Readers of the blog and the wider Moreton community will be aware that Hot Food takeaway #11 – Sabs Kebabs (formerly Cartridge World) applied for licensing permission to stay open until 2am in the morning. Local residents have objected, as have I, and although there is no official representation from Merseyside Police Licensing Section, Moreton’s Police Neighbourhood Inspector, Peter Kolokotroni has written to the Council’s Licensing Department expressing his concerns. The application will be considered by Wirral’s Licensing Panel at Wallasey Town Hall, on Friday 5th November at 10am. The meeting is open to the public so if you have concerns about this please come along.
Month: October 2010
Hoylake Food Fayre
This morning I went along to the Hoylake Food Fayre, held at (what was my old school) Hoylake Community Centre in Hoyle Road. Which is also where I work for Esther McVey MP.
Whilst there I met up with Esther, Council Leader, Jeff Green and local Councillors Gerry Ellis and David Elderton. The event was absolutely choc a blok, with hundreds taking advantage of all the goods on offer, fresh Veg, meat, (the buffalo steaks looked good) cheese, bread, cakes, jams, ice cream etc, etc. There was also cookery demonstrations from the Chefs at La Paz.
All in all a tremedous event, well attended and hopefully will be repeated on a regular basis.
Welcome to Moreton
For many years I have used the services of the Halifax Agency Branch on Hoylake Road in Moreton. Earlier this year Halifax announced they were closing all their agency branches meaning that from now on I, and all the other customers had to travel to Liscard or Birkenhead. (Not too bad for me as I spend a day a week working in Liscard) However for many who rely on public transport the closure of these friendly agency branches was a huge blow. Yesterday I was in Moreton and as I wandered past the Halifax I saw some activity so in I went thinking this was the girls last day to say my farewells and to thank them for all they had done.
How wrong I was, it was not goodbye, it was hello to the same staff who are now working for the Skipton Building Society, who have stepped in to fill all the agency branches that the Halifax have closed in Wirral. So a huge thanks to the Skipton for providing a much needed local service and today I will be moving my account from the Halifax to the Skipton, apart from having a local branch, their interest rate is almost a full percent above the Halifax……
Winter Play Activities
Wirral’s Play Rangers have just published their winter programme. which you can access by clicking here The Community Play Rangers provide free, open access play sessions for children aged 5* – 13 in parks and play areas across Wirral, and during the winter they move indoors as the nights get colder and darker. *For these indoor sessions children must be aged 5 and in Year 1 to be able to attend.
The aims of the play ranger project are to:
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work towards enabling children and young people to feel safe and reduce the fear of playing beyond the confines of their own homes and immediate environment.
- work closely with the community and local groups to deliver the best possible service and involve them and the children in the design, planning and delivery of the play sessions.
- be free of charge, allow freedom of choice of activities and provide the freedom to come and go whenever they want.
The Community Play Rangers are run by the Wirral Play Council and funded by the Big Lottery. Wirral Play Council is a local charitable organisation that has been developing and organising open access playschemes and projects throughout Wirral since 1974. For more information please contact me (details below) and please could you forward our timetable to anyone you feel may be of interest.
Gemma Rhodes,
Senior Community Play Ranger.
0151 201 7628
www.wirralplaycouncil.org.uk
playrangers@live.com
Dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour
This week sees as a programme of events and activities taking place in Wirral to tackle anti-social behaviour and promote respect. The activities lined up for “Respect Wirral 2010 – ‘It’s All About Respect’ are being, co-ordinated by Wirral Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, and are being supported wholeheartedly by a range of agencies including Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, social landlords and local community groups.
In my role as Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety I welcome these activities, I believe that tackling anti-social behaviour has been a key priority for local residents and the Council continues to work hard in Wirral tackle this issue. This week is a great opportunity to reassure residents about the continuous work that is undertaken to address this issue and respond to their concerns.
Throughout the week activities will be taking place within communities, such as high visibility patrols, advice surgeries, enforcement activity, environmental audits, clean-up operations and environmental improvements. Information will be widely available about how to report anti-social behaviour and what has been and continues to be done to tackle it.
