Gavin

Neston

Patient power

THERE is a widespread NHS patient movement in Wirral of which many people are unaware.

A lot of GP practices, throughout the borough, have patient participation groups who are involved in varying activities but are concerned about health care in the community and, more specifically, that offered by their own doctors.

Moreton Health Clinic in Chadwick Street is one such practice which has active patient involvement under the auspices of Patient Partners. On Tuesday next, April, 12, from 3pm-6pm, our group is hosting an open advice session at Chadwick Street specifically aimed at patients of our practice.

It is hoped that this session will be able to help our patients with any problems they have which can be dealt with at such a gathering. It is also hoped it will highlight to Wirral residents that they can volunteer to be part of this movement through the practice they are registered with.

S M Bell

Secretary – Patient Partners

Pylon pressure

THE well-conducted consultation by National Grid on the proposed cable route from the Wirral foreshore to Connah’s Quay was entirely predicated on an underground cable route.

Thus, I thought that Mr Corlett’s fears (Letters, March 30) of overhead cabling, were unfounded.

I am therefore greatly disturbed to read in the Times of April 2 that the Department of Energy and Climate Change is opposing special financial incentives to bury cables.

Those of us who accepted National Grid’s assurance will therefore be dismayed if there should be an attempt to install overhead cabling and pylons. I will be happy to join Mr Corlett in vehement opposition to such change on grounds of environmental impact.

Chris Vellenoweth

Heswall