Wirral South MP Alison McGovern makes ‘save our heritage’ plea

Jul 28 2010 by Alan Weston, Birkenhead News

AN MP is calling on her colleagues to support an SOS call to protect Wirral’s cultural heritage by giving the region a greater share of Lottery funding.

Wirral South’s new Labour MP, Alison McGovern, has tabled a Parliamentary motion which calls on the Government to “take steps to support Wirral in preserving its cultural heritage, given the possibility of boosting Wirral’s economy through tourism”.

The early day motion (EDM), co-signed by neighbouring Birkenhead MP Frank Field, aims to draw attention to the “significant” lack of Lottery funding awarded to Wirral over the past five years, specifically in the area of cultural heritage. It also calls for an exhaustive “local list” of historic buildings in Wirral and expresses concern that such a register has not been completed.

The motion claims the failure to compile such a list came despite Wirral Council agreeing to its creation after consulting Wirral History and Heritage Association.

The issue was brought to the fore again recently with the demolition of the non-listed Great Eastern pub, in New Ferry, despite arguments about the building’s place in history.

The early day motion states that, although the North West has received more than £156m in grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund over the past five years, only 0.85% of the regional amount went to Wirral.

Miss McGovern said: “We have a lot to be proud of in Wirral.