Culture referendum demand is defeated at stormy meeting

Dec 17 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

steve foulkes

DEMANDS for a referendum on plans to close libraries and leisure centres were defeated at a meeting of all 66 Wirral councillors on Monday.

Council leader Steve Foulkes and Councillor Bob Moon, cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure, were repeatedly shouted down by members of the public sitting in a packed public gallery as they tried to defend plans to invest £20m to develop a network of “multi-purpose complexes”.

Upton councillor Tom Anderson, making his maiden speech in the council chamber, won a standing ovation from the public gallery when he said the closures would “take an axe to the heart of Wirral that will have repercussions for years to come.”

Members of the public were allowed to ask questions on the council’s controversial strategic asset review and other issues like school crossing patrols.

A series of petitions protesting about plans to close buildings like Guinea Gap Baths were handed in before the meeting started, containing around 24,000 signatures in total.

Speaking for his party’s motion, which included the referendum proposal, Wirral Conservative leader Jeff Green said: “This would have the biggest impact on local services for a generation and we believe there should be a referendum of the public of Wirral.

“The public will never forget this betrayal of their interests.”

Speaking in favour of the closures, Liberal Democrat leader Simon Holbrook said: “There are times when we are all called upon to do difficult things - the question is whether we rise to the challenge.”

Council leader Steve Foulkes was booed as he repeated his claim that “doing nothing is not an option”.

He said: “This is the start of a consultation and people are engaging in this process, people are making their point of view known, they are asking questions.

“Wirral’s population has declined by 40,000 since 1974 - to say that nothing should be done is plain stupidity.”

The referendum proposal was defeated by votes from Labour and Lib Dem councillors.