Archive for June, 2009

Earlier today I had the pleasure meeting up with the good people of Overchurch Residents Association where a number of planters complete with compost and plants were delivered courtesy of Carr Farm Garden Centre.

After the planters were strategically positioned all that was left to do was fill the planters with compost and add the plants, a task that the community took to heart especially the children of the estate, there’s definitely more than one budding Alan Titchmarsh living on the Overchurch.

The planters which have been jointly funded by Overchurch Residents Association and Wirral Partnership Homes add an extra touch of colour to an already pleasant estate.

Well done to Jean and the team from Overchurch Residents Association and also to Dave from Wirral Partnership Homes for making this such a success.

I spent an enjoyable morning yesterday helping The Woodchurch Partnership consult with the residents of Woodchurch by knocking on doors and asking residents what their priorities are for the estate. The Woodchurch Partnership will use the data collected to develop a strategy that will help deliver on those priorities. Well done and thank you to all who participated, residents and volunteers alike.

Saturday 20th June is a very important day day for the people of Woodchurch as our friends from Royds Community Association are bringing their bus to Woodchurch. The bus will be parked outside Hoole Road shops between 10am and 3pm and will act as the base for a major community consultation which will involve volunteers from the Woodchurch Partnership knocking on doors and speaking to residents to find out the community’s aspirations for both the Woodchurch Partnership and Woodchurch itself.

This is your opportunity to have a real say in shaping how the Woodchurch Partnership will evolve which in turn will have a major influence on the development of Woodchurch itself. For this reason I strongly recommend that residents embrace this opportunity to engage with and hopefully get involved with the Woodchurch Partnership.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of dropping in to see how the Woodchurch T.R.U.S.T where getting on with their contribution for the Woodchurch in Bloom competition entry.

For those who don’t know, Woodchurch has been entered into the National ‘In Bloom’ competition, as part of this the Neighbourhood Management Team in partnership with many Community Groups including Woodchurch T.R.U.S.T have been sponsoring hanging baskets for residents front gardens.

There are three ‘hanging basket’ events, the first one being held in conjunction with W.A.L.C on Hoole Road which was held on Friday, the Woodchurch T.R.U.S.T event yesterday and the final one which will be held on 27th June at the Holy Cross Summer Fair. The events so far have been a great success.

For the event on Saturday any donations will be used towards taking elderly residents on a trip to Bury Market. Well done everyone.

Wirral Borough Council have started consulting about the possibility of relocating Gilbrook School from its present site in Birkenhead to the site of Arrow Hill Primary School on the Woodchurch, which will close as a primary school on 31st August.

Gilbrook School is a local authority maintained community special school with 50 places for boys and girls aged 5 to 11, who have statements of special educational needs because of emotional or behavioural difficulties. Some have additional learning needs, such as ADHD, Autism, Moderate Learning Difficulties and Specific Learning Difficulties.

The facilities that Arrow Hill offer are far superior to those at the present site and will offer these youngsters a better start in life.

The consultation is your chance to have your say, details of which can be found here and the consultation document will be available to read at

• Woodchurch Library
• Woodchurch Leisure Centre
• The Lauries
• Birkenhead Central Library
• Wallasey Central Library
• The Conway Centre One Stop Shop

You can also look at the documents at Wallasey Town Hall. If you want more printed copies, please contact the Asset Management Team, Hamilton Building, Conway Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4FD, 0151 666 4351, or by e-mail at specialreview@wirral.gov.uk.

Alternatively the consultation document may be downloaded here