Caroline Laing, Manager of Wirral Anti-Social Behaviour Team said: “We encourage residents to get involved with Respect Wirral. We are working alongside some great community groups to help and support them prevent and tackle issues and want to see as many people as possible involved throughout the week. We are also seeking ideas from the public as to how they would like to be involved in future and what roles they see themselves playing.”
Hot Food Takeaway #12
Last night at full Council my colleague Cllr Steve Williams presented a petition opposing the proposal to allow planning permission for a Hot Food Takeaway at the premises known as REMAX ESTATE, on Hoylake Road. He pointed out that this is a rolling petition with further signatories to follow. If you want to sign the petition it is being hosted by Lisa in the ‘Nutty Butty’ Cafe on Hoylake Road. You have until the 26th of this month to add your signature. The application will be determined by a meeting of Wirral’s Planning Committee on Tuesday 9th November at Wallasey Town Hall, commencing at 6pm. The meeting is open to the public so if you have an interest in this matter why don’t you come along.
Wirral Shows Unanimous Support for Anti-Slavery Day
Earlier this evening the Notice of Motion on Anti-Slavery Day, which I moved at Wirral Council received the unanimous support of the Council. Sadly because of time limitations I was not able to speak to the notice, however if you want to read what I was going to say click HERE
Anti-Slavery Day
Tomorrow will be the first recognition in the UK of Anti-Slavery Day. This has come about as a result of a Private Members Bill introduced by former Conservative MP Anthony Steen, which received its royal assent earlier this year.
Tomorrow I have the privilige of moving a Notice of Motion at Wirral’s Council meeting which calls for close working between local and national Government and partners to provide appropriate care and protection for victims of trafficking.
William Wilberforce is a name that is synonymous with anti-slavery. In 1807, led by Wilberforce, an Act for the abolition of the slave trade was passed by Parliament. In 1833, the Slavery Abolition Act was passed. Why then is it estimated that there are 27 million slaves in the world today. One in eight of those trapped in slavery are in Europe, and at least 10,000 of them are here in the United Kingdom. Here in the UK, the main victims are women and children, they are often tricked into coming to this country, usually with a promise of some sort of job. When they arrive here, they are often locked up and forced into the sex trade.
It really is shameful that after 200 years and the abolition of slavery that slavery, human trafficking and child prostitution is still so prevalent. We really must do all we can to eradicate this matter from the UK, Europe and the world.
Labour candidate joins the Conservatives
A senior Wirral Labour Candidate has joined the Conservatives. Geoff Dormand achieved the highest-ever Labour vote in Greasby, Frankby and Irby Ward in the local elections in May 2010. The drive by the Conservatives to open up the Council and to consult residents on services was cited by Geoff as one of the reasons why he decided to make the switch.
Geoff lives in Seacombe and is joint Chairman of the Seacombe Community Partnership and also a member of the Wirral Older People’s Parliament. Geoff said: “I am passionate about giving more power to local communities such as Seacombe and what the new Council is doing should have all-Party support. Locally, I have often been helped by Denis Knowles who, I believe, is a good councillor.”
Cllr. Jeff Green, Leader of the Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome someone who wants to put the needs of his community first. Geoff did really well for Labour in Greasby and his loss will be a bitter blow to them. “Geoff is clearly committed to his local community and wants to make sure that people in Seacombe are fully consulted and involved. That is only going to happen with the new Administration in the Town Hall.”
Apprentices Part Two
Yesterday I blogged about Wirral West MP, Esther McVey employing an apprentice in her constituency office. Then last night I attended the Cabinet meeting at the Town Hall to agree with the rest of the Cabinet to increase the number of ‘Wirral Apprentices’. This fantastic programme works with employers to provide training and skills to young people and the Conservative Lib Dem Cabinet decisioion will see the number of apprentices increased to more than 200 across the Borough.
The Leader of the Council, Jeff Green, has recently started blogging and he reports back on some of the highlights of last nights Cabinet meeting here.
CHRIS BLAKELEY 