Wirral Council waives charges for residents of Wallasey street hit by rooftop vandal attack

May 19 2009 By Lorna Hughes

Hillcroft Road

WIRRAL Council has backed down over plans to bill residents for repairs carried out after their street was wrecked in a rooftop vandal attack for repairs.

The people of Hillcroft Road, Poulton, Wallasey, were the victims of two yobs who ripped off roof tiles and hurled them into the street in April, damaging cars and homes.

Last week Wirral Council sent out bills for the cost of providing emergency repairs.

But director of regeneration Alan Stennard has now withdrawn the demands for payment after Wallasey MP Angela Eagle intervened.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling MP will visit the residents tomorrow with Liscard councillor Leah Fraser.

Ms Eagle said: "I was outraged when I heard that people were being asked to pay. It was simply unjustifiable. Now, as a result of my intervention, Alan Stennard has given me an understanding that the bills sent out to residents in the aftermath of the destruction will be withdrawn.

"As soon as I heard what had happened I contacted the chief executive of the council. I pointed out that it was clearly an insensitive move and rightly appeared unjust to residents, some of whom have incurred great expense and additional insurance costs to repair the damage after what happened.

"I’m glad that Wirral Council have seen sense and I’m pleased that my actions have helped my constituents."

A spokesman for Wirral Council said: "Given the nature of this incident, officers have been given permission to waive the usual procedures so that residents at Hillcroft Road will no longer have to pay the charges incurred."

The 15 and 16-year-olds responsible were sentenced to 22 months and 18 months in youth detention centre.