Author: John Brace

New media journalist from Birkenhead, England who writes about Wirral Council. Published and promoted by John Brace, 134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH. Printed by UK Webhosting Ltd t/a Tsohost, 113-114 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, England, SL1 4PF.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 6

Gary Cummings (Streetscene) said they could build out with chicanes and that because of the “20 is plenty” campaign sometimes a road was left for the emergency services eg police and ambulance. He would look at the alternatives, however it didn’t have to be humps. They could look at signing and speed activated signs. A … Continue reading “Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 6”

Gary Cummings (Streetscene) said they could build out with chicanes and that because of the “20 is plenty” campaign sometimes a road was left for the emergency services eg police and ambulance. He would look at the alternatives, however it didn’t have to be humps. They could look at signing and speed activated signs.

A member of the public raised the issue of the roads in Noctorum and how dangerous it was when getting a bus. They had speed cameras, buut they didn’t seem to do anything. They had been told they can’t afford anything more. There was another slow sign and they had lived there three years. Cllr Foulkes said there had been an automated speed sign.

A member of the public asked about Park Road South. Cllr Foulkes said due to buses and ambulances there were no humps here. He referred to the lady from Sumner Road being against speed bumps and said the speed of traffic in Tollemache Road was a significant nuisance. Cllr Davies said it was a clear road.

John Brace raised about concerns raised at the Bidston Village Conservation Area committee about the speed of traffic on Bidston Village Road. Cllr Foulkes responded.

Michelle Gray said there was £200,000 for road safety, £20,000 of which would be decided by this Area Forum under You Decide. Whatever was needed in the local area, she could liase and feed back to the Forum and to councillors. Streetscene needed a list of roads and footways that needed maintenace.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 5

Cllr George Davies had had a long discussion with the traffic management team, about the triangle from Brassey Street all the way up to Bidston Avenue and the best way to do it. 20mph zones had been added with Sumner Road being the only road not having a 20mph zone in the middle. He didn’t know the logic, but supported the residents 100%. Leaving one road, just made it into a racetrack, Cllr Davies said he 100% supports them. There were a lot of children that lived there and they can’t just wait for an accident to happen. Thinking about what should be done he said the residents don’t want humps, but something novel, such as their own parking down the side of the road or a 1-way system. On behalf of them he would like to see a program drawn up and evaluated. Angela said she was concerned about bricks through her windows.

Cllr Davies said he would take it back to Joey Smith to be looked at and evaluated, but it was a long time to wait for the next Area Forum. Cllr Roberts suggested they leave either other contact numbers.

Cllr Foulkes said there was a mechanism via the Area Forums, a central pot was devolved to the Forum level to be spent wisely. They could put a market down for the money. This years money had been allocated, but it could be added to the program for next year. There was £20,000 to be allocated, he wanted it minuted as an official bid. He also suggested monitoring of traffic coming to Sumner Road through Landsdowne Road.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 4

There was a flyer from the Friends of Wirral Archives. With regards to Needham Crescent, Noctorum Cllr Davies talked about access and provision for parking. He said he had spoken to Technical Services. Highway Inspectors had been to the area over the provision of parking. However it was down to money and access.

Michelle Gray said about the PA system, it was still under consideration, however they could use other equipment or it would be available in the venues used for Area Forums.

Cllr Roberts said she gathered there were a few people from Sumner Road to discuss road safety which they could do so now. Angela Holland of Sumner Road spoke about the speed of the traffic and parking and said something needs to be done before there is an accident. Another member of the public asked about Noctorum and how they said they couldn’t afford to do Claughton Road. Angela Holland continued about Sumner Road. Cllr Roberts suggested community Speedwatch where local residents were trained to use radar guns. Angela said “No thank you.” Cllr George Davies went through the reasons why Sumner Road was isolated.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 3

A member of the public asked in reference to the minutes about patient representatives and how people got engaged. They felt there was no opportunity to be engaged in the changing nature of affairs. Unfortunately Dr. Mantgani wasn’t present to answer.

At 6:40pm Cllr McLachlan arrived.

Cllr Foulkes answered that the structure was changing with a Health & Wellbeing Board. There would be democratic access and he was confident the Wirral Council would be looking at the structure. He said it may have lay representatives but he wasn’t 100% sure. The Health Scrutiny Board could make representations to that. There would be scrutiny of health and he promised access to the public.

Paul Smith said there were NHS Trust governor elections in the next few weeks and you could put your name forward. Cllr Roberts asked how it had been publicised. The answer given was in the newspapers and on the website.

Michelle Gray said there were a couple of issues on page 7. Any issues raised had received a response from the relevant department. There was concern regarding the Boundary Road pedestrian refuge island which will be monitored. The dumped rubbish was hopefully cleared up. There had been £55000 assigned for grit bins with an allocation of ten bins per a ward (twenty for this Area Forum). There had been 300 requests for new and additional bins.

The Highways Inspectors had been out and the one “nicked” from Borough Road had been replaced. Another four or five were stolen or missing which Technical Services was “looking into”. There was a register for the highways structural maintenance program which was gathering information for 2012/2013. People could either put suggestions on the register or see her at the end of the meeting.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 2

Cllr Foulkes continued by saying that Wirral is a diverse borough of haves and have nots with lots of deprived areas, from the millionaires of Caldy and in between bits of everything. However they faced tough financial times, every spending decision should be made as close as possible to where it had effect. Resources could be moved around. However Wirral council had lost £54 million [which he corrected to £51 million] from its budget for this year, 1200 staff and more had to go. The current budget projects to Cabinet predicted they would lose £20.8 million in 2012-2013. It was a tough task with little money to spend. It had to spent not on a night out but a meal in. This was a simple message. He would be leaving by ten past seven to go to the Leasowe Estate to make himself available. If anyone wanted to get in touch his email address is stevefoulkes@wirral.gov.uk . He said he looked forward to serving as he had done previously. Although this Area Forum was all Labour councillors, some wards had mixed representation where he would work with the other two parties. He said he had been around a long time, but didn’t know the areas in depth. He wanted to spend every penny in the right way to satisfy people’s needs.

The minutes were agreed except for a few minor changes. One person had been omitted from those present. At the bottom of page 4 and top of page 5 million should read billion. £1.4 million to £1.4 billion and £8.6 million to £8.6 billion. After the amendments they were accepted as a true record.