Graham Burgess invites Wirral Council councillors to 5 days of the Open Golf Championship

Graham Burgess invites Wirral Council councillors to 5 days of the Open Golf Championship

Graham Burgess invites Wirral Council councillors to 5 days of the Open Golf Championship

                        

The new councillor for Birkenhead and Tranmere, Cllr Pat Cleary mentions on his blog in a post “Par for the course” about Wirral Council councillors being invited to a reception at the Open Golf Championship on the 16th July.

However the invites to councillors go beyond just one reception and are for five days of the Open Golf Championship as the below email sent to councillors shows:

From:
Sent: 12 June 2014 11:49
Subject: Your Invitations to The Open Golf Championship

Dear Councillors,

Your Invitations to the Open Golf Championship

Following your invitation to attend the Member Reception on Wednesday 16th July, we would like to extend your invitations to the following days:

  • Thursday 17th – Key Business Day
  • Friday 18th – Off-shore Wind Business and Guests
  • Saturday 19th – Automotive Industry Business and Guests
  • Sunday 20th – Civic reception

Again, as there will be strict parking and security restrictions in and around the course, an exclusive park-and-ride facility will be provided from Egerton House in Birkenhead, to transfer you to and from the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake.

I would be grateful if you could confirm the day/ days you can attend by emailing gailmooney@wirral.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Graham Burgess signature

Graham Burgess

Chief Executive, Wirral Council

Wirral Host of the Open Championship 2014

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What Everybody Ought to Know About A-Boards & Shop Displays

An article about the licences granted for A-boards and shop displays on the Wirral by Wirral Council.

Following on from an earlier story about flytipping at the back of shops on Hoylake Road, Bidston (which has thankfully now been partly rectified by the owner building a wall there), a resident has been in touch with me about concerns they have (mainly about one particular shop on Hoylake Road) and more widely on the subject of A-Boards and shop displays on pavements in general on the Wirral.

Here, Wirral Council is the highways authority and can grant permission (in the form of a licence) for shops to display A-boards advertising their premises on the street outside. Shops can also get permission to display some of their wares and cafes can be granted permission to use part of the pavement (although pavement cafes usually require planning permission too). There’s a page on their website that explains how businesses go about this.

This licencing is supposed to make sure that a minimum width of pavement is left so that pedestrians can pass in both directions easily. Certain classes of walkers such as those using one or more walking sticks, or wheelchair users need extra space, which is why Wirral Council recommend a clear path of at least two metres around obstacles, such as lamp posts (these minimums are increased if the area is next to a pedestrian crossing, in a pedestrianised area or in a busy area). Businesses are also supposed to display the licence granted in their shop windows (although many don’t seem to).

Below are some photos of A-boards locally on Hoylake Road, Bidston and a shop display from further down Hoylake Road in nearby Moreton. On the first photo is two large A-boards outside the All-American Car Wash which are sensibly placed well out-of-the-way of the dropped kerbs. The second is an A-board advertising a barber’s shop, again placed sensitively with the needs of pedestrians in mind, but the third is placed on the opposite side of the road from a cafe, therefore unless they have a bespoke licence this isn’t permitted. The fourth is an example of a shop display outside a fruit and vegetable shop on Hoylake Road, which due to the nearby lamp post constricts the available pavement left.

Wirral Council’s Technical Services Department does have enforcement officers that respond to complaints raised if a business seems to be exceeding the terms of its licence. However even if a business is visited and found to have breached the terms of the licence, it seems Wirral Council don’t revoke the licence if the situation is remedied to what it should be. The police do have powers they can use against if “a person without lawful authority or excuse, in anyway wilfully obstructs the free passage along the highway”, which can be punished by a fine of up to £1000, but generally the police seem to refer people back to the highways authority, Wirral Council.

So what do you think about the current situation? How should the compliance by Wirral Council with licences be enforced? Should businesses that regularly exceed the terms of their licence have them revoked and have you got any examples of good or bad practice you’d like to share? If so, please leave a comment.