Plan offers us contempt

Feb 20 2013 Birkenhead News

TRAGICALLY, Wirral Borough Council are intent on closing one of the three large day centres at either Moreton, Heswall or Eastham.

Parents and carers from all three centres, acting as one body are robustly opposing closure. Over decades the centres have established strong community links reinforced by its users working as volunteers in local church enterprises and various companies. The closure of any centre will cause immense distress to users and impact severely on family life.

When the as yet undisclosed centre closure was announced at this week’s council budget meeting, there was an uproar from the assembled ratepayers. The council have based their priorities and budget proposals on the ‘what really matters consultation.’ Article 3.2 of their council budget resolution, refers to Stage one receiving almost 7,000 responses. Stage two achieved 6,522 responses. In short only 7,000 people from the four MP combined constituency populations of 319,783 responded to their costly survey. Fewer than 5,000 responded to the day centre question, yet this is the basis of their budget. In direct contrast, the submitted ‘Save our Centres’ hard copy petition has 15,000 signatures-triple the amount of the council consultation figures; yet the democratic opinion of ratepayers are ignored.

The council’s new corporate plan cites protecting the most vulnerable in our borough and tackling health inequalities, yet openly treats special needs adults with contempt. We appreciate the borough’s financial position but the council leaders have made an appalling decision to the detriment of all the families involved.

We wish to thank everyone who signed our petition, please support our ongoing campaign by writing to the cold-hearted cabinet councillors and urge a change of agenda before implementation on March 5.

STEPHEN MCGREAL

Moreton

Efficiency drivel

IN the interests of getting matters into perspective I was disappointed to see your headline banner shouting out “£77m – council faces huge budget cuts”.

According to the council’s accounts for 2011-12, £979m was spent on operating expenditure. The target of saving £109m over three years represents less than 4% of that annual spend.

In these austere times most households in Wirral are making far bigger cuts than that modest target.

I believe an emphasis on efficiency by cutting out waste within the council’s operation is a much better approach. Is it being run 100% efficiently now? I doubt it.

We need to protect and provide essential jobs and services.

TONY THOMAS

Bebington

Park signs

IN your issue of Feb 6 on your letters page a correspondent gave wrong information stating that A1 Car Park is for hospital visitors only. It is for hospital visitors and visitors to the park.

When it was established a few years ago it was known as Daisy Meadow and part of the park. When it became a car park allowed for by Wirral Borough Council, who still own the land, it was agreed it would be for both sets of users. This was agreed between the Friends of Arrowe Country Park and hospital management at the time. Hospital management agreed to change any misleading signs.

This has not been done yet and needs to be done to prevent further confusion.

ANGUS TILSTON

Poulton

Unfair fares

MY SISTER and I had the pleasure of visiting family in the Wirral in February and we were quite taken aback at the price of travel on the local buses.

We usually pay £1.10 with our Oyster card for a single journey and we had to pay over double in the Wirral. I just wanted to make your readers aware of the price difference as it does seem very unfair.

Mrs Harris

Via website

Limit alcohol

THE last thing Hoylake needs is a cafe selling alcohol on the seafront.

Anyone requiring an alcoholic drink can find good local pubs within five minutes walk so why do we need a cafe selling alcohol on the beach? Coffee shops do a good trade, as do tea shops, by selling high quality drinks, cakes etc. and anyone who was to open in this excellent location on the beach who needs to sell alcohol must be of concern. With growing numbers of birds this winter, this sensitive environment needs protection from councillors –not them granting licences for yet another bar.

K GELLION

Hoylake