Author: John Brace

John Parr said it had been neglected for thirty years and needed something done. They could reinvigorate it into safe use by the public as a recreated space, which the museum would be happy to look after. He was hopeful to see a positive outcome. Cllr Ellis said it was a brilliant presentation and there were forms to sign up as members. John Parr urged people to go onto the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum website where they could support the project, join the friends group or get more details of the Appeal. He hoped it would be a “cultural haven that people can be proud of”. Cllr Ellis said was delighted.

The partners were asked to have their say, starting with the NHS (Margaret Shaunessy). She said it had been her first Area Forum, the Trust had gone to the public with their “Treating you well into the future” consultation which ended on the 30th June. Despite rumours they were not closing Clatterbridge hospital, but developing services and making the best use of them. The stroke unit had won an award, so had the early support discharge team and community midwives who had run a shop in Birkenhead. Also the oxygen service for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had won an award. Regarding infection control they had found innovative ways to clean and improve infection control. This had had a dramatic effect at reducing it to below the national average.

John Parr said he mother and uncle had died of a stroke and his father had nearly died. However he felt there were shortcomings in care although it was better than a year ago. He asked what the reaction from the Trust was on strokes?

Following the RNLI building a new lifeboat station, they had vacated the existing station, however there had been a number of commercial interests interested in it that wanted to turn it into a warehouse or an office block. Local people had written to Peel who had listened and given the go ahead. However they had needed money and quickly to purchase it. Tony Crane, a local businessman had purchased it and offered them a long term lease which had been a key element in the opportunity to set up the museum.

A committee had been established, it was ideal for housing a Victorian lifeboat. The tractor shed had been the first in the world. However they wanted to main alterations for a cafe, kitchen, toilet and main display room. It had fantastic views and they hoped to neighbouring land which had previously been a Victorian pavilion. The Hoylake Lifeboat Museum was unique and the story of the Hoylake lifeboat station in the Dee Estuary was of interest to the older generation, school children and young people who wanted to learn about how Hoylake was. This was Hoylake’s gift to the world. John Parr said he hoped people had enjoyed watching the film

Cllr Ellis said it was subject to planning permission. John Parr said they were in advanced talks regarding building regulations, health and safety and planning guidelines and so far Wirral Council were satisfied. He said it was here because of the community and they were listening to the community. Cllr Elderton said he couldn’t comment. John Parr said he had taken David Ball around and they wanted to negotiate about the land adjacent to the museum.

The video started with a shot of Government Road, Hoylake where John Parr had been born in the 1950s. There had been green woodlands then and coastguard cottages as well as a lighthouse and lifeboat station. He had been collected by a retired lifeboat man, who opened up the lifeboat station which meant John had had the run of Hoylake Lifeboat Station.

In 1833 a second station had been added on Hilbre Island. Those present were shown photos of old lifeboats which had been restored. He had also discovered the last lifeboat to serve there. It was a 35ft mahogany boat, 110 years old of the Liverpool type design. It was on the Register of National Historic Vessels. However when he had found it there was a tree growing inside on the bank of the River Ribble. He father had said “great idea son, but why not forget it”? The lost Hilbre lifeboat had been restored using twelve trainees at the Laird Foundation. This provided training opportunities for young people. It had been seventy-two years since it had sailed away. Following the restoration of the Chapman he had been asked to help restore the Thomas Corbett, which following a talk with the owner the owner had been happy for them to take over the boat.

However it was in Waterford and had to be shipped to the Wirral which had been a lot of work to do. It was in good condition as it had been one of the last to be built. It had a twin engine and provided training opportunities in ship preservation.

John asked if they would use the newspaper. Kevin Adderley said if they submitted a planning application then there would be the opportunity to leave comments and it would be advertised in the usual way with a site notice. Cllr Ellis said it as moving ahead and that Hughes Court would be tidied up next week.

A member of the public said following criticism at an earlier meeting at the way the minutes were taken that the current minutes were clear. The Area Forum co-ordinator said that thanks should go to Michelle. Regarding page thirty, she had spoken to the [local] Hub Manager for the Youth Service who had reported there were faults with the report and not all the information was correct. Cllr Ellis asked anyone who wanted to know more to see Tracy separately after the meeting.

John Percival thanked [Wirral Council] for the resurfacing and repainting of lines, however there was a missing Give Way, missing yellow lines and missing central line, had it been inspected. Cllr Ellis asked Mark Traynor, a senior office of Streetscene to respond to how they had painted a yellow line around a parked Aldi also.

Mark Traynor said he had been led to believe that it was all finished. John Percival said he would see him after. Cllr Ellis said they had asked for the yellow lines to be covered over, however Wirral Council had insisted on putting them back outside the new museum. John Parr said there was a short film about the lifeboat museum, which he was pleased to have started off. He introduced the film and said “without community support it wouldn’t have happened”. He said the “community had written to the Board of Peel Holdings” which had been a “major step forward”. Following the award of £30,000 they had made this film, which was seven minutes long. He joked that Tom Hanks had failed the screen test so he’d had to step in.

Kevin Adderley said they had asked Wirral Partnership Homes and the PCT to submit design work about reprovision for what would be on the site. He was confident it would happen, but he was waiting for the detail. Cllr Watt and Cllr Green had been invited to a meeting at the health centre about the plans. Cllr Elderton said he couldn’t attend as he had to be neutral as he was Chair of the Planning Committee. However a councillor said h was in favour of wanting to see it for the last ten years.

Elizabeth asked what Wirral Partnership Homes was doing regarding the Hughes Court site. Cllr Ellis said he was concerned, but it was basically the same position. The demolition had been completed this week and they had promised to landscape and not leave it like Aldi. There were discussions with the neighbours to discuss how they would like it to be landscaped, it could end up being another block of social housing. However they would tidy it up next week.

Paul Bromley, a GP from the West Kirby health centre said about the meeting on Friday they would be showing the feasibility study that Nightingale the architects had done. Progress was being made on the West Kirby health centre moving to Bridge Court. John said he was pleased regarding the comments but what was the facility for healthy people to make comments?

Cllr Ellis said he didn’t know, the GP said it was open in the main waiting area. On Friday it would be discussed with a wider group and also with the patient group at the practice on Friday.